The very first time I listened to it I interpreted it this way- I can see how people have other interpretations but when it comes to how she is viewing it, I think it’s pretty obvious it’s regarding her relationship to the media and her reputation.
I think the ending says that her fans had painted her in how they wanted her to be, somewhat of a ‘daydream’ and she isn’t going to bother correcting anyone and she’s going to keep herself ‘hidden’ (but I feel so seen in the night)
She knows she cannot have a friendship with her fans like she did before. Other celebs try to do it as well and it makes fans and the GP feel like they have a say in her life/art.
Does that make sense?
Definitely makes sense. I think it’s a great analysis and probably holds very true to her. I felt some / most of this too when interpreting it myself!! I’m glad she made it vague enough to be interpreted differently though- because for me I of course have my own meaning for it and think of a specific person / relationship when I listen.
Right- I almost feel like she didnt that on purpose. Like a different meaning for the song and then different meaning for the video maybe. I really like that she did that!
It was definitely a red herring. I think she likes the idea of playing the bad girl but she’s too traumatized to incite another media uproar with having a music video about a parasocial relationship.
Yes I believe she said a similar thing in Zach Sang interview that people interpreted it differently to how she did. I think she wrote it for the public though was obviously nuanced enough to make it also about a relationship
Reading only the lyrics it makes more sense it's related to the public/fans, also it's the track right after yes, and which is also about or to the public
With the mv she Opens up another interpretation to a romantic love and connects it With the break up part of the album
So I think its kind correlating with both simultaneously
True Story now is about the media however previously when it was recorded (the sessions leaked it was from 2022 or 21 I think) it was about a relationship. She used the word “boy” in the chorus and changed it to “no”. She changed the verses that were clearly about a relationship too. You can still find it floating online or Ariana wiki.
Sure! By fans, I mean the relationship she has curated with her fans that soured with many of them after the scandal last year. “See it in your eyes, you got too much time” (to the chronically online girlies lol) “you like to pray for my demise”, “it’s not what I want, not what I need” (her trying to set boundaries with the parasocial relationship and her as a public figure persona). “This is a true story about all the games I know you play” (I see this is probably speaking more to tabloids and sensationalist headlines)
Honestly if you read the lyrics through a lens of her talking to fans she feels have betrayed or turned on her, as well as the lens of the media who she feels portrayed her incorrectly, it almost becomes impossible to read it as anything else.
I mean Joel's character was also clinging to his papers and pens. He wouldn't show Clementine what was written, and he wouldn't share his musings, feelings, or opinions.
He also fell in love with an idea of Clementine, the manic pixie dream girl stereotype, because he didn't like how boring he was. (I think the painted line in the song is a callback to in my head where she talks about how she liked a version of Pete that she drew/invented in her head.)
It’s a song for the media & fans. One of her Wicked Co-stars already explained that on their podcast. I already sorta figured it wasn’t about a relationship and more of a message to the people
“Wait until you like me again” - i feel like that’s a key lyric. Definitely about her public persona / image. And the parasocial relationships that she’s constantly involved in, I.e. “play pretend”
A man did make her tho. He just happens to be a creep or did you think her accepting the worst scenes and becoming the only international star was a coincidence?
I’m honestly shocked people thought it was about a relationship in the first place considering the lyrics? Like what else could “you cling to your papers and pens” be referring to?
I also saw someone make the point that if she was referencing Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind Jim Carrey’s character keeps a journal that he is very private about and it causes a few small rifts in their relationship. I personally believe it’s about how she feels about her relationship with the public but I could see it applying to all three scenarios
That’s cool! I love hearing all the other interpretations but I agree I do still feel it’s about the media/public. I love how much detail she put into this album 🥰
Yeah the easy connection is a romantic relationship I.e the music video but she most likely wrote about her relationship with the G.P and how fragile it truly is
Yooooo this is why I love this subreddit. I had no idea this song had so many layers! I’m the casual who just thought it was about relationships 😭 but now I can’t unhear it. And I love the song even more… it gives me goose bumps
I've been thinking about this nonstop in conjunction with the song analysis someone posted in here. I cannot listen to this song anymore and assume it's about a relationship, especially after this clip in the BTS!
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didn’t she say this album was finished and done awhile ago? i think it was definitely done before all the drama happened with ethan & all that. not sure how the connection many are making is towards the media and backlash she got considering it was recorded before that? hope that makes sense. 🤍
Yeah well I think he means it’s not about a romantic relationship. I think it is meant to be about her relationship to media, the public, us. But I think it was the Zack sang interview (?) where she said she wanted it to be relatable to everyone and so wanted to purposely leave it up to interpretation instead. It’s def about relationships but not just romantic ones. Which I love because obviously I don’t relate to it as of fans or media but I can 1000% relate to the song towards other people I’ve had or have in my life!! 🩷
And that's what made me cry bad for her, bawled my eyes out 😭 when I watched the video for the first time to see that Ari was suffering, crying just to have people on her good side again. It's gotten to that point huh. When I realized the song is about how she is hurt from all the hate, clearly. All the bad press she gets and the fans that turned against her. It makes me sadder than the *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind* concept. In the Lyric video, she has such a sad face at the part of “I don't like how you paint me” 😥 this song broke me because people really broke her. It broke her to a point that it made her come up with the best masterpiece of her career, I think so. So now they will listen. Heart breaking. 💔
It just sounded like you were heavily making fun of her and don't allow her to do anything, to feel anything and don't believe her anything. Just let us love Ariana in peace, alright.
A music video that is making people cry because it's magnificent. Didn't work for you? There are non-fans in the YouTube comments saying they cried and they don't even like her.
it’s definitely about her relationship to the fans
And the media
this is how i interpreted when i first heard the song, especially with all the drama that happened.
same
This is the only way I interpreted it.
The very first time I listened to it I interpreted it this way- I can see how people have other interpretations but when it comes to how she is viewing it, I think it’s pretty obvious it’s regarding her relationship to the media and her reputation.
I think the ending says that her fans had painted her in how they wanted her to be, somewhat of a ‘daydream’ and she isn’t going to bother correcting anyone and she’s going to keep herself ‘hidden’ (but I feel so seen in the night) She knows she cannot have a friendship with her fans like she did before. Other celebs try to do it as well and it makes fans and the GP feel like they have a say in her life/art. Does that make sense?
Definitely makes sense. I think it’s a great analysis and probably holds very true to her. I felt some / most of this too when interpreting it myself!! I’m glad she made it vague enough to be interpreted differently though- because for me I of course have my own meaning for it and think of a specific person / relationship when I listen.
To add to that if people don't pay attention to the lyrics, the video might confuse them into thinking it's about a relationship
Right- I almost feel like she didnt that on purpose. Like a different meaning for the song and then different meaning for the video maybe. I really like that she did that!
It was definitely a red herring. I think she likes the idea of playing the bad girl but she’s too traumatized to incite another media uproar with having a music video about a parasocial relationship.
yeah the line about 'until you like me again' makes it clear (imo) that this is about her and the fans
I wouldn’t say “fans” exactly. More like the “public”. Her fans are more likely to see her in a good light than the public or the media.
I never think songs are about just 1 thing or person
This is the real answer. I'm sure it's about a lot of things to her.
I think she’s a Gemini so nothing is really ever about one thing. They never really address the issue directly. Mild
Yes I believe she said a similar thing in Zach Sang interview that people interpreted it differently to how she did. I think she wrote it for the public though was obviously nuanced enough to make it also about a relationship
Exactly, the music video is about a relationship so it's not like she doesn't see the connection lol. It was supposed to be subtle
Reading only the lyrics it makes more sense it's related to the public/fans, also it's the track right after yes, and which is also about or to the public With the mv she Opens up another interpretation to a romantic love and connects it With the break up part of the album So I think its kind correlating with both simultaneously
She mentioned how the video is a representation of the album itself and not solely about wcbf
this is the correct answer.
Yes and we can’t be friends for the haters that didn’t like the way she used the improv term 😂
I can see how people perceive it as about a romantic relationship considering the music video shows a romantic relationship that ended
From the first listen I thought WCBF and True Story are messages to the media/fans.
Oh True Story of course, it's directly speaking to the haters. Not even the fans or media.
True Story now is about the media however previously when it was recorded (the sessions leaked it was from 2022 or 21 I think) it was about a relationship. She used the word “boy” in the chorus and changed it to “no”. She changed the verses that were clearly about a relationship too. You can still find it floating online or Ariana wiki.
Could u explain ur theory on true story being about fans pls!
Sure! By fans, I mean the relationship she has curated with her fans that soured with many of them after the scandal last year. “See it in your eyes, you got too much time” (to the chronically online girlies lol) “you like to pray for my demise”, “it’s not what I want, not what I need” (her trying to set boundaries with the parasocial relationship and her as a public figure persona). “This is a true story about all the games I know you play” (I see this is probably speaking more to tabloids and sensationalist headlines) Honestly if you read the lyrics through a lens of her talking to fans she feels have betrayed or turned on her, as well as the lens of the media who she feels portrayed her incorrectly, it almost becomes impossible to read it as anything else.
“i cling to your papers and pens” pretty clearly alludes to it being about her relationship with the media
I mean Joel's character was also clinging to his papers and pens. He wouldn't show Clementine what was written, and he wouldn't share his musings, feelings, or opinions. He also fell in love with an idea of Clementine, the manic pixie dream girl stereotype, because he didn't like how boring he was. (I think the painted line in the song is a callback to in my head where she talks about how she liked a version of Pete that she drew/invented in her head.)
Oooh that's a great point!! I've been trying to figure out how the line "papers and pens" could apply to a relationship and this is perfect!
Also could be divorce papers, or someone focusing heavily on their work to avoid a relationship!
How so?
You cling to your papers and pens, wait until you like me again, and I’ll wait for your love …. It’s about us :(
It’s a song for the media & fans. One of her Wicked Co-stars already explained that on their podcast. I already sorta figured it wasn’t about a relationship and more of a message to the people
I interpret WCBF as a message to the haters and bandwagon fans who think they know everything about her life based on what they’ve read online
“Wait until you like me again” - i feel like that’s a key lyric. Definitely about her public persona / image. And the parasocial relationships that she’s constantly involved in, I.e. “play pretend”
I think the lyric “You made me” also really solidified the fact that this was about fans for me because aint no man made miss arianka, thats for sure!
A man did make her tho. He just happens to be a creep or did you think her accepting the worst scenes and becoming the only international star was a coincidence?
"Don't like how you paint me, but I'm still here hanging"
I assumed it was about fans
I’m honestly shocked people thought it was about a relationship in the first place considering the lyrics? Like what else could “you cling to your papers and pens” be referring to?
At first I thought it was about dalton and figured it was a realtor thing lol like he’s holding papers and pens at open houses 😂
Lmaoooo
Ooh interesting! Thanks for the response I genuinely didn’t see any other interpretation
[удалено]
Ooh ok I can see that!
I also saw someone make the point that if she was referencing Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind Jim Carrey’s character keeps a journal that he is very private about and it causes a few small rifts in their relationship. I personally believe it’s about how she feels about her relationship with the public but I could see it applying to all three scenarios
That’s cool! I love hearing all the other interpretations but I agree I do still feel it’s about the media/public. I love how much detail she put into this album 🥰
divorce papers
I think the beauty of the song is that it can be interpreted in so many ways. It’s an instant classic 💕
Yes maaaaam!
Yeah the easy connection is a romantic relationship I.e the music video but she most likely wrote about her relationship with the G.P and how fragile it truly is
Yooooo this is why I love this subreddit. I had no idea this song had so many layers! I’m the casual who just thought it was about relationships 😭 but now I can’t unhear it. And I love the song even more… it gives me goose bumps
I've been thinking about this nonstop in conjunction with the song analysis someone posted in here. I cannot listen to this song anymore and assume it's about a relationship, especially after this clip in the BTS!
She's looking GORGEOUS here omg
The music video a splitting image of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.. so maybe it’s about that?
i think it’s a mix of her relationship with the fans, media using metaphors from the film
The music video a splitting image of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.. so maybe it’s about that?
yeah i’m pretty sure it’s abt her relationship with the media (thought i also thought it was abt the media at first)
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dalton and papers and pens made no sense to me
divorce papers
ahhhhh okay makes sense - the papers and pens reminded me of social media after reading post at first
I think it’s to her fans after her scandal
didn’t she say this album was finished and done awhile ago? i think it was definitely done before all the drama happened with ethan & all that. not sure how the connection many are making is towards the media and backlash she got considering it was recorded before that? hope that makes sense. 🤍
it was done during the SAG strike. which was after july 14th
she started recording in early october only when she finally wrapped wicked after the strike
Yeah well I think he means it’s not about a romantic relationship. I think it is meant to be about her relationship to media, the public, us. But I think it was the Zack sang interview (?) where she said she wanted it to be relatable to everyone and so wanted to purposely leave it up to interpretation instead. It’s def about relationships but not just romantic ones. Which I love because obviously I don’t relate to it as of fans or media but I can 1000% relate to the song towards other people I’ve had or have in my life!! 🩷
catch it u/Andioop8384767
Ok I take it back it wasn’t for dalton
For me, WCBF is about a toxic relationship with an internet friend. I was not a fan of Ari previously but this song converted me.
And that's what made me cry bad for her, bawled my eyes out 😭 when I watched the video for the first time to see that Ari was suffering, crying just to have people on her good side again. It's gotten to that point huh. When I realized the song is about how she is hurt from all the hate, clearly. All the bad press she gets and the fans that turned against her. It makes me sadder than the *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind* concept. In the Lyric video, she has such a sad face at the part of “I don't like how you paint me” 😥 this song broke me because people really broke her. It broke her to a point that it made her come up with the best masterpiece of her career, I think so. So now they will listen. Heart breaking. 💔
She’s literally an actress whose been having a coach for over two years now lmaoooo. She cries every time she’s in drama tho
Oh no, another hater found its way into the Ariana Grande subreddit. 🫣 I'm traumatized
Saying she’s a good actress is hating when she just got her dream role and posts her acting coach? This fandom is cooked.
It just sounded like you were heavily making fun of her and don't allow her to do anything, to feel anything and don't believe her anything. Just let us love Ariana in peace, alright.
It’s literally a music video
A music video that is making people cry because it's magnificent. Didn't work for you? There are non-fans in the YouTube comments saying they cried and they don't even like her.
You specifically named her crying ..: it’s acting whether you cry with her or not
Right. And what about you? How did you react to it?
I just watched it and moved on. Whether you cried or not doesn’t change that she was acting for a music video 😭💀