Ariana Grande Ushers In a New Era with Her Latest Album 'Eternal Sunshine'

In collaboration with hit-making wizard Max Martin, eternal sunshine is undoubtedly the most unified album to date.

Throughout the 2010s, Ariana Grande was synonymous with a four-octave range and vibrant Pop and R&B anthems. Albums like "Yours Truly," "Dangerous Woman," "Sweetener," "Thank u, next," and "Positions" established her as a leading figure of contemporary pop, especially as veteran stars took a step back from the limelight.

But eternal sunshine, a project three years in the making, defies the established pattern of annual album releases. Similar to Lady Gaga's departure from the norm with "Artpop" and Katy Perry's experimentation with "Witness," Grande's latest work presents a mature evolution. This new Ariana, distinct from her persona of a decade ago, emerges as if transformed.

This transformation extends beyond lyrical content to encompass the very fabric of the music itself. No longer reliant solely on her impressive vocal range, Grande navigates a more nuanced approach, focusing on the middle register and imbuing her delivery with raw authenticity. Collaborating with hitmaker Max Martin, eternal sunshine stands as her most cohesive and compelling album to date.

Musical Maturity

The album coincided with the indefinite postponement of Grande's involvement in the film adaptation of Wicked, amid Hollywood strikes. Drawing on personal experiences, including the challenges of a faltering acting career and a failed marriage, eternal sunshine becomes a testament to joy and sorrow, to endings and new beginnings.

Opening with a reflective "intro" driven by simple guitar chords, Grande explores themes of self-doubt and the search for certainty. Each track unfolds as a candid conversation, drawing from her relationships with family and friends. eternal sunshine becomes a shared experience, akin to Jazmine Sullivan's "Heaux Tales," resonating with listeners and in particular, inspiring women all over the world.

Transitioning from introspection to empowerment, "Bye" serves as a defiant farewell to past loves, underscored by pulsating disco beats reminiscent of Gloria Gaynor's anthem "I Will Survive." The album navigates through pain and resilience, culminating in the title track—a pure pop gem that marks a definitive break from the past.

Continuing with "don't wanna break up again", Grande continued to talk about her sleepless nights and personal pain: "I fall asleep cryin'/ You turn up the TV/ You don't wanna hear me", only to realise that there will never be the word "enough" for a man. She continues to create a funeral song for her old love which leads to the title song - a pure pop song without any blemishes or roughness in both vocals and arrangement. On the background of utmost sincerity, she sang: “I'll be the first to say, "I'm sorry"/ Now you got me feelin' sorry” like the last part of her old life.

A New Era

Amidst the album's melancholy, there are moments of newfound optimism. References to celestial bodies and supernatural forces hint at a shift towards self-discovery and acceptance. As Grande embraces her Saturn return, she embraces change and embarks on a journey of reinvention.

Thematically diverse, eternal sunshine explores a myriad of topics, from media scrutiny to reclaiming autonomy. Musical influences from the late '90s and early 2000s permeate the album, infusing tracks like "true story" and "the boy is mine" with nostalgic familiarity and contemporary flair. For example, we hear the "revenge" sound of Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River" with Timbaland's catchy loops now returned, developed and added in a new way.

With each song, Grande deftly combines legacy and innovation, drawing from iconic hits like Madonna's "Vogue" and Monica and Brandy's "The Boy Is Mine." With the latter's versatile R&B melody and Max Martin's unexpected slow production, the song suddenly feels timely while still being nostalgic. The result is a collection of tracks that pay homage to the past while propelling Grande into the future.

Closing with the poignant "imperfect for you" and the tender "ordinary things," the album circles back to the theme of love—love that is unconditional and unapologetic. While eternal sunshine may not boast Grande's longest tracklist or most chart-topping hits, it undoubtedly marks a significant chapter in her career, signaling a new era of growth and reinvention.