Ariana Grande has been very busy with music, merchandise, and political activism during Coronavirus pandemic. It’s hard to believe that Ariana believed she was in an “off year” up till she announced her new album Positions in mid-October 2020.
But, Arianators around the world are hoping her new album isn’t officially over with only two months until the new year.
Carmack, Alexander, Rubenstein, & RobbyXO attend the Sweetener World Tour Washington, DC. Photo owned by RobbyXO
“I really want the film to be released this year! The Sweetener World Tour was so amazing & being able to see the show again would take me back to those magical nights,” says Brittney Alexander, who attended both of the Washington, DC dates in 2019.
Alexander attended her first DC show with her best friends Nikki Carmack, Val Rubenstein, & Robby Carmack (me) who all consider themselves Arianators. The group of friends were able to meet Ariana, who blew them all away with her kindness and open arms.
Meet & Greet photos with Ariana Grande, Vlog Thumbnail created by RobbyXO (Vlog below)
“She gave me a big hug & grabbed my hands to hold them. I was so nervous that my hands were a little clammy, but she was so sweet and told me my hands felt soft!” gushed Nikki Carmack.
Just like Alexander and her group of friends, fans are holding out for one last surprise this year in the form of the pop star’s highly anticipated & sought-after concert film, Sweetener World Tour.
Val Rubenstein like many others were stunned by Grande’s announcement in October, “I wasn’t prepared for her [Ariana] to release the collaborations she did earlier this year...I was certainly not expecting a full album!”.
Rubenstein continues saying, “At this point she has teased the concert film all year, I think it’s time that she just surprise that project too.”
Reported back in August, the concert film was in a massive bidding war between streaming platforms with Netflix & YouTube being top contenders for the film’s distribution rights.
While no new information has been reported regarding the film’s details, many are hoping for the concert film to be released on Netflix this holiday season.
Here are Four Things (We) Arianators Hope to see in the Sweetener World Tour film:
New Vocal Notes & Riffs/Runs
In the middle of the Sweetener World Tour, Ariana began to play around with higher notes and different riffs/runs that have never been heard before. Fans got to experience these new vocals either live at a date in the middle or towards the end of the tour or when Grande released a fan requests live album titled K, bye for now. “At the first DC concert in March, Ariana didn’t have any of the new vocals. It was just like on the albums, but by the time she came back around in June there were some noticeable vocal changes as well as visual differences in the show,” says Alexander.
Album Cover for "k bye for now (SWT Live)" via Ariana Grande Instagram
Addition of Christmas album songs to the Final Leg of the Tour
Dates for the Sweetener World Tour continued to be announced through the first half of 2019. On June 20th, 2019, Grande released the final dates of the SWT which would take place once again in North America beginning early November 2019 and ending on December 21, 2019. Grande also teased to fans that the final leg would include songs of her cult Christmas albums Christmas & Chill (2015) & Santa Tell Me (2013).
I was fortunate enough to attend the March date in DC with Alexander, Carmack, & Rubenstein and a final leg date in Brooklyn, NY on November 11, 2019. I got to experience all the changes made throughout the duration of the tour including the new vocals, the Pride celebration that began in June for LGBTQ+ Pride month but continued due to Grande being an ally, and finally all the new Christmas section. I can only hope other fans will be able to see these additions in the concert film.
Sweetener World Tour Brooklyn, NYC 11/11/2019. Photo owned by RobbyXO
Pride Celebration at the SWT Photo by RobbyXO
Behind the Scenes headlining music festival Coachella
In the middle of the tour Grande had the opportunity to headline music festivals Lollapalooza and Coachella. Headlining Coachella was a huge accomplishment for the singer as she became the youngest artist to headline the music festival & just the fourth female headliner in the festivals 20 year history.
“I remember we were so excited about the festival announcements because we [Robby and I] were scheduled to come back from the Philippines the weekend of Lollapalooza & we tried desperately to go,” Nikki reminisces.
Brittney playfully jokes with me, “Oh, really? I specifically remember you [Robby] trying to get me to go to Coachella! How did you think you would afford two tour dates and two really expensive music festivals?”
Performances with Surprise Special Guests
Only a few special guests were brought out during the duration of the tour. Artists that made appearances on stage with Grande that fans are hoping to see include: N*SYNC, Victoria Monet, Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, Social House, 2 Chainz, Diddy, and Ariana’s close friends & former Victorious cast members Liz Gillies & Matt Bennett.
“Victoria came out for our stop, right? I only remember because she is so pretty and has a beautiful voice. The song they song wasn’t released at the time, so it was a lack luster performance because the audience didn’t know the words,” Val states regarding the then unreleased duet between Grande and Monet titled “Got Her Own”. The song would later be released on the Charlie’s Angels reboot Movie Soundtrack.
Check out the Sweetener World Tour performance of “Got Her Own” here:
Video owned by RobbyXO
It is hard to believe that the Sweetener World Tour was coming to a close this time last year.
Videography & Editing by RobbyXO
What are you hoping to see in the Sweetener World Tour film?
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