With the return of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the time has come for us to consider an important question asked throughout ages long past — what song do you think they’re going to lip synch to in the premiere?
With a Drag Race premiere, it’s not even a foregone conclusion that we will definitely get a Lip Sync For Your Life — back in season 9, for example, when guest judge Lady Gaga oversaw the queens’ first challenges, there was no elimination or winner lip sync. Then again, when season 13 rolled around, we got six lip syncs in the premiere episode as every queen faced off in pairs.
Assuming we’re getting at least one lip sync battle — be it For Your Life of For The Win — in season 15’s two-episode MTV premiere, we can also assume whose song we will be hearing. With Ariana Grande stepping in for her second stint as a guest judge, it’s safe to say that we will likely get a new rendition to one of her tracks.
It’s a position that Grande is very familiar with; the singer once held the record for most songs lip-synced on the show (other than Ru, of course). Today, she’s tied with Whitney Houston for second place, both having eight of their songs performed on the show and its All Stars seasons, while Britney Spears has had nine tracks earn their place on the main stage in 11 different lip syncs.
Which of Ariana’s songs can we expect to hear during the premiere? Tom Campbell, an executive producer of the show since its conception, told Billboard last year that RuPaul has final say over what songs make it onto the show, and he takes a lot of aspects into consideration. “He will reject songs because they’re the wrong tempo, they don’t build, there’s all of these factors he’s thinking about,” he said.
Billboard decided to offer up a few suggestions — below, we list out 10 songs by Ariana Grande that we would love to see featured in an upcoming lip sync on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15:
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"7 Rings"
If you’re into betting, this would be a good song to put your money on for Friday’s premiere. There are few other songs in Grande’s discography that make as much sense for a Drag Race lip sync as “7 Rings.” The song perfectly toes the line between two lip sync staples — badass empowerment and sheer, unadulterated camp. Dancing queens can get down, comedy queens can make a meal out of lines like “gee thanks, just bought it,” and queens who love props can flex their best Marilyn Monroe “look at all these jewels” impression as Ariana literally lists off the things she loves. -
"Positions"
While “7 Rings” may be the most obvious choice for a Drag Race lip sync, “Positions” is arguably a better one. For one, the tempo and beat of the song lend themselves more directly to a no-holds-barred battle of the queens. Then the lyrics also offer plenty in the way of inspiration for some, shall we say, “evocative” dance moves — and the messaging of the song is pure drag fodder. In short, this would be an excellent track for duking it out on the runway. -
"Thank U, Next"
This is one of those songs that feels like it’s already been lip-synched on Drag Race, and yet it has not thus far. The beauty of a potential “Thank U, Next” lip sync, much like “7 Rings,” lies in its versatility — there are a wide array of options for queens looking to stand out. Maybe they pull out all of their choreography for the bouncing chorus, or maybe they ham it up when listing off each of Ari’s exes. The only problem with “Thank U” is its tempo; while you can certainly still get down to this slower jam, there are other options in Grande’s catalog that provide a smidge more dancefloor fuel. -
"34+35 Remix" (feat. Doja Cat & Megan Thee Stallion)
“34+35” has a lot going for it — it’s a fan favorite amongst Arianators, it’s got an effortless flow, and it’s not terribly hard to remember the words. The only, problem, much like “Thank U, Next,” is the tempo and production; “34+35” isn’t exactly the type of “banger” we normally get to see on the Drag Race main stage. However the song’s remix — with gassed-up guest verses from Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion — offers a solution to that issue, as the trio of voices together make this a higher-octane option for a smackdown. -
"Rain on Me" (with Lady Gaga)
Ok, so we’re maybe cheating a little bit with this one — “Rain On Me” may technically be more of a Lady Gaga song, but Ariana features prominently enough on the track to earn her a co-lead artist credit, and the song some fair consideration on this list. And if we’re being honest, this track was practically made for Drag Race. The speed, the energy, the vocals, everything sounds like a perfect option for two drag queens trying to earn redemption — which is what the song is quite literally all about. Even if the queens just did the choreography from the track’s memorable music video, they’d still be in good shape to win their bout. -
"Dangerous Woman"
Let’s slow things down for a moment — literally. “Dangerous Woman” has become a staple for drag performers across the country not because it’s a high-energy dance number, but because of its sultry, burlesque-inspired potential. Getting to slink around a stage while declaring that being around someone makes you “want to do things that I shouldn’t” is peak drag, and it’s about time that we got to see two queens show off their sexy side to this phenomenal track on national television. -
"Side to Side" (feat. Nicki Minaj)
How we haven’t had a Drag Race main stage rendition of “Side to Side” yet is beyond us. Sure, we got a memorable performance of the track on Secret Celebrity Drag Race, but we’re ready to watch two queens with everything to lose go head to head on this absolute bop. With the video already delivering spin class realness, we’re imagining two queens in some sort of luxury fitness wear challenge absolutely burning it down to this song. -
"God Is a Woman"
Much like “Dangerous Woman,” “God Is A Woman” thrives as a lip sync thanks in large part to its sensuality. But unlike “Dangerous Woman,” “God Is a Woman” has a beat that makes dancing it out that much easier — get two queens on the stage ready to offer up a religious experience, and you’ll have a lip sync for the history books. -
"Love Me Harder" (with The Weeknd)
We’ve already listed plenty of songs from Ariana’s latest albums, so why don’t we take a look back for a moment? My Everything, from 2014, has already provided half of the Grande-soundtracked lip syncs on the show (“One Last Time,” “Problem,” “Break Free” and “Bang Bang,” to be precise), and yet it feels wrong that “Love Me Harder” has yet to be included. The key to this song’s lip sync potential is the build — “Love Me Harder” manages to start from a soft, understated performance, before exploding into an ecstatic chorus, lending itself perfectly to the excessive theatrics that are inherent to any lip sync. -
"Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored"
When you break it down to its barest elements, a Lip Sync for Your Life is essentially two queens looking a person in the face and forcefully asking them to dump the other one. That also just so happens to match the lyrical content of Thank U, Next hit “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored.” The song provides an ample opportunity for two queens to do what drag queens do best — act incredibly shady to one another while entertaining the masses watching. If the shoe fits, then please, RuPaul, just wear it already.