Spanning an almost eight-year career, pop princess Ariana Grande has risen to the top of the modern music charts. Known not only for her soft soprano voice, Grande doesn’t shy away from belting out strong notes, even in live performances. Her powerful range and creative performance concepts allow her live performances to stand out from other artists in the industry, so here’s a list of her top ten best live performances.
10. Bang Bang (Capital’s Summertime Ball 2016) https://youtu.be/SLp7G8dYRlQ
Grande’s performance at Capital’s Summertime Ball in 2016 was her second appearance at the event, with her having performed the year prior as well. With a 20 minute setlist spanning with hits like “Problem” and “Dangerous Woman,” Grande flexes all of her vocal muscles and performance chops. However, the highlight is arguably her opening hit “Bang Bang.” Normally a trio between Grande, Nicki Minaj and Jessie J, Grande takes on the song all on her own, masterfully taking over Minaj and J’s parts as well as her own. From rapping parts of Minaj’s verse to belting out J’s high note before the last chorus, this performance perfectly showcases Grande’s range as a performer.
9. Tattooed Heart (American Music Awards 2013) https://youtu.be/Z-oxwhKk2C8
Grande’s first live television performance at the 2013 AMA’s marked her as an artist to watch almost immediately. With her debut album “Yours Truly” only two months old, Grande took the stage at the 2013 AMA’s with her song “Tattooed Heart.” One of the slower songs on the album, “Tattooed Heart” is simply an old-school style ballad and Grande performs it that way. Back by four male singers and singing into a vintage-style microphone, Grande leaves the entire performance up to the song and her vocals, and that’s what makes the performance so fantastic.
8. Thank, u next (The Ellen Show 2018) https://youtu.be/tX_vx_s6Gr0
The release of “thank u, next” in November of 2018, only three months after the release of Grande’s album “Sweetener,” created a social media storm. With the song personally referring to Grande’s past relationships and highlighting her raw emotions, many people identified with the song and its message. For her first performance of the song, Grande took to the Ellen Show. Set to a scene from the 1996 film “First Wives Club,” Grande performed “thank u, next” alongside friends and colleagues Victoria Monét and Tayla Parx, who helped write the song. With fun choreography and scenery, Grande is able to take an extremely personal song about some of the darkest moments of her life and turn it into a fun performance about self-love and friendship.
7. One Last Time (One Love Manchester concert 2017) https://youtu.be/cshg5ktpPtI
Following the tragic attacks on Grande’s concert in Manchester, England in 2017, Grande organized a benefit concert in Manchester to raise money for the victims of the attack. For her second to last number, Grande sang the song “One Last Time” from her second album “My Everything.” After the attack, Grande’s fans dedicated the song to the victims and it became a symbol of hope for those affected. Grande took the stage backed by her various guests for the concert such as Mac Miller and Miley Cyrus. Grande sings the song through tears, holding the hands of then boyfriend Miller and best friend Victoria Monét. The performance is enough to make even casual viewers cry, and with its emotional messages of hope and healing, it’s no wonder the event raised around 10 million pounds total.
6. God is a Woman (Good Morning America 2018) https://youtu.be/6v-7PVtdvVk
For her appearance on Good Morning America promoting her album “Sweetener,” Grande performed a softer take on her single “God is a Woman.” The usual pop anthem was made slower and softer for the performance, with Grande simply sitting in a makeshift studio with just a guitar, piano and backup singers. The version of the song allowed Grande’s vocals to shine without high belts or added vocal runs and made the song feel more personal. In recent years, Grande has turned away from simplistic style performances for grander theatrical performances. However, this performance marked the return of Grande’s slower style of performing and combined it with her more mature sound.
5. Focus (American Music Awards 2015) https://youtu.be/VpMeDzFLq0c
Speaking of Grande’s more theatrical performances, her performance of her single “Focus” at the 2015 AMA’s was defined by theatrics. Grande combined both her love for theater and golden age music for this performance. She starts off by singing a slower, more jazzy version of the song dressed in a beaded dress and long skirt with opera length gloves in front of a red curtain. She then transitions into the regular version of the song and removes her long skirt to reveal a shorter, more modern version of the look. Mastering choreography on a three tiered stage, grande expertly belts out the song completely live despite being sick during the performance. This performance helped launch Grande into the multifaceted performer she is today.
4. God is a Woman (MTV Video Music Awards 2018) https://youtu.be/sKm4YqadSGw
“God is a Woman” is the only song to make it onto this list twice, and for good reason. Both performances are so different, but each unique in their own way. This performance from the 2018 MTV VMA’s shows the opposite side of Grande that the GMA performance did. This time, Grande takes the stage with full costuming, props and dancers, recreating Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” with a feminine twist. The atmospheric projections and costumes mixed with Grande’s ethereal vocals create an almost religious experience to watch. Comparing this performance to Grande’s earlier performances show how dynamic of a performer she’s become, and this performance is a perfect example of that.
3. The Way (The Ellen Show 2013) https://youtu.be/F9UcyGfy1ZQ
Grande’s first performance on the Ellen Show in 2013 perfectly introduced the public to her raw singing talent. Starting off the performance with a brief acapella section highlights her vocals by isolating them. With nothing to fall back on, Grande’s voice shines in a way audiences didn’t expect from her at the time. Grande’s vocals throughout the performance are impressive, but it is the live whistle notes she hits towards the end of the number that really come as a surprise. Whistle notes are extremely hard to execute even for trained singers, and even Grande herself does not perform them live these days, making this performance especially impressive. Additionally, this performance marked the beginning of Grande and Mac Miller’s personal and creative relationship. With Miller popping up in the performance, his and Grande’s chemistry is undeniable. Out of all of Grande’s performances so far, this one still manages to stand out even among her more recent performances.
2. Imagine (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 2018) https://youtu.be/fGeH483gNOg
Grande is no stranger to performing on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; in 2018 alone she performed three times. For her final performance of 2018, she performed the song “Imagine” from her album “thank u, next.” She performed the song alongside the Tonight Show’s current house band, the Roots. The Roots bring their own spin to the song adding in a trumpet and saxophone which help elevate the song. Set with a Christmas-themed backdrop (with Grande herself wearing a winter-themed sweater from another skit), the performance holds an almost dream-like atmosphere. With the lights in the background twinkling like the diamonds on Grande’s necklace. A seemingly understated performance compared to Grande’s more elaborate ones, “Imagine” places an almost tragic spell on the audience as they are serenaded by Grande as she sings about her lost love.
1. Natural Woman (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 2018) https://youtu.be/xN6C_WuEbGI
Grande performed Aretha Franklin’s hit song “Natural Woman” on the Tonight Show following her passing in August of 2018. A lifelong fan of soul, and specifically Franklin herself, Grande was asked to perform the song in honor of Franklin during her appearance on the show. Grande performed for the first time with the Roots, proving that the collaboration of the two artists is bound to produce an unforgettable performance. This performance not only had Grande performing in her best genre, but also stepping away from the pop genre box that people tend to isolate her to. The performance was so well received that Grande was even asked to perform the song at a Franklin’s funeral service. However, it is the performance with the Roots that stands out for Grande as, arguably, her best.