It’s midnight on the start of spring break, and this deluxe album came at the perfect time. Eternal Sunshine is Ariana Grande’s latest album, released on March 28 2024. The deluxe version was announced a year after the original album came out and has six new, electric songs. Her lyricism and production draws people to her music. Grande’s powerful vocals make her stand out. Ariana Grande is one of the best pop artists of our time, and I believe this latest album, Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead, is one of her best works by far. I’ll be going through each of the deluxe tracks—sharing my thoughts on the lyrics, their sound and production, and what I think of each one.
The first track of the deluxe is a song that was on the main album release and was a very short song, at only one minute and thirty-one seconds. After fans loved the song and asked for more, Grande came out with “intro (end of the world)-extended” on the deluxe of Eternal Sunshine.
The first part of this song is the one that I am already familiar with, and it is, of course, amazing. Her soft melodies, the sounds in the intro, and the crinkle are just top tier. The light melody is beautiful as well. Her smooth harmonies are heavenly, the lyrics are breathtaking and heartbreaking.
Then we get into the new part right away. I like that the transition is pure harmonies, as I feel it makes the switch less jarring. It’s soothing and melodic in the most gut-wrenching way. I’m not sure about the lyrics on the new part, but maybe I need to give it time. Overall, it is an insanely captivating song.
The second deluxe song is “twilight zone” and the magical type sounds at the start immediately set the tone. The bells and little dings sound sort of alien. The beat is rhythmic. It feels like driving through the night in a movie montage– right after the main character has been wronged but learns their worth. The deep tone of her voice impeccably blends with the beat, it works remarkably well.
My favorite lyric is when she sings, “It’s not like I’d ever change a thing, cause I’m right here where I’m meant to be.” That resonates so much with me. It’s a beautiful lyric with a beautiful meaning. The song is just addicting. Something I really like is when she does vocal layering; it’s so satisfying and feels like it transports you to another universe. She ends the song with the layering, and it could not be more of a perfect ending.
In the song “warm”, I like the sort of guitar sound in the background at the beginning before it begins the pop fast space and airy beat. The beat of the chorus is so fun and just makes you want to dance around. I love the rhymes that Grande does in the song as they flow very nicely. The reverb she uses at certain parts adds the perfect touch to the song. The autotune right before the chorus is a chef’s kiss. It’s just wonderful. I like that in the second verse that the hi-hats and drums really kick in.
The song feels very summery and self-loving as well as self-confident. The only thing that I wish is that the bridge had a deeper vocal baseline, but that’s just a personal preference because I do see how not having it adds to the song; it’s kind of a needed break. I really like how at the end of the song she just has a straight, firm vocal because I feel it drives the message of the song further. All together, I like this song as it’s very light and I feel you can dance around happily to it.
Track 4 of the deluxe is “dandelion” and it is an earworm. The song has been stuck in my head since I listened to it. The opening trumpet is pure genius—it plays uninterrupted for a solid 30 seconds, gradually easing into the beat in a way that feels sophisticated. It adds a distinct sound to the song and immediately makes it stand out. Then the pop beat kicks in, lifting the song.
There’s something about the way Grande weaves the vocals that blends perfectly with the vibe and intention of the song. The hi- hat also adds another level of awesomeness and beat to drive the song. At the start of the second verse, Grande’s vocals are isolated and kind of muffled; it sounds like she’s in a box of sorts. Then Grande sings another line right after that is purely her layered vocals. It’s brilliant. The contrast adds so much intrigue and is very well produced.
The little snaps that start at the second verse are crisp, add an entire new layer of appeal, and they don’t let you get bored with the song. Grande’s “mmm’s” in the song are reminiscent of her past albums. They are a nice touch to the flow of the song. I really like the higher register that Grande chose for this song, as it feels more appropriate with the lower base. It creates a balance the song needs. My favorite lyric is when she sings, “I get this sounds unserious, but this is serious.” I think it’s a silly, playful line and I like when artists include something like that as it makes the song more fun and, ironically, with this lyric in particular, less serious. The ad libs Grande added to the end, both high and low, and the little riffs are the best way to finish the song.
In the song past life there is this air whoosh sound right before Grande begins singing, and I love how it throws you into the beginning of the song. The use of the violins makes the feeling and meaning of the song heightened. Grande starts in her lower register and then belts out. This works very well with the song. The belting is incredibly powerful and shows how Grande uses her vocals to pursue the message of the song. My favorite lyric is when she’s belting and sings, “Rhythms of the night consume my body, just let the music confiscate my soul.” The way she sings it is amazing and very impactful. It’s so pop and is one of the best.
I love the song “Hampstead”. This is the final and my favorite track from the deluxe. The piano is sort of muffled throughout the track and it adds an intimate feeling that fits right in with the lyrics and meaning of the song. There’s also this sharp sound in the back that sounds like a record returning, which adds some variation to the melodies.
It’s a very lovely song. Grande’s voice is very soft and delicate, and then she makes a grand impact with the chorus where she belts with the piano, demonstrating her amazing vocal talent. I have many lyrics I adore in this song, but one that particularly stood out to me was when she called back to one of her older songs, pov, and sang, “I’d rather be seen and alive than dying by your point of view, I do.” This lyric has so many layers and I love it. It’s a beautiful song and is simply perfection.
This deluxe edition is amazing, full of gorgeous vocals, captivating melodies, and dynamic beats. Each song adds so much more dimension and depth to an already wonderful album, making it feel even more complete than before. Go give it a listen and you just might become as obsessed as I am.
