Ariana Grande has reentered the spotlight with her new album, Eternal Sunshine. After being the center point of many controversies and going dark for 3 years to focus on acting, many fans, including me, wondered if Grande would return to the music industry. Upon the announcement of her new album, I was surprised by the title, Eternal Sunshine, which is a reference to the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The album contains 12 songs along with an interlude, with a total runtime of just over 35 minutes.
I used to be a very big fan of Grande, and I was excited to hear about the release of her 7th studio album. The tracks surely did not disappoint. The production as well as the harmonies make for a full and emotionally consistent release without being too experimental with her voice. I definitely think that the lack of impressive vocal runs was playing it safe, but the lyrics and story behind the songs more than made up for it.
The album had an even mix of vulnerable tunes and bright melodies. My favorite upbeat songs were “Bye” and “Supernatural”. In my opinion, “Supernatural” stands out from the rest of the album because of its unique and “girly” chorus. It felt like some of her old songs that I grew up listening to, making it my favorite on the album. “Bye” is another confident and happy track that caught my attention. I thought it was empowering and reminded me of songs that I would blast in the car with my friends. The positive songs on this album embody moving on with your life after a breakup and I think that they flow with the general breakup theme of the album
The emotionally deep songs on the album also gave this album the completeness it needed. “We Can’t Be Friends” and “I Wish I Hated You” were my favorite songs in this category. While “We Can’t Be Friends” wasn’t sonically sad, the lyrics and meaning behind the song were vulnerable and showed the hardships following Grande’s past relationships. “I wish I hated you” had a mellow and whispery flow for the majority of the song, gradually building up as the song progressed. The song is twinkly yet goes through Grande’s regrets of a previous relationship, similar to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the movie that inspired the album.
Overall, I think this is one of the best albums Grande has released. The tracks play through to form a story that many listeners can relate to. I think the songs all have a similar central idea, which is the stages after a breakup. The songs move through mourning and clarity, keeping a cohesive theme throughout the album.