Ariana Grande, Viva Music: In the zone

I don’t think I’ve covered Ariana Grande enough. So, I’m setting it right and dedicating this week to the high-flying Ariana Grande.

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Good timing, too, as the 31-year old “Wicked” star released the album “eternal sunshine: deluxe, brighter days ahead.”

Besides her songbird-level singing skills, Ariana is known for polished pop songs, the kind that usually has an R&B bent. Then there’s piano-decked ballads, rap collabs, and a club anthem here and there, the latter bringing to mind 2014’s excellent “Problem” and “One Last Time” as examples. But is Ariana a purveyor of cool-sounding synth-pop? The image of Ariana’s recent Grammy run with “Wicked” seems to contradict that statement. However, Ariana now has the vibing “Twilight Zone” and proves that a decade-plus into her career, she can still surprise.