Ariana Grande grows and glitters on 'eternal sunshine': Hear it now

After waiting three-and-a-half years for Ariana Grande to drop a new album, eternal sunshine is finally here.

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While Ariana didn’t share much about the project before its drop, it’s no surprise that AG7 spends its 35 minutes and 32 seconds run time navigating the complexities of her divorce, and the backlash that came from the relationship that followed.

The singer beings her seventh album with an intro that asks the question, “How can I tell if I’m in the right relationship?,” which she spends the next 12 songs trying to answer, for a total tracklist of 13.

Less concerned with wanting to walk down the aisle just the once, a-la “thank u, next”, throughout eternal sunshine Ariana seems more concerned about living her truth, focusing on her mental health, and having you mind your business. Filled with romantic bops and pop ballads, eternal sunshine is Grande’s gorgeously honest, but still artistically vague, journey of divorce and its various stages of grief.

As we mentioned, the album starts with, “intro (end of the world),” which gets straight to the point, posing the album’s central question. On “bye,” Ari seems to have come to terms, and is ready to let go. So ready her friend Courtney is waiting in the driveway for her hop in the car with her stuff. She switches gears to uncertainty though on “don’t wanna break up again,” as Ariana paints a portrait of a partner she knows she needs to leave, but doesn’t want to give up on just yet.

Then with the synthy bop and title track, “eternal sunshine,” Ari has let the uncertainty fade once more, and isn’t entirely concerned about what people have to say about it. Knowing certain things couldn’t be changed, Ariana sings “get me out of this loop,” and about wanting to “wipe my mind” like the 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind , which the album and song are inspired by.

Grande continues to beautifully spiral on the R&B-infused Pop track, playing out “separate scenes,” singing, “I’ll be the first to say I’m sorry / Now you got me feeling sorry / I showed you all my demons all my lies / Yet you played me like Atari / Now it's like I'm lookin' in the mirror / Hope you feel alright when you're in her / I found a good boy and he's on my side / You’re just my eternal sunshine, sunshine,” on the chorus.

“Saturn Returns Interlude” features a sample of obscure astrologer Diana Garland’ s YouTube video on why 29 is an important age. “Saturn comes along and hits you over the head and says ‘Wake up! It’s time for you to get real about life and sort out who really are,’” Garland expresses.

Taking this advice to heart from “eternal sunshine” on, Ariana musically moves between moments of resilience, acceptance, and hope, sprinkled in with her “and what about it?” swag.

Just as she does on the album’s lead single “yes, and?” and on “true story” which acknowledges her recent public perception but doesn’t offer much more, Grande offers to “play the villain” or “the bad girl if you need me to,” over a beat that gives Timbaland vibes.

On “the boy is mine,” while it sounds nothing like it, the track of Grande’s evokes the same feelings of he’s mine, I’m happy, get over it, as the 1998 Brandy and Monica duet of the same name.

Nearing the end of the album with, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love),” “i wish i hated you,” “imperfect for you,” “ordinary things,” Ariana remains vulnerable and reflective, while continuing to vocally shine and deliver slow-paced etherial Pop anthems and dance tracks.

The album’s final track “ordinary things” pretty much sums everything all up, with some sage advice from her Nonna . Making a complex notion quite simple — try your hardest, and if its no longer right, well as her Nonna astutely points out, “if you don’t feel comfortable” kissing them goodnight, even after a big fight then “you’re in the wrong place… get out.”

Listen to the entire incredible album below.