Since 2020 the pop artist Ariana Grande had yet to release new music until March 5, 2024. Due to her role in the musical Wicked as well as running her beauty business REM Beauty she had hinted multiple times that working on an upcoming album was not on her radar. After releasing her single yes, and? at the start of 2024 she announced her upcoming album titled Eternal Sunshine.
The album can easily be described as a journey of growth through a relationship and the personal experience after leaving a relationship that was harmful to mental health. It is full of songs which are upbeat to heartfelt songs that tell a story about a relationship that is unfit to be in.
Throughout the album she talks about taking herself back and putting herself first. Online media has been making several articles regarding her relationship status far before this album and a common theme that was spoken about was her involvement with costar Ethan Slater on the set of Wicked. These rumors are somewhat addressed in this album however in a way that she gives more understanding to the state she was in with her former husband, then including songs that one can assume is her talking about the emotions she felt after finding new love.
The album is beautiful and takes the listener on a journey from start to finish. The album begins and ends with the question “how do I know im in the right relationship”, the question is answered by her grandmother at the end of the final track saying to never go to sleep unhappy. A common theme Ariana mentions in the album taking herself back and taking back control of herself, and the feeling of independence.
“It was a great album, I liked the song we cant be friends” said senior Jena Kawar
Eternal Sunshine is a unique album that has a different story than her previous albums, the album gives off the feeling of vulnerability as well. The vulnerability that Ariana displays in her songs gives the listener a deep feeling of comfort and sorrow, with the situations that she describes. This album was a beautiful contrary to her previous ones.
