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Oh, this is something's happening. I know.
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It's a cumulative effect of the show over here.
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I'm fine with the spice so far, but like my body is like, "What's this?"
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Hey, what's going on everybody?
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For First We Feast, I'm Sean Evans and you're watching Hot Ones.
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It's the show with hot questions and even hotter wings.
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And today we're joined by Ariana Grande.
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She's a Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter and pop music icon with a pair of momentous projects in 2024.
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Her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, which opened at number one.
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And later this year, you can catch her in the role as Glinda in the film adaptation of the Broadway hit musical Wicked, set to release in theaters on November 22nd.
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Ariana Grande, welcome to the show. Thank you for having me. I'm so excited.
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What's your mindset like going into this?
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Like, do you feel prepared for this gauntlet of hot sauces in front of you?
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I feel present and I feel as ready as I'll ever be. I feel very excited. I invited myself.
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I asked I begged to come here.
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So, it's too late to turn back and I'm here.
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You're a hostage here on Hot Ones.
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Are you ready to get started, Ari? Yes, I'm I'm ready. No, that doesn't count.
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I have to do better than this. That's tiny tiny.
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All right, I'll join you. Okay. Delicious. That's really good.
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My favorite song on Eternal Sunshine is I Wish I Hated You.
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And I'm curious, how do you make songs sad from like a technical perspective?
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Like, beyond your lyrics and natural emotional expression, are there chord progressions or song structures that help elicit that kind of emotional reaction? Yeah, definitely.
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Well, with with I Wish I Hated You, by the way, thank you.
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I didn't expect you would have heard it, but thank you.
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Um with that song, I actually got the beat from Ilya, who produced that song, and it was already that emotional.
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What you hear on the record is what he sent me the first time.
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Often, you'll write a song to a beat and then it will change based on what's written on top of it, or we'll start at the piano and then whatever, but that was the first thing he sent me and the last thing that was sent to mix was that track.
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So, it was already really emotional.
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As soon as I heard it, I started crying and I didn't know why, but it just sounded like the right place to put something like that.
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I think sort of emotional intention leading the way can sometimes inform the music to just fall out how it needs to, and I'm so grateful to work with my producers.
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They're so brilliant and I'm spoiled rotten, really.
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You'll learn this quickly. I'm long-winded.
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By the way, I'm not coming in proud or cocky or confident.
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I'm shriveling are, I'm shriveling and weak and honest.
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That's where we like That's where we like Agast. Perfect positioning. Mhm.
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What do you expect of my performance today?
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Like, where do you think I'll sit on the scale from DJ Khaled to Lord?
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Where do you think I'll Where do you think I'll rank? That is the scale.
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You didn't properly position the scale. I didn't do my homework.
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Where do you think I'll be? Huh.
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Well, your attitude coming into this is incredible.
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I'm not just saying that.
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So, I think when you approach something with that kind of attitude, I think you can accomplish anything.
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So, I'm going to go Lord-leaning. Oof.
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But, however it happens, however it happens is how it's supposed to happen, I think. nice.
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That's a nice and that's a lie and it's nice. Thank you.
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For the uninitiated, what's a Tenori-on and how would you say it's best used?
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Oh my god, you really do your homework.
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It's kind of like a a MIDI thing, but it's also like an instrument in in its own.
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You can program it to play sounds from program like Ableton or play something from like a certain session.
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How did you think to ask that? That's so crazy.
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I haven't had one since I was younger, so I don't really know how it's evolved since I was like 14 or something. to get you a new one. Yes. Oh my god, really?
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What's a looping machine?
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A looping machine is something that basically loops whatever sound you're singing into the microphone or playing into the microphone.
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Um I fell in love with it from watching Imogen Heap at a young age.
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She's my favorite musician of all time and she used it to sort of build her song live.
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To watch her do it and really show the audience like, yeah, all those sounds, all those like lush emotional chords that you're hearing, those like pads are my voice and here's how I got there.
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So she like takes the time.
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It's like a 10 to 15 minute performance and she lays it all out.
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Um I was really inspired by that when I was younger and um I'm such a nerd for musical production and like vocal production. Yeah.
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Big fan of fermented kimchi. It's there. Mhm. It's beautiful. You're into it. Yum. The notes are romantic.
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That is some lovely pickley kimchi. Bouquet?
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That one's That one's like lovely. There we go.
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We'll pack it up for you. Take it to go. Thank you. Just for you, Ariana. Thank you.
5:44
So in an interview with Vanity Fair, Wicked director Jon Chu mentioned your commitment to doing live vocals while filming, even though he was originally skeptical, saying, "When we were shooting it, those girls were like, 'Fuck the pre-records. We're going live.'"
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What was the most unique situation you found yourself singing in?
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Like, did you ever have to perform while hanging from a wire or harnessed into a floating bubble?
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Well, yes, there was lots of bubble singing, which was very high up, and I wasn't harnessed.
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I was just kind of there.
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Um and I had a lot of uh like stunty singing things, but nothing compares to Cynthia Erivo.
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This is my favorite thing in the entire world.
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Watching Cynthia in her harness with a broom, a hat, like wig, corset, dress, like the whole thing, flipping upside down, flying around the set, singing "Defying Gravity" every take like it's nothing.
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Like, just the most phenomenal thing I've ever seen in my life. Oh my god, I love her.
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We had to do some really insane and beautiful things for this film, and it was just so much fun.
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How we doing after three wings? Very good. Crushing it.
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This next one is Los Calientes barbacoa here in the four spot.
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This has a more saucy side. I found this one. found the saucy side. Mhm.
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Don't we all have a saucy side? Mhm. Not for me.
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It's not this place's problem. It's a A flavor problem. It's a tone.
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Yeah, no, it's disgusting.
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Is this one that you famously hate? WE ACTUALLY MAKE IT. I LOVE IT. IT'S MY FAVORITE so far.
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So, David Byrne of the Talking Heads, he has a quote where he says, "The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying.
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Does that at all resonate with you or do you disagree?
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I see where he's coming from, but I No, I don't think that one negates the other.
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Like I think if there someone has a pure Some of the most beautiful performances have like perfect, pure, gorgeous tone, you know?
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Why are you Why are you laughing at me? I'm not. You know what? You're laughing at me. I'm really not.
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No, I had a little I'm getting into the fifth wing.
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There was a face change that I think you were picking up on, but it was honestly, and this is me telling the truth, me going, "I've got a burp that's sitting right here."
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Please, it's a safe space.
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That I'm trying to like keep down.
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No, you know, back half I'll let them fly, but that's that's what you saw right there. I'm the Yeah, yeah.
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We're still getting to the fifth wing. I get it. It's perfectly good. I love that tagline. Why are you laughing?
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No, my face changed because I think I'm learning that I'm I don't I don't like hot sauce.
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You are on top of the spice. I'll say that, you know?
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I wouldn't be able to tell that you're affected. Still lord leaning. Still lord leaning.
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Well, I got We're only halfway there.
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Thank you for your generosity and your warmth.
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So, when NSYNC was on the show, Justin Timberlake talked about how that memorable pronunciation, "And it's going to be me," was actually a note from Max Martin who said, "May, it's going to be May," because of his Swedish accent.
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I'm curious, do you ever get notes from him that maybe sound a little bit strange at face value, but actually serve to make the record more memorable? Absolutely.
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One of my favorite most hilarious Max Martin memories, and this man, I love him so much.
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He is such an incredible friend and inspiration to me. I love him so much.
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I hope to work with him for our whole lives.
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Um, but one of my favorite memories is when we were making Break Free.
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I was a lot younger and I did not want to do the intonation on say I don't want you.
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And he was like, no, it really needs to be like pingy, like me me me me me, like annoying.
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It has to be like say I don't want you.
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And I was like, fine, like this? Say I don't want you.
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And he And that's what made it to the record. He was like, perfect. Thank you. That's all I needed.
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And I was like this for the rest of my life.
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And now I I and I'm so grateful for it because I totally get it and it made it so much better and I love that song.
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I love what that song has done for so many people.
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I love hearing the stories about how it changed their lives and singing it on stage makes me so happy.
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So, that's not even a thing anymore, but when I was younger, I was like, is he serious? Yeah.
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Oh my god, it's giving me hiccups. I'm full. Yeah.
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The vegan wings are filling. I'm big. That's for sure.
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You can't really tell, but they're the size of like my hands.
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Gorilla thumbs over here.
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How would you describe the impact that leak music has from an artist perspective?
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You know, it's kind of crazy how common place it's come and casual attitude towards something that actually amounts to theft. Yeah, it's hard.
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I It's really hard for me because it's really disheartening and it's like disappointing and it sucks.
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And I am constantly trying to get to the bottom of like how people get stuff, whether it's like videos or pictures that are or audio, songs, and then also like commented on, criticized, blah blah blah.
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So, it's conflicting because that is very frustrating and feels very dehumanizing, and then the other side is like, but I'm so grateful to be an artist that people care about, and my fans want more of me, so they're going to these extremes to steal and break in.
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Um It's so lovely to be loved.
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No, um but yeah, I sit somewhere in between like being grateful to be here at all, um and being like, but really, come on. So, that's how I feel.
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Black-Eyed Susan, it's my drag name.
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That was the joke I used before we were rolling, and he said, "Save these." Yeah.
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It got no laughs this time.
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The first time it was a hit, and now it's nothing. Nothing. Okay. All right, Susan. You're good. I'm weirdly good. Hold on. I don't trust this.
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Am I just like I'll join you. numb? You could be.
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I don't think so, though.
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My insides know something's happening. Uh something is a foot. Mhm.
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I'm like fine, but like I'm fine here. That's right.
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Don't fight against the winds. You know what I mean? Clock them.
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No, this is something's happening. I know.
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It's a cumulative effect Yeah. of the show over here.
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I'm fine with the space so far, but like my body is like, "What's this?" Why?
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So, De La Soul recently released a recording of a 1996 live show, where they introduced their hit, Me, Myself, and I, by calling it the one that we can't stand, but everyone is digging.
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Are there any songs that you've retired from the live show, or ones that you'd be happy to retire if fans didn't crave them so much. Of course.
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I mean, I think of course that's like a natural thing that all artists probably can relate to, but seeing the reaction to it also kind of replaces that. Yeah. Does that make sense? Mhm.
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There was a time when it was hard for me to feel that same gratitude that I do now for certain songs and for the music because I think some of it was like a stressful time and I think becoming a pop star is insane is insane at 19 or 20.
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And I think that experience was sort of married to some of the songs a little bit or like some of the songs that are more emotional that the the experience that inspired them can be married to the music for me for a second.
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Um but with time and therapy we we sort of are able to re-embrace.
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So, I feel just really proud and grateful and happy when I hear them.
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I got I'm like, "That's a good song."
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Whereas I used to maybe hear it and cry.
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So, that's a beautiful thing. Yeah. Cheers to the next wing.
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Which is I'm talking so much because I'm delaying the inevitable.
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It's why we're here, yeah? It's why we're here. Okay. Cheers. Cheers. I just took a big bite. I know, I saw that. Same? Give me a moment. Yeah. Take your time.
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Give her a moment, please. You're right. She's working. I'll sit back. Excuse me, I burped. Oh god. It's all okay. Long leash on this show. It's a safe space. It's a safe space. You can let her fly.
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And I might start hiccuping a little bit through this. my tongue is aware. Yeah.
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And my brain feels like um it's being invited to fight or flight like like to hover above and watch us do this right now. Yeah.
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Like I'm not here anymore. Uh-huh.
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But I'm like not I'm not but I'm fine.
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Yeah, but I like this all-encompassing experience that you have when you eat, you know, like you take a bite and I feel like you really get to know the sauce before passing any sort of judgment on it and then, you know, whether it's hot or whether it's just tasty.
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where someone has come from and why they how they get where they are and who you know, like Yeah.
15:53
With the uh I have empathy for wing eight.
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That's right, you know, so many people come on the show and they come in here and they dog it and they call it battery acid, you know.
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with We bully this little sauce so much on this show and it bullies us to be fair, but you're right, you know, like How dare we assume or project onto them? Exactly, yeah.
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We don't We don't know where they've come from, you know. Right.
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You don't get beyond and San Diego out of nowhere, yeah.
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No, it's it's it's happening. Yeah. My lips feel it. It's nice though.
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No, it It feels like plumper. Like lip gloss does.
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I'm scared to do water cuz I think it's going to make it worse. Yeah, it might. It might. Is coffee helping? you tell me.
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I've never done a black coffee. Hm. You tell me. Would you like? Sure. Give it a try. Yeah. Oops, sorry. Oh, thank you very much. Keep it, please. Are you sure? Yeah. You know what?
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It doesn't not not work, you know.
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Is that like some hack that we that we just figured out here on this show? I think it is.
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Black coffee, an antidote.
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I'm going to try this, whatever it is.
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It's almond Almond milk for you. Thank you. And for me, actually. I'll chase.
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Little almond milk with the coffee and the hot sauce, you know. That's been the worst.
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That was the biggest reaction we've had all day.
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That was the worst part so far. Okay.
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I think there's something waiting for me here.
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We're trying to surprise you again.
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relaxed a little bit, you know, and then it comes up and bites you, you know?
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Oh, you think I was just performing. I see.
17:38
The taste is just terrible. Yeah. It's just disgusting.
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We're in that kind of world over here. This is all horrible.
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Have you discovered the perfect Venn diagram between veganism and Sicilian cooking?
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And if so, how would you describe your perfect dish?
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No, it's so funny because my family always forgets.
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I don't think they forget.
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I think they don't want to remember.
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And my nonna always offers me meatballs.
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And I'm like, "No, thank you.
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Like I'm still plant-based and still Sorry, I'm sorry. Thank you.
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But, you know, it's it's what it is. I'm not alone.
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My My brother-in-law, Hal, is also vegan. So, we have each other.
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Trying to navigate those Sunday night dinners. Mhm.
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I'm looking for the ideal afternoon in Boca Raton. Boomers? god.
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Boomers, overrated or underrated? Boomers, underrated.
18:28
You can't overrate Boomers. It's Boomers.
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Tell me like how do I spend an afternoon at Boomers?
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Dance Dance Revolution, the race cars outside.
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How do you You really did your research. That's amazing.
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Have you been to Boca Raton?
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No, but I'm I'm filling out an itinerary right now. That's it.
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And And our house, come over.
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We can We can fight off the meatballs.
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So, nonna can cook for us. right. Do you shake it? I shake it.
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Kind of for dramatic effect. do that. Hello. Okay. Here we go.
19:10
My whole team doesn't know what like, dabbing it up a little bit.
19:13
Okay, but it does have Oh my god, sorry. It's all right.
19:17
I couldn't do that again if I tried. Um, okay. Is this her? Okay. All right. Cheers. Cheers. What a ride.
19:29
This is going to do it, isn't it?
19:30
You're going to get the best of this one, it's not going to get the best of you. Oh, okay. Thank you. Okay, let's see. Here's hoping. Cheers. Cheers. It's been an honor. Thank you very much. Thank you. Incredible.
19:53
I did not expect this today, sir. I did.
19:57
I called it when you walked in the room.
19:59
That's weird cuz I did not feel confident at all.
20:02
I have like The people like that often do the best on this show.
20:05
I like Tums and bananas and black coffee, orange juice, coffee. You came prepared. You handled it.
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The good news is, too I'm worried. No, no, no, no. Something's off. Something's turned off.
20:20
I should It shouldn't feel like this.
20:22
Ariana Grande to close things out.
20:22
Do you have a go-to vocal warm-up? See, listen to me. Over here. Yeah.
20:31
Do you have a go-to vocal warm-up or exercise?
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And if so could you teach me it while our mouths and throats are on fire over here? Yeah. More me than you. You're crying. I know, I'm crying. I'm going back. Are you going back? going back.
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I don't want to hurt you. Okay.
20:51
So, something I'll do if I have to sing is I kind of start the moment I wake up, like when I'm brushing my teeth I'll go You have a beautiful range.
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And it kind of stretches throughout throughout the day.
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So, I will vocalize a little bit in the morning and then have my day, have my glam, do my thing, and get ready for the show.
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But, throughout the whole day I'm going LIKE LITTLE AND YOU STRETCH A LITTLE HIGHER AND A LITTLE LONGER. That's nice. That's exactly it. like an elephant. Yeah. over here.
21:32
And look at you, Ariana Grande, taking on the wings of death, living to tell the tale, and now there's nothing left to do but roll out the red carpet for you.
21:40
This camera, this camera, this camera, let the people know what you have going on in your life. Oh my gosh.
21:46
And my album Eternal Sunshine is out and Wicked will be out on November 27th.
21:53
Thank you so much for having me. Anytime. You're welcome back. THANK YOU. WHAT?
22:02
I CAN'T [ __ ] BELIEVE THIS. All right.
22:08
Well, if you're happy, I'm happy, but I'll start over if you if you want me to try again.
22:13
We should open just pour more. Thank you GUYS SO MUCH.
22:23
CAMERA GUY BILL HERE FOR A SPICY PSA.
22:26
HERE AT HOT ONES we love sports. BASEBALL. FOOTBALL. GO LONG. BASKETBALL.
22:39
HECK, and even fancy horseback riding.
22:43
AND WE KNOW YOU SPICE LORDS ARE tuned in, too.
22:45
So, the next time you need a little snack to go with your sports, make sure to make it a Hot Ones Buffalo Bonanza.
22:54
Our Hot Ones Buffalo sauce is made with real butter, cayenne pepper, and even a little bit of celery.
22:58
It's the perfect companion for chicken wings, dips, and all your favorite game day snacks.
23:03
So, don't fumble this one and order your bottle of Hot Ones Buffalo Sauce today. That's heatness. com, heatness. com, heatness.
23:14
com for all your buffalo needs.