Released: 2016
Ariana Grande’s “Dangerous Woman” is a high-octane pop anthem of empowerment and audacious femininity. The lyrics make it clear that Ariana is in full control, taking risks and not waiting for anyone’s approval.
She starts off asserting her autonomy with “Don’t need permission, Made my decision to test my limits”. Here, Ariana is expressing a strong sense of self, making it clear that she will push her boundaries and doesn’t need anyone’s validation for her actions. This message is amplified with the following line, “Cause it’s my business, God as my witness.” This emphasizes the idea of personal freedom and the strength of her conviction.
The repetitive phrase “Somethin’ ’bout you makes me feel like a dangerous woman” serves as the backbone of the song. Grande uses the term ‘dangerous’ to signify how intoxicating, influential, and empowering this feeling can be. The word ‘dangerous’ here doesn’t mean reckless – rather it symbolizes her strength, independence, and alluring charisma, which are seen as threatening in an empowering sense. The ‘you’ she refers to could be a romantic interest, but it could also represent the energy, vibe, or aura that fuels and stirs this empowerment.
Then we have the intriguing line, “Makes me wanna do things that I shouldn’t.” Without revealing specifics, she’s hinting at challenging social norms, ones that dictate what she ‘should’ and ‘shouldn’t’ do as a woman. It suggests a willingness to go against the grain, driven by her authentic desire.
When Grande sings “All girls wanna be like that, Bad girls underneath like that,” she’s flipping the script on the stereotype that women should be docile or passive. Instead, she champions the idea that women can be bold, assertive and, yes, even a bit ‘bad’. It’s all about owning one’s choices and embracing every aspect of one’s personality.
Finally, the repeating “Yeah, there’s somethin’ ’bout you boy” towards the end of the song underlines the influence this unnamed ‘you’ has on Ariana. Whether it’s a person or a powerful feeling, it’s this ‘somethin” that helps her embrace her freedom, power, and ‘dangerous’ side.
