AUDIENCE ANALYSIS COMM445

Audience Analysis: Eternal Sunshine

Eternal Sunshine, released on March 8th of 2024, audiences had mixed reactions to it. The overall setup and disbursement of the album are what shocked viewers. Many listeners and fans stated that they had not seen an album of this nature by Ariana Grande. Usually, fans were used to hearing pop ballads, catchy synth influences, and R&B occasionally. This album used a 70s influence mixed with 90s R&B/house music to orchestrate her songs. As a composer, Ariana Grande took a new approach, which ultimately threw listeners for a loop.

Listeners and fans had also never seen an album by Grande that interpolated a film. The entire album is structured as a storyline that plays into Jim Carrey’s “Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind.” This came as a shock to fans that were used to her typical collage of pop songs that had little to do with one another. However, Eternal Sunshine used a different approach that signifies her personal growth and the era of pop culture. As we see it, pop culture is beginning to shift into a field that represents many different forms of expression. We are no longer seeing or hearing artists that conform to what the radio is interested in playing, that is why this album is so significant in pop culture.

Audiences and lovers of pop culture were taken aback by this album in positive and

negative ways. Considering that Ariana Grande was being “cancelled” throughout the release of the album, the work itself received praise from the public. “There’s a kind of Y2K revivalism here done in distinct Grande fashion-” (“Music Review: Ariana Grande Triumphs over Heartbreak on Seventh Studio Album, “Eternal Sunshine””). Backlash came from media outlets like TMZ and Page Six for the album being a “cop out” to get Ariana Grande out of the negative light. However, fans and listeners were quick to applaud Grande for her perseverance.

Throughout social media, listeners continued to praise the distinctiveness of this album. Most audiences enjoyed hearing a different sound and tone from Ariana Grande. Stepping away from her whistle tones and pop sound seemed to create more of a discussion for the album. Audiences commended her use of defense as she tackled the rumors and cancellation she was facing. The significance of this album lies in its versatility and relatability as we see a woman expressing grief, shame, and regrowth.

As Ariana Grande stepped away from her pop star persona, audiences felt as though they could relate to her emotions on a deeper level. Many people could relate to feelings and many emotions throughout marriage, divorce, and finding someone new. It was new territory for Ariana Grande, which also plays into the significance of this album. Audiences and reporters were quick to point out that this was a new Ariana Grande we were seeing and hearing. Eternal Sunshine has theatrical elements that play into the fallout of her marriage and how the aftermath affected her