Ariana Grande’s true self is lost in love
Ariana Grande dropped her seventh studio album, “Eternal Sunshine,” last week, delving into the depths of her recent divorce and the tumultuous start of a new relationship.
However, despite the weighty subject matter, the lyrics lack substance, the music fails to capture the gravity of the situation, and the most captivating aspect of the album is the drama surrounding its release.
In September 2023, Ariana Grande and her husband, Dalton Gomez, filed for divorce. However, according to a Billboard timeline, they had been “separated” since January of that year. During that summer, People magazine reported that Grande was dating Ethan Slater, a film and Broadway actor whom she met on the set of the new “Wicked” movie.
In the same year, Slater reportedly ended his over 10-year-long relationship with his wife, Lilly Jay, who had recently given birth to their first child. In an interview with Page Six, Jay criticized Grande, claiming she was blindsided by the split.
“[She’s] not a girl’s girl,” Jay said of Grande. “My family is just collateral damage.”
While both Slater and Grande deny cheating on their spouses, the internet largely sided with Jay. Many self-proclaimed “Arianators” expressed disappointment on social media, while others hoped the drama would lower tour prices.
In response, Grande released the ninth track of her “Eternal Sunshine” album, “Yes, And?” as a single. The song’s premise is to stand by one’s actions and not care about others’ opinions. Here’s a sample of the lyrics:
“And I’m so done with caring
What you think, no, I won’t hide
Underneath your own projection
Or change my most authentic life.”
It becomes evident that the song is a response to the Ethan Slater situation with these lines:
“Your business is yours and mine is mine
Why do you care so much whose[[d-ck]I ride? Why?”
While the details of the divorce remain a mystery, Lilly Jay “cares” because she believes it shattered her family. Slater and Jay’s child will forever be affected by his father leaving his mother for a pop star. Those who had built their lives around Slater as a husband, father, or close friend now have to adjust to the aftermath of a broken family.
Meanwhile, the rest of the internet “cares” to varying degrees because relationships are the fabric of society. The belief that everyone is entitled to their own truth, isolated in their own universe, leads to lonely and hurt individuals. Labeling this selfish mindset as an empowering pursuit of an ”authentic life,” free from external “projections,” is morally and ideologically wrong.
This is yet another example of mainstream music promoting a shallow and superficial version of ”love” that fails to encompass its true essence. C.S. Lewis described “Christian love” as an act of the will.
“Love in the Christian sense does not mean an emotion,” Lewis said. “It is a state not of feelings but of the will; that state of the will which we naturally have about ourselves and must learn to have about other people.”
If mass media and celebrity culture continue to endorse a view of love that causes upheaval and division instead of unity and commitment, we will lose the power of love’s true essence: duty and devotion.
The inspiration for Grande’s album title comes from the 2004 movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” which was named after a poem by Alexander Pope about the famously star-crossed lovers Abelard and Eloisa. The film follows a couple who choose to erase specific memories of each other, believing it will be less painful to forget completely than to confront the shattered fragments of their failed relationship. Spoiler alert: They discover that forgetting is actually more terrifying than remembering.
Ironically, the lead-up to, the reactions to, and the songs on Grande’s new album all indicate her selective memory loss, allowing her to portray herself as a victim while potentially contributing to the destruction of others. I won’t dissect the rest of the album’s titles and lyrics because it’s unclear what is genuine and what is Grande playing the expected roles of an entitled diva. Fortunately, it doesn’t matter. The album consists of 13 tracks, lasts 35 minutes, and I can’t recall a single line of lyrics that stands on its own merit.
For those who listened and truly felt the weight of a painful divorce and a scrutinized new relationship in Grande’s songs, have you ever read a poem, a book, or listened to the lyrics of a timeless breakup anthem? Some art exposes vulnerability, depth, and heartache. This album falls short in that regard.
For those who enjoy the album because it’s “fun” or catchy, I understand. However, “Eternal Sunshine” introduces significant themes only to dismiss them with a shallow and immature response that is hard to ignore, even when presented as feel-good pop music. Love is not merely an internal emotion; it is an external and sacrificial bond that weaves people together, forming the foundation of our lives. Unless we grasp this concept, we will dwell in the eternal darkness of thoughtless minds.
You can listen to the album, but there isn’t much worth remembering or forgetting in the first place.
rnrn
What does Grande’s response to the situation through her song “Yes, And?” reveal about the lack of depth in her approach to addressing the consequences of her choices
Their memories of each other after a painful breakup, only to realize that their love was worth the struggle and pain.
By associating her album with such a profound and timeless love story, Grande attempts to elevate her own personal experiences into something more meaningful and significant. However, the lack of depth and substance in the lyrics and music undermines this intention.
The drama surrounding the album’s release, such as Grande’s divorce and the controversy surrounding her relationship with Slater, takes center stage instead. This focus on external events and gossip detracts from the emotional journey that Grande supposedly embarked on when creating the album.
Moreover, the response to the drama on social media highlights the fleeting and superficial nature of our modern society. People may express disappointment or hope for lower tour prices, but very few seem to truly care about the impact of these events on individuals and families.
Grande’s response to the situation through her song “Yes, And?” further demonstrates the lack of depth in her approach. While she encourages listeners to stand by their actions and not care about others’ opinions, she fails to acknowledge the consequences of her choices on those around her.
Love, as portrayed in mainstream music, is often reduced to a selfish pursuit of personal authenticity, free from any external influences or responsibilities. This individualistic view of love undermines the true essence of love as an act of the will, as described by C.S. Lewis.
If we continue to endorse this shallow and self-centered version of love, we risk losing sight of its true power and meaning. Love should be about unity, commitment, and selflessness, not about fueling drama or pursuing personal desires without considering the impact on others.
In conclusion, “Eternal Sunshine” may be Ariana Grande’s seventh studio album, but it falls short in capturing the depth and substance that one would expect from an artist delving into personal experiences such as divorce and new relationships. The focus on external drama and the lack of introspection undermine the album’s potential impact. It is a reminder of the superficiality of mainstream music and the need to reassess our understanding and portrayal of love in popular culture.
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