Rating: 8/10
Ariana Grande is back from Oz with the deluxe edition of her seventh studio album, “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead,” released Friday, alongside a short film.
With five new tracks, Grande brings new energy to the original record, whose release and success were partly overshadowed by her promotion of “Wicked,” the blockbuster that earned her an Academy Award nomination earlier this year.
Inspired by the movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” the accompanying film takes viewers on a journey alongside Peaches, Grande’s character from the “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” music video, as she revisits her memories before choosing to forget them.
The film features new tracks and those from the original record, serving as an extended music video for the songs.
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The first of the new tracks,“twilight zone,” named after the sci-fi series, is a synth-driven tune that showcases the signature production of longtime collaborators Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh.
In a hypnotic tone, Grande mourns a past romance, even implying resentment at her actions with lyrics like “Why do I still protect you?/ Pretend these songs aren’t about you/ Hope this might be the last one/ ‘Cause I’m not fooling anyone.”
This is followed by “warm,” a dreamy track with a beating bassline, where Grande sings of a relationship that complements her, with lyrics like “‘Cause I’m cool/ On my own/ But it’s warmer/ In your arms.”
In her silky voice, Grande sings, “Can you hold the space I require, or will you turn the page, the page?”— a phrase that coincidentally echoes her viral interview with “Wicked” co-star Cynthia Erivo, which she later referenced on Instagram.
A major standout, “dandelion” welcomes listeners with a sultry jazz intro and trap-inspired beats echoing the vibrant sensuality of her previous projects, namely her 2019 record “thank u, next.”
Continuing with Grande’s famous mix of pop and R&B, “past life” alludes to the album’s central theme of memory, coupled with a fast-paced tempo and alluring vibe.
The deluxe closes out with “Hampstead,” a melancholic ballad possibly named after the London neighborhood where Grande lived while filming “Wicked.”
Showcasing Grande’s signature harmonious range, “Hampstead” is a melancholic ode to a past relationship, accompanied by lush piano melodies.
The ballad’s nostalgic tone encapsulates the pain of both remembering and forgetting, with lyrics like “I don’t remember too much of the last year/ But I knew who I was when I got here” and “I’m still the same but entirely different.”
Both the new record and the short film showcase what makes Grande so special — a performer equal parts talented in singing and acting.
After a successful foray into cinema, Grande reminds us with “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead” that she’s first and foremost a gifted singer who listeners won’t forget.
