Today Ariana Grande was revealed Eternal sunshine, her highly anticipated seventh studio album, and as usual, the pop singer delivered. The album is impressively concise (it flies by in about 32 minutes) and is filled with introspective lyrics and chill-pop beats, perfect for mournful dancing, whether in the club or in your room. “It’s incredibly human,” Grande recently said of the album on the Zach Sang Show. “It was definitely the most emotional writing process. But there are also bops that are more fun.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be an Ari album if the songs didn’t focus on love, loss and moving on. With input from heavyweight producers like Max Martin (although Grande also produced a lot herself), the singer playfully bounces through breakups and failed romances while riffing on house music, R&B and even jazz. Her relatability and candor—whether it’s about the struggle to stay friends with her exes, or wishing she hated them when she doesn’t—is what often makes listening to Grande’s music feel like catching up with an old friend , or as a form of therapy. Fortunately, nothing has changed.
Without further ado, here’s a song-by-song breakdown Eternal sunshine.
1. Okay, we’ll start on a relaxed note. The intro song – ‘intro (end of the world)’ – is giving soft. There are guitar riffs, some strings and beautiful harmonies. It sounds a bit like what a warm hug on a cold winter day feels like. Grande sings, “If it all ended tomorrow, would I be the one you think about? Would you be the one sitting on mine?
2. It’s clearly a song about whether the other person cares about you as much as you care about him or her. The great mystery of life, eh? But one thing is certain: the singing is singing. Love.
3. Next is ‘bye’. There’s a bit of ’70s disco flair to this song, but with some punchy synths. There’s a resilience to Ariana’s songs that I can’t quite compare to anyone else’s; they make you want to skip across an open lawn with a loved one, or throw back sobs on the dance floor. There is no middle ground!
4. She sings about a boy she just broke up with in the driveway. “Bye, bye, I’ll take what’s mine,” she sings. “Bye, bye, it’s over again.” We’ve all had affairs that we can’t stop having – even though we know they’re not good for us – but this is an anthem for the duds we’ve finally let go. Sometimes, while she’s singing, all you have to do is say something boy, bye.
