"Moonlight" is the opening track from Ariana Grande's third studio album, Dangerous Woman.[4] It was released through Republic Records on May 20, 2016. It is one of her favourite songs she has ever recorded.
Background and recording
"Moonlight" is the result of three days of work. Grande started work on this song on April 9 at 4 a.m., 2015 with Victoria Monét and Tommy Brown in a spontaneous, midnight recording session.[5] A few days later she confirmed that Peter Lee Johnson was also part of the song.[6][7] She says the song is her favorite and most special song she's ever had and there's a story behind it.[8] On April 13, 2015, Grande posted a picture on Instagram with caption "sweeet like candy but he's such a man."[9] On July 1, 2015, Grande tweeted more of the song's lyrics.[10] On July 16, 2015, Grande posted 3 more snippets of the song on her Snapchat.[11][12][13]
Story
Victoria Monét said "['Moonlight',] that’s what Ricky [Alvarez] called her one night. I think it was after their first kiss. He waited to kiss her for a long time, and she was really impressed. He’s such a gentleman, and the song is a great little bookmark of the start of their relationship."[14]
Grande tweeted about "Moonlight" by saying, "a night under the blood moon! that's all."[15] There was a blood moon on April 4, 2015[16] and Grande started recording the song on April 9, five days later.
Live Performances
"Moonlight" was also apart of the setlist from her third concert tour the Dangerous Woman Tour.
Trivia
- "Moonlight" was supposed to be the title track of the album.
- This song is about Ricky Alvarez.
- Grande has a crescent moon tattoo on her neck below her left ear.
- Grande has two fragrance's to do with the song. First being Sweet Like Candy, a lyric from the song, and Moonlight, the title of the song.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
The sun is setting
And you're right here by my side
And the movie is playing
But we won't be watching tonight
[Pre-Chorus]
Every look (every look)
Every touch (every touch)
Makes me want to give you my heart (oooooh)
I be crushing on you, baby
Stay right where you are cause
[Chorus]
I never knew, I never knew
You could hold moonlight in your hands
Til' the night I held you
You are my moonlight, ohoooh
Moonlight
[Verse 2]
I kiss his fingertips
As I'm wishin' he's all mine
He's giving me Elvis
With some James Dean in his eyes
Puts his lips, on my neck
Makes me want to give him my body (oooooh)
I'll be falling for you, baby
And I just can't stop cause
[Chorus]
I never knew, I never knew
You could hold moonlight in your hands
Till the night I held you
You are my moonlight, ohoooh
Moonlight
[Post-Chorus]
Baby, I'll be falling
You're my moonlight, ohoooh
Moonlight
[Outro]
He's so bossy
He makes me dance
Tryna sit in the back of his whip
And just cancel my plans
Sweet like candy
But he's such a man
He knows just what it does
When he's holdin' me tight
And he calls me moonlight too
References
- ↑ MUSICReview: Ariana Grande, Dangerous Woman
- ↑ Album Review: Dangerous Woman By Ariana Grande
- ↑ Review: Ariana Grande leaves the princess image behind with 'Dangerous Woman'
- ↑ Tweet confirming the track
- ↑ Twitter - "Moonlight" first recorded
- ↑ Twitter - we made a really lovely / special song last night / today
- ↑ Twitter - Recording of moonlight
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana messages fan
- ↑ Instagram - Ariana's Instagram post
- ↑ Hollywood Life - Ariana Grande Teases More Lyrics From Next Single ‘Moonlight’
- ↑ Twitter - July 16, 2015 (snippet #1)
- ↑ Twitter - July 16, 2015 (snippet #2)
- ↑ Twitter - July 16, 2015 (snippet #3)
- ↑ Billboard - Ariana 2016 cover story
- ↑ Twitter - Ariana responds to a fan
- ↑ Time and date - April 4, 2015 — Total Lunar Eclipse
Dangerous Woman | |
---|---|
May 20, 2016 • 39:31 • Republic Records | |
Songs | |
Released | Bad Decisions • Be Alright • Dangerous Woman • Everyday • Focus • Greedy • I Don't Care • Into You • Jason's Song (Gave It Away) • Knew Better / Forever Boy • Leave Me Lonely • Let Me Love You • Moonlight • Side To Side • Sometimes • Step On Up • Thinking Bout You • Touch It |
Unreleased | 1st Unknown Dangerous Woman Outtake • All That • Ariana Beat • Baby Loves • Control • Got Her Own • Hi • Hourglass • How You Feel • Knew Better Part Two • Leave Me Lonely (Reprise) • Monster • Oh, Yeah • On & On • Xanadu |
Artists | |
Ariana Grande • Future • Jamie Foxx • Lil Wayne • Macy Gray • Nicki Minaj • Quavo • Takeoff • Tayla Parx • Victoria Monét | |
Tour | |
Dangerous Woman Tour |