After a three year long hiatus, pop superstar Ariana Grande is back with her new album “Eternal Sunshine.” Grande first gave fans a taste of what her new album would offer when she released the debut single “Yes, And?” earlier this year. It was well received, containing club and dance production that was bound to have audiences on their feet. It was interesting to see Grande shift towards a more positive and upbeat sound.
Even without an official album release in a few years, the public still had lots to say about Grande’s current relationship status. It was confirmed last year that she was dating actor Ethan Slater. This news gave fans more anticipation for Grande’s new album, as she never shies away from being open and personal in her work.
Indeed, “Eternal Sunshine” might be her most personal work yet, but it tends to fall a bit short musically. Throughout the album, Grande reflects on both ending a relationship and forming a new one. The first full track on the album, “Bye”, is a confident anthem describing Grande moving on from a former ex. Unfortunately, the high energy she shows on this track does not always continue throughout the album. For example, the title track is a slower ballad that needs to contain strong emotion vocally, but Grande fails to utilize her powerful voice.
Another disappointment this album brings is the lack of range Grande shows. Throughout her career, Grande has been known for her incredible voice and vocal capabilities. But this album only seems to bring out one side from Grande. She doesn’t fully unleash the grand singing ability that she is known for. It would’ve been fitting for Grande to use the full power of her vocals on such a positive album.
Although most tracks on this album sound nice enough and passable, Grande seems to lack originality in not only lyrics but production. The drum pattern on True Story is a copy of Beyonce’s Don’t Hurt Yourself, and the lyrics in this album seem cliche at times.
Though many of the songs on “Eternal Sunshine” sound repetitive, there are many great tracks that guarantee to have people out of their seats and on the dance floor. The track “The Boy is Mine” has already garnered plenty of Tiktok posts, and rightfully so. It is a lighthearted bop about finally winning over the person you want to be with. Songs like these capture the vision that Grande had for the entire album: a celebration of love and a positive reflection on past love. Although this vision wasn’t always executed, it is good to see that Grande still has plenty of hits in her repertoire.
With so much buzz surrounding this album, the question of whether or not “Eternal Sunshine” is worth the wait has sparked plenty of debate. First and foremost, Grande feels comfortable with the lane she is in and the work she is putting out. But the style and story she was aiming for could’ve been expanded. With the album being only 35 minutes, there wasn’t enough time to flesh out the ideas that she wanted to express. Nevertheless, there was still a good amount of strong tracks on the album, containing vocal performances that were mild for Ariana, but grand compared to what other artists are capable of. Longtime fans will be satisfied with the project they received, but the average listener won’t be amazed. Overall, this album sees Grande stepping into a new personality. After the past relationships she’s been through, she has learned and become a happier person. Although not perfect, “Eternal Sunshine” properly encapsulates the feelings Grande now has.
“Eternal Sunshine” isn’t any remarkable point in Grande’s discography. The album is exactly what you expect from an older, more mature, Grande. Instead of finding the spotlight in the music industry, she finds her own inner peace through love and growth. The project can become musically bland, but it isn’t offensive enough to taken away from the emotional vulnerability that Grande conveys in “Eternal Sunshine.”
