Ariana Grande's 'No Tears Left To Cry' Is The Anthem We Needed

there really is no roadmap, rule book, or paint-by-numbers kit in existence that could prepare Ariana Grande for "No Tears Left To Cry." The next chapter in her career will be inextricably tied to the tragedy of the Manchester Bombing. The shadow of the terrorist attack, the fans lost, and the ones who survived would loom large over any of her artsy output let alone her first single. Today (April 20), the eyes of the world were on one pop star like very few times in recent memory. Thankfully, Ariana not only subverted expectations. She soared past them.


"No Tears Left To Cry" manages to uplift without falling prey to sentimentality. The Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh-produced song is inspirational, nevertheless sidesteps kitschy. The song's intro is an impeccable sleight of hand. Grande with her distinctive voice sings, "Right right now, I'm in a state of mind / I wanna be in like all of the time / Ain't got no tears left to cry / So I'm pickin' it up, pickin' it up," like a swelling ballad is imminent. And then the drop happens and Ariana's tears turn into a unexpected, nevertheless welcomed celebration.


The Dave Meyers-directed music video and the single succeed through an expert game of juxtaposition. "No Tears Left To Cry" is a upbeat, pop anthem, while the visual is a somber, nevertheless motivational affair. As an alternative opposed to Ariana telling us her world was turned upside down the video shows us. The genius of Meyers vision is that the dark muted video feels like sadness, while Ariana's voice sounds like triumph. The M.C. Escher-like visual ends with Ariana finding the sunrise right after trekking through a dark cityscape. The metaphor isn't subtle.


Pop star comebacks can be calculated. We've seen it before with countless Justins, Britney, and Madonna. Nevertheless, those career resets were selfish as most agency surrounding pop music tends to be. Ariana comeback is distinct in that she wasn't accountable for the events that made her resurgence inevitable. She was still reaching her artsy peak as soon as tragedy thrust upon her a leadership role that is rarely asked for, although nonetheless given. "No Tears Left To Cry" had the unfair task of speaking to her experience, healing her hurt, while simultaneously doing the same for the world.


In part, that is what makes "No Tears Left To Cry" an achievement. The song will be successful in the orthodox way we dictate such things (sales, views, likes), although what Ariana will face in the coming months isn't orthodox. The fact that she is releasing new music into a global that is still battling for smarter and more efficient gun control laws is a powerful act.


The existence of "No Tears Left To Cry" is an act of defiance and also a catchy one at that.