Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead
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A year after the release of her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, Ariana Grande added five new tracks, with a sixth one serving as a slight extension of the introduction, proving just how timeless and memorable this album is. Grande clarifies to listeners that her intention with Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead is to explore an even deeper and more emotional side of the record. With this being said, Grande strategically placed these new tracks in a way that does not make them feel out of place or like “leftovers,” but rather the pieces of a puzzle we didn’t know were missing.
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Grande’s new deluxe album is more than just a collection of tracks, it is a transformative piece of music that showcases her artistry, vulnerability, and growth as an artist. This expanded edition of the original album reminds listeners of all the songs that once deeply resonated with them and, in a way, beautifully reopens past wounds. With its themes of healing, empowerment, and self-discovery, the album is embraced by fans worldwide as an essential addition to Grande’s discography.
In track 15: “Twilight Zone,” Grande expresses feelings of confusion we’ve all related to concerning our own exes, questioning how the relationship even happened, clearly referencing her recently ended marriage with Dalton Gomez. In the first verse, lines four through six, “Stuck in the twilight zone…if so then I’m in the gray one,” suggest how indecisive her mind was regarding Dalton and the relationship. Unfortunately, many of us have struggled with being manipulated by someone throughout a relationship. Ultimately, this has made us question if we even knew the person we dated.
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Skipping to the last and my personal favorite track of the album, “Hampstead” addresses the critiques Grande has received due to her love-life choices head-on, explaining that people know very little about what happened while she was living in Hampstead, “...and frankly you’re still wrong about everything.” This song shows brighter days ahead, and that she has finally reached that point, so everyone critiquing her should let it go as well. The chorus of this song feels like you are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with the emotions of no regrets and peace heard in Grande’s voice and the build-up of instruments that make you feel like you’re levitating.
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At its core, Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead represents the cathartic journey of moving through personal struggles and emerging stronger on the other side. Those who have kept up with Grande throughout the years have seen her go through various stages of life, whether being critiqued by the media or having personal struggles. The album will resonate with fans for years with its deeply personal lyrics and inspiring messages. It is more than just a musical release; it is a reminder that brighter days are ahead, no matter how dark life can get.
Strike Out,
Writer: Camila Ciampi
Editor: Layne Schulte
Tallahassee