TAASEEN MOHAMMED ISLAM

The last six months haven’t been easy for Ariana Grande, with the media tearing down her new relationship, her back catalog of demos being leaked online, and Stan Twitter branding her a “flop”. However, every story has a redemption arc, and Eternal Sunshine is Ariana’s.

Announced on January 17, a week after the chart-topping first single “yes, and?” was dropped, the album was named after the classic film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In the movie, people can have specific memories erased as a form of therapy, which Ariana is trying to do through this record. According to her, the album is a commentary on what people expect of her, being in the public eye.

A distinct feature of Eternal Sunshine is its meshing together of numerous musical styles. Songs such as “i wish i hated you” borrow bluesy elements from her first album. The upbeat pop sound on songs such as “we can’t be friends” and “eternal sunshine” is heavily reminiscent of Sweetener. On the other hand, Grande’s reimagined version of “the boy is mine” adds some much-needed R&B flair while simultaneously exploring the darker and more mature themes of “thank u, next”.

Ariana Grande also explores previously uncharted territory. “yes, and?” and some cuts from the album, such as Bye, dive deep into disco music, an avenue previously unexplored by the singer.

Unlike Positions , this album received widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike. The entirety of the album debuted on the Billboard 200. Pitchfork, known for its scathing reviews of albums, gave the LP 7.2. Even stan Twitter, her most prominent critic, seemed content with the album. It seems like Eternal Sunshine is the key that fixed all the time-continuum problems Ariana Grande faced and silenced her critics with a critically acclaimed album.