If you've been anywhere near the internet in the last week, you've probably been turning your phone and laptops upside down to read anything Ariana Grande's been posting.
ʎɹɔ oʇ ʇɟǝl sɹɐǝʇ ou ʍou ʇno https://t.co/8RDqtRLeC8
That's because she's been teasing new music, and last night she finally dropped the song "No Tears Left To Cry" along with a brand new music video.
People have been wondering how, if at all, Ariana would reference what happened in the track. It was reported that although the song wasn't entirely about the incident, Ariana had alluded to it in "a perfect, powerful way" that left people "hysterically crying".
In the run up to the release, Ariana’s Instagram captions, tweets and artwork were all turned upside down, and the video is no different.
In it, the world around Ariana is constantly spinning, perhaps representing the way her world – and the worlds of many others – were upended the night of the attacks.
There's also a scene in which she removes her face. Some fans have questioned whether this references the way she put on a "public face" of strength after the attack.
And how this face literally masked her true feelings, especially because she only takes it off when she's alone.
While the lyrics of the song don't reference the attacks directly, they are full of positivity, and this is reflected in the video as it progresses.
Ariana states that she's in a new mind-set, which some fans have taken as a reference to her managing to move forwards after the incident.
In fact, while the video begins at night, by the end Ariana sings as the sun rises – a literal symbol of the start of a new day.
She then looks up and appears to be singing to the sky, which could be a nod to the Manchester victims, who Ariana has said will be “on her mind and in her heart everyday.”
And right at the end, a bee flies away past the camera – definite dedication to Manchester.
Following the incident, the bee was used to symbolise unity and strength, with many people, including Ariana and her crew, getting the design as a tattoo.
However, there are a couple of other interesting details which might give us some clues about her upcoming album. Going back to the scene with the masks, it's interesting to note that there are three, perhaps representing each of her past albums.
And in this scene she's also surrounded by notes including a scribbled out tracklist made up of nine songs. One of which features Pharrell, while another is partially covered by a mask.
But the fact that Ariana removes her "mask" while surrounded by notes and a tracklist could point to the fact that this will be her most real and emotionally raw album yet.
No word on when AG4 will actually be released, but I'll be watching this video on loop until then.
