Supernatural (Ariana Grande song)

American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande did not release any studio albums between 2021 and 2023 due to filming commitments for the musical Wicked, which was scheduled for theatrical release in 2024.^[1] She announced her seventh studio album in late December 2023,^[2] subsequently releasing "Yes, And?" as its lead single on January 11, 2024.^[3] Six days later, Grande confirmed the album's title, Eternal Sunshine, along with its March 8 release date.^[4] On February 7, she revealed "Supernatural" as the sixth track on the album via Instagram Reels.^[5]

Providing lyrics as well as background and lead vocals, Grande wrote and produced "Supernatural" with Max Martin and Oscar Görres. Martin and Görres handled programming and keyboards, while the latter additionally contributed percussion, bass, guitar, and background vocals. The track was recorded at Jungle City Studios in New York City and House Mouse in Stockholm, Sweden, with audio engineering by Sam Holland and Lou Carrao, assisted by Eric Eylands. Mixing was carried out by Serban Ghenea alongside mixing engineer Bryce Bordone at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and the track was mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound in Edgewater, New Jersey.^[6] Behind-the-scenes footage of Grande crafting the chorus melody in the studio was released on Instagram in July 2024.^[7]

Critics characterized "Supernatural" as a synth-pop^[8] and electropop^[9] ballad^[10] with an uptempo feel.^[11] It is written in F minor, featuring arpeggiators, bass synths, and a snare drum sound that falls behind the beat.^[12] Moses Jeanfrancois of Beats Per Minute observed its 1980s-inspired rhythm, comparing the sound to Grande's prior collaborations with The Weeknd.^[13] Michael Cragg of The Observer noted her experimentation with "melodies as sharp as cut glass",^[14] while Thomas H. Green of The Arts Desk described the production as "wispy" and "luscious".^[10] Other reviewers identified Grande's vocal layering in the chorus,^[15] a cycle of fifths preceding the final refrain,^[16] and the ascending vocal outro.^[17]

Deemed "the horniest" track on Eternal Sunshine by Grande,^{[18]: 28:00} it incorporates themes of possession and astrology,^[12] with Vulture critic Craig Jenkins comparing the former to attraction.^[19] The song explores an intense romance that feels unnatural^[20] and completely controls her heart.^[21] The singer expresses an overwhelming infatuation through the repeated line—"This love's possessing me, but I don't mind at all"—while showing her helplessness with "It's takin' over me, don't wanna fight the fall." As the song continues, the theme shifts toward physical intimacy: "Boy, let's go too far. Need your hands all up on my body."^[20] Publications interpreted these lyrics as an allusion to Grande's relationship with American actor Ethan Slater.^[20][21]

"Supernatural" was released on March 8, 2024, as a track on Eternal Sunshine.^[1] A remix featuring Australian singer Troye Sivan was subsequently included on the album's Slightly Deluxe edition on March 11,^[22] while a live rendition was later issued on the Slightly Deluxe and Also Live edition on October 1.^[23] The accompanying music video, directed by Christian Breslauer, premiered on March 28, 2025, as part of the 26-minute short film Brighter Days Ahead.^[24][25] It depicts Grande walking through the debris of a burning city in a cream silk dress, approaching an unidentified flying object (UFO), and being beamed upward after stopping beneath it. The video was released as a standalone visual on May 19.^[26] On September 4, Republic Records issued the track as a promotional single across digital download, streaming, and 7-inch vinyl formats; the digital release was bundled as a five-track package, while the vinyl edition featured an extended version of "Intro (End of the World)" as its B-side.^[27][28]

The song debuted at its peak of number 14 on the Billboard Global 200 on the chart dated March 23, 2024.^[29] That same week, it opened at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100^[30] and later earned a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for exceeding one million equivalent units.^[31] Internationally, the track reached the top ten in the Philippines (number six)^[32] and Malaysia (number ten),^[33] while charting at number 18 in Australia,^[34] number 20 in Singapore,^[35] number 24 in New Zealand,^[36] and number 27 in Canada.^[37] It was certified platinum in Australia,^[38] gold in Canada^[39] and New Zealand,^[40] and silver in the United Kingdom.^[41] Through her promotional hotline in March 2025, Grande described "Supernatural" as the "hit that got away" from Eternal Sunshine, noting its strong reception among fans even though the track was never released as a single.^[42]

"Supernatural" received generally positive reviews from critics upon the release of Eternal Sunshine; Thomas H. Green of The Arts Desk noted that Grande's vocals and persona complement the production.^[10] In The Line of Best Fit, David Cobbald highlighted the song as the album's "shining star" and a "classic" Grande pop track, commending its "intricate" vocals and arrangements that would "keep keen musicians happy".^[16] Writing for Dork, Dan Harrison appreciated how the track balances melodic appeal with introspective, personal lyricism.^[43]

Billboard's Kyle Denis ranked "Supernatural" eighth among the album's tracks, writing that Grande's vocals on the final chorus—deemed "absolute pop bliss"—help overcome the song's minor shortcomings.^[44] Thomas Phelan of Still Listening called it an effortlessly radiant track anchored by warm, muffled beats and bubbling, effervescent production.^[9] Reviewing the reissue edition, New Wave Magazine writer Aswan Magumbe characterized the song as "a testament to [Grande's] growth as a vocal producer", remarking that it showcases her "in all her loop-machine glory".^[45]

In less favorable reviews, Ryan Bulbeck of Renowned for Sound argued that the track lacked development, though he deemed it "entertaining" enough to hold the listener's attention throughout.^[46] The New York Times critic Lindsay Zoladz considered it "relatively stiff" and one of the album's "weaker" entries.^[17] While Billboard's Kristen S. Hé and Andrew Unterberger felt the original was too brief and underwritten to achieve a satisfying climax, they lauded the Troye Sivan remix for adding weight and showcasing the duo's vocal chemistry.^[12] In a separate review for the same publication, Denis found the repetition of the "it's like supernatural" hook "grating".^[44]

Grande performed "Supernatural" as the closing song of the Eternal Sunshine Tour (2026), wearing a white floral maxi dress designed by Sarah Burton for Givenchy.^[47] During the performance, dancers surrounded her on the B-stage while she was secured in a harness rig that lifted her toward a UFO-shaped set piece suspended above the arena,^[48] recreating the cover art of Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead,^[49] the 2025 deluxe reissue of Eternal Sunshine.^[50] Backstage, Grande described the experience as "fun", "nice", and "wonderful", noting that crew members tapped her hip once each side was secured before she took flight.^[51]

In 2025, "Supernatural" went viral on social media platforms through the Kim Seon-ho Smile Challenge, which originated from a scene featuring South Korean actor Kim Seon-ho and actress IU in the Netflix series When Life Gives You Tangerines. Recognizing the song's virality, Grande posted a compilation of the edits in May 2025 to thank her audience.^[52]

• Digital download and streaming^[27]

  1. "Supernatural" – 2:43
  2. "Supernatural" (with Troye Sivan) – 2:43
  3. "Supernatural" (live version) – 2:43
  4. "Supernatural" (a cappella) – 2:43
  5. "Supernatural" (instrumental) – 2:43

• 7-inch vinyl^[27]

  1. "Supernatural" – 2:43
  2. "Intro (End of the World)" (extended) – 2:41

The credits are from the liner notes of the "Supernatural" 7-inch vinyl single.^[6]