While many doubted Ariana Grande’s future as a music artist after her career as an actress took off, she recently added to her already untouchable discography including genres such as pop, R&B, jazz and more. With her stunning ability to hit high whistle notes and belt out impressive sequences in her tracks, the “Eternal Sunshine” deluxe album is immediately unforgettable. Leave it up to Ariana Grande to keep listeners satisfied every single time.
Ariana Grande is a singer-songwriter and actress known for her incredible vocal ability and undeniable impact on the music industry. She started on Broadway from a young age and began gaining recognition as one of the main characters from the infamous Nickelodeon show “Victorious.” She has since continued to grow into the well respected artist that she is today.
Grande released her thirteen-track album “Eternal Sunshine” in 2024. After its release, she took a break from music to focus on her career as the lead actress for the movie “Wicked.” Although she had an eventful year, she has released the continuation to her “Eternal Sunshine” album. On March 28, 2025, Grande released the album “Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead,” extending the album to 19 tracks long. The newly added songs are “intro (end of the world) – extended,” “twilight zone,” “warm,” “dandelion,” “past life” and “Hampstead.”
“Twilight zone” contains charming synths that pair with Grande’s soft vocal delivery. The song’s emotional and deeply personal lyrics reveal how Grande is conflicted over her feelings for her former lover after suddenly remembering the memories that they shared. The lyrics “and it’s not like I’m still not over you / It’s so strange, this I never do / Not that I miss you, I don’t / Sometimes, I just can’t believe / You happened” show that she has moved on and is in a different stage in her life as she reminisces over that time in the past.
“Twilight zone” fits in with the tracks “we can’t be friends,” “imperfect for you” and “don’t wanna break up again” which were in the original “Eternal Sunshine” album. By featuring airy vocals and playing with the emotions of the listener, Grande’s songs transition smoothly from one hit to another.
Moving towards a darker sound, “dandelion” is a trap song that starts with a relaxed trumpet solo that exhibits confidence and power. The lyrics “you can get anything you’d like /I’ll be your dandelion” suggest that Grande is trying to tempt a person into pursuing a relationship with her. The repetition throughout the song emphasizes her readiness to enter a new era of life.
“Dandelion” consists of similar genres and lyrics to songs she has released in her 2019 album, “Thank U, Next.” Lots of fans often express how they miss Grande’s old sound and persona. This song would resonate well with these fans and other WCHS students who enjoy trap, jazz or even hip hop genres.
Continuing with the bold feeling, “past life” is an orchestral R&B song with strong vocals and lots of smooth harmonization. With the lyrics “now I’m (I’m), fine (Fine), to leave you in a past life” and “phased me just like the moon /I used to think you were the medicine, but you were just code blue” it is clear that Grande is okay with parting ways with her partner and carries a new and open mindset clear of negativity.
Furthermore, the use of grand strings is a highlight of “past life” and represents the intensity of Grande’s emotions. The string instrumental builds and strikingly descends in different moments of the song until she comes to the conclusion to leave her partner in the past. This song is exceptionally unique and presents a new side to Grande that many WCHS students can indulge in.
“Hampstead” and “warm” are two new songs included in the deluxe that also fit in with the sweet side of Grande’s discography. They are more ballad-heavy and feature gentle tunes from the vocalist. Resembling the feeling of being comforted by a person’s embrace, these tracks reflect some important moments of Grande’s life.
“Intro (end of the world) – extended” is exactly as the title insists – it is the lengthened version of an existing track from the original “Eternal Sunshine” album. This song was previously about a girl who was confused about her relationship and if her partner would actually stay by her side. However, the extended lyrics added more meaning to the song, continuing the story. In the added lyrics, she eventually ends her relationship with the significant other.
Overall, the fresh addition of six songs flowed well with the pre-existing tracks that carried over from “Eternal Sunshine.” Listening to the deluxe album the whole way through allows for a cohesive tracklist. Grande’s vocals are sleek and clear as usual, and her ability to sing outstandingly well elevates each song to a greater level and improves the listening experience. There are always new vocal techniques to spot when listening to her catalogue because she is a true vocalist. Either as a singer or an actress, Ariana Grande will always bring something new to the table.
