Imagine (Ariana Grande song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Imagine

| cover = Ariana Grande – Imagine.png

| alt = A close-up shot of a woman's face, showing her right cheek and glossy lips. The image is greyscale and contains visible noise. Displayed between the woman's lips, which are slightly open, are two Chinese characters that translate to the song title "Imagine".

| type = promotional

| artist = Ariana Grande

| album = Thank U, Next

| released = {{Start date|2018|12|14}}

| recorded =

| studio = Jungle City (New York City)

| genre =

| length = 3:31

| label = Republic

| writer =

Ariana Grande
Andrew "Pop" Wansel
Nathan Perez
Priscilla Renea
Jameel Roberts

| producer =

Pop Wansel
Happy Perez

| chronology = Ariana Grande promotional singles

| prev_title = The Light Is Coming

| prev_year = 2018

| next_title = Just Look Up

| next_year = 2021

| misc = {{External music video

| type = song

| header = Lyric video

| 1 = {{YouTube|7_rftpd0u0U|"Imagine"}}

}}

"Imagine" is a song recorded by American singer Ariana Grande. The song was written by Grande, Jameel Roberts and Priscilla Renea alongside its producers Andrew "Pop" Wansel and Happy Perez. It was released on December 14, 2018, as the only promotional single from her fifth studio album Thank U, Next (2019).{{cite web |last1=Bloom |first1=Madison |title=Ariana Grande Shares New Song "imagine": Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/ariana-grande-shares-new-song-imagine-listen/ |website=Pitchfork |date=December 14, 2018 |access-date=December 14, 2018}}

Commercially, the song reached the top 10 in Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, Slovakia and the United Kingdom, as well as the top 20 in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Scotland. The track also peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Background and release

On December 11, 2018, Grande teased the song with a post on her Instagram story, with a countdown of its official release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a25567106/ariana-grande-teasing-new-song-imagine/

|title=Ariana Grande is teasing a new song|website=Cosmopolitan|access-date=December 13, 2018}} The song was previewed a day later,{{Cite magazine|last=Lukarcanin|first=Emina|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8490016/ariana-grande-imagine-snippet-teaser|title=Ariana Grande Shares First Taste of Her New Song 'Imagine': Listen|magazine=Billboard|date=December 12, 2018|access-date=December 12, 2018}} with Grande tweeting the title using Chinese characters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/a25556483/ariana-grande-thank-u-next-imagine-song/|title=Ariana Grande Just Teased Another Song|last=Barbour|first=Shannon|date=December 12, 2018|website=Cosmopolitan|access-date=December 12, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/ariana-grande-new-single-imagine-new-album-2419563|title=Ariana Grande teases new single 'Imagine', describes new album as "mourning failed yet important, beautiful relationships"|last=Maine|first=Samantha|date=December 12, 2018|website=NME|access-date=December 12, 2018}} The song and its official lyric video were released simultaneously on December 14, 2018, with the lyrics set to a glitching background of a collapsing glacier made by glitch artist Thomas Collet.{{cite web|last=Cantor|first=Brian|url=https://headlineplanet.com/home/2018/12/14/ariana-grande-releases-lyric-video-new-song-imagine-watch-now/|title=Ariana Grande Releases Lyric Video For New Song "imagine" (Watch Now)|website=Headline Planet|date=December 14, 2018|access-date=November 6, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/news/ariana-grande-conceives-instagram-perfect-romance-on-imagine/|title=Ariana Grande Conceives Instagram-Perfect Romance on "Imagine"|website=Slant Magazine |date=December 14, 2018}}

Composition

"Imagine" is an R&B/pop ballad with a trap-inspired rhythm.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/music/ariana-grande-new-single-imagine/|title=Ariana Grande Releases Romantic New Song 'Imagine' — Here's Why Fans Think It's About Mac Miller|website=People.com|access-date=January 14, 2019|quote=The R&B pop ballad — which features Grande showing off her impressive range — touches upon her reflection of what-ifs and if-onlys in regards to her “failed yet important beautiful relationships}}{{Cite web|url=https://blackboybulletin.com/2018/12/15/review-ariana-grande-nails-it-again-with-imagine/|title=Review: Ariana Grande Nails It Again With "Imagine" – black boy bulletin|website=Black Boy Bullentin|date=December 15, 2018|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=March 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331093432/https://blackboybulletin.com/2018/12/15/review-ariana-grande-nails-it-again-with-imagine/|url-status=dead}} It is written in the key of F minor, and has a tempo of 125 BPM. The song features multiple whistle registers,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hit.com.au/story/ariana-grande-brings-back-the-whistle-note-for-her-new-song-imagine-118028|title=Ariana Grande Brings Back The Whistle Note For Her New Song Imagine|date=December 14, 2018|website=Hit|access-date=December 14, 2018}} and Grande's vocals span from F₃ to C₇.{{cite web |title=Ariana Grande "imagine" Sheet Music in F Minor – Download & Print – SKU: MN0192057 |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0192057 |website=Musicnotes.com |access-date=January 7, 2019 |date=December 20, 2018}} Lyrically, the song speaks about Grande's denial of failed relationships.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/ariana-grande-teases-new-song-imagine-about-failed-relationships/|title=Ariana Grande Teases New Song About 'Failed Relationships'|date=December 12, 2018|website=Us Weekly|access-date=December 12, 2018}} Grande described the song as being about "a simple, beautiful love that is now (and forever) unattainable."{{cite web|last=Kim|first=Michelle|url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/5-takeaways-from-ariana-grandes-new-album-thank-u-next/|title=5 Takeaways from Ariana Grande's New Album, thank u, next|date=February 8, 2019|access-date=January 26, 2020|website=Pitchfork}}

Critical reception

"Imagine" has been widely regarded as one of Grande's best songs. In 2021, The Guardian ranked the song number three on their list of the 20 greatest Ariana Grande songs,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/aug/05/ariana-grandes-greatest-songs-ranked|title=Ariana Grande's greatest songs – ranked!|first=Michael|last=Cragg|work=The Guardian|date=August 5, 2021|accessdate=August 18, 2023}} and in 2022, Rolling Stone ranked the song number eight on their list of the 50 greatest Ariana Grande songs.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-best-ariana-grande-songs-1343919|title=The 50 Best Ariana Grande Songs|first=Ilana|last=Kaplan|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=May 11, 2022|accessdate=August 18, 2023}}

Commercial performance

"Imagine" proved to be Grande's most successful promotional single. On the issue dated December 29, 2018, "Imagine" debuted at number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 as the highest new entry of the week, while starting on the Streaming Songs at number 21 and the Digital Songs at number two.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2018-12-29|title=The Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 15, 2019}} "Imagine" fell to number 71 in its second week on the Hot 100, however rebounded and surged to number 63 in its third week. It spent an additional week there and departed the region after four consecutive weeks.

Following the release of Grande's own "7 Rings", "Imagine" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 99 due to strong digital downloads, spending a fifth week there. After the release of the parent album Thank U, Next, "Imagine" re-entered the US charts for a third time at a new peak of number 21, consequently becoming the sixth highest-charting track from the album and third highest-charting non-single behind "Needy" and "NASA" which debuted at numbers 14 and 17 the same week, respectively. The track ultimately charted for a total of eight weeks on the Hot 100.

Internationally, "Imagine" reached the top ten in Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Singapore, Slovakia and the United Kingdom, where it debuted at number eight on the UK Singles Chart. The track also peaked at number 15 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, number 16 on the New Zealand Singles Chart, and number 17 on the Canadian Hot 100. Its lowest position was in France, where it reached number 110.

Live performances

Grande performed "Imagine" for the first time on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on December 18, 2018.{{cite magazine |title=Ariana Grande Got Into the Christmas Spirit for Her TV Debut Performance of "Imagine": Watch |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8490967/ariana-grande-performs-imagine-on-fallon |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 23, 2018 |date=December 19, 2018 }} The song was excluded from the set list of the Sweetener World Tour because it was "too heavy" to perform, according to Grande.{{cite web|last=Savage|first=Mark|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-47623376|title=Ariana Grande kicks off Sweetener world tour in New York|date=March 19, 2019|access-date=March 22, 2019|work=BBC News}} On January 26, 2020, Grande performed the song in a medley with "7 Rings", "My Favorite Things", and "Thank U, Next" at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite magazine|last=Spanos|first=Brittany |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/grammys-2020-ariana-grande-performance-thank-u-next-942130/|title=Ariana Grande Performs 'Thank U, Next' Medley at the 2020 Grammy Awards |date=January 26, 2020|access-date=January 27, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone}}

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web |title=Credits / thank u, next / Ariana Grande|date=February 8, 2019 |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/103809875/credits |via=Tidal |access-date=January 20, 2020}}

Ariana Grande – lead vocals, songwriting, vocal production
Andrew "Pop" Wansel – production, songwriting, keyboard, programming
Nathan Perez – production, songwriting, guitar, keyboard, programming
Priscilla Renea – songwriting
Jameel Roberts – songwriting
John Hanes – mixing engineer
Serban Ghenea – mixing
Brendan Morawski – recording engineer
Joe Gallagher – recording engineer
Sean Klein – assistant recording engineer
Andrew Luftman – production coordinator
Sarah Shelton – production coordinator
Zvi Edelman – production coordinator

Charts

= Weekly charts =

scope="row"\| Greece International Digital Singles (IFPI){{cite web\|url=http://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html\|title=Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 02/2019\|publisher=IFPI Greece\|access-date=January 21, 2019}} \| 5
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Chart performance for "Imagine" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2018–2019) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{single chart\|Australia\|15\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 22, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Flanders Tip\|5\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=January 12, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Wallonia Tip\|16\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=January 5, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Canada\|17\|artist=Ariana Grande\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 25, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Czechdigital\|35\|year=2018\|week=51,52\|rowheader=true\|access-date=January 4, 2019}}
{{single chart\|France\|110\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 24, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Germany\|60\|songid=1824082\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 21, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Hungarysingle\|3\|year=2018\|week=51\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 28, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Hungarystream\|18\|year=2018\|week=51\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 28, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Ireland3\|4\|artist=Ariana Grande\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 22, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Italy\|64\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 22, 2018}}
scope="row"\| Latvia (LAIPA){{cite web\|url=https://www.parmuziku.lv/muzikas-zinas/latvija/muzikas-paterina-topa-51-nedela-7640\|title=Mūzikas patēriņa topa 51.nedēļa\|language=lv\|publisher=LAIPA\|date=December 27, 2018\|access-date=November 28, 2019}} \| 20
scope="row"\| Malaysia (RIM){{cite web\|url=http://www.rim.org.my/main/images/stories/RIM/chart/51_i_dm.pdf\|title=Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia\|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Malaysia\|access-date=December 27, 2018}} \| 10
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|38\|year=2018\|week=52\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 29, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|32\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 22, 2018}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|16\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 21, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Portugal\|19\|id=1824082\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 30, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Scotland\|11\|date=20181221\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 22, 2018}}
scope="row"\| Singapore (RIAS){{cite web\|url=http://www.rias.org.sg/chart.pdf\|title=Singapore Top 30 Digital Streaming Chart – Week 51\|publisher=Recording Industry Association (Singapore)\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228104506/http://www.rias.org.sg/chart.pdf\|archive-date=December 28, 2018}} \| 10
{{single chart\|Slovakdigital2\|8\|year=2018\|week=5152\|rowheader=true\|access-date=January 4, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Spain\|80\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 30, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Sweden\|51\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=January 5, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|35\|artist=Ariana Grande\|song=Imagine\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 24, 2018}}
{{single chart\|UK\|8\|date=20181221\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 22, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|21\|artist=Ariana Grande\|rowheader=true\|access-date=February 20, 2019\|note}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+2018 year-end chart performance for "Imagine" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2018) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web\|url=http://www.top40web.nl/jaarlijsten/jr2018.html\|title=Jaarlijsten 2018\|language=nl\|publisher=Dutch Top 40\|access-date=May 25, 2022}} \| 191

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+2018 year-end chart performance for "Imagine"

! scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=http://www.top40web.nl/jaarlijsten/jr2018.html|title=Jaarlijsten 2018|language=nl|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=May 25, 2022}}

| 191

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Imagine"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|access-date=February 3, 2022}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Ariana Grande|title=Imagine|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2023|access-date=18 December 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=Ariana Grande|award=Gold|type=single|certyear=2021|access-date=November 5, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Ariana Grande|title=Imagine|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2020|id=file_2021-01-06-12-15-58.pdf|access-date=September 21, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Ariana Grande|title=Imagine|id=3259-3975-1|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|access-date=October 16, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Ariana Grande|title=Imagine|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2019|certyear=2024|access-date=March 21, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true|nosales=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+Release dates for "Imagine" ! scope="col"\| Region ! scope="col"\| Date ! scope="col"\| Format ! scope="col"\| Label ! scope="col"\| {{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row" \| Various \| December 14, 2018 \| {{Flatlist\| Digital download streaming }} \| Republic \| align="center"\|{{cite web \|title=imagine – Single by Ariana Grande \|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/imagine-single/1446649414 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215114510/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/imagine-single/1446649414 \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=December 15, 2018 \|website=iTunes US \|access-date=December 14, 2018}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Release dates for "Imagine"

! scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format

! scope="col"| Label

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" | Various

| December 14, 2018

| {{Flatlist|

Digital download
streaming

}}

| Republic

| align="center"|{{cite web |title=imagine – Single by Ariana Grande |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/imagine-single/1446649414 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215114510/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/imagine-single/1446649414 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 15, 2018 |website=iTunes US |access-date=December 14, 2018}}

References

Category:2018 songs

Category:2010s ballads

Category:Ariana Grande songs

Category:Contemporary R&B ballads

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Song recordings produced by Happy Perez

Category:Songs written by Ariana Grande

Category:Songs written by Happy Perez

Category:Songs written by Muni Long

Category:Songs written by Pop Wansel