Pop princess and icon, Ariana Grande, recently released her 7th studio album, Eternal Sunshine, on March 8, 2024. The media has strong perceptions of Grande, some of which could be a true story…or maybe not. We’re not really sure. Grande toys with us, the always suspecting audience, and only tricks us into questioning more. Who knows the true Ariana Grande? Not us, and certainly not the media.
Eternal Sunshine spins us into a new Ariana Grande era: one of ethereal sadness, tainted love, and themes of misconstrued images and perceptions. The album makes reference to Jim Carey’s film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, playing with the idea of the potential peace that comes with erasing memories of a romantic partner from one’s mind permanently. Grande’s 13-track album is one of her strongest yet. Something about this album feels familiar yet alluring and unique.
The first single from her newest album, “yes, and?” stirred in conversations from the public, some spewing forth hate towards the pop singer. Others stood with her firmly in her assertion that she will own her truth and how she feels. People believe the song is about her controversial relationship with Wicked co-star, Ethan Slater. In the song, Grande addresses the criticism she’s received and doubles down on the fact that it is her life and choices, not something for strangers to comment upon.
Grande slows it down with the second single, “We Can’t Be Friends” which was complimented by a music video the same day as Eternal Sunshine’s release. “We Can’t Be Friends” has a magical, sad, and reflective sound to it. She seems to discuss different yet connected themes: she can’t be friends with past lovers as she has waited for their love for too long. The song is clearly backed by agony and heartbreak, perhaps a part of Grande’s relationship with Dalton Gomez that we, the public, might not know the full story of. This once again ties into the public not fully knowing the true story of, yes, a public figure, but a fellow human being.
My personal favorite song is “Supernatural.” It has an energetic, exciting sound as Grande presumably talks about the thrill of falling in love again. Another song, “True Story,” is also a song that I find to be notable. Grande jumps right into the way narratives are spun and asserts that “I’ll play the villain if you need me to,” because sometimes, we can’t fight others’ false perceptions. Overall, Grande knows her truth and that’s all that matters.
Mikayla Tolliver is a Senior Writing major whose love for Ariana Grande spans all the way back to her Victorious days. She can be reached at [email protected]