Why Yours Truly Debuted Ariana Grande Perfectly

In the first installment of my Ariana Grande era retrospective, we'll travel back in time to 2013's Yours Truly. This RnB and Soul-infused pop record introduced the world to one of the world's foremost iconic divas. Let's look back at Ari's first few singles, the album itself, and some of the history behind the #YoursTruly era #arianagrande #videoessay
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[@EljohnMacaranas]

A big happy 10th birthday to Ari’s Yours Truly and her overall discography! 💖

[@therobotdevil2284]

2013 was one hell of a year for pop!

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Pure Heroine, Bangerz, Artpop, Prism, Yours Truly, Closer (Tegan Sara)

[@Primorska.mapper]

But let’s not forget about 2014: 1. 1989 - Taylor 2. My Everything - Ari 3. New Classic - Iggy 4. SUCKER - Charli XCX 5. Ultra-violence - Lana 6. Pink print - Nicki 7. V - Marron 5 8. Title - Meghan Trainor 9. FOUR - One Direction Trust me, 2014 was THE YEAR of pop

[@pixelpudding3914]

I remember being so shook when The Way came out lol I was like “Omg Cat?!”

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Her and Cat are so different in demeanor and humor it was a shock when I went to one of her earlier concerts and she commanded our attention haha.

[@noneapplicable1327]

oh wow i didn’t realize 10 years went by so fast! also why did victorious end?! man i loved that show!

[@EljohnMacaranas]

It’s rumored to have been because of the show’s expensive costs and the cast aging too fast. I never bought that Victoria ended it by choosing to tour over film a few episodes. Grande had Sam and Cat in the oven and this record so like she would have been fine regardless.

[@linc]

honeymoon avenue will forever be my top 1 ariana song ever.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Honestly, it’s such a great song. The metaphor, the vocals, really exceptional opener.

[@adiawasthi4589]

Gr8 video. This era also made her seem emulating Mariah's artistry & style..and also Ariana heavily capitalising on Mariah's R&B blueprint to combined with modern appeal...

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I feel like Dangerous Woman had really been her attempt to shake off the comparison because years ago everyone kept saying Mariah in the same breath as her. Which again one of the best compliments you can get but a shadow you really have to overcome.

[@peachyymomo]

In an alternate universe Jordin Sparks released Yours Truly and I don’t want to live in that universe

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Oh Jordin Sparks was adorable loved her stuff (still do like One Step at a Time 😭) but Ari’s vocal ate her up 💖

[@JBananas-pk5ls]

By all means… I think Jordin Sparks, is a very talented singer and her songs were pretty good in it’s time. But, I still don’t understand all this slander going on, about how Yours Truly was supposed to be for Jordin Sparks, when the only association going on with that, was that she wrote The Way… idk! 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I think they meant The Way but conflated it with the record instead.

[@hunniii2356]

You do know that yours truly wasn't even the original title of the album, Jordin recorded The Way, RCA didn't like it and didn't want to release it (typical of RCA) so Jordin literally gave the song to Ariana to put it on her debut album, y'all always talk about Yours truly being Jordin's when it never was bc the album was also co-written with Leon

[@123theprodigy5]

@@EljohnMacaranas Man, this album made Jennette McCurdy hate Ariana Grande. while filming Sam and cat, Ariana Grande would never be there, and when she was there, she would brag about all the stuff she was doing outside of filming which would upset Jeanette.

[@bratzscene3131]

This was such a strong debuted, often forgotten or overlooked. Not to be that person but can't wait for the My Everything 10th Anniversary😭 Favorite B-Side: You'll Never Know, agree it's soooo underrated!

[@EljohnMacaranas]

My Everything was a less cohesive record but such a stunning showcase of Ari’s range as a pop artist! I’m excited for the 10th anniversary! Also agreed! Haha it’s a song that would do well today! Just a really well clean and simple song!

[@Sequoya]

Great video! She was a star from the beginning. “The Way” is my standout track. MM’s sweater is amazing in the video.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Thank you for tuning in! 💖 Ari’s one of the few people who woke up, said “I am a STAR” and never stopped working towards it! Truly admirable! That sweater is so cute! Gosh I miss Mac sm, he was truly a star himself.

[@darii3523]

Lovin It’ is one of my favorite songs from her ❤❤❤

[@EljohnMacaranas]

The way the song has like 3 different hooks… I miss when music actively tried to get stuck in your head and not have awkward clearly made for tiktok lines 😭

[@pleasecouldyoubetender]

popular song has such a nostalgia to it for me 😭 it’s just such a bop idgaf

[@EljohnMacaranas]

It’s acc v cute but so random on the record! Then again towards the end, the album sorta loses the plot a bit!

[@kaezzy3280]

I smell a video series

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Oh I’ve been dying to talk about the Donut incident bc she was spilling 💥💥💥

[@jfkwkfk8867]

The Honeymoon Avanue version that she performed is actually the "original" version

[@EljohnMacaranas]

It’s such a cute take on it that still feels really true to the album 😭

[@jamesminor2271]

Please don’t touch my everything til next year. This made the celebration we feel like an actual topic today, “and for that I say” 🤭

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I’m saving it for next year because I think we’ll finally get Too Close and Cadillac Song on streaming and I need ppl to hear that first 💜

[@jamesminor2271]

Also my top 3 are as follows: 1.right there 2.you’ll never know 3. (I wanna say) daydreamin’ (currently, but sometimes it’s tattooed heart or the way)

[@jamesminor2271]

@@EljohnMacaranas I think so too! I’ve been waiting and waiting to have them on streaming. ESPECIALLY since we got step on up and Jason’s song. I was like… where are they 👀

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Thank you! I’m a completionist! I uploaded my CD copy to Spotify and Apple Music just to have them!

[@pablojoelaban363]

wow I never been this early for any KZbin video also yours truly is my all-time favorite Ariana album

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Hahaha, I’m glad you made it! Also tbh YT is still one of her best. The others have hits but this and Sweetener have a cohesion and passion to them that the others sorta lacked.

[@RicardoAlexandre-e9f]

HERE'S THE THING I SEE ARIANA GRANDE I WATCH ARIANA GRANDE ! NOTHING CAN MAKE ME STOP LOVING HER WORK ! LOVE HER❤❤❤❤

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Literally love her forever

[@SuzySmith-rh4pl]

Not the dramatic and messy homewrecking tori 😂so true though

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Tori legit one of the worst friends ever, will abandon you for a boy or try to steal your man. No in between.

[@bunnyfrosting1744]

It’s so weird to imagine Yours Truly being called Daydreaming & having that original cover. I hate to admit that I’d immediately take the final decisions more seriously if I saw the record in a store

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I think the original cover and title would have done a disservice to the concept of the record. I think the final stuff honored the concept and really helped like older folks take her seriously. Like that original cover was genuinely confusing, somehow childish yet adult in a way that’s contradictory.

[@jimmymcfan]

Ooh voodoo love !

[@onikasza9]

love your video. now you have to make an ari series and talk about all her albums!! ❤️

[@EljohnMacaranas]

It’s coming! I’m def working on a few things so it might take a bit! Um, there’s a certain album I want to cover first before its sequel drops this year. 💕

[@samuelbrodbeck214]

Do my everything 😄

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Oh I will when it’s time… we need to talk about Too Close and also why that album like 1989 p much were the capstones of the 2010’s pop producing elite

[@bobbybubby7977]

It’s an admirable debut but I always thought there were too many features for a first album.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Ari def was feature heavy early on, I feel like that was her label being unsure about her. Sweetener onwards felt like she had less meddling, when I eventually cover Dangerous Woman I have to talk about how that record was really messed with from its start to the very end

[@edgar1557]

Nice video!

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Thank you!

[@rosies69]

Some of her songs is LITTERALLY FOR THE GAYS❤❤❤ you cannot lie to me❤ she is my idol. I grew up loving Her!!! I have ALL OF HER ALBUMS!!!! PUT YOUR HEARTS UP I LOVE IT❤❤❤❤ my childhood

[@tayluvofficial]

How would you compare her to Taylor Swift?

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Excellent pop contemporaries but vastly different career goals and aspirations. Ariana is a superior vocalist (and actress), but Swift is a more accomplished songwriter (and businesswoman.) I’d love to see these two reconnect and collaborate now that Ari is free from 🛴.

[@tayluvofficial]

​@@EljohnMacaranasThey're both my favorite artists!❤

[@EljohnMacaranas]

The taste exhibited, they’re in my 2010’s legends category that includes Nicki

[@godisjihyo3615]

hay

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Hey! 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@jer9grant]

"Piano" was easily my most-played Ariana Grande song for a While. "Tattooed Heart" is probably my favorite track on this album though.

[@crystalcastillo7575]

This video reignited my motivation to listen to this album. What a Classic album , I really need to go back through our pop divas discography more! Thanks for this ❤

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Ari’s discography has so much range while still staying primarily within a few wheelhouse genres. I admire that so much about her. Every album feels like a reflection of herself and the trends of the time without sounding too jarring.

[@crystalcastillo7575]

@@EljohnMacaranas completely agree! And takes for taking the time to respond to my comment!

[@user-dr2yz8um3d]

10 years old I’m proud to be an Arianator Happy I got her first album for my 23rd birthday! I saw her in concert in Buffalo in 2017 too

[@uhoh3561]

Are u 10 or 23

[@mohamedAgacem]

Ok, long comment coming your way, first of all, oooooooo girlie!!!! Thank u so much for making this video, I'm an insane RnB fan, yours truly IS my favorite ari album, everything from the impressive G flat 6 note in baby I to the vocal agility, she Pretty much sings every song in her fourth octave and higher, that's like cardio for your vocal chords, not to mention the cinematic and overly romantic lyrics, and the cherry on top was her and mika honoring one of the two signature songs of my favorite musical wicked, I had no idea this album was even on your radar, and I have a gut feeling Ariana is about to return to this sound, let's cross our fingers, also I feel like dangerous woman is more similar to Mariah Carey than yours truly, Mariah is known for creating vocal arrangements that are almost impossible to sing live, basically singing an entire chorus of a song in the fifth octave while belting and that's insane, and Ariana did a lot of that on Dangerous woman, that album is full of G5 and F5 belts

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Thanks for the comment! Man I’m not technically verse in the notes of it all but every song on here just feels so meticulously made. I appreciate the effort and think she weirdly nailed the sort of sound. Dangerous Woman itself is pretty underrated I think, I feel so bad about that era between managerial drama and the tragedy on tour and radio not wanting to play her bc of the Donut thing… 😭

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

Yours Truly literally copies Mariah. R&B fan where?💀

[@Lucy-jy2qn]

Lmao who is that at 2:13? That’s not Ariana! 😂

[@SquidFiction]

Can’t wait to hear you talk about Dangerous Woman, my favourite album of hers!

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I adore DW! It’s an album I felt was failed by her management and the pop world going through an upheaval at the time

[@justindrexeldiprimuo2575]

10 year retrospective on Beyoncé’s self titled 🙈🤭🙏

[@EljohnMacaranas]

The album that changed how music was released?! Oh… the pen and paper are being pulled out.

[@FaithFiance]

“ & justice’s dramatic & messy home-wrecking, tori” I AM 💀💀💀😹

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I lived for her as a tween but rewatching as an adult… girl was starting drama everywhere she went! 😭

[@kenalexandremeridi]

I laughed considering the real homewrecker is grande 😭☠️

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

@@kenalexandremeridi💀💀💀

[@ventus13]

hi i really liked the video, good job! im wondering if you have intent to do this type of video for her other albums? i would love that

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Oh for sure, I plan to do My Everything next year but will cover Dangerous Woman, Swt, and TUN sooner (by the year’s end). I tend to go in order but I do want to see if she does anything special for ME next year!

[@liamcarson320]

Love u all the way from south africa and please make a video about what happened to Victoria justice i just need to know my love ❤❤❤❤

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I def want to discuss her career and Bridgit Mendler’s as well!

[@Sydneyrella]

Yessss

[@furrycheetah]

During the 2010s entertainment,it was chaotic but iconic

[@EljohnMacaranas]

It def was a transition period, streaming was finally making its mark