POV (song)

"POV" (an acronym for "point of view"; stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American singer Ariana Grande. She wrote the song with Tayla Parx and its producers Mr. Franks, Oliver "Junior" Frid and Tommy Brown. It was released on October 30, 2020, as the last track on Grande's sixth studio album Positions.

For other songs, see POV.
"POV"
Song by Ariana Grande
from the album Positions
ReleasedOctober 30, 2020 (2020-10-30)
StudioChampagne Therapy (Los Angeles)
GenreR&B
Length3:21
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Mr. Franks
  • Oliver Frid
  • Tommy Brown

Background and composition

On October 24, 2020, Grande released the track list of Positions via social media, revealing "POV" as the fourteenth and final track on the album.[1][2]

"POV" is an R&B ballad with a quiet arrangement accompanied by cello and viola. It has a length of three minutes and twenty-one seconds,[3] and is written with a tempo of 66 beats per minute in the key of E-flat major, while Grande's vocals range from a low note of B♭3 to a high note of G5.[4] The song opens with rainfall sound effects.[5] On the last line, Grande's voice follows a descending melody as the music fades out.[6]

Lyrically, the song explores the idea of switching places with a lover,[7] and how love can smooth out perceived imperfections.[8] In the track, Grande mentions how deeply her lover, Dalton Gomez, understands her and loves her, how much more understood and adored the singer feels through his eyes,[9] as well as her insecurities, her initial fear of starting a relationship again, and how Gomez has helped her overcome it.[10] She also expresses joy for being accepted for her "ugly",[11] and makes a plea to love herself just as much as her partner loves her.[12]

Critical reception

Jason Lipshutz of Billboard ranked "POV" as his top song from Positions, describing the track as one that "breaks the mold of a traditional R&B ballad", calling it "a breathtaking show-stopper" and "the most elegant–and arguably the flat-out best–deployment of full-on balladry in her catalog to date". He particularly praised the song's lyrical concept, which he regards as an integral part in what makes the song "work so well".[8] Vulture's Justin Curto named the song "one of Grande's best performances on Positions", deeming it "an ecstatic finale presenting her whole range of whistle tones, belts, and runs in just three and a half minutes".[7] Writing for Consequence of Sound, Mary Siroky chose "POV" as one of the three "essential tracks" from the album, and considered it "perhaps the best showcase for the belt listeners often crave from her".[13] Chris DeVille of Stereogum wrote in his review of the album: "Album closer 'POV' is the sort of churchy traditionalist ballad Carey or Whitney Houston once slayed, and Grande proves herself a worthy heir."[14]

Year-end lists

Callie Ahlgrim of Insider ranked "POV" as the 14th best song of 2020, naming it the best ballad in Grande's entire catalog. She praised Grande's "transcendent" vocals, writing that the song "boasts some of her most intimate, impressive lyrics to date". She also commended the song for being "sentimental and expressive without feeling pretentious".[15] In Billboard's staff list of the 100 best songs of 2020, "POV" was positioned at 52, with Rania Aniftos commenting that the song "smash[es] the walls [Grande] built up throughout Sweetener and Thank U, Next" and "reveal[s] her most beautifully defenseless side yet".[16] NPR ranked "POV" as the 98th best song of 2020, with Nastia Voynovskaya from KQED stating: "Ariana Grande's 'POV' comes off as a fluttering, ethereal ode to newfound love, but it's really a meditation on how she uses romance as a lens to better get to know herself."[17]

Erin Parker of Glamour selected "POV" as one of the 63 best songs of 2020, writing: "I'm always here for an Ari ballad, and 'POV' is such a gorgeous ending to Positions."[18] Natasha Jokic of BuzzFeed picked "POV" as one of the best songs of 2020. Complimenting Grande's "breathtaking" vocals, she stated: "'POV' gives us a tender insight that's a lot more vulnerable than the rest of Positions might suggest."[19] Karla Rodriguez of Complex ranked "POV" as the 10th best song of 2020.[20] Harper's Bazar named "POV" as one of the best songs of 2020, with Erica Gonzales calling it a "head-over-heels-in-love ballad" and a standout track from Positions.[21] Rachel Epstein of Marie Claire regarded "POV" as one of the best love songs of 2020.[22]

Commercial performance

Following the release of parent album Positions, "POV" debuted at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the fifth highest charting track from the album that week, as well as the third highest charting non-single behind "Motive" with Doja Cat and "Off the Table" with the Weeknd, which peaked at number 32 and 35, respectively.[23] As the song continued to trend on TikTok, it remained stable at number 45 in its second and third week on the Hot 100. It has since charted for a total of six consecutive weeks, earning Grande her longest charting non-single of her career and surpassing "Needy", which charted for four weeks in February 2019. "POV" also debuted at number 22 on the Billboard Global 200.[24]

In the United Kingdom, "POV" debuted at number 22, becoming Grande's 29th top 40 entry on the UK Singles Chart.[25] In the following week, it climbed three positions and reached number 19, becoming Grande's 26th top 20 hit in the UK.[26]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal and the liner notes of Positions.[27][28]

Personnel

  • Ariana Grande – vocals, background vocals, songwriting, vocal production, vocal arrangement, audio engineering
  • Tommy Brown – songwriting, production
  • Mr. Franks – songwriting, production
  • Oliver "Junior" Frid – songwriting, production
  • Tayla Parx – songwriting, lyrics, melodies, vocal production
  • Peter Lee Johnson – strings
  • Billy Hickey – audio engineering, mix engineering
  • David Campbell – strings arrangement
  • Steve Churchyard – strings audio engineering
  • Jeff Fitzpatrick – strings audio engineering assistance
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Gerry Hilera – concert mastering, violin
  • Mario de Leon – violin
  • Ellen Jung – violin
  • Ana Landauer – violin
  • Phillip Levy – violin
  • Lorand Lokuszta – violin
  • Michele Richards – violin
  • Neil Samples – violin
  • Ashoka Thiagarajan – violin
  • David Walther – viola
  • Rodney Wirtz – viola
  • Paula Hochhalter – cello
  • Ross Gadsworth – cello

Recording and management

  • Recorded at Champagne Therapy Studios (Los Angeles, California)
  • Orchestra recorded at Capitol Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)
  • Mixed at MixStar Studios (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
  • Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York, New York)
  • Published by Universal Music Group Corp. (ASCAP) and Reservoir Media Music (ASCAP); all rights administered worldwide by Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Tayla Taylor Monet Music/Warner Chappell (BMI), Parx Worldwide Publishing (BMI) and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI); all rights administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Notes

  • Physical releases of Positions credit Grande for "lyrics and melodies".

Charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[29] 29
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[30] 31
France (SNEP)[31] 136
Global 200 (Billboard)[32] 24
Greece (IFPI)[33] 35
Ireland (IRMA)[34] 16
Lithuania (AGATA)[35] 49
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[36] 65
New Zealand (RMNZ)[37] 19
Portugal (AFP)[38] 51
Singapore (RIAS)[39] 21
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[40] 83
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 81
UK Singles (OCC)[42] 19
US Billboard Hot 100[43] 40
US Rolling Stone Top 100[44] 10

References
  1. Iasimone, Ashley (October 24, 2020). "Ariana Grande unveils 'Positions' track list". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  2. Bailey, Alyssa (October 30, 2020). "Ariana Grande's Full Positions Tracklist Is Here And Reveals A Lot About The Album". Elle. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  3. "Positions by Ariana Grande on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  4. "Ariana Grande 'pov' Sheet Music in Eb Major (transposable)". Musicnotes. October 30, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  5. White, Adam (October 30, 2020). "Ariana Grande's Positions is woozy and flirtatious but lacking in surprise". The Independent. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  6. Sodomsky, Sam (October 30, 2020). "'pov' by Ariana Grande Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  7. Curto, Justin (October 30, 2020). "Ariana Grande Ends Positions With a Bit of Emotional Honesty". Vulture. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  8. Lipshutz, Jason (October 30, 2020). "Every Song Ranked on Ariana Grande's 'Positions': Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  9. Wilson, Carl (October 30, 2020). "Ariana Grande Resigns—Gracefully, and Thirstily—From Meaning Too Much". Slate Magazine. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  10. Weaver, Hilary (October 25, 2020). "Ariana Grande's 'POV' Lyrics Show How Deep And Serious Her Relationship With Dalton Gomez Is". Elle. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  11. Solomon, Kate. "Ariana Grande, Postions, review:plenty of lust, but where all the hits?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  12. Blanchet, Brendon (October 30, 2020). "Ariana Grande - Positions". Clash. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  13. Siroky, Mary (October 31, 2020). "Ariana Grande's Positions Is a 2020 Pop Fairytale: Review". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  14. DeVille, Chris (October 29, 2020). "Premature Evaluation: Ariana Grande Positions". Stereogum. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  15. Ahlgrim, Callie (September 14, 2020). "The 30 Best Songs of 2020, Ranked". Insider. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  16. Billboard Staff (December 8, 2020). "The 100 Best Songs of 2020: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  17. "NPR's 100 Best Songs Of 2020, Ranked". NPR. December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  18. Rosa, Christopher (December 17, 2020). "The 63 Best Songs of 2020 That Made Our Lives a Little Easier". Glamour. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  19. Jokic, Natasha (December 14, 2020). "24 Of The Best Songs Of 2020". BuzzFeed. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  20. "Complex Staff Picks: Our Favorite Songs and Albums of 2020". Complex. December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  21. Betancourt, Bianca; Gonzales, Erica; Maher, Natalie; Sanchez, Chelsey (December 29, 2020). "The Best Songs of 2020". Harper's Bazar. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  22. Epstein, Rachel (December 25, 2020). "The Best Love Songs of 2020 From Taylor Swift to Machine Gun Kelly". Marie Claire. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  23. Zellner, Xander (November 9, 2020). "14 'Positions': Ariana Grande Charts Every Track From New Album on Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  24. "Ariana Grande Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  25. "Ariana Grande holds Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart for a third week with Positions". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  26. "Ariana Grande clinches fourth week at Number 1 on Official Singles Chart following close battle with Billie Eilish". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  27. Grande, Ariana (October 30, 2020). "Credits / Positions / Ariana Grande". Retrieved November 1, 2020 – via Tidal.
  28. Positions (booklet). Ariana Grande. New York: Republic Records. 2020. p. 8. UPC 602435350967.CS1 maint: others (link)
  29. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  30. "Ariana Grande Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  31. "Top Singles (Week 47, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  32. "Ariana Grande Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  33. "IFPI Charts". IFPI Greece. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  34. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  35. "2020 47-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" [2020 47th week's most listened (TOP 100)] (in Lithuanian). AGATA. November 20, 2020. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  36. "Dutchcharts.nl – Ariana Grande – POV" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  37. "NZ Singles Chart". RMNZ. November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  38. "Portuguesecharts.com – Ariana Grande – POV". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  39. "RIAS International Top Charts Week 47". Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original on November 24, 2020.
  40. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 47". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  41. "Swisscharts.com – Ariana Grande – POV". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  42. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  43. "Ariana Grande Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  44. "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
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