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In the four years since Ariana Grande‘s last album, a lot has changed in the pop star’s life — including a quick marriage, an even quicker divorce with real estate agent Dalton Gomez and a controversial new romance with her Wicked-ly underwhelming co-star, Ethan Slater.
The singer has been the focal point for social media think-pieces on morale and has become the poster girl for being a “homewrecker,” which Slater’s former wife notably called her, among other names, according to Page Six.
“Positions” found Grande confidently and intimately in love with Gomez, carrying a tone of sexiness and sass throughout the album. Unfortunately, their honeymoon phase took a sour turn during her absence from solo music and resulted in divorce.
The permeating fumes of the split with Gomez fueled her pen while writing her latest album, “eternal sunshine.” This project finds the pop vocalist discovering healing, self-growth and a gleaming optimism that shines through the controversy involving her and her situationships.
“Wonder if he’s judgin’ me like I am right now,” Grande sings in “intro (end of the world).”
After so many polarized relationships, this intro paints the pop romantic as honest and humorous, especially given the hot controversy her relationship with Slater has become.
“Her diction is a lot better; you can tell she’s improved as a vocalist,” junior Nehemiah Gandy said. “Her most unique song was ‘imperfect for you‘ since she starts off in her lower register.”
While the masses enjoyed Grande’s previous radio-friendly records, in this album the singer seeks to find something deeper within herself and in love — she is vulnerable and far past the tears — choosing herself.
Grande added another number-one single under her belt with the 80s-esque song, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love).”
The video is melancholic featuring Grande and actor Evan Peters spending happy moments together before having those memories wiped away, paying homage to “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Once Grande has those memories of her former love removed completely she is brought to tears — a huge statement for her former relationship.
“It is such a sad song in such an upbeat way,” senior Chloe Norton said. “Grande is saying to Gomez, ‘This relationship is over, we can’t even be friends,’ which is really impactful and relatable.”
“bye” is a poppy song with a classic feel, in which she bids farewell to love. It’s cautiously funky, featuring charming background vocals boasting Grande’s honed range.
Throughout the album, Grande spends time recollecting her former love, even airing him out for everyone to know the truth. Within that recollection, she is able to cope and open her heart to love once more.
“eternal sunshine,” the album’s title track, is passionate yet poisonous as Grande’s pen poetically crosses out Gomez from her list of lovers, revealing infidelity but also hope for new romance.
The charming “ordinary things” finds Grande enjoying new love with enchanting lyrics and a pop production with soft horns that feels like a fresh morning — a fresh new go at love for the singer.
The singer strips down in the sultry, synth-heavy “the boy is mine.” The song is possessive and the perfect formula for pop perfection, and the infectious romantic 90s atmosphere of the song captures the “good boy that is on her side” — she sings in the aforementioned song, “eternal sunshine.”
The pop star draws inspiration from classic-pop sounds in “don’t wanna break up again” or her lead single, the dance-heavy rhythm of the year, “yes, and?” In the latter track, she exudes unabashed confidence while singing, “Your business is yours and mine is mine / Why do you care so much whose **** I ride.”
“true story” finds the artist playing with how the public perceives her. “I’ll play the villain if you need me to,” she sings over a production that sounds like a cinematic Daft Punk outtake over ominous hums reminiscent of the Fugees‘ “Ready or Not.”
This album is Grande at her most honest — unapologetically authentic with every stride.
“I think this is some of her best music that she’s put out,” Norton said. “It’s also really vulnerable than other pieces she’s put out — honestly a non-skip album.”
On the surface, “eternal sunshine” shines with grace and an energy that shows the world she is healed. Grande wrote this album working through a lot of emotional hardship; nonetheless, the album is an honest statement piece from one of the greatest vocalists of our generation with a magnified personal life.
In “eternal sunshine,” Grande is taking control of the narrative and letting her music speak for where she is in her personal life and her journey for new love.
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Contact Ivan Vicente Manriquez via email: ivan.manriquez@pepperdine.edu
