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On her seventh album, Ariana Grande captures the heartbreak of the 2004 Jim Carrey film Eternal Sunshine and intertwines it with stories and memories from her tumultuous past few years. Divorce, a new relationship, a re-coming of age after the Saturn return of her late 20s — all are up for dissection and analysis as Grande concisely captures growth, love, and turmoil against an R&B and pop landscape. Eternal Sunshine features some of her best, most honest, work yet.
To unpack the album, Teen Vogue editors Kaitlyn McNab, Aiyana Ishmael, P. Claire Dodson, and Honestine Fraser parked in a group chat and listened through Eternal Sunshine's 13 tracks together. The resulting discussion explores Grande's past and future, going song by song through her new album and reflecting on what makes her one of the most thrilling pop musicians today.
Claire Dodson: ok everyone favorite ari album era go
Kaitlyn McNab: Dangerous Woman takes the cake for me
Claire: i'm a sweetener gal
Kaitlyn: Not my favorite Ari album, my favorite Ari album era re: DW
Honestine Fraser: i love thank u next lmao
Kaitlyn: the first time i listened to thank u next i was in my dorm room and i cried
Honestine: you were so real for that
Kaitlyn: that second verse is everything!!!
Honestine: i was in my friend's car and we were driving on the freeway listening to it lol
Honestine: ITS SO GOOD
Honestine: i always get teary-eyed when she performs it
Claire: i had just started at teen vogue when thank u next came out and i sat on my bed and watched the music video right when it came out and diligently took notes of every single reference
Honestine: this music video was my super bowl
Aiyana Ishmael: I’M LATE HOLD YOUR HORSES
Aiyana: I have to stand by Yours Truly
Aiyana: Honeymoon Avenue is the most perfect song to exist like I’m dancing and crying at the same time
Kaitlyn: “it’s the Rascals!”
Claire: and now we're at AG7, Eternal Sunshine
Aiyana: i'm intrigued to know what this album is going to be
Kaitlyn: Republic co-president said there’s “house music and a little R&B,” “Sweetener meets Thank U Next” so VERY intrigued indeed
Claire: where’s that from
Kaitlyn: The IG video she posted of her previewing it in the studio and crying!
Honestine: omg ari in her house era?! i love it
Claire: ok the album is OUT… let's get into it, press play, etc
Aiyana: intro (end of the world) was a very dreamy way to start the album i am vibing with it
Claire: "how can I tell if I'm in the right relationship" great opening line
Honestine: The intro is definitely giving sweetener vibes. I really love how dreamy it sounds it kinda remind me of her pete davidson song lol
Kaitlyn: also heard some of those OG Yours Truly Motown melodies
Kaitlyn: bye… the TRIUMPHANT DISCO ANTHEM WE NEEDED
Claire: so true
Aiyana: I will speak my truth on this eventually
Kaitlyn: it’s giving Irreplaceable, Take a Bow
Aiyana: This one not making my top 3, maybe top 6
Kaitlyn: this song made me ask whether Eternal Sunshine is Ariana’s Lemonade
Kaitlyn: @Aiyana you are absolutely bugging
Aiyana: Listen sometimes things have to grow on me
Aiyana: WE'RE ON ONE OF MY FAVES
Aiyana: don't wanna break up again is my sh*t
Aiyana: The Weeknd needs to be on the remix of this one like I need it
Kaitlyn: this was about the second or third song on the album I could’ve seen a Weeknd feature on for sure
Kaitlyn: it seems she took a lot of inspiration from Dawn F.M. in a good way, honestly
Aiyana: They make magic together and I can hear him on a few songs
Kaitlyn: Dawn F.M. and Eternal Sunshine, two Jim Carrey-related concept albums
Kaitlyn: but back to the song… I wholeheartedly believe we need more situationship representation from women in music
Claire: she's "self soothing," the therapy language
Kaitlyn: so I feel vindicated by this song, very seen (unfortunately)
Aiyana: me pulling up the lyrics for each cause I have terrible lyric recognition with music
Kaitlyn: the desire to be loved, to love, and being self-aware to a toxic threshold………. phew
Kaitlyn: this song gives me spiraling energy
Aiyana: i love this song its such a whimsical way to say it's not you its me <33
Kaitlyn: i was asking by the end what it is that she actually does want, then, and if she even knows
Claire: yeah this one is brutal
Claire: more songs about not knowing the answer!
Aiyana: Saturns return interlude is for the delusional water signs, she gets me so bad
Honestine: are all celebs going through their Saturn return this year? lol Kacey musgraves referenced it in deeper well and Ari has the Saturn return interlude
Kaitlyn: she’s a true Cancerian
Aiyana: Oh this my #1 right now.
Kaitlyn: gorgeous, gorgeous buttery production
Kaitlyn: nearing the midpoint of the album it’s clear but not overemphasized, which is key, that the theme to this album really is “IDC”
Kaitlyn: “I’m getting my lick back”
Kaitlyn: “Idgaf”
Aiyana: Feels like I'm drinking wine after a fresh tan from being at the beach all day now dancing the night away with my girls
Claire: I feel like ari has this way of making serious things seems less serious, like f*ck it, we're just out here wandering around
Aiyana: non-alcoholic wine teens
Kaitlyn: @claire i think part of that is her ability to let go, or her learning how to
Claire: the bridge/outro, obsessed
Aiyana: she's so easily able to be introspective and say alright we move on
Kaitlyn: throughout her entire discography we’ve been listening to her learn how to let go and fail and succeed
Claire: yeah the mythology of ariana grande is so deep, she's been through so much, the music has always existed as a counterpoint to all of that
Kaitlyn: and a road map, too
Aiyana: guys i will be right back my movers came early bruh
Claire: have you ever cried to an ariana song kaitlyn
Kaitlyn: oh dozens of times LMAOOOOOOOO
Kaitlyn: i wouldn’t be a Cancer moon if not tbh
Claire: I don't think I have! but eternal sunshine might get me
Kaitlyn: lmao alright so you know how when Justin Bieber dropped “Yummy” no one was particularly excited about listening to a song about Hailey’s coochie?
Kaitlyn: that’s me with Supernatural
Claire: hahahahah
Aiyana: I cannot lie I like the vibe of this beat
Aiyana: I'm dancing all slinky in my apartment
Claire: great slink song
Kaitlyn: yeah it’s giving body rolls!!!!!
Claire: every breakup/new relationship album needs a slink song!
Aiyana: true story is so drama mama i was eating up the drama in the opening of this song
Claire: this feels so 90s in a great way
Aiyana: Claire [resident Swiftie] I almost thought its giving reputation vibes (Ari's version)
Claire: HA i literally was thinking that
Kaitlyn: the synths in this song remind me of Ginuwine’s “Pony”
Kaitlyn: and 90's Janet in a way, I agree Claire
Kaitlyn: love that this song could be lyrically addressed to her ex or to the media
Aiyana: I also love that on this diss track r&b song she said let me also remind you I put the high A in SANG
Aiyana: the ending vocals go crazy
Kaitlyn: SPEAKING OF THE LETTER A
Kaitlyn: THE A IN ARIANA STANDS FOR AUDACITY
Kaitlyn: THE BOY IS MINE IS TOP 3 FOR ME
Kaitlyn: Eternal Sunshine is an R&B album idc
Claire: that little slow down before the chorus
Claire: max martin is having a lot of fun here
Kaitlyn: this is her “girl, f*ck you” song
Aiyana: I must speak my truth, Ari if you're seeing this why are all these bops only 2 minutes and 30 seconds long sister I need them to be longer
Kaitlyn: i want to know what Brandy thinks
Claire: i'm vibing so hard in my room
Claire: ari's underrated songwriting trait is her cheekiness
Aiyana: She made this for the aRi&B die-hards
Kaitlyn: (for the Mocha Grandes)
Claire: Now we've gotten to sit with yes and longer… does hearing it in album context change the way you feel about it
Aiyana: Honestly, now hearing the album it makes sense why this was the leading single
Aiyana: It's the most commercial in my opinion
Claire: i like it more in context, brings the mood back up after the eternal sunshine sadness
Kaitlyn: literally took the words out my mouth both of you! within the context of the album, I love this song soooooo much more ESPECIALLY right after “The Boy Is Mine”
Claire: totally
Kaitlyn: bc it was cute but i wasn’t a huge fan of this single
Claire: takes that moment of realization and confidence and expands it out to, now her whole worldview has changed
Kaitlyn: but now, i get it and i respect it
Aiyana: It actually makes me want to dance even more to it
Kaitlyn: and it’s a call to action
Kaitlyn: you know what else, her leaning on her own shoulder on the album cover is so much more poignant once listening to the whole thing. very second verse “Thank U, Next” spiritual sister
Claire: oo good note
Claire: okay robyn!!
Claire: someone make the dancing on my own //we can't be friends mashup
Kaitlyn: hahahahaha it would take over TikTok
Kaitlyn: there’s so many lyrics on this album about stories and rewriting
Kaitlyn: addressing the media is so so so bold here
Aiyana: we can't be friends got me too emotional
Claire: "wait until you like me again"
Aiyana: a little too close to home
Claire: Last three songs…
Aiyana: are you ready for me to be crying
Aiyana: Opening beat of “i wish i hated you” sounds like a dream, I love it
Claire: rearranging and rewriting again! per your comments kaitlyn
Kaitlyn: divorce sucks bro
Aiyana: this feels like she's reading from my diary in 2021
Aiyana: Like so beautiful and vulnerable, taking ownership for her faults. Very mature and there's so much growth by this point of the album
Kaitlyn: sonically, to me, this feels like a companion to “POV” from Positions
Kaitlyn: a heartbreaking answer to it
Kaitlyn: a before and after
Kaitlyn: love that there’s dissonance in “imperfect for you” to match the “imperfection” theme
Claire: the twisty chiming on the chorus
Aiyana: It's slightly eerie, which I love.
Aiyana: Almost like it's a consistent alarm going off
Honestine: The way her voice cracks at the end
Kaitlyn: this is a gorgeous closer
Kaitlyn: like no notes 10/10
Aiyana: WITH NONNA
Aiyana: I love how the only feature is her grandma
Kaitlyn: puts the positivity of eternal in eternal sunshine
Kaitlyn: bc eternal sunshine is not always good. so i love the way she pivots between that in these 36 minutes
Aiyana: For me, this is a stellar album and highlights such a pivotal time in her life and career
Claire: she has always done so much in such concise amounts of time
Kaitlyn: this song is just so sweet like ugh
Kaitlyn: “It was like God Almighty arrived… it was like seeing daylight.” NONNNNAAAAA
Kaitlyn: RIP to her grandpa man
Aiyana: Such stellar advice
Aiyana: Let me go call my grandma, omg
Aiyana: Ugh I know Ari, loves having that sound bite
Kaitlyn: this album is the rebuttal to all these other 24 track albums
Claire: more is not better!!
Kaitlyn: i love this album. its replay value is off the charts
Honestine: idk, this might be a top album for me. This is definitely her metamorphosis era, it sounds more mature and you can feel her growth throughout it. It feels very raw, vulnerable, and healing all at once 🩵 they could never make me hate her!
Kaitlyn: it really might end up being top 5 for me
Kaitlyn: this is 100% a rebirth album
Kaitlyn: i wish i could emphasize Honestine’s message like three times
Honestine: I love that she takes us through all the stages and feelings of a breakup. Sadness, realization, yearning, heartbreak, empowerment, etc. she immerses us into her story and it just feels so relatable for anyone that’s ever gone through it
Kaitlyn: because like…we’ve all been there lol
Kaitlyn: from an identity perspective, this truly feels to me like her Control, her Lemonade, a definitive answer from her
Claire: i like ariana as a lovably unreliable narrator, she embraces that here — she's full of contradictions, she's trying to rewrite memories where she can and simultaneously own her shit and also do what she wants, even when that inevitably will leave some damage
Kaitlyn: and an answer to those who think she can’t take accountability for her actions
Aiyana: I love her openness even in her faults. It reminds us that she's also human.
Kaitlyn: and you know what, i just want to say that you can’t take a man that don’t want to be taken
Aiyana: Clock it!
Claire: going back to the forthcoming Kacey album, and "deeper well"... definitely connective tissue here, like she has that line "No regrets, baby, I just think that maybe it's natural when things lose their shine so other things can glow"
Aiyana: Let me go pop open Miss Kacey's album then
Kaitlyn: “it’s natural” stands out to me loudly. definitely feel that here in ES
Claire: right, so much of life is not heroes/villains it's just people following desires and seeing how things go and trying to repair when you can
Claire: this definitely feels like the most purposeful ariana album
Kaitlyn: and not excusing the damage left in your path of self discovery
Claire: agreed, owning it on some level
Honestine: this is probably one of the best breakup albums I’ve ever listened to.
Aiyana: Wait she just dropped we can't be friends music video omfg
Claire: oh let's watch that
Aiyana: EVAN???
Aiyana: A LOBOTOMY
Claire: My roommate has that identical jacket
Kaitlyn: Aiyana have you seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?
Claire: oh is she doing eternal sunshine literally lol
Aiyana: babes
Aiyana: you know i haven't
Kaitlyn: that’s the main inspiration for this album so you should eventually hahaha
Aiyana: it came out in 2004 i'm sorry
Claire: I love this song
Aiyana: listening to it again it feels so 2014 in the best way too
Kaitlyn: how do we interpret the papers and pens line if this is also a dual-addressed song to the media and her ex
Aiyana: gonna read this movie synopsis directly after
Kaitlyn: OMG IT IS EVAN
Claire: She loves a literal movie interpretation. The snow angels
Kaitlyn: aiyana you don’t even have to read the synopsis, this is literally the movie
Claire: He looks hot suddenly
Kaitlyn: Wow Claire don’t do that
Aiyana: Evan has always been hot whaaat
Aiyana: Have you not seen the critically acclaimed movie Sleepover
Claire: Of course I have
Claire: And he is NOT HOT IN SLEEPOVER
Aiyana: HE IS
Honestine: LOL SLEEPOVER is an underrated classic but i respectfully disagree aiyana
Aiyana: y'all can't see the vision and that's okay
Kaitlyn: this is also a reminder that Ariana is an ACTRESS
Aiyana: She puts the A in SANG and ACTRESS
Claire: I’m sad now at this ending
Kaitlyn: yeah wow this sucks what the f*ck
Kaitlyn: walking past each other just punched me in my chest
Aiyana: PLS DONT FORGET EACH OTHER NOOOAURRR
Kaitlyn: i’m so glad i blocked him
Aiyana: ^Jail
Claire: agreeeeed
Aiyana: What would you guys do
Aiyana: I hope to keep the pain as a memory always
Kaitlyn: without the memories we wouldn’t have this album
Kaitlyn: so i’m keeping them tf
Kaitlyn: that’s ripe material
Kaitlyn: i will collect my Grammy as reparations
Honestine: okay i finished watching the video...yeah this is exactly eternal sunshine.
evan peters being in this feels so random but also not...he kinda looks like pete davidson and dalton at the same time
Aiyana: What if they remake the movie fr fr now
Aiyana: I will watch the 2024 version instead <33
Kaitlyn: i don’t think they would ever tbh
Honestine: agreed kaitlyn, also i hope they dont remake it that movie is so perfect lol
Kaitlyn: i mean i’m not a rider but it is regarded as one of the best movies of all time lol
Honestine: i also loved the 16 candles reference in the video too
Aiyana: Can I speak my truth
Aiyana: I have never seen Molly Ringwald's 16 candles
Kaitlyn: Sigh.
Aiyana: I have seen Debby Ryan's 16 wishes tho
Kaitlyn: i wish i could leave this chat
