With 18 Grammy nominations, 2 wins, and a nomination for the “Best Supporting Actress” for her role as Glinda in the film adaptation Wicked, Ariana Grande has recently released her new album Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead on March 28, 2025. The expanded version of her 7th studio album included 6 additional tracks and a short film that visualizes the story behind her newest creations. All of her new songs have reached the Top 20 ranks, as well as the album went number one on the U.S. Spotify listing and number three worldwide on opening day
Just one week after its release, this album hit number 2 in the iTunes Top Album Charts. It delves deeper into her personal life and relationships with the media, showcasing personal growth compared to previously recorded songs. “Eternal Sunshine” was named after “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” a 2004 film whose protagonists only realize the value of their romance while (literally) erasing it, themes we see in her music videos for “we can´t be friends(wait for your love)”. Besides her crisp and angelic vocals, this new release stays within these themes but also enhances the hope of moving on, as she references her past songs.
The first new track of the album is “Intro(End of the World) – Extended” which explores the raw and honest question of relationships and uncertainty of trust. The addition to the original is a stark but needed transition that showcases emotional growth and questioning her partner´s behavior if she hadn´t been strong enough to put herself first. The bittersweet ending to this was gut-wrenchingly honest saying “I broke your heart because you broke mine…I wish I could un-need you, so I did”.
“Twilight Zone”, named her “Biggest Song” by Forbes, earned the No. 1 spot on U.S. Spotify, and for a good reason. The song evokes a deep sense of nostalgia, like looking back on something cherished yet irretrievable.
Sophomore and fan Oshin Oza said “ It also deals with feelings of grieving a loved one who harmed you and learning to let go while still holding feelings of confusion about them which I think isn’t referred to a lot in music as Ariana does a really great job in discerning the gray space in relationships and how you view them instead of keeping things black or white”.
The last major song I’ll talk about is “Hampstead” which refers to the town she lived in in London while filming Wicked and offers insight into her recent divorce and scrutiny by the public. The delicate piano melody of this song and the emotional depth of her lyrics. Reflecting on her past year, she admits, “I don’t remember too much of the last year, but I knew who I was when I got here.” This line conveys a sense of disorientation amid rapid changes but also a recognition of personal growth and self-awareness gained through these experiences.
“ My favorite songs are Hampstead and Warm because Hampstead is this super emotional piece as Ari is almost “coming clean” about all the backlash she received from the public after allegations that she didn’t have the power to deny even though they weren’t true…” said Oza, referring to the legal constraints of her divorce. “Meanwhile, warm is about how she is fine on her own and can well do with what she has, not needing anyone and yet chooses to be with someone she finds herself comfortable and happy with…”.
Though all her 6 tracks are more than what fans could have asked for, the most notable release with this album is her 26-minute short film named “Brighter Days Ahead” . This film explores themes of memories, identity, and growth, referencing again her music video “we can’t be friends” . Grande portrays an elderly version of herself named Peaches who has an appointment to a facility called Brighter Days Inc, where she revisits her memories that were previously erased. Throughout the film, viewers encounter references to other sci-fi classics, including nods to “X-Men” and “Minority Report,” particularly in scenes depicting advanced memory storage and retrieval technologies.
It wouldn’t be an Ariana Grande production without the mention of her Nona, Majorie Grande, someone who she dedicates much of her success and loves very much. Her first memory that she revisits is of real-life home videos of her and her grandma, providing a touching background to her film.
The narrative culminates with Peaches experiencing a surreal journey involving extraterrestrial abduction and revival, symbolizing themes of rebirth and new beginnings. Most notably, she ends with a reference to Frankenstein with “Hampstead” playing in the background, where her dad brings her back to life with music. In that scene, we see possibly a new era of Grande, coming out of her situation with a fresh perspective and understanding.
Fans speculate the ending lyric of the song “Rather be swimming with you than drowning in a crowded room”, is a homage to Mac Miller, connecting to his song “Swimming” with similar lyrics. The rawness of this ending and her vocals, while her real dad plays the piano in the pub setting, was truly one of my favorite and most emotional parts of the entire film. Overall, “Brighter Days Ahead” is an immensely complex but incredibly throughout and meaningful addition to her album.
Oza emphasizes that “Something about Ariana is that she just always seems to release songs that resonate with you at the perfect time, and she doesn’t choose to fixate on one specific emotion throughout the album…”. Every song Ariana releases is a glimpse into her world – one shaped by her pain, her resilience, and her hope for brighter days ahead.
