Mariah's Album Review: Finding the Sunshine in "Eternal Sunshine"
Genre
Pop
Metacritic Score
84
*Recommended to me by @anfernee_ on Instagram*
My Review and Interpretations
*As stated before, all of my interpretations is what I gathered from first listen. These may not be like how you interpreted it, but that's okay since interpretations are subjective.
After a three-year hiatus from releasing new music, Ariana Grande has returned with a vengeance. Despite a "hate train" fueled by rumors of her being a "homewrecker," Grande has taken over 2024. She was named one of the best-dressed celebrities at this year's Met Gala, her album "Eternal Sunshine" topped the Billboard charts, and she is set to star in the film adaptation of the beloved musical "Wicked." With all that being said, I was eager to hear her new album.
The album begins with a brief but charming intro called "End of The World". Before listening to this album, one of the main things I already knew was that Ariana was going to deliver great vocals. Her voice is truly the voice of this generation. Therefore, I was confident that the harmonies in this song would be impeccable, and I was already looking forward to enjoying the album. The theme of this song appeared to revolve around concerns in a relationship. Knowing that Ariana recently divorced her husband Dalton Gomez, I couldn't help but think about that while listening to the songs on this album. In this song, Ariana is questioning her partner and attempting to see things from their point of view. Even though the song was short, the message was beautifully crafted.
After saying bye to track one, it was time to say hello to track two, "Bye". The instrumentals contrasted each other well in "Bye" as the classical violin and piano joined forces to clash with funky bass guitar. Grande's obviously beautiful vocals lead the message of letting go and finding strength even more stronger. This hits a little harder knowing that Grande was going through a heartbreak herself. Which goes into the next song "Don't Wanna Break Up Again". The song have a R&B feel with a nice beat that deals with the theme of being scared of breaking someone's heart. The lyrics explore the situation of someone who is trying to heal from a previous breakup and is now in a relationship, but is afraid of running it dry. TIt seemed to me as Grande was depicted as being too nice to break up, yet at the same time, she doesn't want to go through another heartbreak. The song expresses the inner conflict of the person and the desire to make things work, while also acknowledging the fear of losing the other person. The very first interlude of the album quickly follows. "Saturn Returns Interlude" is a talking interlude and the person talking is expressing how saturn can be you back to reality. This relates to astrology and how your destiny lines up with your astrological pull.
The fifth song "Eternal Sunshine" is the (almost) halfway mark for the album. I thought that this was creative since the album and halfway song are the same. Grande based this album off of the Oscar winning movie "Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind" . I haven't seen this movie yet, unfortunately, but after listening yo the first half of this album, I am very enticed to watch this film. It seems as if Grande references some of the film in this song. Her silky vocals over the trap R&B beat makes the song sound flawless. However, I wonder how much better the song would be if it was a piano ballad. So far, this album was very fast paced and pop based. I think a song to slow down the album would have been beautiful to hear. Other than that, the theme in the song was relatable. Like sunshine, Grande discusses how to find light in the darkest of times, especially while in love. The next is "Supernatural". It's a chill beat song with a catchy chorus that features some cool effects on the voice. The lyrics are really interesting because they play with the idea of being in love so much that it's starting to consume you. Grande does an amazing job of capturing the theme of the song through the music and lyrics. The combination of the smooth beat and the play on the lyrics and their meaning gives the song a unique and captivating vibe. The way love possess and controls were a nice subtle spin. Overall, "Supernatural" is a great song that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys music with a chill and catchy vibe. The vibe instantly changes on the next track , "True Story." Ari went from the soft angelic voice to a demanding and fierce voice. Aggressive Ari is tired of the homewrecker reputation that the media has pinned on her. The song is centered on the truth and being tired of the lies and accusations.
"The Boy Is Mine" is a the next song from her album. The song has a different vibe than the Brandi and Monica song "The Boy Is Mine," but the meaning is the same. The song is about a woman claiming someone as her own, while also admiring him and their relationship. The beat of the song is reminiscent of 2000s R&B and complements Ariana Grande's voice nicely. The song's lyrics are a celebration of love and possession. The singer is proud to claim her man as her own, and she doesn't care what anyone else thinks. She loves him and he loves her, and that's all that matters. The song is a reminder that love can conquer all, and that there is nothing more powerful than the love between two people.
"We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" is a beautiful song with a catchy upbeat tune and sad lyrics. It's about being too much in love with someone to be just friends, which results in waiting for that person to come around. The song's gorgeous ending instrumentals make it even more emotional and meaningful. The music video perfectly accompanies the song's beautiful meaning, making it an even more impactful experience.
The song "I Wish I Hated You" has an interesting beat with just Ariana's voice and a beautiful techno sound that is reminiscent of "pov" from her last album. The theme of the song is about not being able to leave a relationship because love is still there and it is irresistible. Overall, it's a compelling track that showcases Ariana's vocal range and ability to convey complex emotions through her music.Tut the best in each other, despite their flaws. "Ordinary Things" is the final track that features Nonna's (Ari's grandmother) sweet voice over a trap beat. The lyrics are relatable and enticing right from the beginning. The song has a theme of being together and not caring about the location as long as you're with each other. Nonna's words add a layer of sweetness to the overall vibe of the song and it was a nice goodbye to the album. Overall, I think that this was a well crafted album. What makes the album even better is the fact that Grande produced a lot of the songs herself. "Eternal Sunshine" gave a new perspective to about Ariana Grande as a person and a artists.
My Top Song off of Eternal Sunshine
My Score for Eternal Sunshine
86%
Do you agree with my score for Eternal Sunshine? What would you rate the album? What was your favorite song off of the album?
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