Eternal Sunshine, (the title being based off the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) is an album containing 13 new songs from Ariana Grande that came out on March 8, which contains her single she released beforehand “Yes, and?” that came out Jan 12, which was 3 months prior to the new album. However, the large reason why this album has been a hit is because of the cheating controversy between Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater cheating on their partners while working on the “Wicked” set. The album consists of heartbreak beats, and sweet love songs.
The Analysis of the album, all 13 tracks:
Intro (end of the world)
This is the opening track to this album. It begins with her questioning her relationship, and the uncertainties and doubts she experiences. She sings “How can I tell if I’m in the right relationship?Aren’t you really supposed to know that shit? Feel it in your bones and own that shit?
I don’t know.” and ends the song with “And if it all ended tomorrow, Would you be the one on mine?” It is a song about figuring out if the relationship was right for her, and if they cared for each other in the same way.
Bye
The second track of the album is about how Ariana is leaving the person she used to love. It was hard, but she needed to leave her then boyfriend Dalton Gomez. It was time to say goodbye, it was supposed to be a kind send off to a relationship that just needed to come to an end. “At least I know how hard we tried, both you and me Didn’t we? Didn’t we? So I grab my stuff, Courtney just pulled up
In the driveway, it’s time. Bye-bye, boy, bye.” are the starting lyrics of this song where she clearly states it is time to leave even though the both tried so hard to make things work. “Now it’s certainly bittersweet
This hook feels too hard to sing, but it’s better than repeating” is her way of finally saying goodbye to a relationship that no longer served her.
Don’t want to break up again
This is the third track of the album. Which is about how the on and off feeling of a relationship can cause a rift between people that have loved each other. “I made it so easy. Spent so much on therapy, With my own codependency. But you didn’t even try, When you finally did, it was at the wrong time. Won’t abandon me again for you and I.” This is explaining how the relationship hurt her, more than it helped her. That even though it hurts and she doesn’t want to do it she has to leave the person who is causing her pain, she wants herself back not him. “Don’t wanna break up again I don’t wanna, baby Situationship has to end Know it has to end I just can’t refuse.” In the end the love is so strong, but still it has to end so they both can find themselves again.
Saturn Returns interlude
This is the fourth track which is a little voiceover, which is about how you need to finally wake up and “smell the coffee” and move on with your life. “Saturn comes along and hits you over the head Hits you over the head, hits you over the head, and says, ‘Wake up,’ It’s time for you to get real about life And sort out who you really are.” The voice over repeats to you in the song, you have to “wake up” and find out who you are, with or without someone else.
Eternal Sunshine
The fifth track on the album (which is one of my personal favorites) is about how you will always have to care for the person you were once with, but you have moved on from the pain they caused you. “I showed you all my demons, all my lies Yet you played me like Atari, Now it’s like I’m lookin’ in the mirror, Hope you feel alright when you’re in her I found a good boy and he’s on my side
You’re just my eternal sunshine, sunshine.” This is showing how she has moved on and is loved by someone who is better than the man before. “I’d rather forget than know, know for sure What we could’ve fought through behind this door, mm So I close it and move, yeah, yeah.” She wasn’t going to try and fix something that wasn’t worth it and decide to move on for the better. That is what this song is all about, moving on from the one who caused you pain.
Supernatural
This is the sixth track on this album. This song is about falling in love and feeling it so overwhelmed from your partner that it is almost “supernatural.” “Don’t want nobody else around me
Just need you right here. You’re like the only thing that I see. It’s crystal clear and I want you to come claim it, I do What are you waiting for? Yeah, I want you to name it, I do Want you to make it yours.” The song explains the feeling of just missing and loving a person so much that all you see is that person and you. “This love’s possessing me, but I don’t mind at all. It’s like supernatural It’s taking over me, don’t wanna fight the fall It’s like supernatural.” This verse clearly explains as well that it is a song about letting love take over and enjoying being in love with someone so deeply such as Ariana is.
True story
the seventh track on the album. It is about Ari telling her truth about the situation with Ethan Slater, and how in reality she is not the only “bad guy” in this situation. “I’ll play the villain if you need me to. I know how this goes, yeah I’ll be the one you pay to see, play the scene, Roll the cameras please.” This verse from the song is showing how she was maintained as the “villian” when the drama is much deeper. “Sneaking like a creep in the night, But I’ll play whatever part you need me to. This is a true story about all the lies You fantasized ‘Bout you and I, This is a true story about all the games I know you play.” In a way she is using this as a form of calling Dalton (her ex husband out) and the media for making him the victim and her the villain, when neither of them are either.
The boy is mine
This is about how Ari will stop at nothing to get the boy she wants. Many believe this is like a bad girl anthem, that you will do anything to get the boy you love. “How can it be? You and me Might be meant to be, can’t unsee it But I don’t wanna cause no scene. I’m usually so unproblematic. So independent, tell me why ‘Cause the boy is mine, mine.” She wants to avoid the chaos but also wants the man she sees. The man is allegedly supposed to be Ethan Slater who was still married when the couple started dating. “And I know it’s simply meant to be, And I take full accountability for all these tears. Promise you I’m not usually Like this, shit, it’s like news to me, to me But I can’t ignore my heart, boy!” Even though she knew it was a bad situation she let love take the wheel which brought her to her now boyfriend Ethan Slater. She ignored the hate, followed her hurt to get us this song.
Yes and?
This is the ninth track on the album. It is Ari’s way of showing the critics that they need to mind their own business. That she is not just a story they can keep projecting for their own amusement, even if it causes the person pain. “Now I’m so done with caring What you think, no, I won’t hide Underneath your own projections Or change my most authentic life.” Also acknowledging how she won’t change just to appease the people around her and the media. Ending off with “My tongue is sacred, I speak upon what I like Protected, sexy, discerning with my time, my time Your energy is yours and mine is mine What’s mine is mine My face is sitting, I don’t need no disguise Don’t comment on my body, do not reply Your business is yours and mine is mine Why do you care so much whose – I ride? Why?” This is her way of telling the press to back off and let her live her most authentic life.
We can’t be friends (wait for your love)
The tenth song on the album is about waiting and hoping for a love that may never come to reality. “I don’t wanna tiptoe, but I don’t wanna hide, But I don’t wanna feed this monstrous fire Just wanna let this story die And I’ll be alright We can’t be friends But I’d like to just pretend You cling to your papers and pens Wait until you like me again Wait for your love Love, I’ll wait for your love.” In a way to stop all the chaos they had to in a sense let each other go, as they “waited for each other” to be together in a way that didn’t cause a stir. It is like waiting for the one, hoping it all ends with love.
I wish I hated you
The eleventh track, This song is about moving on from a past relationship which doesn’t feel good for you anymore. “Hung all my clothes in the closet you made Your shoes still in boxes, I send them your way Hoping life brings you no new pain.” The verse is trying to show that she wants to move on, and wants it to bring her ex no pain. She wants things to end on good note, even though she wished it ended worse and that she could feel some type of “hate.” “I wish I hated you. I wish that weren’t true. Wish there was worse to you. I wish you were worse to me. Yeah, I wish I hated you. Our shadows dance in a parallel plane. Just two different endings, you learn to repair And I learn to keep me in one place.” She shows how she wishes things ended worse so it wasn’t so hard, and that maybe in another world things would be different between them. This is allegedly a reference to Ariana and Dalton’s relationship coming to an end.
Imperfect for you
The twelfth track, This song is about feeling imperfect for someone, but finding someone that doesn’t make you feel like you’re too much or not worth it to them. “Mm, how could we know We’d make the bad stuff delightful? Mm I’m glad we crashed and burned I know we’ll be there for each other When we’re feeling , too much But I’ll love you like you need me to Imperfect for you(Messy) messy, completely (distressed) distressed But I’m not like that since I met you Imperfect for you.” The song shows how you may be too much for someone else, but you can be just the right amount of imperfection for the person who truly loves you, the good and the bad. Which is what Ari was trying to convey through her lyrics.
Ordinary things
The thirteenth and final song of the album. This song is the pure meaning of what love looks like supposedly for Ariana and Ethan. It is like having their own little love story where nothing is quite “ordinary”. “No matter what we do There’s never gonna be an ordinary thing. No ordinary things with you. It’s funny but it’s true There’s never gonna be an ordinary thing As long as I’m with you.” Sharing how even though things won’t always be normal it is something she loves as long as she is with the one she loves. The feeling of this love makes her feel a multitude of emotions. “ You hit just like the first sip of wine after a long day You hit like my biggest fan when I hear what the critics say You hit just like a green light when I’m stuck runnin’ real late I don’t need no diamonds, just your time,” showing how all she needs is his time and light to keep her going throughout their time together. The ending of the album shows how she supposedly found her love with Ethan and how she enjoys life now with him. It also ends with a surprise ending from Nonna giving her own advice not only to Ari, but to her fans in this world of messed up love.
In conclusion, the album was made as a goodbye story but also making way for a new relationship to form. Which is a good and soft way to end Ariana and Dalton’s story, to then begin Ariana and Ethan’s new story. When one love ended, a new one began and she was heartbreaking but yet beautiful in the end.
