Halsey is looking back fondly on one of the most exciting moments in recent pop history. In a new conversation with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the singer reflected on the time when her chart-topping hit “Without Me” went head-to-head with Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” and “7 rings” on the Billboard Hot 100.
According to Halsey, what could have been seen as a tense chart rivalry was actually a moment of pure joy and camaraderie. “A couple of years ago, yeah, it was me and Ariana ‘fighting’ for No. 1 on the Billboard [Hot 100]—we weren’t fighting. We were texting. We loved it. It was the best time ever,” she said. “That era—the ‘Without Me,’ ‘thank u, next,’ and ‘7 rings’ era—it was an amazing time.”
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“Without Me,” released in late 2018, quickly became one of Halsey’s biggest singles, earning her first solo No. 1 on the Hot 100 and staying at the top for two weeks. Around the same time, Ariana Grande entered a career-defining run with “thank u, next,” which debuted at No. 1 in November 2018, followed by “7 rings” in January 2019, which held the top spot for eight consecutive weeks. For months, both stars dominated the charts, fueling conversations online about one of the most competitive—but celebratory—eras in recent pop music.
Photo: Apple Music/YouTube
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