My Reflection on Ariana Grande’s Latest Album, Eternal Sunshine
A little late, I know, but here we are.
“You cling on to that fairy tale, and self abandon…” – Ariana Grande (on The Zach Sang Show)
This album took me on a rollercoaster ride on an oceanic wave, whilst feeling waves of emotion; it’s all over the place, but in a good way.
bye
This song, made me feel exactly how Ariana described writing it in her interview with Zach Sang, which I watched after listening to the album. You can really feel/hear how in the moment it is. And how present she was while writing it. I think most of us who’ve been in a relationship that wasn’t working out have felt exactly this way. You’re ready with one foot out the door.
The upbeat, easy going sound carries the song on a lighter note, while the lyrics express how much pain there is—the special contrast of how two opposite sentiments can be true at once, a constant which plays throughout the album.
supernatural
This bop, and one of my faves, is so relatable and how I’ve felt since my last major break up. Every guy I’ve “flingingly” (how is this not a word?) dated since has become a star in my lonely, dark skies, a supernatural entity. Unfortunately or fortunately, who knows, this hasn’t lasted for me, but it’s definitely a hopeless romantic’s jam and it fills me with hope and gooey feelings. Which for now, is really all I need.
The beat is chill but you can almost hear a tone of sadness in her voice, even with the lyrics:
Need your hands all up on my body…nothing else has felt this way inside me, boy lets go too far…
It’s like she’s fully aware of how intoxicating and lustful this connection is, and probably not sustainable, yet still meaningful in the moment.
eternal sunshine
Another favorite. Her voice is hypnotizing here. I heard some Justin Timeberlake in it, with the “mirror” reference and the high pitch notes.
I found a good boy and he’s on my side, you’re just my eternal sunshine…
I love how real and honest her lyrics are. I mean, she’s a smart woman and very self aware and this is what truly captured my full heart and attention.
the boy is mine
Growing up singing to Brandy and Monica’s song, this was such a little treat and throwback to my inner-tween from the 90’s era. And to me, it’s a continuation of that vulnerability you also feel in supernatural.
It’s the, “I’m making a conscious choice to give into this bodily desire and passion.” This one also made me sad because when you feel these emotions, after you meet someone you like, they’re very real, but there’s always the knowing that, it most likely, may not work out in the end.
It forces you to just enjoy these feelings, the freshness of that person, even if it might hurt in the end. At least you got inspired through it and accepted that there’s nothing wrong with the ephemeral nature of it all, the fragility the fleetingness.
I listened to this album on repeat for days, weeks even… and I started writing this the day it was released but I needed time to pull my reflections and thoughts together and really see it for what it means to me.