ARIANA GRANDE - ETERNAL SUNSHINE
After earning fame from her various acting roles, Ariana Grande has quickly become a household name in music. Known for her impressive vocal range, emotive performances, and distinctive style, Ariana Grande has become one of the best-selling artists globally. Some of her most popular songs include ‘Problem’, ‘Thank U, Next’, and ‘7 Rings’. Besides her musical accomplishments, Ariana Grande is also recognized for her philanthropic efforts and activism. She has demonstrated support for various social causes and organized benefit concerts to raise funds for victims of tragic events, which she’s also touched on in some of her music including the recently released, Eternal Sunshine which touches on the love and loss of the past few years in her past relationship.
Opening with ‘intro (end of the world),’ the string instrumentals mixed with Grande’s harmonies speak on the feeling of not knowing if someone else feels the same way you do and not wanting to cause them any harm. The track gained mass approval from her listeners, most of which practically begged for a longer version of this minute thirty-three-second introduction.
The next track, ‘bye’ is more of an upbeat tune of newfound freedom and the feeling of having broken from what once was seen as a setback and getting out of a cycle feeling stronger than one might have originally thought. The track as a whole sheds an optimistic light on the future to come and uncertainty with a mix of a nostalgic feel in the instrumentals making the track an incredible listen.
The album’s title track shows the feeling of trying to work things out with the person you love, but simultaneously realizing it’s best to lose and move on. The line “I showed you all my demons, all my lies yet you played me like Atari” in the chorus includes the bootup sound from the classic gaming system, which fit perfectly in with the instrumentals and was a perfect addition to the overall track as Grande compares the relationship to her eternal sunshine meaning she can now find peace with the negative influences removed from her life.
‘yes, and?’ was the first track released in preparation of the album, earning mixed feelings from listeners. The upbeat, dance track shares an uplifting message of rising back up from a dark place and becoming your own best friend and supporter, taking life as it comes and not worrying so much about the future.
‘we can’t be friends (wait for your love)’ is another hard-hitting track from the album. The track shows the hurt of seeing someone you love to fall out of love with you and feeling lost in wondering if what was there is even repairable, or if it’s just best to leave knowing you did all you could to salvage what once was.
The thirteenth track, ‘ordinary things’ shares just some of the things Grande would like to do with the person she loves, spending time with the person. The track’s end also shares advice from Grande’s Nonna about overcoming arguments and hardships in relationships and also recognizing if the current relationship isn’t the right one, which resonated deeply.
Sharing themes of love and loss, Eternal Sunshine shares a look inside Grande’s world as the press was bombarding her towards the end of her relationship. She perfectly encapsulated her feelings with the instrumentals to further show her feelings to help resonate them further with her listeners. Without a doubt, Ariana Grande continues to captivate audiences worldwide with her powerful voice, energetic performances, and unapologetic attitude, solidifying her status as one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry.
Niki Davidson
★★★★★