Music Review: Ariana Grande "One Last Time"

Ariana Grande
One Last Time
Album: My Everything
Year:  2015
 
              Ariana Grande confesses to cheating in the  okay    “One Last Time.”
 
             Resigned synths open the single, setting a compliant  tone. Her ex-boyfriend sits across from her in the restraurant. She tells him she’s sorry. She slept with someone else. She tried so hard to ignore him and hoped her feelings would go away. But they didn’t. She feels terrible. She has a horrible girlfriend to him. He deserves to have someone who cares for him. (“I was a liar/I gave into the fire/I know I should’ve fought it/At least I’m being honest/Feel like a failure/Cause I know that I failed you/I should’ve done you better/Cause you don’t want a liar (come on).”
 
               In the pre-chorus, she asks his about his crush. They are planning to go a concert over the weekend. It strikes how much she misses him and what a big mistake she made. (“And I know, and I know, and I know/She gives you everything, but boy, I couldn’t give it to you/And I know, and I know, and I know/That you got everything/But I got nothing here without you.”)
 
                In the chorus, she asks if the could sleep together and have a final goodbye. She says she’ll stay a distance from him. It doesn’t bother he is sort of involved with someone else. She has to have some closure. (“So one last time/I need to be the one who takes you home/One more time/I promise after that, I’ll let you go/Baby, I don’t care if you got her in your heart/All I really care is you wake up in my arms/One last time/I need to be the one who takes you home.”)
 
             He says he’ll think about it. She says she understands. However, she says it will be good for both of them. For the night, he can forget he’s hurt and mad at her. It can be like it was. (“I don’t deserve it/I know I don’t deserve it/But stay with me a minute/I’ll swear I’ll make it worth it/Can’t you forgive me?/At least just temporarily/I know that this is my fault/I should have been more careful (come on).”)
              The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

             In the bridge, she asks him again before they leave. (“I know I should've fought it/At least I’m being honest/Just stay with me a minute/I swear I’ll make it worth it/Cause I don’t want to be without you.”)
                 An extended chorus is sung to end the single. (“So one last time…One last time/I need to be the one who takes you home.”)
      
          Grande just wants another chance. Maybe he’ll change his mind. Maybe things will different. She has to try, though. She’ll always wonder if they could’ve lasted beyond her cheating.
 
                       The all right “One Last Time” has its merits but it’s the weakest of the singles so far. Better choices exist (“Why Try, “Be My Baby.”).