By Jane Wilde

On Mar. 28,  Ariana Grande released the deluxe version of her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, titled Brighter Days Ahead. Just hours before the release of her deluxe album, Grande came out with a short film also titled Brighter Days Ahead. The 26-minute movie features cuts from her album, including Twilight Zone and Intro (End of the World). The short centers around loss, growth, and, most prominently, the bittersweet nature of memories. Grande’s deluxe album encompasses memories and the past as its main themes. 

Track 15, Twilight Zone, is named after the television series written and directed by Rod Sterling and provides many allusions to the series, specifically in the first verse when she sings, “Is this a black and white scene? If so then I’m in the gray one,” referring to the television show’s black and white coloring. The first verse also includes a direct reference to the show through the line, “Did I dream the whole thing, was that just a nightmare? Different dimensions?” Additionally, the bridge says, “Sometimes I just can’t believe you happened.” Through her intentional storytelling, the song explores the role of disbelief and denial in heartbreak, and the ways in which she navigated the end of her relationship with her former husband, Dalton Gomez.

Hampstead, a personal favorite track of mine, starts with the line, “I left my heart at a pub in Hampstead,” the city in north London where she resided while filming Wicked. The song follows calming piano melodies and a faint accompaniment of violins. She ends the chorus with the lyrics, “I’d rather be seen and alive than dying from your point of view.” She follows that melody at the end with the line, “I’d rather be swimming with you than drowning in a crowded room.” These lyrics represent a beautiful transition in her healing journey.

Track 17, Dandelion, commences with a loud trombone sound that transitions into a fast-paced beat that really sets the tone for the song. Grande reverts to her more R&B style, with fans deeming this as her “trapiana” persona emerging. In the past, Grande was ridiculed for failing to annunciate her lyrics; however, after the soprano opera training she went through for Wicked, she no longer mumbles or drags her words, which provides a newfound opening to appreciate her lyricism. However, the one aspect this song lacks is metaphoric and complex lyricism. It’s similar to her old albums like Dangerous Woman, with mainly surface-level verses.This song is rumored to be about Grande’s Wicked co-star, Ethan Slater, as his ex-wife is named Lili, another type of flower.  

While the 16th track, Warm, includes well-written lyrics, it lacks a catchy melody and sounds generic and relatively similar to the rest of her discography. Intro (End of the World), a track on Eternal Sunshine, is included in an extended form. 

A particular aspect of the deluxe album to appreciate is Grande’s evolution in songwriting. While the singer is infamous for her stellar vocals, her songwriting is just as impressive. She effectively tells a story in each track that conveys the overall message while still making the lyrics ambiguous enough to be poetic. The songs are almost ethereal with many angelic harmonies. This album symbolizes Grande’s transition from pop princess to a more mature, healed version of herself. While there are some areas in need of improvement, overall, this album is definitely worth holding space for in 2025. 

(Source: Variety)