9 Hidden Messages You Might Not Have Spotted In Ariana Grande’s ‘No Tears Left To Cry’ Video
20 April 2018, 16:36 | Updated: 23 April 2018, 10:30
Check out all these potential meanings in Ariana's "No Tears Left to Cry"
Ariana Grande fans have been waiting patiently for new music since 2016’s Dangerous Woman; today (April 20), she finally released her newest single, “No Tears Left To Cry”.
It was accompanied by a stunning video, directed by legendary music video director Dave Meyers. The song is the first new music from Ariana since the terrorist attack at her concert in Manchester last year which left 22 of her fans dead.
“No Tears Left To Cry”, taken from Ariana’s as-yet-untitled fourth album, is a defiant pop song full of hope. The lyrics don’t directly allude to the attack, but fans are picking up on hidden meanings and references within the video itself.
Ariana teased the release by unveiling her new hair; a low ponytail, as opposed to the high pony she is known for. Fans found the change meaningful and were quick to uncover other little tidbits – here are just a few of the best.
1. She's moving on
Ariana starts out the video upside down before getting on some stairs and turning the right way round - fans think this is an allusion to the huge effect the Manchester attack had on her life and the way that she had to rebuild herself afterwards.
2. The secret tracklist
In the Ariana video, there's a scribbled out track list on the floor. Is the album nine songs long or were these songs she wrote and got rid of? 👀
— The Stan Edit ✨ (@TheStanEdit) April 20, 2018
✨ #NoTearsLeftToCry pic.twitter.com/CX98cGjEte
In the video there's a tracklist on the floor that appears to have nine songs on it and fans are theorising that the list has something to do with the album. Is it ten with "No Tears Left To Cry"? Are these scrapped songs? We bet it won't be long till we find out.
3. Putting on a (very public) face.
I love that the different faces in the video (like when she took her face off), was a metaphor for how she had to put on faces each day to cover up the pain she actually felt. ❤️ @ArianaGrande
— Grace Trippitt (@tbellsagrande) April 20, 2018
In the wake of the attack, Ariana had to put on a public-facing mask of strength despite suffering through the worst time of her life. Fans think the masks sequence is a metaphor for the masks she had to put on every day.
4. The Manchester bee
I can’t be the only one who noticed the bee (Manchester reference) and a dog who I think is Toulouse!!! @ArianaGrande #NoTearsLeftNoCry
— Junior Bautista (@JrBautistaa) April 20, 2018
At the end of the video, a bee is seen flying away, presumably in a direct reference to the bee, the symbol of Manchester. Some tattoo artists gave away free bee tattoos in the wake of the attack and it became a symbol of strength.
5. Ariana is moving on
i feel like ariana means that after everything was turned upside down and she didn’t know what to do, she realised she wasn’t doing anything and was filled with a force of empowerment and she ‘picked it up’ and carried on being strong. she’s so powerful, i love you @ArianaGrande
— orlaith 💧 (@winkytoulouse) April 20, 2018
The overarching theme of both the song and video is moving on and remaining positive.
6. Potential collaborators
Is the second one says ft. T.S means Troye Sivan or Taylor Swift?😂
— Mgee Gabriel (@imMGabz12) April 20, 2018
Next to one of the songs on the potential tracklist are the letters "ft. T.S". Seeing as Taylor Swift never *does* features (or play with others) it seems likely that this could be referencing Troye Sivan, who confirm that a duet with Grande would appear on his forthcoming album. Will it also appear on Ariana's too?
7. R.E.M
wait so one of the songs name is R.E.M which means rapid eye movement which mean sleep state so the pics of the eyes means that?🤔 @ArianaGrande #NoTearLeftToCryOutNow pic.twitter.com/WCzKOeGGdX
— iman (@imanshakoor) April 20, 2018
Some fans went a little more out there with their theories, with one fan thinking Ariana was referencing either the sleep state of rapid eye movement or the band, Well, you never know.
8. It's coming...
She put 3 Lines dose that mean it's next????? #NoTearLeftToCryOutNOW pic.twitter.com/wDlYOvx1gZ
— wejdan 💧 (@wsalgarni) April 20, 2018
Keen-eyed fans noticed that one track, "God is a Woman" is underlined three times. It could mean nothing, or it could mean that that song will be dropped next. Hopefully soon!
9. The lyrics
Despite everything Ariana has been through, the lyrics of the song show that she's remaining positive and trying to pick herself up after the attack. She's refusing to let her bad experience shape her or make her negative.