Ariana Grande is an icon of contemporary pop: few other personalities in the American music business have reached her numbers. In just over sixteen years of career, Grande has sold more than ninety million records, becoming one of the most listened artists worldwide and the one with the highest sales in the twentieth century. Among the awards that she won are two Grammy Awards, many Billboard Music Awards, a lot of Guinness World Records as well as MTV Video Music Awards.

After three years off, on March 8th 2024, Ariana Grande has returned to music with her seventh studio album, eternal sunshine, highlighting an artistic and personal maturity. After four years from her highly successful album Positions, her inspiration for the title came from Michel Gondry’s film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”, where love is intertwined with memory and the pain of loss. At the Apple Music Show, the singer had discussed about this with Zane Lowe:

The time away was really healing and it’s so interesting because I came back and I’ve loved every minute of making this album. […] This is my seventh time, it’s just a long time to be doing this and I think this is the first time that I have felt truly present. What a gift to be able to make this art and for so long I think I was hiding from it, hiding from my success, from what comes with it, and it was really impacting my ability to be able to love what I do.

[Ariana Grande: ‘eternal sunshine’, Wicked & Tour | Apple Music]

In eternal sunshine, Ariana once again collaborates with leading producers such as Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh, with whom she had already worked in the past. The album features a fusion of pop and R&B sounds, with influences reminiscent of the 90s and 2000s. Through balance and questions, the album is a tribute to healing and erasing memories of her marriage, which also reveals her fragility.

MOST SIGNIFICANT SONGS

• 🌅 intro (end of the world): The album opens with a short but intense track that introduces the theme of uncertainty and fear in love. Here Ariana Grande wonders: “How can I tell if I’m in the right relationship?”, a question that is answered in the last track of the album, ordinary things, where we hear her wise grandmother Marjorie saying: “You can overcome that… you know? It’s very easy… and as I told her. Never go to bed without kissin goodnight… That’s the worst thing to do… don’t ever, ever do that. And if you can’t, and if you don’t feel comfortable doing it… you’re in the wrong place… get out.”

• 🌞 eternal sunshine: The title track is one of the most emotionally powerful on the album. Ariana reflects on the end of a relationship after sharing her most vulnerable side. The song seems to refer to her past marriage, with lines of regret and disillusionment after investing so much in a love that did not go acccording to plan.

• 💔 we can’t be friends (wait for your love): One of the most intense moments on the album. This song addresses the difficulty of finally ending with someone you loved deeply. With a minimalist arrangement and a heartfelt vocal performance, Ariana sings of how sometimes the only way to move forward is to cut all ties. The song also has a music video inspired by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, reinforcing the theme of memory and loss.

• 💋 yes, and?: The Eternal Sunshine single is a true ode to self-determination and empowerment. Ariana responds to criticism and gossip with a cocky, confident attitude. The song recalls the dance and house sounds of the 90s, with clear references to the iconic style of Madonna.

A jump into the deluxe: Brighter days ahead

Many of the songs on eternal sunshine seem to be inspired by Ariana’s personal experiences, especially her separation from Dalton Gomez and her relationship with Ethan Slater. The album explores themes of love, loss, personal growth and resilience, often with cryptic lyrics that gives the possibility to postulate multiple interpretations.

So, Ariana Grande offers an album that blends pop and R&B sounds with personal and mature lyrics. Not only does this work mark a return to her musical roots, but also highlights her growth as an artist and individual.

Let me know in the comments what is your favorite song from eternal sunshine! And if you haven’t already, don’t miss the official short film published with the deluxe edition, a universe that shows once again how complete a storyteller Ariana is.

The journey into R&B and pop music continues here on r&b(ite) this! Next stop? A dive into the visionary world of The Weeknd… Stay tuned. 👀

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