Some Ariana Grande fans think there’s a hidden tribute to the victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack in her new album released this weekend.
They noticed that the last song on the album, Get Well Soon, finishes with 40 seconds of silence to bring the track’s running time to 5 minutes 22 seconds. The Arena attack took place on May 22 last year, which is expressed as 5/22 in American English.
Fans have applauded the pop star for ‘honouring the victims of the attack’ with others calling Get Well Soon an ’emotional and beautiful track’.
Remember when Ariana Grande said she'd never forget the victims of the Manchester concert attack?
The attack happened on May 22 (that's 5:22).
She added 40 seconds of silence at the end of the last song on her new album #Sweetener – so the song would be exactly 5:22 long. pic.twitter.com/fdBAnMwIhL
— Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) August 17, 2018
Sweetener follows her 2016 album Dangerous Woman, which reached the top of the Official UK Albums Chart upon its release. It features the tracks No Tears Left To Cry, The Light is Coming and God is a Woman.
Grande, who was named first honorary citizen of Manchester, hasn’t confirmed confirm whether the 40 seconds silence is to honour the victims of the attack but she did share a thank you to her fans.
https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/1030510615138390016
The star had just finished performing at the venue when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device, killing 22 people and injuring 59.
She recently told Vogue that she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after the attack.
“It’s hard to talk about because so many people have suffered such severe, tremendous loss. I know those families and my fans, and everyone there experienced a tremendous amount of it as well. Time is the biggest thing. I feel like I shouldn’t even be talking about my own experience — like I shouldn’t even say anything. I don’t think I’ll ever know how to talk about it and not cry.”
And she told interviewer Giles Hattersley what she thinks about Manchester.
“I have always loved England, but I’ve never seen a city or a country take something that portrays the absolute worst of humanity and turn it into something that portrays the best and the most beautiful.
“I don’t think there are enough words to describe my love and adoration for the people of Manchester.”