Song: ‘Petal’
Artist: Ariana Grande
US chart peak: 4
Release date: July 31, 2026
Writers: Ariana Grande, Max Martin, Ilya
Producers: Ariana Grande, Max Martin, Ilya
Quintessential Max moment: The way the chorus tempo shifts down a gear making it stand out.
Video synopsis: An office-based horror story turned expansive think piece breeding ground.
How are we feeling about this new era? Generally the vibes feel a bit muted don’t they, which is sort of in keeping with the sonic palette of the album. The tour was a success but because Ariana was in the UK by the time the album arrived it feels like it’s disappeared in America, and then generally the press has been so negative surrounding her personal life that it’s perhaps hard to hear the (generally quite soft) music among the chatter?
For the purposes of this blog, Petal was a surprise in that Max is only featured on three songs – ‘Hate That I Made You Love Me‘, the excellent ‘Stay’ (a US number 22) and the title track. Released alongside the album, it peaked at number 4 and quickly seemed to disappear as ‘Hate That I Made You Love Me’ proved its staying power (at time of writing it’s spent four months inside the Billboard Hot 100 top 10).
Anyway, ‘Petal’. Lyrically, as with a lot of the album, it links to Ariana’s assertion that the album would explore aspects of subdued rage. “Tryna feel something real,” she sings over a high pitched synth riff, “To cry again / They say the artist needs tears / To write again”. As a concept it reminds me a bit of the topics covered on Florence and the Machine’s recent album(s), in which the fame game’s lopsided give and take is weighed up against its impact on the star. The chorus’ highwire falsetto then anchors the idea of treading carefully, of not wanting to seem like a victim (“I’m practically drowning in my blessings” she sings at one point), but also of not wanting to give everything away.
It’s a strange song. The beat goes hard, while the delivery is soft. The lyrics cut but then patch things over quickly with a bandage. As she’s done a lot recently, Ariana’s voice glides rather than belts, like she’s sitting back delivering her thoughts in the corner while a party happens around her. Across the whole album it can feel a little vaporous but on ‘Petal’, the production keeps your attention. I love the little splashes of piano, the double time drum rolls, the elegance of everything under the chorus and then the way the big crashing drums sound like little fits of rage.
There’s an interesting line in the thrilling tumble of the second verse where she sighs “it’s bye, this time for real”. It chimes with the hiatus she’s since announced and frankly who could blame her for wanting out. Fingers crossed she’ll be back when she’s good and ready.
