Pop superstar Ariana Grande has added another milestone to her musical journey as her latest studio album, Petal, was voted fans’ favourite new music release in this week’s online poll, outperforming several high-profile releases from across the music industry.
The eighth studio album obtained over 41 per cent of the votes and thus finished ahead of the new albums by artists such as Cardi B, Davido, Slayyyter and Shaboozey. The outcome shows the enthusiasm surrounding Grande’s return with a full-length album as she continues her Eternal Sunshine Tour.
Petal was released on Friday and is the sequel to Eternal Sunshine, which had a successful stint at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The album consists of 12 tracks and highlights Grande’s usual combination of emotional storytelling and well-produced pop music.
Along with the album, Grande also released a cinematic music video for the title track. In the video she plays a fictitious actress called Pepper, who has to cope with continuous public scrutiny as she attempts to meet impossible expectations. The satirical plot looks at the pressures of fame and then takes an unexpected dramatic turn, thus reinforcing the album’s themes of resilience and self-expression.
The title song comes after “Hate That I Made You Love Me” had previously reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the two tracks together reflect Grande’s ongoing exploration of vulnerability, personal growth and the experience of living in the spotlight.
It has also been reported that Grande intends to withdraw from public life for a while after finishing her present tour, in order to rest following her busy routine of recording, promoting and giving live performances.
In the fan vote, “Efímero” by Erick Brian, Dale Pututi and Nesty came in second place, whereas Cardi B’s “AH HA” ended up in third. Even with so much competition, Petal kept its lead throughout the voting period, showing the strong connection that Ariana Grande continues to have with her worldwide fan base.