POP - THANK U, NEXT (ARIANA GRANDE)
- Patri
- Oct 24, 2018
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 2, 2019
· MOVIE REFERENCES:
This music video is based on movie references using iconography as its main focus for the visuals and narrative. It uses 2000s cinematic classics such as "Mean Girls", "Bring It On", "13 Going on 30" and "Legally Blonde". The music video was directed by Hannah Lux who wanted to integrate self acceptance, nostalgia and Ariana's biggest romances in the narrative as it linked with the lyrics.
The video starts off referencing "Mean Girls" by portraying Lindsay Lohan and Rachel Adams, both the most popular girls in high-school who have a turbulent relationship as they fight for the 'queen bee' tittle. The music video recreates the iconic scene where the group of girls are filmed going down the corridor in slow motion, all of them wearing very tight, provocative clothes.
There is also a reference to Amy Poehler, who portrayed a mother trying to film the girls on stage wearing Christmas clothes dancing along to a carol. She is played by Kris Jenner that acts as a 'cool mum' but she is putting herself in evidence in from of everyone.
Top: Mean Girls (2004) Bottom: Thank u, Next (2018)
Then Ari makes reference to "Bring it On" starring Gabrielle Union and Kirsten Dunst as rival cheerleaders before the match.
Ariana Grande in "Thank U, Next" (2018)
Kirsten Dunst in "Bring it On" (2004)
She then references "13 Going on 30" (2004) starring Jennifer Garner as a teenager stuck in the body of a 30 year old. Ariana references the scene of the dollhouse on the staircase.
Top: Thank u, Next (2018) Bottom: 13 Going on 30 (2004)
Finally Ari replicates Reese Witherspoon's pink party from "Legally Blond" (2001) where she dresses the same way and even takes with her the dog with the sweater wearing the H.
Top: Legally Blonde (2001) Bottom: Thank u, Next (2018)
Top: Legally Blonde (2001) Bottom: Thank u, Next (2018)
This music video has over 347.638.859 views due to the remaking of different iconic comfort movies. The fact that this movies are from 2000's mean that they were targeting a much wider audience, therefore why it has been such a success. Hannah Lux Davis was the director of this masterpiece. She said in an interview that this song couldn't only be an homage to Mean Girls. It needed to have the energy of Bring It On, the wistfulness of 13 Going on 30, the, ahem, bend and snap of Legally Blonde. Grande wouldn’t just embody Regina George—she would take on Elle Woods, Torrance Shipman, and Jenna Rink. The singer’s real-life friends needed to be there too, and a bunch of cheeky cameos from celebrities and actors from the original movies.
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