On March 8, 2024, American singer Ariana Grande made her long-awaited return to the music industry with her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine. After a three-and-a-half-year hiatus from releasing solo music, fans were desperately eager to hear Grande’s voice once again.
Eternal Sunshine consists of thirteen tracks that dive into the pop and contemporary R&B genres of music. In the project, Grande hints at her relationship issues with ex-husband Dalton Gomez, her newfound happiness with Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, and her volatile relationship with the media. With the current trend of shorter-length albums, Eternal Sunshine is just 35 minutes and 26 seconds long, making it her shortest album to date. Still, Grande delivers a heartfelt message about healing from, and persevering through, unhealthy relationships.
The first full-length song of the album, “bye,” gives insight into Grande’s divorce from real estate agent Dalton Gomez and is heavily influenced by the dance-pop and disco-funk era of the late 1900s. The song’s lyrics are relatively simple, but that is why they are so effective; Grande is straightforward about the feelings that come with falling out of love. In “bye,” she says:
This ain’t the first time I’ve been hostage to these tears
I can’t believe I’m finally movin’ through my fears
At least, I know how hard we tried, both you and me
Didn’t we? Didn’t we?
In this verse, although Grande paints an uninviting picture of love by describing herself as being a “hostage to these tears” after her breakup, she highlights the power behind ending a failing relationship. By moving through her “fears” and understanding that she and her partner were unable to rekindle their love despite their efforts, Grande is able to accept the situation and move on. In the chorus, Grande repeats the phrase “Boy, bye,” her choice of words showcasing her newfound ease in leaving the relationship.
With this song, Grande’s decision to include the onset, aftermath, and reflection of a breakup helps the listener understand the importance of having patience; with time and a tinge of determination, finding the strength to overcome personal issues will be possible.
In a similar way, the second single, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love),” uncovers Grande’s struggle to have a healthy relationship with the media. Amidst public controversy surrounding her love-life, this synth-pop track is about perspective and how preconceived biases can lead to unnecessary tension. In the second verse, she says:
Me and my truth, we sit in silence
Baby girl, it’s just me and you
‘Cause I don’t wanna argue, but I don’t wanna bite
My tongue, yeah, I think I’d rather die
Here, Grande uses isolating language to emphasize the negative effects that people’s words have had on her public image and self-perception. By including a pause after the word “silence” in the recording, she adds to the disconnected feeling that is present throughout the song.
Since the track contains minimal production, Grande’s vocals take the spotlight, making the experience very intimate and melancholic. This works in her favor, since the soundscape she creates allows the listener to feel the weight of her lyrics. As one of her most personal songs, this single highlights the value of self-awareness and confidence during moments of misunderstanding; these traits help a person respond thoughtfully rather than retaliating.
With her return to music, Ariana Grande tells a moving, cohesive story that incites reflection and growth within the listener; these two songs are mere snippets of Grande’s musical genius within this album. Despite there being multiple releases from other artists this year, none hide profound messages within their songs as effectively as Grande. By using her personal experiences as a reference, Grande offers an amazing sound experience that includes advice that is applicable to life beyond fame.
