After a wicked year, Ariana Grande has ‘Brighter Days Ahead’
- Antonio Machado
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
By Antonio Machado
Staff Writer
Last year, Ariana Grande broke her four-year hiatus with the release of her seventh studio album, “eternal sunshine,” which she said was “kind of a concept album” loosely based on the events of the film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”
Now, a year later, after an Oscar nomination for her work starring in “Wicked,” Grande has released a continuation of her record, “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead,” alongside a short film, “Brighter Days Ahead,” to further explore the sentiments shared on the original album.
The deluxe, which features five new tracks and an extended version of “intro (end of the world),” exemplifies why Grande is one of the biggest pop stars of the 21st century. Intricately designed tracks explore different aspects of Grande’s signature style in an elevated fashion.
She demonstrates what happens when the sun refuses to shine in “intro (end of the world) [extended].” The song, which originally asks, “How can I tell if I’m in the right relationship?” now transforms after Grande learns the answer.
The extended intro perfectly encapsulates and sets the stage for the tracks to come. Grande remains within the thematic and sonic margins of the existing record but replaces the warmth with a gentle melancholy as she writes the last of her thoughts on her divorce and newfound love.
Grande ruminates on her previous relationship during “twilight zone.” Harmonies that echo after their phrases like a lingering thought create a dreamy, nostalgic synth-pop track that exemplifies Grande’s proficiency for crafting impossibly catchy melodies.
With the help of executive producer Max Martin, who has produced over 25 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, magical vocal layers and ’80s drums craft an atmosphere evocative of a hallucination, leaving Grande lost in disbelief that her relationship even happened.
A light autotune elevates Grande’s voice to the clouds on the mid-tempo dance pop of “warm,” and she effortlessly navigates the skies as she daydreams about the comfort of being held in a partner's arms. She wistfully sings, “I’m cool on my own / but it’s warmer in your arms.
“Can you hold the space I require or will you turn the page?” Grande self-referentially coos as she wonders if a partner is willing to meet her where she is in life - a wonder that seems to matter very little in the next track.
In “dandelion,” Grande is horned up - in more ways than one. A deceitful jazz intro fades into a trumpet sample that plants the seeds of a trap-R&B fusion reminiscent of Grande’s work on “thank u, next.”
Playing into every possible innuendo, Grande lusts, “Boy, just come blow this / know I'm on your wishlist.” Grande’s charisma shines brightest in this track - hypnotizing, sultry harmonies blossom into a delightful experience for the ears.
Atop neon strings, Grande delivers a spine-chilling belt in “past life.” A lustrous synth-R&B instrumental is beautifully juxtaposed to Grande’s soft, feathery vocal.
Though it may seem like the most straightforward song of the deluxe lyrically, “past life” offers one of the most intriguing double entendres of the record, where Grande sings about reclaiming herself both from the media's expectations of her and from a partner.
“You think I’m lost, but that’s just how you found me / well, maybe I’m the stranger after all,” she howls alongside dozens of her own vocal stacks in the most mellifluous manner. It’s impossible not to be entranced by Grande’s spellbinding delivery on this impeccably produced track.
Intentionality has become synonymous with Grande. Beyond just being a vocal powerhouse, Grande demonstrates her talent as a vocal producer and arranger in each track, crafting beautiful and intricate vocal stacks and harmonies that make her stand out among her peers.
These vocal stacks reach a climax in the piano-driven farewell ballad, “Hampstead,” but they might be overlooked when considering the subject matter of this track.
Grande faced much criticism for her newfound relationship with “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater, even more so for playing coy on “yes, and?” where she sang, “Why do you care so much whose d**k I ride?”
Titled after the residential community Grande lived in while filming “Wicked,” “Hampstead” serves as her long-awaited response to the claims regarding the nature of her relationship, and unfortunately for any haters, it’s absolutely gorgeous.
“I know it seems f***ked up, and you’re right / but quite frankly, you’re still wrong about everything / so far off, your seat’s nowhere near the table,” she says in earnest. Her playful opaqueness disputes any claims against her.
“What’s wrong with a little bit of poison? Tell me / … / Fear me stranger, a little bit of sugar, danger / I’d rather be seen and alive than dying by your point of view,” she belts on the chorus.
There is such a captivating essence to the emotional delivery on this track. The buildup of tension and eventual resolution via the sweetness of Grande’s intricate harmonies that envelop herself after every lyric, almost as though she were comforting herself amid all the distress, create the most wonderful listening experience.
Grande’s diary-esque lyrical content paired with exceptionally elaborate vocal layers set this album apart from typical pop records. The tracks from “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead” are more than just songs that didn’t fit the original record’s track list.
They’re an elevated continuation of the deeply personal narrative Grande tells about her life and relationships, and they’re beautifully incorporated into the accompanying short film that further expands the record's narrative.
Co-directed by Ariana Grande and Christian Breslauer, “Brighter Days Ahead” continues the storyline of Peaches, a character featured in multiple of Grande’s previous “eternal sunshine” era music videos, as she continues her search for happiness through the alteration of her memories. The Brighter Days Clinic, inspired by Lacuna Inc. from the film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” where patients could have their memories permanently erased, now offers a treatment to alter and relive memories in any way that incites the most joy. An elderly Peaches, who’s a frequenter of the clinic, returns to relive the last of her existing memories. The first few of Peaches’ memories are drawn directly from Grande’s early life and pop-star career. However, these direct parallels dissipate as the memories begin to take on a more metaphorical, sci-fi interpretation of Grande’s life. The film has nearly no dialogue. Instead, a selection of songs from both the deluxe and regular editions of “eternal sunshine” play as Peaches re-experiences her memories. Each song perfectly encapsulates the emotions and experiences captured within each memory, serving not as background music but rather as an inner monologue. The film serves not solely as music videos for the select tracks featured in it but as a deeper exploration of the themes discussed within the record. Throughout both the film and the record, Grande reevaluates the meaning and sources of her happiness alongside the despairing memories that allow for the moments of joy to feel that much better. As stated in the synopsis, the short film serves as the epilogue to the “eternal sunshine” era, and it does so beautifully, visualizing Grande’s experiences through the lens of Peaches and serving as a heartfelt conclusion to the record as a whole. After so many years in the public eye, Grande has perfected the cloth with which she veils herself as she shares her heart through her art, and with this project, she allows us to glance through it. There is such a palpable honesty within this film and record. Grande knows exactly what story she wishes to tell and how to deliver it in a way that’s emotionally compelling and sonically captivating. “Eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead” feels like an amalgamation of everything Grande has learned throughout her career. She pries her heart wide open through a luscious showcase of her vocal layering talents as she balances on the tightrope of pop-R&B. Grande has undoubtedly forged herself into a legend in her own right, and this record serves as proof of her immense talent and artistry. Rating: A+ This my cookie. This my juice.