Ariana Grande’s album “eternal sunshine: brighter days ahead” was released on March 28, serving as the deluxe version to her original 2024 album “eternal sunshine.”
After an extensive period of “Wicked” promotions, Grande builds off the vulnerable and introspective narrative started in the original album with five new tracks: “intro (end of the world) – extended,” “twilight zone,” “warm,” “dandelion,” “past life” and “Hampstead.”
As a huge fan of the soothing synth beats of “eternal sunshine,” I was excited to see what the new tracks would bring to the album. Pressing play for the extended version of “intro (end of the world),” I was immediately transported back to when the original album was first released. In the extra minute added to the song, Grande brings a beautiful closure. She expresses dissatisfaction in a past relationship where her significant other refused to see things from her perspective, but also takes accountability, stating, “I broke your heart because you broke mine / So me, I am the bad guy / ‘Cause I’d already grieved you.” I really enjoy this track for its bittersweet tone created by her sincere and emotional vocals.
In “twilight zone,” Grande continues to reminisce on her past relationship, recalling all the flaws in their time together. She establishes that she does not miss this past lover, but rather struggles to gain clarity and grasp the events that have happened. The instrumental and beats sound dreamy-like and perfectly match up with the tone of the lyrics—making it one of my favorites.
Switching up the narrative, Grande moves on from the heartbreak to sing about a new lover in “warm” and “dandelion.” In “warm,” she finds comfort in both herself and a new person who understands her, a quality that the former partner lacked. To emulate her happiness, she uses soft and dreamy instrumentals that I really enjoy. I think she perfectly captures the exciting feeling of falling in love, making this a standout track for me. Following “warm” is “dandelion,” where she further touches on this new connection and uses a dandelion metaphor to convey her devotion in granting any of his wishes. This track is catchy and upbeat with playful lyrics, but I did not resonate with it and found it to be more dull to listen to.
“past life” reflects upon her past relationship again–but this time, she begins to move on and expresses some anger. She no longer questions her past devotion to the relationship and finds confidence within herself. I enjoyed her high notes in this track, but the repeatedness of her verses beginning with “Always wondered what would happen” made it a stale listen for me as well.
Finally is “Hampstead”—my personal favorite. I really enjoy the slow, echo-y piano sound she uses to set the tone for her most vulnerable track. She calls out the public and the bad light they have been painting her in, saying they are nowhere close to knowing who she and her intentions are. At the heightened chorus, she questions, “What’s wrong with a little bit of poison?” fully accepting her flaws. Bringing closure to the relationship she addressed throughout the album, she makes a clever reference back to her song “pov,” singing, “I’d rather be seen and alive than dying by your point of view.” Her powerful vocals make her self-acceptance shine through, making it the perfect track to end off the album.
I would rate “eternal sunshine: brighter days ahead” a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I love the dreamy sound of the tracks consistent to the original album and Grande’s clever lyricism in speaking of her emotions. However, each new track shares a similar emotional tone with mellow beats. As a result, I found it hard to distinguish some of them. I also found it hard to understand the implications of some of her lyrics and because I do not know of her love life. Nevertheless, her reflections on relationships and self-discovery add emotional depth to the album.
