After four years of anticipation, Ariana Grande released her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine on March 8. Inspired by the movie, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” Grande stepped out of the shadows revealing intimate and vulnerable memories of her past relationships.
With Eternal Sunshine being a concept album, the stories throughout the lyrics are very sincere. The bridge of her song, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love),” contains the lyrics, “Know that you made me I don’t like how you paint me, yet I’m still here hanging.” The line refers to her emotions and ideas being influenced by others which she is unable to break away from. The music video for the song tells a story of the character “Peaches” working to permanently erase the memory of an ex. It directly referenced the film, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” The heart-wrenching lyrics and video skyrocketed the song to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Many of her lyrics are up for interpretation, with countless different meanings, drawing fans into the deeper messages of her songs.
Furthermore, the production of this synth-pop album is mid-tempo synthesizers with guitar and string elements. There are also many space and extraterrestrial hints most profoundly seen in the interlude, “Saturn Returns.” In an interview with Zach Sang, Ariana said the album has a, “happier tone with more depressing lyrics.” The primarily upbeat production has extravagant layering and depth, notably within the song “imperfect for you.”
Additionally, critics recognize the complexity and vulnerability of the record. The Rolling Stones said it is her most mature album and one of the catchiest. Others such as The Pitchfork added, “Grande clearly relishes the ability to twist the knife as a songwriter.”
In just a week, the album generated 227,000 sales in the United States alone as well as over 195 million streams. Eternal Sunshine took the number one spot on the Billboard 200 Chart and still remains there today. The Hot 100 representative, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love),” is the albums’ strong radio representative amplifying the records moving lyrics to the top of the charts.
Eternal Sunshine is expected to remain at the top of the charts while fans new and old relish over the vulnerable tracks. From love to heartbreak this album has a song for everyone. Grande never fails to make an extraordinary album even before Saturn returns.
