Ariana Grande pays her respects to Manchester bombing victims in her new video

Ariana Grande yesterday released her first single since the tragic terrorist bombing of her Manchester concert last year.

Entitled ‘No More Tears To Cry’, the song opens with a soulful, slow-building intro before giving way to a euphoric chorus rooted in themes of empowerment and defiance.

The video, directed by Dave Meyers, is similarly uplifting; the young, newly-blonde star dances on rooftops and looks pensive amidst fairy lights in the clip, which seems to channel the same resilient spirit she was praised for after the horrific terrorist attack which took place at Manchester Evening News Arena during one of her concerts.

Despite initially – and understandably – tweeting that she was “broken” by the deadly bombings, which killed more than 20 fans and injured dozens more, Grande wasted no time in organising a make-up concert which would be free to all initial ticket-holders. Quickly pulling together a star-studded cast, she teamed up with Red Cross to raise a staggering total of more than £10million for victims.

The song’s lyrical themes of overcoming fear are a clear allusion to the attack, but eagle-eyed fans have spotted one explicit, poignant reference to the tragedy.

As the camera spins – an effect which some have claimed represents her life being shaken – and Grande looks up to the sky, a bee flies directly towards the camera.

This is pivotal; it was during the Industrial Revolution that the worker bee became the official symbol of Manchester, representing its tireless work to pioneer new forms of mass production.

It’s a subtle touch, but one which sees Grande respectfully pay tribute to victims and symbolically close this traumatic chapter of her career. Naturally, fans are now more excited than ever for her upcoming, as-yet-untitled album.

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