The Return of the Pop Icon and Vocal Powerhouse, MISS Grande
Ariana Grande Artist Appreciation & Eternal Sunshine Review
‘Say that sh*t with your chest. Be your own f*ckin best friend. Keep movin, like what’s next’
*Insert Vogue here *
Unwavering confidence and self-awareness aside, Ariana has the vocal range and control of a veteran songstress that rivals performers who've been in the business as long as she’s been alive.
With impeccable range, similar to Mariah Carey in her prime, whom she has often been compared to.Â
Ariana is considered a 4-octave vocal range performer.
A vocal range is the range of vocal pitches or tones a human voice can create.
The average human vocal range is between 3 and â…“ octaves, meaning her range is ¾ higher than the average.Â
In comparison, other artists that exist between the 3 and 4-octave vocal range include Beyonce’, Justin Bieber, Elton John, and Michael Jackson. Artists with a range higher than 4 octaves are rare, including Prince and her prototype, Mariah Carey.
The 2 time Grammy Award winner has been in the spotlight since she was 15 years old, starting on Broadway, and released her first album, Yours Truly, at just 19. Each one of her albums has gone Platinum—huge, right? But her success doesn't stop with music. She was named Woman of the Year when she was 24, and her beauty line, R.E.M. Cosmetics, has already made over a billion dollars. Not too bad for someone just entering their third decade of life.
Eternal Sunshine
Fast forward to her 7th Album, at only 30 years of age, entitled Eternal Sunshine, arrived on Friday, March 8th, 2024. The album consists of ten tracks, with one feature by Nonna on the last track titled ‘Ordinary Things.’
In between her 6th studio album Positions and Eternal Sunshine, the artist divorced from Dalton Gomez and many fans were expecting her to express her side of the breakup on this project, as she has not spoken publicly thus far.
And after listening, this is undeniably the most upbeat breakup album I have ever heard.
But not in a delusional way, but in a surprisingly freeing and optimistic way.
The emotional progression from ‘Intro’, the first track to ‘Ordinary’ the final track reflects optimism, not defeat with supreme artistry and out-of-this-world vocals in between. The theme of Eternal Sunshine speaks to listeners who embrace the complexity of their emotional range, and lean into the triumphs of love just as much as they acknowledge their losses.Â
Also, It's one of her most introspective and therapeutic projects, where she can be heard processing unresolved emotions and unpacking recent events regarding her divorce.
The suspended space between a recent breakup and starting over with something new is a vulnerable and raw area that many artists take advantage of to create – often resulting in some of their most authentic and relevant work. These emotions are most accurately reflected in ‘I wish I hated you’ and ‘Imperfect for you.’
Album highlights include ‘Intro’, ’Yes, And?’, ‘Don’t Wanna Break Up Again’, ‘The Boy Is Mine’, and ‘True Story’. ‘The Boy Is Mine’ sample, bravely takes on accusations after being publicly called a homewrecker - on brand with her historical nature to deflect controversy into a more creative art channel.
While it's not my top pick from her catalog, this album truly bares her soul and wraps it up beautifully. It's perfect in length, capturing all the whispers of the past year with pure artistry.
Ariana is rumored to be going on another solo worldwide tour, and I am sure her fans and foes anxiously await date/city announcements.
Lingering questions, after listening to Eternal Sunshine, from a long-time fan
What does your creative process look like? And how does that alter based on your relationship status?
Away from the music scene and outside of personal relationships, who is Ariana Grande?
 If you hadn't become a Pop Star, what alternate life might you have chosen?
Where does your self-determination come from?
When you took on Glinda's character in the upcoming "Wicked" scheduled to release in November 2024, what self-discoveries did you make?
Is there a particular project in your portfolio, that you consider your most outstanding contribution to music so far?
How would you rank the albums in your portfolio and why?
What can we expect from you, in the third decade of life?
What is the greatest inspiration for the art you create?
If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?
Upon retirement from the industry, what do you hope fans grasp about your true self, and how do you want your art to stand as a testament to yourself?
Easy Listening, The Urban Music Enthusiast