Ariana Grande released the music video to her new song “Positions” last week. This video is filled with hidden meanings that reveal much about Grande’s political leanings as well as her take on diversity, fashion and the upcoming election.
Immediately, the “Positions” music video sets the scene at the White House before panning to a boardroom where Grande sits at the head of the table. A play on the word “position,” we see Grande take the highest position of all- the President of the United States. She is the first female president! Surrounding Grande is a young, diverse, and mostly female administration. Her progressive government is also inclusive of LGBTQ+ people and features a range of familiar faces, including Tayla Parx, Victoria Monet, Nija Charles, Joan Grande, Tyler Ford, and Misha Lambert. Read more about those cameos here.
Next, we see Grande working diligently in the Oval Office. On both the wall of the Boardroom and the Oval Office is a portrait of her real-life dog, Toulouse. On the surface, it may seem like Grande just wanted her dog in the video. However, this may actually serve as a subtle jab at President Trump. President Trump is the first U.S. President in over 100 years not to have a dog. During his rally in El Paso, President Trump explained, “I wouldn’t mind having one, honestly, but I don’t have any time. How would I look walking a dog on the White House lawn?” Paralleling this statement, Grande is shown in the final scene of “Positions” walking her dogs on the White House lawn, looking amazing doing so.
Meanwhile, Biden has two German Shepherds, Major and Champ. In October of this year, a political group promoting Biden for president called “Dog Lovers for Joe” released a video showing photographs of former presidents with their dogs claiming that “Trump is the first president without a dog in the White House in over a century.” The presence of dogs in the White House throughout Grande’s video suggests that Grande wants dogs back in the White House, which acts as a secret message to vote for Joe. It’s confirmed that Grande is voting for Biden in this election as Grande’s latest Instagram post and caption (at the time of writing this article) encourages that “everyone votes (for biden)”.
Fashion also makes a statement throughout the video as everyone in the administration looks bomb AF. Grande uses her wardrobe to say FU to the idea that women and other people in positions of power should not be stylish, sexy, or provocative if they want to be taken seriously. Grande’s outfit in the bedroom makes another statement. Grande is seen lounging on her bed wearing a black gown and emerald necklace. This attire demonstrates her support for the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements as it mimics the all-black and emerald red-carpet looks stars sported in 2018 to stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual assault.
The use of masks is also prevalent in “Positions.” Many people in Grande’s administration wear masks in group settings. When Grande is alone in the kitchen, her bodyguard is seen in the background wearing a mask as well. This can be interpreted as support for scientists and a subversive message to the public to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but also as another jab at Trump and conservatives’ constant refusal to wear masks.
Finally, there is a Presidential Medal of Honor scene in which Grande awards an all-female slate of USPS workers presidential medals. Even better, the women of the USPS in this video are all real USPS workers who have been delivering during the pandemic. This shows Grande’s support for USPS during a time in which President Trump has been against the postal service by blocking federal funding in order to discourage the use of mail-in ballots for the election.
Ultimately, Ariana Grande not only made a visually and audibly stunning music video, but also utilized the “Positions” video to communicate political messages to her millions of viewers before the election.