“eternal sunshine” - Ariana Grande Album Review

Ariana Grande has finally delivered to her fans again with the release of her new album “eternal sunshine,” and it did not disappoint.

“eternal sunshine” is the pop sensation’s seventh studio album, releasing almost four years since her last album, “Positions.” It is a gorgeous pop and R&B album featuring 13 tracks, and is her shortest album to date.

It proved what everyone was already thinking: Grande is incapable of making a bad song.

The album begins with the beautiful “intro (end of the world),” that sets the tone for the rest of the release. Bodying an intro is something that Grande is no stranger to.

Grande’s first words are “How can I tell if I’m in the right relationship,” throwing listeners into her pit of insecurity within her relationship. “End of the world” creates a feeling of imminent doom that translates through to many of the other tracks.

Track two of “eternal sunshine” is “bye,” a dance-pop breakup song that lands high on this album’s totem pole.

It gives ‘90s-disco vibes, something that feels super fresh from the popstar. “bye” could definitely land high on the charts above its fellow tracks.

“the boy is mine” is another top-tier song to come out of the album. It has a deeper, more bad-girl energy to it than the common light and airy sound that listeners expect from Grande. The track is sultry, mischievous, and has the R&B flair to it that the star is so good at.

Grande addresses recent rumors and controversy in the media revolving around her and “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater in the track “true story.”

One standout line is “For fun, you like to pray for my demise,” which is a very “reputation” by Taylor Swift coded lyric, calling out how the industry tends to build female artists up only to tear them down.

Whether or not the rumors are true, Grande flawlessly becomes the agitator with this song, playing into the controversy and saying “I’ll play the bad girl if you need me to.”

The whole album has an extraterrestrial, celestial vibe to it, creating a highly cohesive set of songs that really fit together.

The instrumentals that begin “i wish i hated you” sound like what you’d imagine stars to sound like. It’s a gorgeous, kaleidoscope-like synth that transitions into the ballad of the album.

“Saturn Returns Interlude” plays up the cosmic and interstellar theme, having astrologer Diana Garland explain a Saturn Return.

This interlude glues the album together, explaining the process of outgrowing things and advancing to new heights, which is the common theme throughout “eternal sunshine.”

Everything Grande does is just pretty. Her signature sound as an artist is so clear and never fails to amaze fans.

The last track on “eternal sunshine” has the only feature of the album which is Nonna, Grande’s grandmother, titled “ordinary things.” Nonna closes out the album, in true Grande fashion, and answers the questions her granddaughter posed in “intro (end of the world).”

The only problem with this album is that it’s too short. With a 35 minute runtime, it leaves listeners wanting more. Of course, fans always want more, but a short album like this will really make you crave it.

The world was long overdue for more music from the pop princess, and she absolutely devoured “eternal sunshine,” as expected.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewer’s favorite songs: “bye,” “the boy is mine”

Reviewer’s least favorite songs: “Saturn Returns Interlude,” “yes, and?”

Sarah Gavlak is a second-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact her, please email sng5393@psu.edu.