Honestly, when Ariana Grande dropped Positions in late 2020, people were already expecting a more mature vibe. But then track two hit. You know the one. The strings sound like they belong in a Disney movie—pure, sweeping, and almost innocent. Then Ariana opens her mouth and starts singing about wanting to make babies and staying up until the sun comes out.
It’s hilarious. It’s bold.
But if you’ve ever looked closely at the Ariana Grande 34 35 lyrics, you’ll realize the song isn’t just a "horny anthem" (though it definitely is that). It was a massive risk for her brand at the time. She actually told Zach Sang in an interview that she was "very nervous" about putting it on the album. She was worried the "ridiculousness" of the track would overshadow the vulnerability of songs like "POV" or "Off the Table."
The Math Problem Everyone Solved (Eventually)
Let’s get the obvious thing out of the way. If you add 34 and 35, you get 69.
Ariana isn't subtle about it either. By the end of the song, she literally whispers, "Means I wanna 69 with ya," followed by a self-deprecating "No s***" and a joke about how she was never good at math class. It’s that specific brand of Ariana humor—mixing high-glamour R&B with the kind of joke you’d make with your best friends at 2 AM.
According to her frequent collaborator Victoria Monét and producer Tommy Brown, the goal was to create the "dirtiest possible" lyrics to contrast with those "pure" orchestral strings. They wanted to see how far they could push the boundary between sounding like a princess and talking like a grown woman in a committed relationship.
Those Specific "Earthquake" Lyrics
One of the most specific lines in the song is: “Got the neighbors yellin' 'Earthquake!' / 4.5 when I make the bed shake.”
A lot of people think she just picked a random number that sounded good. Nope. On July 30, 2020, Los Angeles was actually hit by a 4.2 magnitude earthquake. Then, another 4.5 magnitude quake rattled Southern California in September right as the album was being finalized. Ariana, being a literalist in her songwriting sometimes, took that real-life event and turned it into a brag about her bedroom life with her then-partner Dalton Gomez.
What’s Up With the Coffee and "Squeaky" Lines?
The second verse has always been a point of debate on Reddit and Twitter.
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“I've been drinking coffee / And I've been eating healthy / You know I keep it squeaky / Saving all my energy.”
Some fans have gone down some pretty... deep rabbit holes about what "keeping it squeaky" and drinking coffee means in a sexual context. Some suggest it’s about physical preparation for certain activities (you can use your imagination there). However, the more grounded take is simply about stamina. Coffee for the caffeine to stay up all night, and a healthy lifestyle so she doesn't "hit snooze" before the sun comes up.
Basically, she's prepping for a marathon.
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The "Babies" Line Was Originally a Joke
One of the most iconic parts of the Ariana Grande 34 35 lyrics is the opening: “If I put it quite plainly / Just give me them babies.”
Believe it or not, that wasn't supposed to be in the song. Scott Nicholson, one of her best friends and backup dancers, threw it out as a joke while they were writing. They were all laughing, thinking it was too much, but Ariana loved the shock value. She decided it was the perfect "plain" way to start a song that spends the next three minutes being anything but plain.
Why This Song Actually Matters for Her Career
Before Positions, Ariana was often seen through the lens of her trauma—the Manchester bombing, the loss of Mac Miller, the very public breakup with Pete Davidson. Thank U, Next was a healing album, but Positions was about reclaimation.
"34+35" was her way of saying, "I'm a grown-up, I have a sex life, and I don't have to be 'perfect' or 'sad' all the time."
- The Production: Tommy Brown used "plucked strings" to give it a pizzicato feel that sounds expensive but playful.
- The Remix: Adding Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion later on wasn't just a business move; it was a "girls' girl" moment. Doja actually had a verse for the original version that got scrapped, but it finally saw the light of day in the remix.
- The Visuals: In the music video, she plays a scientist creating a "fembot" version of herself. It’s a nod to the fact that people often try to program her to be a certain way, but she’d rather just dance in her lingerie and have fun.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you’re a songwriter or a content creator looking at why this song worked so well, here are the takeaways:
- Juxtaposition is King: If your music sounds "clean" or "Disney-like," try writing lyrics that are the exact opposite. The friction creates interest.
- Specific Details Win: Mentioning a "4.5 earthquake" is way more memorable than just saying "we moved the bed." Real-life specifics make lyrics feel authentic.
- Don't Fear the "Cringe": Ariana knew the math joke was a bit cheesy. She leaned into it. Sometimes being "too much" is exactly what makes a song go viral.
To really get the full experience of the Ariana Grande 34 35 lyrics, you should watch the "Live Program" version she released in 2021. The vocals are more stripped back, and you can hear the technical difficulty of the runs she does while singing lines that would make most people blush. If you're analyzing her discography, compare this track to "Side to Side" or "Dangerous Woman" to see the evolution from "suggestive" to "completely unfiltered."