Released: March 8, 2024
Genre: Pop • R&B
Label: Republic
Producer: Ariana Grande • Max Martin • Ilya • Davidior • Aaron Paris • Shintaro Yasuda • Nick Lee • Will Loftis • Luka Kloser • Oscar Görres
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ariana Grande has become one of my favorite pop girlies in the past decade. Ever since her 2013 debut LP Yours Truly, Ariana has given us timeless masterpieces over her remarkable career..being one of the most prominent figures of her generation.
Ariana Grande released her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine on March 8, 2024 by Republic Records. A pop & R&B album with elements of house, synth-pop, PHILLY SOUL and many more sub-genres, Ariana describes the album as a “kind of a concept album” about personal relationships in Ariana’s life, including her marriage to her now ex-husband Dalton Gomez. The title is a reference to the 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which had Jim Carrey in a starring role.
Eternal Sunshine debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 227,000 album equivalent units, becoming Ariana’s sixth number one album on that chart! This album is truly one of her strongest albums, due to the vocal greatness, perfect musical production and lyrical content.
Intro (End of the World)
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Nick Lee ∙ Aaron Paris ∙ Shintaro Yasuda
Eternal Sunshine begins with the intro (end of the world,) which has Ariana asking questions about her relationship, and she is wondering how does she know if she’s found the right person and is in the right relationship. This album begins the journey to get these questions answered.
The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at 38.
Bye
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Max Martin ∙ Ilya Salmanzadeh
Bye is a vibe about how she’s beyond ready to leave the relationship, but it’s not coming from a bitter place. Like you can be aware and deal with the fact that the relationship just isn’t meant to be. It’s a mature way to think about it. From a production standpoint, the disco and Philly soul vibes you get just puts you in a mood to celebrate leaving something that’s toxic.
The song gave Ariana a top 40 hit after the album’s release with it debuting on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 25.
Don’t Wanna Break Up Again
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Max Martin ∙ Ilya Salmanzadeh
I don’t wanna fuck with your head!
It’s breakin’ my heart to keep breakin’ yours again!
Ariana Grande, don’t wanna break up again, 2024
don’t wanna break up again is lyrically about the singer explaining how being together is really hurting both parties and despite that..she’s willing to at least try to fix their issues. I like to think this song is extremely one of the best songs on the album because of the impeccable songwriting.
The song debuted at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Saturn Returns Interlude
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Max Martin ∙ Ilya Salmanzadeh ∙ Diana Garland
When we’re all born, Saturn’s somewhere
And the Saturn cycle takes around about twenty–nine years
That’s when we gotta wake up and smell the coffee
Because if we’ve just been sort of relying on our cleverness
Or relying—, you know, just kind of floating along
Saturn comes along and hits you over the head
Hits you over the head, hits you over the head, and says, “Wake up”
Aha, it’s time for you to get real about life and sort out who you really areDiana Garland, Saturn Returns Interlude, 2024
Wake up
Get real
Eternal Sunshine
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Max Martin ∙ David Park ∙ Shintaro Yasuda
The title track pays homage to the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and has Ariana Grande tying the plot of the film to her relationship with her husband, and wishes she could completely erase the relationship from my mind than live through the pain and exhaustion of going through a divorce. I’m sure that can be a lot on someone, but she also interprets the song to be something she can grow from.
Eternal Sunshine has since debuted at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart!
Supernatural
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Max Martin ∙ Oscar Görres
Supernatural is one of my favorites on the album! From a lyrical perspective, she speaks on how there’s some exterior power that is pulling her in the direction of a new flame. A remix of the song was released featuring Troye Silvan.
Supernatural debuted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
True Story
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Max Martin
true story is next up on the album, & the R&B & electro-pop influenced record is one of my favorites. From a lyrical perspective, true story refers to Ariana reflecting on the many stories and lies made up about her personal life, imagery and comments pertaining to her body. The song sets up the foundation for the subsequent record on the album, where she calls herself the “bad girl.”
True Story debuted at 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The Boy Is Mine
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Max Martin ∙ Shintaro Yasuda ∙ David Park
The Boy Is Mine is a reimagined version of the song of the same title that was recorded by Brandy & Monica on their hit 1998 single.
Originally conceived as an unreleased song titled Fantasize, the boy is mine is lyrically about the singer expressing her feelings & affection about a man she is truly meant to be with. A true bad girl anthem! The song debuted at 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after the album’s release!
Yes, And?
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Max Martin ∙ Ilya Salmanzadeh ∙ Mariah Carey (for Yes, and? Remix)
Your business is yours and mine is mine.
Why do you care so much whose – I ride? Why?
Ariana Grande, yes, and?, 2024
yes, and? is a MF song! I fell in love with it on the exact first listen because it is truly a masterpiece. From a lyrical perspective, yes, and? is about Ariana addressing rumors she receives a lot of criticism for in her personal life for being labeled a “home wrecker,” and other things. Also, the song can be considered a classic gay anthem for having themes of self-confidence and preservation for overcoming negativity.
yes, and? becoming the lead single makes so much sense, especially since the news of her divorce and new relationship. The song reminds me so much of Madonna’s Vogue, especially because of the house music influences. Like wow my girl always gives me life with anything she releases. Nevertheless, yes, and? became an instant hit, becoming her eighth number 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (sixth to debut at number 1).
A month later, Ariana released a remix of the song with one of her biggest inspirations, Mariah Carey..marking their second collaboration since 2020’s Oh Santa! with Jennifer Hudson.
We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Max Martin ∙ Ilya Salmanzadeh
I loveeeee a synth-pop record, and we can’t be friends (wait for your love) gives me the fix I need! From a lyrical perspective, the song is about the details of a relationship has obviously come to an end..but the singer has optimism that that lover will come back and love again one day.
we can’t be friends (wait for your love) debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Ariana her ninth number one record and her second from the album.
I Wish I Hated You
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Ilya Salmanzadeh
i wish i hated you has the singer realizing no matter what she cannot stop loving him. Whew a song that is very relatable.
The song debuted at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Imperfect for You
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Max Martin ∙ Ilya Salmanzadeh
imperfect for you has my girl eattttttttting on this record honey. Lyrically, the song serves as a ballad that accepts the imperfections that come with relationships. Ariana has performed this song on Saturday Night Live, and debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at 37.
Ordinary Things (featuring Nonna)
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Majorie Grande ∙ Luka Kloser ∙ Nick Lee
The album closes with ordinary things, which is lyrically about the singer preferring the simple things as long as she is the one whom she leaves. The song also gets the questions that Ariana asks on the opening track on the album answered. Her grandmother Majorie “Nonna” Grande is a featured artist on the song as well, and debuted at 55 on the Billboard Hot 1o0. Ordinary Things is an amazing way to close out the album, because we really need those moments of clarity…and need love to be..healthy and healing.
Ariana Grande has once again made an album that’ll stand the test of time. I don’t want people to perceive Eternal Sunshine as a divorce album, because it is truly an album of ending a relationship, marriage, whatever…at least on amicable terms and wanting them to find happiness elsewhere. I think it’s a perfect way to look at it, because it is possible to realize that it isn’t working, and you can find someone else who will make you happy and let you know you’re in the RIGHT relationship.
Eternal Sunshine truly adds to the collection of a remarkable discography that shows no signs of Ariana Grande slowing down any time soon. I am looking forward to Ariana’s next masterpiece. -MW
markizdj.com 