Brighter days ahead: Is this goodbye?

Vanessa Norris
Apr 3
4 min read

An analysis of Ariana Grande's "Eternal Sunshine Deluxe"

By: Vanessa Norris

On March 28th, Ariana Grande released the deluxe version of “eternal sunshine,” more than a year after the album’s initial debut. The much-anticipated release was accompanied by a 26-minute short film titled “brighter days ahead.”

While “eternal sunshine” captured the raw heartache following her divorce with Dalton Gomez, “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead” reveals Grande’s perspective from a place of healing. With six new tracks, she showcases her mastery of lyricism, vocals and music production.

In the deluxe album, Grande reminisces about her failed marriage from a distance, having now healed her wounds and discovered happiness beyond the relationship. She officially confirms that she has moved on from her ex-husband and is focusing on future pursuits, whether romantic, personal or career-oriented.

Among the new tracks is an extended version of “intro (end of the world),” where Grande delves deeper into the aftermath of her separation from Gomez, describing how she rebuilt her life without him through the lyrics “I do need you (I did), I wish I could un-need you (so I did)”.

In “twilight zone,” she grapples with lingering questions about the relationship’s collapse (“Were we just mistaken?... Why do I still protect you?”), even though she no longer misses him or harbors any regret.

Taking an upbeat turn, Grande references new romantic pursuits in “warm,” “dandelion,” and “past life,” alluding to her relationship with “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater. With a whimsical, coming-of-age tone, “warm” affirms that while she is completely content and happy on her own, she’s still open to romance.

“dandelion” revisits Grande’s more provocative pop-star days, reminding fans that she’s still the same artist who gave us “34+35” and “Side To Side.” With lyrics like “I got what you need, I’m thinking you should plant this seed,” “dandelion” is arguably the freakiest track on the album.

In “past life,” Grande concludes that her ex never truly knew her, and she’s happily leaving him in the past. She refers to his toxicity with lyrics, “I used to think you were the medicine, but you were just code blue”.

The deluxe album closes with “Hampstead,” a standout track showcasing Grande’s vocal and songwriting prowess. The song is raw, melancholic and heartbreaking, flawlessly ending the “eternal sunshine” era with the same words that started it all: “I do”.

At first listen, it’s easy to assume the song centers on her divorce, much like other tracks on the album. However, it’s possible that Grande isn’t addressing her ex-husband but rather her audience.

The fallout from her marriage made her the target of public scrutiny, straining her relationship with fans and shifting her focus away from pop stardom. The overflow of hasty judgments regarding her character and talent would explain the lyrics, “I would rather be seen and alive than dying by your point of view”.

During the “Wicked” press tour, Grande has hinted at a shift toward acting, suggesting she may step away from music for the foreseeable future. If “Hampstead” truly carries this double meaning, it could serve as a temporary farewell to this chapter of her career.

The release of “eternal sunshine deluxe” was complemented by “brighter days ahead,” a short film co-directed by Grande and Christian Breslauer. In it, Grande reprises her role as an elderly version of Peaches, a character first introduced in the “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” music video. The film follows Peaches as she revisits four core memories, each representing her childhood, career, relationships, and healing.

Most notably, Peaches’ third memory unfolds to “twilight zone,” where Grande awakens in a home reduced to ruins, symbolizing her broken marriage. As the house collapses, she escapes to find the world in shambles, possibly representing the influx of hate she received following her divorce and controversial relationship with Ethan Slater.

As if the film didn’t already pack an emotional punch, the fourth memory delivers a tear-jerking moment of reconciliation between Grande and her father, Ed Butera. Set to “Hampstead,” Butera portrays a defeated doctor desperately trying to piece his daughter back together Frankenstein-style.

The scene represents the estrangement between Grande and her father, and how the fallout of her divorce allowed them to rebuild their relationship, ultimately helping her heal.

The short film concludes with a clip of young Ariana Grande lovingly saying, “Ya know, someone has said that we should live each day as if it were the last day of our life,” encapsulating the essence of “eternal sunshine” and officially closing this era.

Through this album, Grande offers listeners a rare glimpse into her heart, sharing her journey through heartache, self-discovery and healing. She expresses pure artistry through the album and “brighter days ahead,” fully allowing her talent to flourish.

While the release of the deluxe version is sure to satisfy eager fans, it’s evident that her next chapter will take her in a different direction. There’s no way to tell if or when Grande will return to making albums and touring, but there will surely be a pause before that happens.

For now, Grande will continue pursuing acting, with the second installment of Wicked set for release later this year and several roles potentially on the horizon.

Vanessa Norris is a first-year journalism student at the University of Florida. She is an online writer for Rowdy Magazine and loves all things books, movies, television and pop culture. Her favorite songs off of “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead” are “twilight zone” and “Hampstead.”