Final Critical Analysis: Eternal Sunshine

Ariana Grandes 7th studio album, Eternal Sunshine, lays the groundwork defending oneself against modern gossip and speculation. Since the album was released during a major cancellation based upon homewrecking rumors, the album creates a formal address to the public. The cancellation was based on loose rumors that considered Ariana Grande to be a homewrecker that ruined a family. In 2024, Ariana Grande began dating her Wicked costar, Ethan Slater, just after divorcing her husband, Dalton Gomez. During the backlash, Ariana Grande released Eternal Sunshine, a 13-track admission of truth to all that were speculating. Fans and listeners began dissecting the meaning of each of these tracks. Eternal Sunshine then positioned itself into a bigger conversation within the media. Ariana Grande made it a point to not jump to conclusions about people you have never met. The layout of the album creates the notion that we should be less critical of others. Since Ariana Grande was facing such brutal rumors, she released Eternal Sunshine, which put those rumors to bed. The album itself creates a space for Ms. Grande to defend her position within pop culture. Eternal Sunshine tirelessly addresses the scrutiny that women face when they are in the public eye. 

As Ariana Grande was facing a major cancellation, many news outlets began reporting on behalf of Ethan Slater and his wife Lilly Jay. “Slater had his son with his wife Lilly Jay last August 2022, and he even dedicated a touching Mother's Day post to his wife. The rapid transition to a new relationship with Grande has raised eyebrows and speculation about possible infidelity (Allyssa MN).” This quote directly captures the gossip that was being spread about the pair. The climate within this corner of pop culture began ripping the two apart as critics assumed the worst of each of them.  

Eternal Sunshine was released in the middle of this storm of rumors and gossip. The gossip became so severe and prevalent in pop culture that TMZ wrote an article that shot these rumors into the social media stratosphere. “While the state of their marriage might be somewhat of a mystery right now, there's been no official sign of them wanting to end things -- aka, there's been no divorce docs filed, or anything else to formally indicate it's over (Staff).” The speculation and reports that were being made did not work out in Ms. Grandes favor to say the least. The constant indication of infidelity and ultimately not being a “girls' girl” in the public's eye, made many fans and prior supporters turn on Ariana Grande. The backlash became insufferable as people on social media started attacking her looks and demeanor, which caused her to respond via TikTok. "The second thing is you never know what someone is going through,” she continued. “So even if you are coming from a loving place and a caring place, that person is probably working on it or has a support system that they are working on it with, and you never know (“Ariana Grande Speaks out about Fan Concern over Her Body, Calling for People to Stop Body Shaming”).” 

Over the course of 8 months, Ariana Grande has been backhanded with a major cancellation. Most of the speculation came from internet sleuths and podcasters that focused on pop culture news. Other outlets, like TMZ and Page Six seemed to particularly pick Ms. Grande apart for everything that was going on in her life. Whether it was her upcoming movie Wicked or something to do with her personal endeavors, Ariana Grande became the face of infidelity and gossip columns for a majority of the year. Now that the scene is set, it’s time to dive into the meat of Eternal Sunshine and why it is relevant in pop culture today.  

The audience analysis that was done on this case stems from many forms of social media. Since most individuals feel most comfortable sharing their broad opinions from the safety of their home, using social media is the most efficient way to do that. Regardless of the opinions being inherently negative or positive, pop culture enthusiasts did not hesitate to dissect the layers of this single and eventually, the album itself. Ariana Grande began teasing this body of work with many easter eggs along the way. The biggest piece of evidence comes from Ariana Grande releasing pieces of footage from her listening party she held for her label.

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Ariana Grande CRIES Introducing Eternal Sunshine Era 

“Eternal Sunshine”, Ariana Grande’s 7th studio album, was released on March 8th, 2024. Before the full album came out, a lead single was released titled “Yes, And?” This lead single shook pop culture due to its distinctive house-sounding production that differentiated itself from Ariana Grandes typical discography. Many fans and listeners began speculating on the track's significance as the lead single. “However, many fans believe this is a specific rebuttal to all of the people who have cast her out as a homewrecker following her ongoing romance with "Wicked" co-star Ethan Slater. "Not Ariana Grande sayin lemme wreck homes and ride in peace. SHE GAGGED THE WHOLE WORLD," one Twitter user penned. Meanwhile, another user tweeted, "Ariana Grande clocked y'all." (Byerly). “ 

The Ariana Grande fandom continued to have a multitude of opinions that they shared online. On the other side of the spectrum, some fans were not pleased with Ariana Grande’s response to the home-wrecking rumors. Pop culture critics began decoding the underlying message they believed Ariana Grande was trying to convey. “Swiftly responding to the song, internet trolls took to social media to criticize Grande's relationship. Accusing her of being a homewrecker and blaming her for Slater's divorce from his estranged wife, Lilly Jay (Felicity).” Given the quick and outward response to the rumors, fans were eager to hear more of the story.  

Shortly after “Yes, And?” was released, Ariana Grande began teasing the full “Eternal Sunshine” album. Fans and listeners were shocked to see the pop star releasing music after explicitly saying she was taking a step back to focus on Wicked. "The truth is, I have not begun an album." Ari continued, "I know. I hear through the grapevine that you have a lot of theories and expectations in that department but, after Positions, [I] was not ready to start another album yet.  So, I have not begun another album (“Ariana Grande Announces Hiatus from Making Music to Focus on “Wicked” Film Role | ABC Audio Digital Syndication”)." Two years later, Grande would release “Eternal Sunshine", her 7th studio album.  

Kicking off our narrative analysis, we begin with the positioning of the album tracks themselves. The tracks feature 13 different songs that all work together to tell one big story. The first track, entitled “Intro” begins with “How can I tell if I’m in the right relationship, aren’t you really supposed to know that s—t? Feel it in your bones and own that s—t, I don’t know (Ariana Grande: Eternal Sunshine).” This song depicts the real-world turmoil Ariana Grande is facing as she writes and produces this album. Then, in true Ariana Grande fashion, this slow song leads into a pop anthem entitled “Bye.” “Bye” takes a stance on reclaiming one's own power and using it to your advantage. The song depicts Ariana Grande moving on from her marriage and beginning a new chapter. She belts “This ain’t the first time I’ve been hostage to these tears, I can’t believe I’m finally moving through my fears (Ariana Grande: Bye).” 

If you can’t tell, the songs begin to lay out the who, why, when, and how for listeners. “Don’t Wanna Break Up Again” features a low beat and a breathy falsetto from Ariana Grande. The tone of this track makes the delivery even stronger when listeners actually hear what is being referenced. “I fall asleep crying, you turn off the TV, you don’t want to hear me, one more sleepless night (Ariana Grande: Don’t Wanna Break Up Again).” This testimony gives listeners a peak into what could have been the downfall of her marriage. As fans previously speculated as to why the marriage ended after two years, they began to have their questions answered. “Saturn Returns” serves as an interlude that Ariana discusses being personal to her. “Saturn Returns Interlude” featuring a voiceover about waking up and changing your life (Abad-Santos).” While the impact of the song is left up to the fans, Grande makes it known that it has heavy significance in her life. 

The next track, “Eternal Sunshine”, features yet another low-toned, dance-synth, R&B vibe. The title track encompasses the feeling of loving someone so much but knowing the relationship will never work. Ariana Grande captures this by saying “I don’t care what people say, we both know I couldn’t change you. I guess you could say the same, can’t rearrange truth (Ariana Grande: Eternal Sunshine).” Many fans interpreted this as Ariana Grande referring to her previous relationship with Dalton Gomez. “The rumors surrounding their romance prompted one of her close family friends to tell PEOPLE: "People have tried to question the timeline (Jones)." The next few songs then go into Ariana’s journey in finding new love. In “Supernatural,” Ariana Grande sings “This love’s possessing’ me, but I don’t mind at all, it’s taking over me, don’t want to fight the fall (Ariana Grande: Eternal Sunshine).” The next four songs then go into the same story of finding new love and facing public backlash. However, in “I wish I Hated You” fans noticeably spotted the vulnerability within the track as we hear Ariana Grande crying in the last verse. “ariana’s voice crack at the end of i wish i hated you...i’m crying #eternalsunshine (Dailey).” accompanied by a gif of a girl crying, was posted on X just after the album’s release.  

Considering the response that people had to this album, it's clear that this album had made a significant impact on pop culture. While Ariana Grande was getting through this album cycle, there were also many other components that helped leverage this album into the position it’s in now. Since Ariana Grande has several brands, including R.E.M. Beauty, perfume releases, a merchandise line, music releases, and an acting career, she has become a mogul in her own respect. As “Eternal Sunshine” made its debut and sent shockwaves throughout the media, she also began releasing limited edition merchandise to support the message of the album. Since “Yes, And?” had significance in not listening to what critics have to say, Ariana released limited edition sweaters with the phrase “Yes, And?” Since Ariana Grande was using this phrase as a rebuttal towards the media, she then reclaimed power from those that were tearing her apart on social media.  

The merchandise releases contribute to Ariana Grandes business-savvy articulation, but it also brings fans back to the impact of the album. Ariana Grande took the negative feedback she was receiving from the press and made it something profitable and meaningful. These limited-edition releases are significant to the fans as it pertains to “Eternal Sunshine” as a whole. Since her fans are engaging with the album, these products have become more sought after and impactful. Since Ariana Grande chose to market these items, she is bringing her audience back to the meaning of the album's release.  

“Eternal Sunshine debuted with 194.92 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs along with 77,000 sales in the week ending March 14 according to Luminate, which powers the Billboard charts. It’s the biggest opening for an album in 2024 and the only album in 2024 to top the list with more than 200,000 units. Grande bests her last Number One, 2020’s Positions, by 32,000 in first-week sales (Millman).” Considering the streaming and sales numbers, it's safe to say that “Eternal Sunshine” was one of Grande’s best performing albums of her career. Due to the album's popularity and significance, this made the impact of limited-edition merchandise releases intelligible for fans.   

The release of “Eternal Sunshine” undoubtably reflected Ariana Grande’s maturity within her song writing and producing. “My relationship with music changed and healed a lot from taking space away from it,” Grande said, adding that “eternal sunshine” was the hardest and most emotional album she’s written (Montagne).” There is a clear demonstration of reflection and perseverance that is highlighted throughout the album itself. The response from fans and news outlets seemed to outshine the negative feedback Ariana Grande was receiving from the press. As society battles social issues such as pitting women against each other and not giving women the same grace and understanding as men, this album aims to bridge that gap through its songs and messaging.  

As listeners digested the contents of this album, many realized it’s messaging as publicly defending yourself when the going gets tough. There’s an underlying meaning that media outlets are getting too comfortable with commenting on someone's relationship and body image when they do not know the full story. Ariana Grande used this creative outlet to educate the public on what was going on in her personal life. The central idea of the album creates a space for individuals to feel empowered in their truth, regardless of how it may seem to others. As the gossip of Ariana Grande was being spun out of control, she used this album to take control of her own narrative. Given the album's vulnerability, listeners were able to relate to this album on a personal level. “Eternal Sunshine,” Ariana Grandes 7th studio album, solidifies the notion that women do not owe explanations to media outlets and speculators.