Generic Research: Case Study 3 (Narrative) (Grande)
thank u, next - Ariana Grande
'Thank U, Next' is a song by Ariana Grande and a 'celebratory ode' to her failed relationships.
The song was released without prior announcement on the 3rd of November 2018, and became an immediate success worldwide, reaching number one in 23 countries, going on to win multiple awards and become one of Grandes most successful songs ever.
The music videos success was also globally acclaimed too...
Directed by Hannah Lux Davis and released on the 30th of November 2018 the music video makes clear references to early 2000s cult classic films, including, Legally Blonde, Mean Girls, 13 Going on 30, and Bring It On and included countless celebrity cameos.
The music video broke many viewership records, including the record for the most watched music video on YouTube within 24 hours too.
I chose to study this music video due to the immense amount of intertextual references. I hope to make many intertextual references in my music video too, and after analysing Grandes music video I feel more prepared in doing so.
Intro - Mean Girls
Before the actual song plays the 'Thank U, Next' music video instantly pays homage to the Mean Girls movie. Fans of Mean Girls would already know that in the movie, high school students are interviewed and asked to explain the effect Regina George (the main character in Mean Girls) has on them.
In the music video, it is filmed almost identical but this time with interviews of relevant celebrities (as cameos) talking about Ariana Grandes effect on them.
This clear intertextual link is instantly attention-grabbing and gratifies fans that would understand the link. Based on Ariana Grandes target audience of teen girls, that potentially grew up in the 2000s, it is likely that they will understand this reference and the comedic homage behind it.
The cameos of celebrities (as above) are also intertextual references and relevant in their own ways...
For example (the first two), Colleen Ballenger and Johnathan Bennett.
Colleen Ballenger is most known for her 'alter ego' named Miranda Sings. Miranda is a comedic YouTuber that at the time of release was arguably at her peak of fame - increasing the chances of audiences recognising her cameo. Fans may also know that Colleen and Ariana have been friends for a number of years before the release of this video too, acting as an intertextual reference to not only Colleens fame but also their friendship.
Johnathan Bennett is also featured too... Bennett starred in Mean Girls as the heartthrob, Aaron Samuels. Fans that have watched Mean Girls will recognise this iconic cameo too.
Arianas music video is very clever because even if the viewers do not understand the intertexual references, I would argue that the music video still makes sense - allowing the music video to be enjoyed by all viewers whether or not they are fans of Ariana herself or the movies that the video makes homage to.
Mean Girls
Arguably unconventional for music videos, as the actual song begins to play Ariana is credited. I found this somewhat unnecessary as I believe that Ariana has such a large star persona that it wasn't necessarily needed to reinforce her name directly in the music video, but perhaps this was done to almost remind viewers of movies and credit scenes, as the music video is almost a mixture of lots of movies with Ariana's own take on them.
There is then an overhead shot of Ariana sitting on her bed opening her 'Thank U, Next Book'. This is an intertextual reference to the 'Burn Book' in Mean Girls. The contents of this book reference some of Ariana Grandes past relationships (that fans of Ariana would be aware of) as she directly name drops and sings about them - a clear example of when the song matches to the video (something I would like to do in my own music video to reinforce lyrics).
There is then an almost montage of Ariana cutting and sticking her ex's into the book as she laughs and looks directly at the camera whilst singing (direct address).
Ariana is once again taking on the role of Regina George, originally played by Rachel McAdams.
In the final photo that is displayed above, Ariana Grande and her 4 friends are filmed walking through the school hallways.
Bennett is once again featured (as the same character he played in Mean Girls) and Ariana is walking side by side her 3 friends in pink.
In Mean Girls, Regina George is known as the 'ring leader' in her friendship group, named 'The Plastics'.
It is clear that Ariana Grande and her friends have created an identical parallel to the original 'Plastics' with Elizabeth Gilles playing Cady Heron (originally played by Lindsay Lohan), Alexa Luria playing Karen Smith (originally played by Amanda Seyfried), Ariana Grande playing Regina George (originally played by Rachel McAdams), and Courtney Chipolone playing Gretchen Wieners (originally played by Lacey Chabert).
Furthermore, in Ariana Grandes music video her 'Plastics' also wear the iconic outfits that the original 'Plastics' wear, ensuring that the outfits are pink too, linking to the iconic line from Mean Girls, 'On Wednesday we wear pink'.
Ariana Grandes music video was further all to crate even more intertextual references in this scene too...
Elizabeth Gilles inclusion was a purposeful cameo by Ariana as they are truly best friends. The duo became friends nearly 10 years ago, and were costars on Nickelodeons 'Victorious' tv show. As a result, fans of either of the girls, or Nickelodeon/Victorious will understand this nostalgic and familiar feature.
Ariana also changed Reginas shirt from saying 'a little bit dramatic' to 'a little bit needy'. Needy at the time of release was a rumoured and unconfirmed track of Ariana's, and was later released on the 8th of February 2019.
The music video then makes another direct intertextual reference to the Mean Girls ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ scene and uses Kris Jenner as ‘Regina George’s mum’.
Kris Jenner featured on eg. Keeping Up With The Kardashians, and it is likely that fans of Ariana will recognise her.
Matt Bennett is featured alongside Grande in this scene.
The duo both starred in Nickelodeons Victorious and remained friends since the show ended.
Matt in this scene plays Cliff from Bring It On.
Cliff is Torrances crush, and Torrance is the main character in Bring It On (who Ariana is playing).
Ariana and Matt reenact the flirty ‘tooth-brushing competition’ between Torrance and Cliff.
For fans of the two, these scenes are very nostalgic and sweet, as after all of this time it is clear that the two are still very close.
Those that do not know this reference or Matts cameo I believe will still understand the flirty emotions in this scene.
The music video then makes reference to another 2000s movie, Bring It On.
The movie focuses on a rivalry between 2 cheerleading teams.
The original lettering on the red uniform was RCH but now the letters are TUN (Thank U, Next).
The opposing team (in the green uniform) is Ariana’s backing dancers from her tour.
Fans of Ariana will love the feature of her dancers from her tour actually featuring in the music video, and on Ariana's team (TUN), Daniella Monet is included (middle photo from above)...
Daniella Monet also featured alongside Ariana in Victorious as Trina Vega. Alike, Elizabeth Gilles and Matt Bennetts cameos, I think fans will love that Ariana has included her old costars in this reflective music video, as it shows that she is still appreciative of them, even after all of this time.
13 Going On 30
As a direct intertextual reference Ariana is then Jenna from 13 Going on 30.
In the movie, Jenna has a dollhouse that her love interest (Matt) saved for her, and then is heartbroken that Matt is getting married to another lady...
Unsurprisingly, Ariana ensures to feature holding a dollhouse similar to the one from the movie too, but with each bedroom being from the music video - eg. the yellow bedroom as screenshot above being the bedroom featured from Bring It On.
Ariana also walks past an ambiguous wedding scene that I understood to be 'Ariana' getting married in the future. I believe Ariana purposely did this to show the uncertainty of the future and an emphasis that she is uncertain of who she will end up with.
Fans of Ariana may also be rereminded of one of Ariana Grandes ex boyfriend, Pete. Pete and Ariana cancelled their wedding, and furthermore, Ariana even makes reference to Pete in the lyrics that accompany this part of the song, "Even almost got married, and for Pete I'm so thankful".
Legally Blonde
Finally, Ariana is teleported into the world of Legally Blonde and becomes Elle Woods after she makes a wish to the dollhouse (like Jenna did in 13 Going on 30).
Ariana is even driving Elles signature Porsche that Elle drives to Harvard in but with a personalised lisence plate that reads, '7 RINGS', a rumoured song at that time (later released on the 18th of January 2019).
Fans may also understand that it is no surprise that Ariana chose to act as Elle Woods, as they both have faced hate and yet still consistently proved haters wrong.
Ariana further reinforces conventions in legally Blonde by dressing head to toe in pink, yet still with her classic ponytail!
In Legally Blonde, Elles partner-in-crime is her dog, Bruiser Woods. Fans of Ariana will know that Grande is a huge dog lover, so the role of Bruiser is played by her own dog, Toulouse.
An iconic ending is made with Jennifer Coolidges cameo, who is back to reprise her role as Elles sidekick in the original movie.
There is then a reenactment of the salon scene from the movie, followed by the iconic 'Bend and Snap' scene originally led by Elle, and now led by Ariana.
The music video ends with the whole of the salon dancing and having fun - potentially celebrating Ariana feeling happy and empowered to be single after all of her past relationships and heart break.
To conclude, this music video is admirably rich with intertextual references.
I hope to make references my audience is likely to understand in my own music video like Ariana did, and now feeling very inspired!
