Mike Mills jokingly calls out Ariana Grande in new song.

4 hours ago7 min read2 comments

In a delightful crossover that feels like a secret track from a lost mixtape, R. E.M. bassist and indie rock cornerstone Mike Mills has playfully tossed a lyrical wink at pop titan Ariana Grande in 'My Cologne,' a new track from his supergroup The Baseball Project.The line in question, 'I want to smell like Ariana Grande, and I think she wants you to smell like me,' is less a diss track and more a wry, knowing nod from the world of jangly guitars and introspective lyricism to the glittering empire of modern pop celebrity. It’s a collision of artistic universes that somehow makes perfect sense, a moment of self-aware humor that acknowledges the pervasive nature of celebrity branding while gently ribbing its absurdities.For Mills, a musician who helped define the intellectual and atmospheric sound of college rock, this isn't a departure but an evolution of his long-standing lyrical playfulness, a trait often overshadowed by Michael Stipe's more opaque poetics. The very concept of a cologne as a song's central metaphor is brilliantly mundane, a far cry from the anthemic calls to arms of 'It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)' yet equally clever in its observation of modern identity.Grande, an artist whose career is a masterclass in personal branding—from her signature high ponytail to her immensely successful perfume line—becomes the perfect foil in this lyrical vignette. The line operates on multiple levels: it’s a genuine, if ironic, appreciation for the sensory world Grande has built for her fans, while simultaneously suggesting a hilarious, imagined scenario of reciprocal fandom between two artists from seemingly disparate musical planets.This isn't the first time rock elder statesmen have glanced toward the pop charts; one can recall David Bowie’s fascination with Nine Inch Nails or Paul McCartney’s collaborations with Kanye West, moments where the walls between genres proved more permeable than they appeared. The song itself, reportedly a jangle-pop gem, fits within The Baseball Project's modus operandi of crafting smart, narrative-driven rock songs around America's pastime, making this Grande reference an unexpected curveball in their lineup.It speaks to a broader, ongoing cultural conversation about authenticity, commerce, and art, where an indie legend can tip his hat to a pop phenomenon without sacrificing his credibility, instead enriching his own artistic persona with a layer of contemporary relevance and wit. In the end, Mills isn't calling out Grande; he's inviting her into his world through a shared, albeit imaginary, bottle of cologne, creating a moment that is as charming as it is conceptually sharp, proving that the most interesting music often happens at the intersections.

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