Eternal Sunshine (album)
2024 studio album by Ariana Grande
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Eternal Sunshine (stylized in all lowercase) is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande. It was released on March 8, 2024, by Republic Records. Written and produced by Grande, Max Martin, Ilya Salmanzadeh, and Oscar Görres amongst others, Eternal Sunshine is a pop and R&B record with dance, synth-pop and house influences, characterized by mid-tempo synthesizers, subtle guitar and string elements.
- Jungle City (New York City)
- MXM (Stockholm)
- Studio 112 (Jonstorp)
- Decoy (Suffolk)
- House Mouse (Stockholm)
| Eternal Sunshine | ||||
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| Released | March 8, 2024 | |||
| Recorded | September–December 2023[1][2] | |||
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| Length | 35:26 | |||
| Label | Republic | |||
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| Ariana Grande chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Eternal Sunshine | ||||
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Grande derived the album's title from the 2004 American film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. She conceived the album as a record of both vulnerability and entertainment, inspired by her personal life experiences. Upon release, the album received acclaim from critics for its restrained vocals and music and the emotional vulnerability of the subject matter, while some critiqued the songwriting as unrefined. Eternal Sunshine and its singles were nominated for three Grammy Awards, including for Best Pop Vocal Album.
In the United States, the album opened at number one on the Billboard 200, marking her sixth number-one on the chart, while charting all of its tracks on the Billboard Hot 100. Three singles were released from the album; the first two, "Yes, And?" and "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)", debuted atop the Hot 100, making Grande the woman with the most number-one debuts and the first woman with two albums to produce multiple number-one debuts in the US. Eternal Sunshine topped the charts across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas. On Spotify, the album was the fifth most-streamed album of 2024 globally. Grande promoted and discussed the album on programs hosted by Zach Sang, Zane Lowe, Penn Badgley, and Sean Evans, and was the musical guest of Saturday Night Live on March 9, 2024. She performed music from the album at the 2024 Met Gala and on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and is set to embark on a namesake concert tour between June and September 2026.
The standard edition of Eternal Sunshine does not contain guest musical acts, but features spoken words from Grande's maternal grandmother Marjorie Grande on "Ordinary Things" and astrologer Diana Garland on "Saturn Returns Interlude". Two extended editions of the album, including remixes and live versions of several tracks from the standard album, were released on March 10 and October 1, 2024. The additional tracks feature Australian singer Troye Sivan and American singers Mariah Carey, Brandy, and Monica. A deluxe edition, Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead, was released on March 28, 2025, supported by a short film with the same subtitle.
Background
On May 12, 2022, 19 months after the release of her sixth studio album, Positions (2020), Ariana Grande clarified that she would not be recording another album until she is done filming Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025), the two-part film adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name, in which she portrays the character Glinda.[3] In October 2023, she first jokingly hinted at a forthcoming album by posting "ag7: goat mother" as an Instagram caption.[4] A set of pictures included a photo of her with Swedish producer and long-time collaborator Max Martin at Jungle City Studios in New York City.[5]
On December 7 and December 17, 2023, Grande shared a series of pictures and video clips working in recording studios and her editing audio files.[6] As opposed to previous eras, she specifically stated that there would be no song snippets for the upcoming record.[7] On December 27, 2023, the singer confirmed a 2024 album release via her social media.[8] She posted a carousel of videos on her Instagram that show her crying in a recording studio and her mother Joan dancing to a new song of hers, amongst others.[9] She captioned the post "See you next year" and tagged several accounts, including Swedish musician Ilya Salmanzadeh, music video director Christian Breslauer, and Republic Records.[10][11] She referred to the picture of her crying and another one which depicts her dancing as the "two moods of the album".[11] Packages with R.E.M. Beauty's On Your Collar lipstick in the shade "Attention" including a defocused close-up shot of Grande's red lips and the caption of an Instagram post she would make a few days after delivery, were sent to fans.[12][10] On January 17, 2024, Grande announced the album, its title Eternal Sunshine, and release date via her social media.[13]
Conception
Grande described Eternal Sunshine as "kind of a concept album" comprising "different heightened pieces of the same story, of the same experience".[14] She explained that the record spans from "really vulnerable" songs to playful tracks which see her emulating "what people kind of expect me to be sometimes and having fun with it".[14] Wendy Goldstein, co-president of Republic Records, described the record as an "elevated version" of Grande's previous albums, calling it an embodiment of "Sweetener meets [...] Thank U, Next".[15][16]
The title of the album alludes to the 2004 Michel Gondry film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Recording and production
In a video shared to her social media of her previewing some songs of the album to Republic Records personnel, Grande revealed that after the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike forced the filming of Wicked and Wicked: For Good to be paused temporarily, she "came [to the studio]" and begun work on the record that September.[1] She further revealed that she worked with Max Martin for a few weeks, and handled production on her own as well.[1] "Proper" vocal recordings and orchestrations were arranged in November.[2] Work on the album concluded in late December 2023.[8] Referring to the period of making Eternal Sunshine, Grande stated that "things [were] kind of just pouring out and happening very quickly".[14]
Music and lyrics
Eternal Sunshine is a pop and R&B album[17] that features elements of dance music, especially synth-pop and house music.[18][19] Helen Brown of The Independent described it as a "slow-fizz pop" album, consisting of mid-tempo synths, strings and muted guitar.[20] Jem Aswad of Variety felt that Martin and Salmanzadeh imbued the album with a "very Swedish vibe and structure to the tracks" inspired by classic pop, a style atypical of Anglo-American musicians.[21] Lyrically, the album is a combination of both "ultra-confident and entirely self-deprecating" themes, inspired by Grande's personal relationships.[22] Billboard described it as an introspective record—one in which Grande reflects on herself as she enters her thirties.[19]
Songs
Eternal Sunshine begins with the opening track, "Intro (End of the World)", which primarily includes strings and a morose guitar.[19] The song begins with Grande posing the question, "How can I tell if I'm in the right relationship?", describing her anxieties with her partner, and the possibility of its end.[23] The second song, "Bye", was described by Grande as the hardest song on the album for her to write, saying "It was hard for the reason that I desperately didn't want it to sound like a 'fuck you.' I wanted it to sound like, 'I need to leave, so bye'".[24] Grande wanted the song to have a sense of self-awareness and accountability, rather than being completely dismissive.[25] It is an uptempo dance-pop number with influences of disco and Philadelphia soul.[26][27] The third track, "Don't Wanna Break Up Again", is a gloomy, '90s influenced pop and R&B song that discusses conflicting feelings Grande has towards the end of her relationship with her partner.[19] While referring to her relationship as a "situationship" that she's aware needs to end, the song shows a reluctancy to go through with ending the marriage and describes the steps she went through to try to save it, i.e. therapy.[20] Rolling Stone described the first three tracks of the album as "seventies pop".[28]
The album's interlude, "Saturn Returns", prominently samples a YouTube video of astrologer Diana Garland, as she discusses the importance of the age of 29 in a person's life. She urges the listener to "wake up" and "sort out who you really are" before the album's fifth and title track. The interlude fades directly into "Eternal Sunshine", during which Grande seems to come to terms with the faults of her partner and their relationship. In the track, she hints that her ex-husband, Dalton Gomez, may have cheated during their marriage and displays an uncertainty towards their relationship over an "R&B-pop" beat.[28][29] "Supernatural", the sixth track on the album, has a low-tempo beat. The lyrics are about how Grande is in love with someone and is inseparable. Grande lets this love take over her entire state of mind. The lyrics also show that Grande is healing from heartbreak and is ready to love again.[30] Billboard ranked "Supernatural" number eight out of Eternal Sunshine's tracks and compared it to "Breathin'" from Sweetener, as both songs are "undeniable home runs and surefire pure-pop smashes."[19]
The seventh track, "True Story", and eighth track, "The Boy Is Mine", were intentionally placed together in the track list and are both described as R&B songs echoing music from the '90s and 2000s.[31][32] The former is described by Grande as "an untrue story based on all untrue events" and sees her address the press who create rumors and "pray for her demise" for fun. It is a mid-tempo R&B track with a "slinky bounce" and elements of G-funk in its production.[33][34] The latter song is a "bass-heavy" R&B song with lyrics about being infatuated with a man Grande believes she is destined to be with. It was inspired by the positive reactions towards a leaked track, "Fantasize", by her fans. The song is an "elevated version of the leak" and also a "reimagining" of the 1998 song of the same name by Brandy and Monica.[35][36] The ninth track and lead single of the album, "Yes, And?" is an uptempo and "effervescent" pop-house song with elements of ballroom in its production.[37] Following "Yes, And?" is the tenth track, "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)", which served as the album's second single. The synth-wave influenced synth-pop song has been described as having a double meaning, with Grande speaking about a past lover, as well as her relationship with the press.[38] "I Wish I Hated You", the eleventh track, is a vulnerable and honest ballad that sees Grande confessing that she wishes her partner was worse to her in order for her to find closure and move on. It features a minimalistic electro-pop production.[19] The penultimate track, "Imperfect for You", is an alternative-rock ballad inspired by the "organic sound" of the Beatles' "Rubber Soul". Grande describes the track as an ode to friends, family, and loved ones who are "accepting and real". The chord progression featured on the song was developed by producer Max Martin in the 90s.[25] The album closes with "Ordinary Things", a mid-tempo ballad prominently featuring horns. The lyrics center on struggling to find beauty in the ordinary moments of a relationship. The song closes with a voice note from Grande's grandmother, Marjorie "Nonna" Grande, where she reflects on being madly in love with her husband, and although they argued as couples normally do, they were both willing to reconcile. The spoken-word outro serves as the answer that Grande posed in the opening track; "Never go to bed without kissing goodnight...And if you can't, and if you don't feel comfortable doing it, you're in the wrong place, get out."[19]
Release and promotion
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Republic Records released Eternal Sunshine on March 8, 2024.[39] It was issued via streaming, download, five CD variants, and six vinyl LP variants.[40] Pre-orders began on January 17, the day the album was announced.[41] On March 10, a digital extended edition of the album, titled Slightly Deluxe, was surprise-released via Grande's webstore; it features four bonus tracks including a remix of "Supernatural" with Troye Sivan, and the pre-released Mariah Carey remix of "Yes, And?".[42][43] The Slightly Deluxe edition was released to streaming services the day after.[44] On October 1, 2024, Grande surprise-released another digital extended edition of the album, labelled Slightly Deluxe and Also Live. It comprises the standard thirteen tracks, the Slightly Deluxe remixes, the pre-released Brandy and Monica remix of "The Boy Is Mine", and live versions of seven songs.[45]
Marketing
The tracklist of the album was not unveiled entirely at once. Grande revealed song titles and their track order on separate days, starting on January 27, 2024, with tracks 1, 5, and "Yes, And?" as track 9.[46] Tracks 2, 6, and 10 were revealed on February 7,[47] followed by tracks 3, 7, and 11 on February 17,[48] and tracks 4, 8, 12, and 13 on February 27.[49] Additionally, Grande revealed some lyrics from the album via her social media on February 27.[50] A teaser for the album, featuring the singer at a photo shoot for one of the cover artworks, was released on March 6, 2024.[51]
Grande appeared on the Zach Sang Show on Amazon Music for a double-episode interview to discuss the album.[52] The first episode was released on February 27, 2024, and was centered around the creative process.[53] The second episode was released on March 8, wherein she details each song.[54] Grande was then interviewed about the album by Zane Lowe for Apple Music 1, which was broadcast on March 7.[55] She appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on June 6, 2024, to discuss Wicked (2024) and the third single "The Boy Is Mine";[56] it marked her first late-night TV interview since 2021 and eleventh appearance on the show.[57] Grande was the guest for a two-part episode of Penn Badgley's podcast Podcrushed; the first part was released on June 12,[58][59] followed by the second on June 17.[60] She appeared on an episode of the Shut Up Evan podcast on July 9,[61] and the season 24 finale of web talk show Hot Ones, hosted by Sean Evans, on August 8, 2024.[62]
Title and artwork
The title of the album is a reference to the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004).[63] It stars Jim Carrey, who Grande has expressed she's a fan of and whose show, Kidding, she had guest-starred on.[64] The title Eternal Sunshine was teased via two Easter eggs. The first was in the opening scene of the music video of the lead single, "Yes, And?". It depicts a red card that has the acronym "AG7" on the frontside, with the geographical coordinates 41.0359° N, 71.9545° W mentioned below it—which locate Montauk, New York, a key location of the film.[65] The second was when Grande shared a few lines of Alexander Pope's poem Eloisa to Abelard on her Instagram, including: "Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!".[66]
Seven cover variants of Eternal Sunshine were issued: a standard vinyl cover, four DTC variations via Grande's website, a retail-exclusive CD cover (which also serves as the "Yes, And?" single artwork), and a Target-exclusive in the United States.[40][67][68] The digital cover depicts the back of Grande's head, with her dressed in a white outfit and her blonde hair styled in a ponytail, resting on the shoulder of a similarly dressed woman that is "a clone of herself".[69] Three covers, and the "Yes, And?" cover, were unveiled with the album's announcement.[70] The remaining three alternate covers were revealed throughout January and February.[71][72][48] Through the promotional material of the album, Grande sports a Maison Margiela outfit—a white bodysuit and a pair of red tulle gloves.[51] She stated that the different artworks "capture the emotional ups and downs of the album".[72]
Singles
Three singles were released from Eternal Sunshine, along with accompanying music videos, two of which topped the Billboard Hot 100. Christian Breslauer directed the visuals for the album's singles.[73] "Yes, And?", the lead single of Eternal Sunshine, was released on January 12, 2024, via streaming services.[74] It was also issued in 7-inch, CD single and cassette formats.[75] The song's accompanying music video was released on the same day via Grande's Vevo channel on YouTube.[76] The title of the song was teased by Grande days before release when she was photographed wearing a sweatshirt with the title printed on the front.[77] "Yes, And?" debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, marking Grande's eighth number-one single in the US.[78] It also topped the Global 200, Global Excl. US,[79] and Canadian Hot 100;[80] and reached the top five in numerous countries including Australia,[81] Ireland,[82] New Zealand,[83] and the United Kingdom.[84] Multiple versions and mixes of the song were released,[85][86] including a remix featuring Mariah Carey in February.[87] It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[88]
On February 5, Grande announced via her social media that no more pre-release singles would follow "Yes, And?". Explaining her reason, Grande said that she wanted fans to "experience [Eternal Sunshine] in full this time", but did confirm that singles will be released after the album.[89]
"We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" followed as the second single on March 8, 2024.[90] The song was also released via CD,[91] cassette,[92] and 7-inch vinyl.[93] Its music video—which co-starred actor Evan Peters—was described by Grande as her "own short version of [Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]".[94] The song debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, marking Grande's ninth chart-topper and seventh number-one debut. With this, Grande surpassed Taylor Swift as the woman with the most number-one debuts on the chart.[95] That record was retaken by Swift just over a month later with her single "Fortnight" (featuring Post Malone) from The Tortured Poets Department (2024). "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" also topped the Global 200,[96] and the charts in six other countries, including New Zealand,[97] Malaysia,[98] and United Arab Emirates.[99] The song became Grande's tenth number-one on the Billboard Pop Airplay chart,[100] where it spent two weeks at the summit.[101] As of September 2024, it is certified double platinum by the RIAA.[102]
The eighth track on Eternal Sunshine, titled "The Boy Is Mine", went viral on TikTok due to a dance trend associated with the song, and received multiple celebrity cosigns online.[103][104] On May 7, Grande confirmed fans' theories via her Instagram that it would be released as the next single.[105] The music video for the song—co-starring actor Penn Badgley and featuring cameos from Brandy and Monica—was released on June 7,[106] four days before it impacted US contemporary hit radio as the album's third single.[107] Variety called the music video "theatrical".[108] A remix of the track featuring Brandy and Monica—whose 1998 duet inspired Grande's song—was released on June 21, 2024.[109] Physical editions of the solo and remix versions were released in late July.[110] "The Boy Is Mine" peaked within the top 15 on the Global 200 and Canadian Hot 100, and the top 20 in the US.[111][112][113] It was certified platinum in the US, by the RIAA, in September 2024.[102] The sixth track, "Supernatural", was released as a promotional single on September 4, 2025.
Brighter Days Ahead reissue
A deluxe reissue of the album, subtitled Brighter Days Ahead, was released on March 28, 2025, via streaming, download, two CD variants, and two vinyl LP variants.[114] The digital version contains the standard 13 tracks and six bonus tracks, whilst the physical release also includes the previously released remixes of "Yes, And?", "Supernatural", and "The Boy Is Mine" featuring other artists.[115] On April 1, three download-exclusive variants of the reissue were released via Grande's webstore and on streaming services: an instrumental edition, an a capella edition, and an alternate cover.[116]
Concurrently with the reissue's release on March 28, a short film also titled Brighter Days Ahead premiered via Grande's YouTube channel.[117] Written and directed by Breslauer and Grande,[118][119] the short film is set 70 years after the events of the "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" music video; Grande stars as Peaches, the fictional character introduced in the video.[117] Three songs from the standard edition of the album and three from the reissue's bonus tracks are featured in the film.[120] Co-produced by London Alley, the Lucky Bastards, Republic Records, and Grande,[118] fan screenings of Brighter Days Ahead were held on March 30 in Boca Raton, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.[121]
Performances and tour
Grande appeared as the musical guest on the March 9, 2024, episode of Saturday Night Live. It marked her third appearance on the show and her first since 2016.[122] She performed "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" and "Imperfect for You".[123] Grande attended and was the surprise performer at the 2024 Met Gala in New York City on May 6, 2024. She performed the album's first three singles alongside "Into You", "7 Rings", Sleeping Beauty (1959)'s "Once Upon a Dream", and a cover duet of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey's 1998 single, "When You Believe", with Cynthia Erivo.[124] Grande was the musical guest for the June 6, 2024, episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she performed "The Boy Is Mine".[56] Performances of the seven songs that had live renditions on the Slightly Deluxe and Also Live version of the album, with Grande backed by a ten-piece band, were released to her Vevo channel via YouTube from October 1 to 7.[45][125]
In July 2024, Grande stated on the Shut Up Evan podcast that she planned a "mini sampling of shows" supporting the album, adding that it would be "a really lovely idea to be able to trickle in some shows in between the two Wicked films".[126] Following speculation in December 2024 of an impending announcement of a concert tour for 2025, Republic Records denied rumors and stated that there were "no plans" to tour.[127] Later that month, Grande told Variety that although "music and being on stage will always be a part of [her] life", she would not be touring "anytime soon", prioritising acting for "the next few years".[128] In July 2025, Grande posted a clip of her 2024 Met Gala performance on Instagram, ending the caption by stating that she was "working on a plan to sing for you all next year. Even if it's just for a little".[129][130]
A concert tour in support of the album, titled the Eternal Sunshine Tour, was announced on August 28, 2025. It is scheduled to consist of 41 shows across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, taking place between June and September 2026.[131][132] The tour will also support Positions and her forthcoming eighth album, Petal (2026).[133]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.5/10[134] |
| Metacritic | 84/100[135] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [136] |
| Clash | 8/10[137] |
| The Daily Telegraph |  [138] |
| The Guardian | [139] |
| The Independent | [20] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 7/10[140] |
| NME | [17] |
| Pitchfork | 7.2/10[141] |
| Rolling Stone | [18] |
| Slant Magazine | [142] |
Eternal Sunshine received critical acclaim upon release.[143] On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score out of 100 to ratings from professional publications, Eternal Sunshine received a weighted mean score of 84, based on 19 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[135] In a rave review, Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone commended Eternal Sunshine for having "some of the most honest and inventive music of her career" and dubbed the album as an "instant classic".[18] Various other critics, such as NME's Nick Levine,[17] AllMusic's Neil Z. Yeung,[136] Clash's Emma Harrison,[137] The Guardian's Laura Snapes,[139] and The New York Times' Lindsay Zoladz, dubbed it one of Grande's stronger, most sophisticated albums yet, highlighting the perceived maturity of its subject matter.[144]
The album's musical tonality was often complimented. Harry Tafoya of Pitchfork,[141] Moses Jeanfrancois of Beats Per Minute,[145] Jem Aswad of Variety,[21] and Mary Siroky of Consequence emphasized Grande's "raw", subtle and restrained vocals, which they thought focused on texture instead of showcasing her vocal range.[22] Zoladz regarded Eternal Sunshine one of Grande's "texturally consistent" releases.[144] In contrast, Helen Brown of The Independent found this tone rather conversational, lacking "strong melodic snags".[20]
A number of critics offered criticism on the album's songwriting. Poppie Platt of The Daily Telegraph and David Cobbald of The Line of Best Fit regarded the album a "slickly" produced pop record, albeit with some underwhelming tracks and simple lyrics.[138][140] According to Tafoya, Grande often settles for "stock phrases or scrambles for syllables",[141] while Siroky observed a lack of conceptual focus in the lyrics,[22] and Green claimed some tracks to be insubstantial.[146] In an unfavorable review, Robert Sona of Sputnikmusic blamed the songwriting for making the album an "unambitious" output.[147]
Several reviews praised Martin's production, emphasizing his stylistic influence on Eternal Sunshine.[20][18][139][138] Sona credited Grande's "concise" team of producers—Martin, Salmanzadeh and Davidior—for helping the album feel like "a singular and shapely work of art" unlike Positions.[147] Jeanfrancois considered the sound a return to 1990s' R&B, "something that has been avidly requested" by fans and critics.[145] However, Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani agreed with Platt in critiquing the album for not venturing outside Grande's familiar music styles.[142][138]
Eternal Sunshine's perceived status as a "divorce album" sparked various opinions amongst critics. Snapes described the album as a perceptive, "post-divorce" record.[139] Tafoya opined Eternal Sunshine is not "as cohesive of a divorce record" as Adele's 30 (2021),[141] whereas Jeanfrancois said it is "by no means a divorce album".[145]
Year-end lists
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| AllMusic | 100 Favorite Albums of 2024 | — | [148] |
| Billboard | The Best 50 Albums of 2024 | 6 | [149] |
| Cosmopolitan | The Best Albums of 2024 | — | [150] |
| The Hollywood Reporter | The 10 Best Albums of 2024 | 5 | [151] |
| Los Angeles Times | The 20 Best Albums of 2024 | 7 | [152] |
| NME | The 50 Best Albums of 2024 | 24 | [153] |
| People | Top 10 Albums 2024 | 8 | [154] |
| Rolling Stone | The 100 Best Albums of 2024 | 8 | [155] |
| Uproxx | The Best Albums of 2024 | — | [156] |
| Variety | Steve J. Horowitz's Top 10 Albums of 2024 | 1 | [157] |
Commercial performance
On its release day, Eternal Sunshine received 58.1 million streams on Spotify globally, setting the record for the most-streamed album in a single day in 2024, at the time.[158][159] All 12 chart-eligible tracks from the album simultaneously appeared on both the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts.[111][160][161] On the former, ten tracks appeared within the top-25 region,[162] led by "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)," which debuted at number-one on both charts, the album's second chart-topper after "Yes, And?".[96] A year later, a deluxe edition of the album was released with six additional tracks, all of which appeared simultaneously on the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts.[163][164] On the former, each track appeared within the top-50 region,[163] led by "Twilight Zone," which debuted in the top ten on both charts.[111][160]
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) ranked Eternal Sunshine thirteenth on the Global Album Chart and ninth on the Global Streaming Album Chart for 2024. Aided by the album's commercial success, Grande ranked eleventh on the organization's Global Recording Artist Chart, being the fourth highest-ranked among female artists.[165]
United States
Eternal Sunshine debuted at number-one on the US Billboard 200 with 227,000 album-equivalent units, including 194.92 million on-demand streams and 77,000 album sales in its first week. It marked Grande's sixth number-one album and her third-largest opening week, behind Thank U, Next (360,000 units) and Sweetener (231,000 units).[166] It was the most consumed album of the week, debuting at number-one on both Billboard Top Streaming Albums and Top Album Sales charts, marking Grande's sixth chart-topper on the latter.[167][168] Furthermore, it became her second number-one album on the Billboard Vinyl Albums chart.[169] With 33,000 vinyl sales, Grande had her best vinyl sales week yet, exceeding Positions (32,000).[166] At the time of its release, Eternal Sunshine achieved the largest US sales debut of 2024, surpassing Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign's Vultures 1 (148,000 units).[166][170] In its second week, Eternal Sunshine remained at number one with 100,500 units, including 115.05 million on-demand streams and 13,000 album sales, marking Grande's third consecutive album to spend its first two weeks at the top.[171] It slipped to number three in its third week, with 72,000 units.[172] Following the restocking of a signed CD on Grande's webstore, the album rose to number eight on the chart dated July 6, 2024, marking its seventh non-consecutive week within the top-ten region.[173] On September 9, 2024, the album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for earning over one million units in the country.[102]
On the Billboard Hot 100 chart issue dated March 23, 2024, all 12 chart-eligible tracks appeared simultaneously, becoming Grande's third consecutive album to do so, following Thank U, Next (12 songs) and Positions (14 songs). 11 of them were new entries; 10 of those songs appeared in the top 40.[174] Grande's career Hot 100 count expanded to 85 entries, tying her with Beyoncé for the third-most among women.[175][174] The number-one debut of the second single "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)"[95] marked Grande's first instance of simultaneously debuting atop both the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 charts.[176][177][178] It also made her the first woman to have two albums with multiple number-one debuts in the US, after Thank U, Next (2019).[b] Additionally, Grande's grandmother, Marjorie Grande, made her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 with the album track "Ordinary Things," credited as Nonna; this made Marjorie the oldest act ever to have appeared on the Hot 100, at the age of 98.[179] Its strong chart-performance made Grande ascend to the number-one position on the Billboard Artist 100 chart for the sixteenth non-consecutive week, the sixth-most for any artist since the chart's inception.[180][181] Furthermore, it also marked Grande's first instance of reaching the top of both the Billboard Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts. This made her the fourth artist and second woman ever to top the Artist 100, Hot 100, Billboard 200, Hot 100 Songwriters, and Hot 100 Producers charts simultaneously.[182] She remained at number-one on the Hot 100 Songwriters chart for two consecutive weeks.[183]
Following the Brighter Days Ahead reissue, Eternal Sunshine returned to number one on the Billboard 200 for a third non-consecutive week, becoming Grande's longest-running number-one album on the chart. The album earned 137,000 album-equivalent units during the tracking week, including 98.45 million on-demand streams and 61,000 album sales. It boasted the largest positional jump to number one—soaring from 87 to the top spot—since Travis Scott's Days Before Rodeo (106–1).[184] All six tracks from the deluxe edition simultaneously appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 dated April 12, 2025, all within the top-60 region, with "Twilight Zone" leading at number 18.[185][186] Aided by the reissue's chart-performance, Grande returned to number-one on the Billboard Artist 100 chart for the seventeenth non-consecutive week.[187]
International
In the United Kingdom, Eternal Sunshine debuted at the top of the UK Albums Chart, becoming Grande's fifth consecutive number one album in Britain. It also debuted at number one on the UK Vinyl Albums Chart.[188] With five number one albums each, Grande joined Celine Dion and Lady Gaga as the female artists with the sixth-most number one albums in Britain.[189] It remained at number one for two consecutive weeks.[190] Furthermore, the album's lead songs "Yes, And?" and "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" both peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.[191][192] Following the Brighter Days Ahead reissue, Eternal Sunshine rose to number three on the chart. Additionally, "Twilight Zone" debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the album's third top ten song in Britain. The same week, "Intro (End of the World)" and "Dandelion" both debuted at numbers 19 and 26 on the UK Singles Chart. With a total of seven chart entries, Eternal Sunshine became Grande's album with the most entries on the UK Singles Chart.[193][194][195]
In Ireland, the album also debuted atop the Irish Albums Chart, marking Grande's fifth consecutive number-one album in Ireland.[196][197] Following the Brighter Days Ahead reissue, Eternal Sunshine returned to number one in Ireland for a second non-consecutive week.[198]
In Canada, Eternal Sunshine debuted atop the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart, earning Grande her fifth number-one album there.[199][200] It remained at number-one for two consecutive weeks.[201] Upon release, all 12 chart-eligible tracks from the album appeared simultaneously on the Canadian Hot 100.[202] "Yes, And?" debuted at number-one, becoming Grande's seventh chart-topper, and "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" debuted at number three, marking her 23rd top ten hit in the country.[112][203] On Luminate's 2024 midyear music report, Eternal Sunshine ranked as the tenth best-selling album of the year as of July with 91,000 total album-equivalent units, which consisted of 6,000 album sales, 8,000 song sales, 110.3 million on-demand audio streams, and 4.4 million on-demand video streams.[204] Following the Brighter Days Ahead reissue, Eternal Sunshine returned to number one in Canada for a third non-consecutive week, tying Thank U, Next as her longest-running album in the country.[205][206] All six tracks from the deluxe edition simultaneously appeared on the Canadian Hot 100 dated April 12, 2025, all within the top-60 region, with "Twilight Zone" leading at number 23.[207]
In Australia, Eternal Sunshine debuted at number-one on the ARIA Albums Chart, marking Grande's fifth chart-topping album in the country.[208] It remained at number-one for three consecutive weeks.[209] Furthermore, seven tracks from the album appeared simultaneously on the ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart, with "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" debuting at number-two, becoming Grande's 20th top-ten hit in the country and the highest-charting song from the album, alongside "Yes, And?" which formerly peaked at number-two.[210] Following the Brighter Days Ahead reissue, Eternal Sunshine ascended 78 chart positions to retain the number one spot for a fourth non-consecutive week in the country. Its 78-spot jump marked the biggest jump to the pole position from within the top 100 since September 2020, when Music From The Home Front (2020) soared from number 83 to the top.[211]
In New Zealand, Eternal Sunshine debuted atop the NZ Top 40 Albums Chart, becoming Grande's fifth chart-topping album there.[212] It remained at number-one for two consecutive weeks.[213][214] Furthermore, nine tracks from the album simultaneously appeared on the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, with "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" becoming Grande's seventh number-one single and the highest-charting single from the album, surpassing "Yes, And?" which formerly peaked at number-three.[215][212] Following the Brighter Days Ahead reissue, Eternal Sunshine returned to number one on the chart for a third non-consecutive week.[216]
Accolades
Eternal Sunshine and its second single "We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)" were predicted by several publications and critics to receive nominations in the Big Four categories at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.[217] However, both releases received no nominations in the Big Four categories, with the album being nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album and singles "The Boy Is Mine" (remix) and "Yes, And?" scoring one nod each, for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Dance Pop Recording.[218] Grande was named among the biggest snubs of the ceremony by several publications.[219]
| Organization | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los 40 Music Awards | 2024 | Best International Album | Nominated | [220] |
| ARIA Music Awards | 2024 | Best International Artist | Nominated | [221] |
| Grammy Awards | 2025 | Best Pop Vocal Album | Nominated | [222] |
Impact
Whether she's layering harmonies over a melody line or vocal arranging an entire bridge on the fly, the superstar's mastery over her instrument only continues to grow with each new album.
Vanity Fair's Savannah Walsh stated that in the hours after the album's release, viewership of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind had doubled on Vudu, according to Fandango.[224] Similarly, according to Billboard, Brandy and Monica's "The Boy Is Mine" was up 18% in US streams due to Grande's song "The Boy Is Mine" that was inspired by the original and appears on Eternal Sunshine.[225]
In a review of Eternal Sunshine, York Vision's Matthew Ennis also stated the "Music Icon Status" that Grande possesses in music industry and emphasized how "Eternal Sunshine is just another example of Grande's visionary skills as an artist who deserves her legacy as one of the most defining musical talents of our time".[226]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro (End of the World)" | Ariana Grande |
|
| 1:32 |
| 2. | "Bye" |
|
|
| 2:44 |
| 3. | "Don't Wanna Break Up Again" |
|
|
| 2:54 |
| 4. | "Saturn Returns Interlude" |
|
|
| 0:42 |
| 5. | "Eternal Sunshine" | Grande |
|
| 3:30 |
| 6. | "Supernatural" | Grande |
|
| 2:43 |
| 7. | "True Story" |
|
|
| 2:43 |
| 8. | "The Boy Is Mine" |
|
|
| 2:53 |
| 9. | "Yes, And?" | Grande |
|
| 3:34 |
| 10. | "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" | Grande |
|
| 3:48 |
| 11. | "I Wish I Hated You" | Grande |
|
| 2:33 |
| 12. | "Imperfect for You" |
|
|
| 3:02 |
| 13. | "Ordinary Things" (featuring Nonna) |
|
|
| 2:48 |
| Total length: | 35:26 | ||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Supernatural" (remix; with Troye Sivan) |
|
|
| 2:43 |
| 15. | "Imperfect for You" (acoustic) |
|
|
| 3:02 |
| 16. | "True Story" (a cappella) |
|
|
| 2:43 |
| 17. | "Yes, And?" (remix; with Mariah Carey) |
|
|
| 3:35 |
| Total length: | 47:23 | ||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Yes, And?" (remix; with Mariah Carey) |
|
|
| 3:35 |
| 15. | "Supernatural" (remix; with Troye Sivan) |
|
|
| 2:43 |
| 16. | "The Boy Is Mine" (remix; with Brandy and Monica) |
|
|
| 3:33 |
| 17. | "Imperfect for You" (acoustic) |
|
|
| 3:02 |
| 18. | "Intro (End of the World)" (live version) | Grande |
|
| 1:43 |
| 19. | "Don't Wanna Break Up Again" (live version) |
|
|
| 2:52 |
| 20. | "Eternal Sunshine" (live version) |
|
|
| 3:26 |
| 21. | "Supernatural" (live version) | Grande |
|
| 2:43 |
| 22. | "Yes, And?" (live version) | Grande |
|
| 3:19 |
| 23. | "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" (live version) | Grande |
|
| 3:24 |
| 24. | "Imperfect for You" (live version) |
|
|
| 3:06 |
| Total length: | 69:00 | ||||
- Notes
- "Saturn Returns Interlude" contains an excerpt from astrologist Diana Garland.
Personnel
Musicians
- Ariana Grande – lead vocals, background vocals (all tracks); programming (track 4)
- Shintaro Yasuda – keyboards, programming (tracks 1, 5, 8); drums (5, 8)
- Nick Lee – keyboards, programming, trombone (tracks 1, 13); bass, drums (13)
- Aaron Cheung – bass, guitar, programming, synthesizer, violin (track 1)
- Max Martin – keyboards (tracks 2, 3, 5–10, 12); background vocals, bass, drums (tracks 2, 3, 5, 7–10, 12); guitar (tracks 2, 7, 10, 12), programming (tracks 3, 5–10, 12)
- Ilya – background vocals, bass, keyboards, programming (tracks 2–5, 7–12); guitar (2, 7, 10, 12), synthesizer (track 3), piano (tracks 5, 9)
- Mattias Bylund – string arrangement, strings, synthesizer (tracks 2, 3); glockenspiel, horns (track 2)
- Tomas Jonsson – tenor saxophone (tracks 2, 3)
- Peter Jonasson – trombone (tracks 2, 3)
- Magnus Johansson – trumpet, violin (tracks 2, 3)
- Karl Guner – string arrangement, synthesizer (tracks 2, 3)
- Janne Bjerger – trumpet (tracks 2, 3)
- Hanna Helgegren – violin (tracks 2, 3)
- Erik Arvinder – violin (tracks 2, 3)
- Wojtek Goral – alto saxophone (track 2)
- Michael Engström – bass (track 2)
- Lou Carrao – bass (track 2)
- David Bukovinszky – cello (track 2)
- Per Strandberg – guitar (track 2)
- Davidior – keyboards (track 5); drums, programming (track 8)
- Oscar Görres – bass, guitar, keyboards, percussion, programming (track 6)
- Shellback – drums (track 7)
- Davide Rossi – cello, string arrangement, viola, violin (track 10)
- Luka Kloser – bass, drums, keyboards, programming (track 13)
- Troye Sivan – featured artist (track 14, 15[a])
- Mariah Carey – featured artist (track 17, 14[a])
- Brandy – featured artist (track 16[a])
- Monica – featured artist (track 16[a])
Technical
- Randy Merrill – mastering
- Serban Ghenea – mixing (tracks 1–3, 5–13)
- Ilya – mixing (track 4)
- Sam Holland – engineering
- Lou Carrao – engineering
- Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance (tracks 1–3, 5–13)
- Eric Eyland – engineering assistance
- Rob Sellens – engineering assistance (tracks 2–5, 7–13)
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Monthly charts
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[294] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| Belgium (BRMA)[295] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[296] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[297] slightly deluxe |
Platinum | 40,000‡ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[298] slightly deluxe and also live |
2× Platinum | 80,000‡ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[299] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[300] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
| France (SNEP)[301] | Platinum | 100,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI)[302] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[303] | 2× Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| Norway (IFPI Norway)[304] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
| Poland (ZPAV)[305] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
| Portugal (AFP)[306] | Platinum | 7,000‡ |
| Spain (Promusicae)[307] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[308] | Platinum | 300,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[309] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | March 8, 2024 | Standard | Republic | [310][311] | |
| United States | Vinyl | Target exclusive | [312] | ||
| March 10, 2024 | Digital download | Slightly Deluxe | [313] | ||
| Various | March 11, 2024 | Streaming | [314] | ||
| Various | October 1, 2024 |
|
Slightly Deluxe and Also Live | [315] |
See also
- List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2024
- List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2025
- List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 2020s
- List of number-one albums of 2024 (Canada)
- List of number-one albums of 2024 (Croatia)
- List of number-one albums of 2024 (Ireland)
- List of number-one albums from the 2020s (New Zealand)
Notes
- Thank U, Next (2019) yielded two singles that debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100: its title track and "7 Rings".[178]
