True Story (song)

"True Story" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande from her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine (2024).

Composition
"True Story" is two minutes and 43 seconds long. The song is described by Grande to be "an untrue story based on all untrue events" and features writing and production from Max Martin. Sonically, it's a slinky, "solid R&B bounce" featuring a catchy, "candy floss" chorus, metal bass lines, and some elements of G-funk in its instrumentation. Lyrically, the song has Grande being self-referential to the image the media and tabloids put upon her regarding stories about her personal and dating life. In the album's track list, the song is intended by Grande to set up and precede "The Boy Is Mine", letting her play the "bad girl".

Critical reception
Upon release, the song received positive reviews from music critics. Kyle Denis of Billboard ranked the song at number one, in a ranking of the album. In the ranking, Denis called the song "the smartest song Grande has ever made", noting the self-awareness in its lyrics and its similarities of "the 90s pop & R&B bounce" of "Fantasize". Nick Levine, a writer at NME deemed the song an album highlight, calling it "cleverly self-referential" and applauding Grande's vocal performance over the "G-funk" inspired beat. In a review of the parent album, Rolling Stone likened the song to something created by Timbaland for American singer Aaliyah.

Credits
Recording


 * Mixed at Mixstar Studios (Virginia Beach)
 * Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)

Personnel


 * Ariana Grande – vocals, lyrics, composition, production
 * Max Martin – lyrics, production, composition, guitar, drums, keyboards, bass, programming, background vocals
 * Ilya Salmanzadeh – production, composition, guitar, drums, keyboards, bass, programming, background vocals
 * Shellback – drums
 * Sam Holland – engineering
 * Lou Carrao – engineering
 * Eric Eylands – engineering assistance
 * Rob Sellens – engineering assistance
 * Randy Merrill – mastering
 * Serban Ghenea – mixing
 * Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance