Ariana Grande’s new single, “thank u, next,” is currently spending its third week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking the first chart-topping hit of the pop star’s career. During a recent appearance on BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge, The 1975 decided to give the song a soulful new spin. Frontman Matty Healy takes the lead, accompanied by the rest of his band and a group of backup singers.
Healy keeps all of Grande’s lyrics intact, including the name-drops of her famous exes:
Thought I’d end up with Sean
But he wasn’t a match
Wrote some songs about Ricky
Now I listen and laugh
Even almost got married
And for Pete, I’m so thankful
Wish I could say, “Thank you” to Malcolm
‘Cause he was an angel
Grande gave the performance her stamp of approval soon afterwards:
The 1975’s next album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, drops this Friday, November 30. It’s set to be the group’s first release since 2016’s I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it, and will feature recent singles like “Love It If We Made It” and “Sincerity Is Scary.”
Meanwhile, “thank u, next” is expected to serve as the title track for Grande’s upcoming fifth album, which may drop before the end of 2018. She’s been teasing a music video for the track, sharing images of herself recreating famous scenes from Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, and Bring It On.
Watch the performance above and read all the lyrics to Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” on Genius now.
