
Ariana Grande has released another new song, with an accompanying music video, dubbed "7 Rings." It's supposedly about a random shopping trip to Tiffany's when Grande bought herself and her friends matching engagement rings. You know, normal friendship stuff.
The lyrics are basically just an ode to how she rich she is and the music video is reminiscent of Miley Cyrus circa 2013 with Drake's "Hotline Bling" aesthetic. Her diehard fans are calling it her best song and video yet, although admittedly they can't relate, while others are calling it a tacky mess of cultural appropriation. Let's dive in.
From the get-go, you'll recognize the melody of "7 Rings." It borrows a riff from The Sound of Music classic "My Favorite Things," but changes the original lyrics about appreciating the little things to an ode to how money can actually buy happiness.
The lyrics go something like this: "Breakfast at Tiffany’s and bottles of bubbles / Girls with tattoos who like getting in trouble / Lashes and diamonds, ATM machines / Buy myself all of my favorite things."
The song’s arrangement then takes a turn for the worse into a mess of fake hip-hop flavor.

"I see it / I like it / I want it / I got it," she says.
Many people thought they recognized the flow from somewhere else.
Ariana Grande TOO?!?! Damn, these so called “Top Artists” stay Bitting Off Soulja bad... 7 Rings flow = Pretty Boy Swag... Soulja Boy truly a Legend...Big Draco a Trendsetter FR!
— Soulja Boy FATHERED Yo Fave!Deal Wit It????????♂️???????? (@DariusAintMad) January 18, 2019
???????????????? @AuntiesBlock #7RingsMusicVideo pic.twitter.com/El6WZ2spht
Some thought it sounded alarmingly similar to Soulja Boy's "Pretty Boy Swag."
Others thought it sounded just like Princess Nokia's song "Mine."
i’m so sorry ariana grande but this sounds very similar to mine by princess nokia
— MOODA LI$A???? (@TeaAndMood) January 18, 2019
“it’s mine, i bought it”???????????? pic.twitter.com/DT1c3y6M4B
Where is the lie?
Princess Nokia herself even called out Grande for copping her sound.
@ArianaGrande pic.twitter.com/48ZqIv5DBq
— Princess Nokia (@princessnokia) January 18, 2019
"Sounds about white," she wrote on Twitter.
Regardless, Grande stans are obsessed with the track.

And everyone's making the same "I'm broke" joke on Twitter.
listening to 7 rings while having $13.67 in my bank account #7Rings pic.twitter.com/gq8CcHI2Mc
— 「dani™」 #shootersfornamjoon (@monostalgics) January 18, 2019
me listening to #7Rings knowing ariana is calling me out for being poor pic.twitter.com/8gq9CdHiKB
— pat (@patisabeI) January 18, 2019
Ariana really just told us all we’re broke AND depressed to the tune of “My Favorite Things” #7rings pic.twitter.com/jDp0dCn0dC
— Jules (@ju_want_it) January 18, 2019
Music aside, the video is a whole other monster.

Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, the aesthetic of the "7 Rings" video is bright pink, with shades of blue and purple — kinda like Drake's "Hotline Bling" video, Rihanna’s "Work" video, and Justin Bieber’s "What Do You Mean?" video. In other words, this is hardly a new look in the music video realm.
In the video, Grande is throwing a party and dancing with her pals with her tongue out. It's very reminiscent of Miley Cyrus' Bangerz era — especially the "We Can't Stop" and "23" music videos.

When "We Can't Stop" was released, everyone accused Cyrus of cultural appropriation. Many of those same people are applauding Grande's music video. Hmmmm...
In case you forgot, like Cyrus, Grande got her start on a children's television show.
Ariana Grande bout to go through her Miley Cyrus culture vulture phase I see
— coolest kid on the planet ???????? (@The_A1_God) January 18, 2019
Also, she is white.
Many people conveniently ignore the fact that Grande adopted a new skin tone and persona to appeal to a wider, culturally diverse audience.
Ariana Grande before and after Princess Nokia approaches her pic.twitter.com/n7SzjEWnzM
— christopher (@capitalized) January 18, 2019
Now, she's taking that appropriation to another level in the "7 Rings" video.
Fortunately, many people are becoming more aware of Grande's problematic persona and aren't afraid to call her out on it.
THEY USE CONTENT THAT IS MEANT FOR BLACK AND BROWN GIRLS AND PACKAGE IT FOR A WHITE GIRL TO SELL MORE
— chip (@chippy_nonstop) January 18, 2019
We can't hold some white women accountable and let others slide because we like their music. It doesn't work that way.
In summary, everyone on Twitter pretending this song is her best work just goes to show that groupthink is alive and well.
Ariana Grande could literally fart y’all still b like YASSS QUEEN SHE REALLY DID THAT
— Cal (@thecalliezunner) January 18, 2019
Don't @ me, y'all.
when will ariana grande stop
— lau (@numinous_palms) January 18, 2019
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