Ariana Grande opens her heart in new record, ‘eternal sunshine’

By: Amy Tang

Ariana Grande’s name splashes headlines once again, but this time, she’s taking control of the narrative.  After four years, the chart-topping singer/songwriter has finally returned with a stunning new album, eternal sunshine, where she details her deepest thoughts and desires surrounding love, loss, and the overall complicated nature of relationships. 

Grande kicks off the record strong with a big question: “How can I tell if I'm in the right relationship? Aren't you really s'posed to know that shit?”—immediately setting the tone for what is to come. Given the constant speculation surrounding her personal love life, she is ready to share her side of the story (and she did not hold back!).

“bye” takes us on a groovy, disco-esuqe journey as Grande ultimately decides it’s time to close the chapter on her previous relationship. The next track “don’t wanna break up again” similarly follows in narrative as she sings “But you didn’t even try / When you finally did, it was at the wrong time / Won’t abandon me again for you and I.” Despite wanting to stay with her lover, she recognizes that the “situationship” in question wasn’t meant to last forever and it was time to move on. 

Directly nodding towards the film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), the title track further reveals the emotional unrest and pain that she wishes could be erased from her memories through infectious trap beats and dreamy vocals. The picture becomes even clearer through the lyrics “I showed you all my demons, all my lies / Yet you played me like Atari” and “So I try to wipe my mind / Just so I feel less insane / Rather feel painless / I’d rather forget than know, know for sure.” 

Between her typical high-tempo synth melodies and flawless ballads, Grande also channels her inner 90s and early 2000s R&B pop sound for eternal sunshine. These influences are most notable in “true story,” and “the boy is mine”; both shine in production and have already created tons of buzz online over her gossip-inducing words. The lines “I'll play the villain if you need me to / I know how this goes, yeah,” and “I'll play the bad girl if you need me to / If it makes you feel better” seem to directly call-out the media and public controversies that have circulated around Grande’s dating history (“true story”). Given the pop artist’s track record of addressing messy rumors (cue 2019’s “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored” and “thank u, next,”), her candid responses are only fitting. 

Speaking of messy rumors, lead single “yes, and?” champions in being bold, defiant, and endlessly playable. Debuting in the Billboard Hot 100, the comeback track is filled with lush, funky house beats reminiscent of Madonna’s iconic “Vogue.” Although there were mixed reactions upon its initial release, “yes, and?” is a fun, striking addition to the album that gives us memorable lyrics such as the infamous “Why do you care whose - I ride?” 

The upbeat pace continues in the catchy but utterly heartbreaking “we can’t be friends (wait for your love),” a song that is already quickly climbing its way up on TikTok to being the next ultimate pop post-break up anthem. Through the energetic rhythm, Grande effortlessly wields her melancholic feelings in every line, delivering a wholly exceptional performance. 

“i wish i hated you” delicately floats in through Grande’s soft vocals and twinkling synth, delivering yet another lovelorn confessional before serenading listeners in the steady swing of “imperfect for you”. 

Rounding out eternal sunshine comes “ordinary things”, which features a recording from her grandmother, Marjorie Grande (Nonna). In contrast to the rest of the record, Grande spends the last track fondly romanticizing the little things in life—closing out on a glimmer of hope in spite of everything she has endured. Coming full circle and answering the initial question posed in “intro (end of the world)”, Nonna shares her wise words on love: “Never go to bed without kissin’ goodnight…/ And if you can’t, and if you don’t feel comfortable doing it / You’re in the wrong place, get out.” 

In all, eternal sunshine proves itself to be an eclectic piece of work and one hell of a divorce album. While Grande never drops any names, her all-too relatable lyrics and intimate performance felt like listening to a close friend pour their heart out on FaceTime. So whether you’re currently trying to get over a tough breakup (or that one situationship), “saturn returns interlude” puts it quite perfectly: “We gotta wake up and smell the coffee” and “get real about life and sort out who you really are”. Ariana Grande has entered her healing era and we’re absolutely here for it.