On March 8, Ariana Grande released her seventh studio album, “eternal sunshine.” The album marks Grande’s first solo album since 2020’s “positions.” With “eternal sunshine,” Grande slips into the pop and R&B style that has dominated her music since the start of her career. This time, though, it feels more polished and thought-out than ever before. Grande’s vocals are better than ever, and the production on all of the tracks on “eternal sunshine” is flawless. Grande has songwriting and production credits on every single track on this album, and is accompanied mainly by frequent collaborator Max Martin.
Much of this album is spent discussing Grande’s past relationships. Some of the songs are more sorrowful, and feature more of an attachment to her exes, but Grande keeps a clear theme of self-improvement and reflection throughout. One thing is clear: through all of the various emotions and genres, Grande is putting herself first.
Continuing the sparkly soundscape from “Saturn Returns,” the title track of Grande’s album is a clear standout. Grande’s delivery is incredibly clever, with rhythmic verses leading into a head-voice heavy chorus. In “eternal sunshine,” Grande addresses her relationships head-on, alluding to the cheating of an ex, “now she’s in my bed, laying on your chest,” as well as to her new relationship, “I found a good boy and he’s on my side.” Accompanied by the song’s smooth instrumental and verses, Grande appears to be taking the high road; as with much of the album, she takes an almost humorous tone when talking about more extreme issues.
This track feels so much like a late 90s, early 2000s pop song. Between the vocal layering in the verses, the ad-libs, the instrumental … the influence of that time period in music is quite clear, and it’s very well-done. Grande’s voice is at its smoothest and silkiest in the chorus, alternating with the more powerful pre-chorus and rhythmic verses. The chorus is addictive. A listen to “the boy is mine” feels like taking a bite of a smooth, velvety dessert.
As soon as I listened to “bye,” I knew that I was going to love the album. Is it the most complex song of all time? Are the lyrics incredibly deep and thought-provoking? No. It’s just a good song. Between its catchy chorus and excellent instrumental, this song was designed to have listeners hooked. The clear highlight of this track is its synths. The instrumental is full of gorgeous, crystal-like textures. This song is a perfect example of a clean-cut, pretty pop song.
Compared to “bye,” this track takes a much more laid-back approach. Accompanying a dream-like instrumental, Grande’s vocals are relaxed and almost whispered. The track’s production features extensive layering of these vocals, creating gorgeous harmonies that suit the song’s R&B feel. It’s chilled-out vibe music, through-and-through.
“Saturn Returns” is lovely. It features a spoken message from YouTube astrologer Diana Garland over sparkly, glitchy, space-like synths. This doesn’t feel like an interlude I’d hear on an Ariana Grande album. Interludes are a major part of the listening experience for me; I find them invaluable to the completeness of an album. Even more than the album’s intro, “Saturn Returns” makes “eternal sunshine” feel like a polished, finished work. The cherry on top for this track is its seamless transition into the album’s title track. I rewind it every single time.
