Ariana Grande's "God is a woman" Explained | Song Stories

Genius

16 Jul 201802:23

Summary

TLDRAriana Grande's 'God is a Woman' is a powerful anthem of sexual liberation and female empowerment. Produced by ILYA, the song has been a chart-topper and features religious and spiritual themes, including a Bible verse recited by Madonna. The music video challenges societal norms, with a cameo from Madonna and a reinterpretation of Michelangelo's 'Creation of Adam' featuring women, showcasing Grande's defiance against critics and her embrace of feminine strength.

Takeaways

🎶 Ariana Grande's single 'God is a Woman' is a testament to her sexual liberation and spiritual connection with a lover.
🎧 The track was produced by ILYA, who has a history of collaboration with Ariana on other hits like 'no tears left to cry' and 'Side to Side'.
🏆 'God is a Woman' has been highly ranked on Genius’ Top Songs chart since its release.
💬 Ariana addresses her critics and makes a statement about her indifference to public opinion regarding her personal life.
📜 The song's lyrics draw parallels with religious practices, such as confession and blessings, to convey a deeper message.
🎥 The music video features a notable cameo by Madonna, who recites the Bible verse Ezekiel 25:17, adding a layer of cultural reference.
🎬 The video also makes a cultural nod by reimagining Michelangelo’s 'Creation of Adam' with women, showcasing feminine empowerment.
🌍 Ariana positions herself as superior to her detractors, visually represented by her being 'on top of the world' in the video.
👑 The final gesture in the video, recreating a classic artwork with women, is a powerful symbol of female greatness and divine femininity.
📢 Tia from Genius News provides insight into the meaning and knowledge behind the music, offering a deeper understanding of Ariana Grande's artistic expression.

Q & A

What is the title of Ariana Grande's latest single mentioned in the script?
-The title of Ariana Grande's latest single is 'God is a woman.'
Who produced Ariana Grande's single 'God is a woman'?
-The track 'God is a woman' was produced by ILYA.
What other songs has ILYA produced for Ariana Grande?
-ILYA has also produced 'no tears left to cry' and 'Side to Side' for Ariana Grande.
How has 'God is a woman' performed on Genius' Top Songs chart?
-Since its release, 'God is a woman' has floated and remained towards the top of Genius' Top Songs chart.
What does Ariana Grande express in 'God is a woman'?
-Ariana expresses her own sexual liberation by talking about a spiritual experience with a lover in 'God is a woman'.
Who is presumably the lover Ariana Grande refers to in the song?
-Ariana Grande presumably refers to her new partner Pete Davidson as the lover in the song.
How does Ariana Grande respond to criticism about her relationship in the song?
-Ariana makes it clear in the song that she doesn’t care what other people think about her relationship.
Which religious practices are referenced in the song's imagery?
-The song's imagery references religious practices like going to confession at church and being blessed.
What cameo is included in the music video of 'God is a woman'?
-The music video includes a cameo from Madonna, whose voice is heard reciting a Bible verse.
Which Bible verse is recited by Madonna in the music video?
-Madonna recites the Bible verse Ezekiel 25:17 in the middle of the music video.
What other themes does the music video explore besides Ariana's response to criticism?
-The music video explores themes of Ariana being bigger than the haters and her portrayal of feminine greatness by re-making Michelangelo’s 'Creation of Adam' with figures of different women.

Outlines

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🎶 Ariana Grande's 'God is a Woman' Music Video Analysis

Ariana Grande's single 'God is a woman' is a celebration of female empowerment and sexual liberation. Produced by ILYA, who has worked on other hits for the artist, the song has been a chart-topper on Genius' Top Songs chart. The lyrics and music video depict a spiritual connection with a lover, possibly referencing her relationship with Pete Davidson. Despite media scrutiny, Ariana asserts her indifference to public opinion. The video includes religious imagery, such as confession and blessings, and features a surprising cameo by Madonna, who recites a Bible verse, echoing a line from 'Pulp Fiction.' The video concludes with a powerful reimagining of Michelangelo's 'Creation of Adam,' substituting women for the original male figures, symbolizing feminine greatness.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande is a popular American singer known for her powerful vocals and pop hits. In the context of this video, she is the artist behind the single 'God is a Woman,' where she conveys themes of sexual and spiritual empowerment. The video dissects her personal expression and symbolism in the song, highlighting Grande’s disregard for societal judgments on her relationships and choices.

💡God is a Woman

'God is a Woman' is the title of Ariana Grande’s single, where she combines themes of spirituality and sexuality. The song suggests a divine, almost mystical experience in her relationship, symbolizing feminine empowerment and liberation. The song is central to the video's message of spiritual and sexual autonomy, celebrating femininity in a powerful, god-like manner.

💡Sexual Liberation

Sexual liberation refers to the act of embracing and expressing one's sexuality freely without societal constraints. In this video, Ariana Grande’s 'God is a Woman' is framed as a declaration of her sexual liberation, as she confidently speaks about intimate experiences with a partner. This liberation is key to the song’s message of empowerment and is juxtaposed with spiritual elements to enhance its boldness.

💡Pete Davidson

Pete Davidson, a comedian and actor, was Ariana Grande’s romantic partner at the time of the song’s release. His relationship with Grande became a focal point of media scrutiny, but in the song, Grande subtly addresses this relationship. She uses her music to make it clear that she is unconcerned with public opinion, reinforcing her message of personal empowerment and freedom.

💡Religious Imagery

Religious imagery plays a critical role in 'God is a Woman,' as the song and video include references to religious practices like confession and blessings. Ariana also makes visual references to religious art, such as Michelangelo's 'Creation of Adam.' These images symbolize her empowerment and dominance in both spiritual and worldly realms, challenging traditional religious gender roles.

💡Madonna

Madonna is an iconic pop star who makes a vocal cameo in the 'God is a Woman' music video. She recites a biblical verse, Ezekiel 25:17, which is also famously quoted in the movie 'Pulp Fiction.' Madonna's appearance further emphasizes the themes of feminine power and rebellion in the video, as she has long been a symbol of female empowerment in popular culture.

💡Ezekiel 25:17

Ezekiel 25:17 is a biblical verse famously quoted in Quentin Tarantino’s 'Pulp Fiction.' In the 'God is a Woman' music video, Madonna recites this verse, which talks about vengeance and justice. The inclusion of this verse emphasizes the blend of religious themes with empowerment and strength, serving as a declaration of feminine retribution against those who oppress women.

💡Creation of Adam

The 'Creation of Adam' is a famous painting by Michelangelo that depicts God giving life to Adam. In the music video for 'God is a Woman,' Ariana recreates this iconic image but replaces Adam and other male figures with women. This reinterpretation highlights feminine greatness and empowerment, showing women as the creators and divine figures, symbolically replacing traditional patriarchal narratives.

💡Spiritual Experience

Ariana Grande’s song conveys a sense of intimacy described as a spiritual experience with her lover. This concept fuses the sensual with the divine, suggesting that her connection with her partner transcends the physical and enters a more profound, almost religious realm. The song elevates the importance of female pleasure and strength, showing it as something sacred.

💡Genius News

Genius News is the platform through which Tia, the host, breaks down the song 'God is a Woman.' The outlet specializes in providing detailed analyses of song lyrics and their meanings. In this video, Genius News serves as the narrative voice, guiding viewers through the cultural and symbolic elements of Ariana Grande's song and music video, offering a deeper understanding of its themes.

Highlights

Ariana Grande's 'God is a woman' is a religious experience for fans.

Track produced by ILYA, known for other Ariana Grande hits.

'God is a woman' tops Genius’ Top Songs chart.

Ariana Grande discusses sexual liberation and spirituality in the song.

Ariana is unapologetic about her relationship with Pete Davidson.

Religious practices are referenced in the song's lyrics.

Madonna makes a surprise appearance in the music video.

Bible verse Ezekiel 25:17 is recited by Madonna in the video.

The verse is also part of Samuel L. Jackson’s monologue in ‘Pulp Fiction.'

The music video explores themes of overcoming haters.

Ariana is portrayed as being above her critics.

The video concludes with a feminist reinterpretation of Michelangelo’s 'Creation of Adam'.

Tia from Genius News provides insight into the song's meaning.