When Ariana Grande released “eternal sunshine” last spring, she invited us into her most vulnerable and reflective work yet. It was an album of heartbreak, reckoning, and eventual emotional clarity. A year later, she returned with “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead,” a seven-track expansion that acts as both an epilogue and an evolution. Where the original album asked difficult questions about love, identity, and self-worth, the deluxe version begins to answer them. The title says it all: brighter days ahead doesn’t ignore the pain, but refuses to stay in the darkness. Grande picks up the emotional threads of the original and sews them into something softer, warmer, and more grounded. The result is a more hopeful and emotionally expansive listen that stands on its own merit.
“intro (end of the world) [extended]” takes the original track and adds a dark twist at the end. The stark transition between the original version and the newly added verses is scarily detailed and deeply personal. Grande sings about wondering if her ex-partner would still be into her, and whether he was sure when he proposed. She closes the song by admitting that she grieved the relationship first, which somehow made her the villain in the narrative. This is a powerful reflection on how emotional timing can shape perception.
“twilight zone” echoes the emotional atmosphere of “we can’t be friends “(wait for your love),” but this time, Grande is sure she’s over her ex. Still, the surreal nature of what happened left her in disbelief, as if she’s stuck in a loop of emotional deja vu. This haunting confusion is what lands her in the “twilight zone.”
“warm” brings a softer, sweeter energy. It’s about feeling content on your own but also acknowledging how much nicer it is to have someone by your side. When she sings, “it’s warmer in your arms,” it feels like an intimate exhale—a moment of peace amid all the emotional chaos.
“dandelion” feels like Grande channeling her thank u, next era with a mature, empowered twist. She sings about her partner being lucky to have her, promising to give him everything he could want as long as he doesn’t mess it up. Backed by trap-influenced beats and a standout saxophone arrangement, the Max Martin production shines. It’s confident, cheeky, and a definite highlight.
“past life” arguably features the best production on the entire deluxe. It’s emotionally rich and sonically layered, dealing with the idea that some relationships belong to another lifetime. Grande acknowledges that we outgrow people not out of cruelty, but out of necessity. It’s graceful and honest, and its dreamy instrumentation helps deliver that message with clarity.
“hampstead” is a deeply reflective track and a personal favorite. It feels like the thesis of the entire deluxe project. Grande pleads to be seen not as a flawless celebrity, but as a human being capable of mistakes and growth. It’s a reminder that we all deserve that grace. For college students who might feel pressure to have it all figured out, this track is a gentle, beautiful nudge that it’s okay not to. Most of us are still learning.
The expanded edition is accompanied by a 26-minute short film titled Brighter Days Ahead, co-directed by Grande and Christian Breslauer. The film absolutely blew me away. You can tell acting is one of her passions. It effectively bridges the original album and the deluxe, fleshing out the full story she set out to tell. As a continuation of the “we can’t be friends” music video, it brings Grande’s character “Peaches” back into focus and carries us through a journey of memory, emotional reckoning, and ultimately, healing. Visually stunning and emotionally resonant, it’s one of Grande’s most ambitious creative efforts to date. More than a re-release, Brighter Days Ahead functions as a final chapter in Grande’s latest storytelling era. The deluxe tracks, coupled with the visual narrative, reinforce Grande’s place not just as a pop star, but as an evolving artist deeply invested in how her personal story connects with broader emotional truths.
