When she isn't terrorizing the nearest doughnut shop or being accused of diva-like antics, pop starlet Ariana Grande is usually spending her time wisely, cranking out number one albums (two in less than a year) and impressive radio tunes such as "Love Me Harder" and "One More Time". With the release of her third studio album Moonlight on the horizon, Grande is back with her trademark sultry vocals and brass-heavy production for "Focus", the lead single from the upcoming project.
"Focus" immediately comes off sounding like a direct sequel to Grande's previous hit "Problem", but instead of a rap verse provided by Iggy Azalea, the new single comes complete with an unusual, unexpected chorus supported by deep, male vocals. Produced by Max Martin, the new single does not do too much to expand on the artist's talents, but when it comes to massively successful chart toppers, why fix something that's not broken?
With a familiar progression, recycled, jazz-influenced production and Grande's mesmerizing vocal abilities, the recently released track will delight fans of the artist's previous work, however, will frustrate those expecting the "Break Free" songstress to step outside her comfort zone and deliver something new and fresh. "Let's find a light inside our universe now, where ain't nobody keep on holding us down, just come and get it, let them say what they say, cuz I'm about to put them all away," she belts on the pre-hook.
Overall, the song itself is a commendable effort. While an official version without the male vocals on the chorus would be much better, they take away from the polished, seductive nature of the single, it's a minor sidestep for a destined radio smash. "Focus" has the energy, and even though it reuses elements of Grande's previous lead single, it still sounds more innovative than most of the efforts fighting for chart dominance today. And those vocals... perfection.
Along with the official track, Grande shared the accompanying music video with her devoted fan base and it's even better than the song. Directed by Hannah Lux Davis ("Bang Bang", "Love Me Harder" director), the now platinum blonde artist is shown parading around a bright, futuristic. purple/blue set partaking in choreographed dance routines and giving face of innocence to the camera. The selfie scene and product placement could have been edited out, but again, just another nitpicky aspect of an overall solid release.
For the lead single off Moonlight, the new "Focus" doesn't do much to build buzz from a different audience. Though it features fun beats, a powerful vocal performance and is accompanied by a strong visual, many will think they've already heard the song before, which could hurt its chart run. However, it's great to hear that Grande has not lost her special touch. Final verdict: good enough for an album cut, maybe not groundbreaking enough for a lead offering.
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