April 17, 2024
By Rayan Yamout
Staff Writer
Actress and global pop star Ariana Grande is no stranger to dominating the charts. On March 8, Grande did exactly that with the release of her seventh pop and R&B album, “Eternal Sunshine,” which topped the Billboard 200 chart on March 23.
Grande’s success and influence in the music industry over the past decade and beyond have been astronomical.
Besides her studio albums, Grande has displayed her quintessential vocal attributes in the Nickelodeon show “Victorious,” on Broadway in the musical “13” and in the upcoming musical film “Wicked.”
The filming process of “Wicked,” which is set to be released in November, led to Grande’s three-year hiatus from the music industry, which ended with the release of “Eternal Sunshine.”
On the day of its debut, “Eternal Sunshine” received over 58 million streams globally on Spotify, making it the most streamed album in one day of 2024. These streams are well-deserved, as the intricacies of the album make it an incredibly worthwhile listening experience.
The album’s title pays homage to the 2004 sci-fi romance film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” As the title suggests, Grande reveals her newfound peace by demonstrating her vulnerability and asserting her confidence.
The album cover, which features an edited photo of Grande leaning on her own shoulder, reflects her acceptance of the hardships she has faced. In the album, she explores the emotional journey she underwent.
The most memorable track on the album is “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love),” which was inspired by Grande’s divorce from real estate agent Dalton Gomez. Their divorce was finalized on March 19, a week and a half after her album’s release.
As the title suggests, Grande reveals her newfound peace by demonstrating her vulnerability and asserting her confidence.
In the song, Grande describes the end of her relationship and her hope that her former lover will return to her. She sings, “I don’t wanna tiptoe, but I don’t wanna hide / But I don’t wanna feed this monstrous fire / Just wanna let this story die / And I’ll be alright,” communicating a reluctance to accept that the relationship has ended.
The release of the song’s music video, which has received over 65 million views on YouTube, coincided with the album’s release. In it, Grande is undergoing a medical procedure to erase all memories of her previous lover.
In the more upbeat track “Supernatural,” Grande sings, “This love’s possessing me, but I don’t mind at all / It’s like supernatural / It’s taking over me, don’t wanna fight the fall,” describing the dreamy feeling of being in love. The rhythm of the chorus is catchy, mirroring the frequent thoughts a person has when they experience infatuation.
The lead single, “Yes, And?,” which was released on Jan. 12, focuses on strength and overcoming negativity.
In this vibrant song, Grande delivers empowering lyrics like “Now I’m so done with caring / What you think, no, I won’t hide / Underneath your own projections / Or change my most authentic life,” and “Come on and walk this way through the fire (don’t care what’s on their mind)” to emphasize the importance of self-confidence.
There is not a bad track on this album. Whether it be the heavy-hitting lyrics in “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love),” the bright synth in “Supernatural” or the energizing house pop beat in “Yes, And?,” Grande’s three-year hiatus from the music industry has concluded in a way that exceeds expectations.
Grande’s talent can only be described as otherworldly, and fans should be over the moon with the quality of this outstanding album.
