Ariana Grande returns with ‘Petal.’ @katiatemkin Ariana Grande has returned with her eighth studio Petal.
The 12-track album finds the pop star at a new stage in her life. Her third release in three years — Grande released Eternal Sunshine in March 2024 and the extended edition Brighter Days Ahead in March 2025 – there was certainly a question of what sonic direction this album take. Petal certainly builds upon the foundation laid in her extended edition release.
Petal weaves through love and breakups with her signature cheekiness, however, it’s a bit more subdued but no less cutting. The album doesn’t feature a big, fast-paced pop hit, something Grande has had plenty of experience with. It instead opts for a bit of a slower pace, in tune with Eternal Sunshine and the songs that thrived from that album.
The album’s fifth track, “Oh Well,” is a standout moment. Sonically, it is one of the most intriguing tracks, with a blend of sharp lyricism and emotive melodies. The transition from the previous track’s message of wanting to stay in the relationship adds a layer of complexity, making “Oh Well” resonate even deeper.
“Oh Well” carries the essence of a classic Grande song, even if it slightly diverges from her previous releases. The lyric duality is evident in lyrics like, “It sucks because I love you for real / And I want to believe the love I never got is real / So I find it in you / But don’t worry ’cause you’ll keep getting breakup songs about you” and “Good luck on your way to Hell / oh well,” making it a memorable moment on the album.
“Nowhere, Nobody” stands out as the album’s closer, with Grande offering a bittersweet finale as she describes taking a leap of faith and falling in love, acknowledging the risks that it might not work out, yet choosing to continue with it regardless. “Deep breaths, honey,” Grande sings. “There’s no more running.”
Below, The Hollywood Reporter breaks down Petal track-by-track, from “Kiss Me” to “Nowhere, Nobody.”
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“Kiss Me”
Image Credit: courtesy of Republic Records With Petal’s opening track, it’s immediately clear that Grande’s following the sonic landscape explored in the extended version of her last album Eternal Sunshine. The synth-heavy song lays the foundation for the rest of the album, which is a bit more subdued and dreamy overall. “Kiss me like you know this is goodbye / Wе could try to make it all the way out,” she sings on the chorus. “Grab me likе my life is on the line / We decide to make it all the way out.”
