“7 Rings” (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by Ariana Grande. It’s the second single and the tenth track from her fifth studio album, “Thank U, Next.” The song was released on January 18, 2019, through Republic Records.
Ariana Grande has described “7 Rings” as a “friendship anthem” that follows her previous single “Thank U, Next,” marking a new chapter in her life.
The song reflects a personal moment in Ariana Grande’s life – her breakup with SNL comedian Pete Davidson. This breakup inspired her to go on a shopping spree, where she bought seven matching friendship rings for herself and her friends.
In this article, we’ll delve into the meaning behind the song’s lyrics.
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Inspiration Behind “7 Rings”
Grande wrote “7 Rings” after a shopping trip with her close friends Tayla Parx, Victoria Monét, Alexa Luria, Courtney Chipolone, Njomza Vitia, and Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk, who were all there with her. Except for Krysiuk, all these women also appeared in the “7 Rings” video. This shopping spree was likely a way to cheer herself up after her breakup with Pete Davidson.
In an interview with Billboard, Grande said:
“We needed some retail therapy. You know how when you’re waiting at Tiffany’s they give you lots of champagne? They got us very tipsy, so we bought seven engagement rings, and when I got back to the studio I gave everybody a friendship ring.”
After that day, Tony Jabaly, who sold the rings to Grande, posted on Instagram with the caption: “Proud to have made the sale of the 7 Rings.” He later archived the post and changed the caption to, “It was my pleasure today to work with Ariana Grande. Such a sweetheart person.”
“7 Rings” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
Yeah, breakfast at Tiffany’s and bottles of bubbles
Girls with tattoos who like getting in trouble
Lashes and diamonds, ATM machines
Buy myself all of my favorite things (Yeah)
Been through some bad shit, I should be a sad bitch
Who woulda thought it’d turn me to a savage?
Rather be tied up with calls and not strings
Write my own checks like I write what I sing, yeah (Yeah)
In Verse 1, she mentions having breakfast at Tiffany’s and drinking champagne. She’s with six of her best friends who have tattoos and enjoy some mischief.
In the lines, “Been through some bad shit, I should be a sad bitch,” the phrase “bad shit” refers to her break-up with comedian Pete Davidson. She’s poking fun at herself, suggesting that she should be sad and depressed instead of going on a shopping spree with friends.
In the phrase “Write my own checks like I write what I sing,” Ariana is flaunting her wealth and how she can buy all her favorite things and manage her finances. This reflects her independence and self-reliance. It seems like she’s telling herself that she doesn’t need a man.
[Pre-Chorus]
My wrist, stop watchin’, my neck is flossy
Make big deposits, my gloss is poppin’
You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just bought it
I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it (Yeah)
In the Pre-Chorus, Ariana Grande highlights her luxurious lifestyle and confidence. When she says, “My wrist, stop watchin’, my neck is flossy,” she’s referring to her expensive jewelry, like her wristwatch and necklaces, suggesting that they are attention-grabbing and extravagant.
Ariana also mentions making significant deposits, which implies that she has substantial wealth. Her “gloss” (lip gloss) is “poppin’,” meaning she looks glamorous and stylish.
She asks if you like her hair, thanking someone for it. This suggests that she’s flaunting her newly bought hair and overall appearance.
The repeated line, “I want it, I got it,” signifies her ability to acquire whatever she desires due to her financial prowess and confidence.
[Verse 2]
Wearing a ring, but ain’t gon’ be no “Mrs.”
Bought matching diamonds for six of my bitches
I’d rather spoil all my friends with my riches
Think retail therapy my new addiction
Whoever said money can’t solve your problems
Must not have had enough money to solve ’em
They say, “Which one?” I say, “Nah, I want all of ’em”
Happiness is the same price as red-bottoms
In Verse 2, Ariana talks about wearing a ring but not wanting to be tied down in a traditional “Mrs.” role. This connects to her breakup with SNL comedian Pete Davidson. They got linked in May 2018, and shortly after, Grande sported a $93,000 pear-shaped engagement ring. However, by October 2018, they called off their engagement, and Ariana returned the ring.
In this song, Ariana wants to show that rings don’t always have to be connected to romance; they can also be a gift for people she cares about. So, she decided to buy matching diamonds for six of her friends to pamper her close companions.
Ariana considers “retail therapy” her new addiction, suggesting that she finds comfort and happiness in shopping for luxurious items.
She counters the notion that money can’t solve problems, asserting that it can if you have enough of it. The line “Happiness is the same price as red-bottoms” implies that she equates luxury and expensive items with happiness.
[Pre-Chorus]
My smile is beamin’ (Yeah), my skin is gleamin’ (Is gleamin’)
The way it shine, I know you’ve seen it (You’ve seen it)
I bought a crib just for (Just for) the closet (Closet)
Both his and hers, I want it, I got it, yeah
In the Pre-Chorus, Ariana mentions her dazzling smile and radiant skin, suggesting that her appearance is flawless and attractive.
She talks about buying a house just for the closet, implying that she has so many clothes and accessories that she needs a dedicated space for them.
The repeated line, “I want it, I got it,” reinforces her ability to acquire whatever she desires.
[Verse 3]
Yeah, my receipts be lookin’ like phone numbers
If it ain’t money, then wrong number
Black card is my business card
The way it be settin’ the tone for me
I don’t mean to brag, but I be like, “Put it in the bag,” yeah
When you see them racks, they stacked up like my ass, yeah
Shoot, go from the store to the booth
Make it all back in one loop, gimme the loot
Never mind, I got the juice
Nothing but net when we shoot
Look at my neck, look at my jet
Ain’t got enough money to pay me respect
Ain’t no budget when I’m on the set
If I like it, then that’s what I get, yeah
In Verse 3, Ariana Grande continues to flaunt her wealth. she mentions that her receipts look like phone numbers, suggesting that she spends extravagantly and her purchases are substantial in terms of cost.
She jokes that if someone isn’t talking about money, it’s like a wrong number, implying that money is a significant part of her life and conversations.
Her “black card” being her business card implies that she has a high credit limit and is not shy about using it for her luxurious lifestyle.
She brags about making purchases confidently and mentions having the confidence to say, “Put it in the bag,” which reinforces her financial independence and assertiveness.
Deeper Meaning Behind “7 Rings”
When you look at Grande’s personal history, “7 Rings” is a song about Ariana reevaluating her life and redefining success. She’d rather pamper her friends with her considerable wealth than be tied down to a romantic relationship.
In December 2018, Grande shared on Twitter what inspired the song. She mentioned that after a tough day in New York, she took her six best friends to Tiffany & Co. and bought them all diamond rings. Later on, she also got Tiffany rings for her mom and grandma, but that was long after she wrote the song.
You can see this shopping trip reflected in the song’s opening lines, which reference the iconic 1965 movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Grande sings, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s and bottles of bubbles / Girls with tattoos who like getting in trouble / Lashes and diamonds, ATM machines / Buy myself all of my favorite things.”
Diamond rings usually symbolize engagement, but in “7 Rings,” Ariana Grande is putting sisterhood on the same level as romantic relationships. This makes sense if you’ve been following her eventful year in the tabloids. She’s showing her commitment to her friends, not to Davidson.
However, when you listen to “7 Rings” enough, you might wonder if money can buy love and happiness. In the song, Grande sings, “Whoever said money can’t solve your problems / Must not have had enough money to solve ’em.”
Let’s dive deeper into it. It’s quite common for many girls to turn to shopping when they’re dealing with tough emotions. After a breakup, feelings of sadness often creep in, denting our self-esteem and leaving us feeling abandoned by our partners.
So, Ariana really wants to boost her spirits and show her own value. That’s why, in the song, she keeps highlighting how great she looks with lines like “my neck is flossy/my gloss is poppin’,” and she doesn’t shy away from flaunting her wealth. Because Ariana wants to reassure herself that she doesn’t rely on men for financial support and that her beauty can attract new partners whenever she wants.
More importantly, after parting ways with her boyfriend, she might start questioning romantic relationships and believe that friendships are more enduring.
The “7 Rings” symbolize the friendship and unity she shares with her closest friends. She bought matching diamond rings for them, signifying her deep appreciation for these friendships. This gesture also reflects her independence and the belief that she can provide for both herself and her loved ones.
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