After a grueling divorce, Oscar nomination and a new relationship, it seemed pop-superstar Ariana Grande would be taking a break from music to focus on acting. However, she defied expectations in releasing “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead,” the deluxe version of her 2024 album “eternal sunshine” on March 28. Along with the add-on music, “brighter days ahead,” a 26-minute short film, was also released. The album presents a sunny future for Grande, one in which she is healed, or in the process of healing, after a breakup and a public witch hunt.
The “brighter days ahead” short film, inspired by the premise of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004), centers on the idea of erasing old memories. Featuring Grande’s music, both new and old, the film flips through real clips of Grande’s childhood and other scenes showing Grande getting lifted into darkness by a spaceship. This scene also serves as the deluxe’s cover art. The film highlights everything the deluxe album is about: passion, love and inner peace.
The deluxe album kicks off with “intro (end of the world) - extended,” but does not get better until “twilight zone.” While “intro (end of the world) - extended” is not a bad song by any means, it was lacking in extra spice and drama that is expected from an extended version of a song.
True to its name, “twilight zone” starts off with a sparkling, dazzling intro. Referencing the television series “The Twilight Zone” (1959-1964), the song encapsulates how it feels to be lingering between fiction and reality. “Stuck in the twilight zone / Is this a black-and-white scene? / If so, then I’m in the gray one,” Grande sings.
While the song has some introspective lines, “twilight zone” mostly focuses on the other person in the relationship. With snarky comments like “Hope you win for best actor / ‘Cause I had you completely wrong,” Grande does not hold back on criticizing her ex-partner, presumably. Her rawness in this song encompasses what the original album tried, but ultimately failed, to do: Be vulnerable.
But “twilight zone” is not just lyrically good. A solid backing rhythm keeps the song moving, and Grande enunciates her lyrics better than she has in the past — perhaps a product of her “Wicked” (2024) vocal training. While occasionally showing off her signature upper vocal range, Grande likewise hits some smooth low notes, adding a surprising touch. “twilight zone” strikes listeners as effortless, showcasing Grande’s vocal prowess without taking away from the emotional depth of the track.
“warm,” track 16 on the album, is, at its core, a pop song with good lyrics and strong vocals. “‘Cause I'm cool / On my own / But it's warmer / In your arms,” Grande sings. With audible line breaks, the song is broken up in a digestible way. Grande has fun here, playing with rhymes in lines like “‘Cause it's nice to unravel, tears, how they travel.” The singer even potentially references her viral “holding space” meme from the “Wicked” press tour by questioning, “Can you hold the space I require?” The funny, appreciated nod to Grande’s current life helped convey the fun-loving energy the song emits.
Like the other tracks on the deluxe album, “dandelion” has a strong intro, but differentiates itself by incorporating a trumpet, which plays until the bass kicks in. “dandelion” plays into the track’s flower metaphor with lines like “I'm thinking you should plant this seed,” adding a layer of sexual innuendo that, while not present throughout the other deluxe tracks, adds depth to the album. In “dandelion,” Grande taps back into her high vocal register. While the song is repetitive both lyrically and sonically, the beat and backing track are gripping enough to keep the listener engaged.
Contrary to the floral metaphors in “dandelion,” track 18, “past life,” employs a more cosmic theme, evoking the science fiction imagery present in the album’s cover. “Woke up with a ghost by my side / Kissed by the passing of time, time,” Grande begins, setting the tone for an intense and beautiful song reinforced by a scratchy, edgy backtrack. The lyrics shine in this song, revealing that contrary to her lover’s perception, Grande will be fine on her own. In this track, Grande decides that a relationship only works when she keeps her standards high, and she realizes that she deserves better: “I used to think you were the medicine, but you were just code blue.”
The album closes with “Hampstead,” which details Grande’s relationship with her partner as well as with the media and general public. “Threw away my reputation, but saved us more heartache,” Grande sings, referencing the recent scandals surrounding her such as her controversial romantic relationship with “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater.
In “Hampstead,” Grande finds a middle ground between defending herself and recognizing her misdeeds. The song mostly steers away from attacking those who judge her, but Grande spices things up with the line “I think to be so dumb must be nice.”
Ultimately, “Hampstead” consists of Grande defending her love as she sings, “I would rather feel everything than nothing every time.” The narrative arc of her discography surfaces in this track as she nods to her 2020 hit “pov” by admitting, “I'd rather be seen and alive than dying by your point of view.” However, contrary to “pov” where she sings, “I'd love to see me from your point of view,” Grande no longer needs or wants others' perspective on herself. On this track, Grande’s voice is softer, yet still powerful, perhaps reflecting her resignation and reluctance to engage with unrelenting critics. Instead of combative lyrics or belting, Grande merely muses. Here, she doesn’t hide from scandal, rather, she embraces it, pointing out the flaws in the narrative people paint of her without being too defensive.
Overall, in “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead,” Grande embraces her life outside of music, creating a personal and beautiful album that showcases her multifaceted talent. Employing a plethora of outside influences — from cinema to science fiction to her lived experiences — this record charts an evocative journey through secrecy, scandal and self-acceptance.
Amelia Bush (she/her) (28C) is majoring in English. She is from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and enjoys walking around their many lakes. Outside of the Wheel, you can find her reading, scrapbooking, or playing tennis.
