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Why is 2024 Ariana Grande’s year?
The year 2024 marks Ariana Grande’s comeback in the limelight. Working on several projects, the American singer and actress has just unveiled the name and release date of her upcoming album, Eternal Sunshine, coming out on March 8th, 2024, along with the first images of the film Wicked, coming out on November 27th, 2024, in which she plays the lead role. Between rumours and official announcements, Numéro takes stock.
by Erwann Chevalier.
Yes, and?, Ariana Grande’s new single
Good news keeps getting better as Ariana Grande has also announced the date of her comeback with a seventh album, Eternal Sunshine, coming out on March 8th, 2024. This brandnew thirteen-track opus seems to mark a turning point in the career of the 30-year-old American singer, who hasn’t released any LP since 2020.
The first sign of Ariana Grande’s U-turn? The single Yes, and? unveiled on January 12th. After a few hints shared on her social media through street photos of her wearing a sweater embroidered with the name of the single, the star that gathers 380 million followers on Instagram introduced her great house track, following in the footsteps of Beyoncé’s Break my soul (2022) or Madonna’s iconic Vogue (1990).
As well as giving in to the current musical trend of producing tracks specifically tailored for voguing dancers, the performer of No Tears Left to Cry (2018) wants to be more aligned with herself. After having been mocked because of her love life, physical appearance and career choices, Ariana Grande is now emancipating herself and mixing her signature pop music with new, merrier sounds. A remix featuring Mariah Carey has also been unveiled.
3 things to know about Eternal Sunshine by Ariana Grande
1. Eternal Sunshine, an album title that pays tribute to Mac Miller
On January 17th, 2024, shortly after the resounding success of her single Yes, and?, Ariana Grande posted a series of photographs on her Instagram with a simple caption: “Eternal Sunshine 3.8”. Two words and a release date that set off a veritable craze, gathering no less than 5 million likes in just a few hours.
But why choose that album title? Rumor has it that it refers to Michel Gondry’s 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, in which Jim Carrey has a sublime and complex love affair with Kate Winslet. The American actor is said to have been the singer’s first crush…
Besides, the film used to be a favorite of his late ex-partner, American rapper Mac Miller, who passed away in 2018. When the two artists were dating back in 2013, the latter told Complex Magazine: “I love Jim Carrey when he’s being serious. He killed this role. Whenever I’m talking to a girl, I always tell them to watch Eternal Sunshine. It cuts deep.”
2. Ariana Grande has composed a concept album
In a recent video posted on her social media, Ariana Grande announced that this new opus will be “a kind of a concept album because it’s different, heightened pieces of the same story, of the same experience.”
Eternal Sunshine promises new sounds, contrary to the pure pop single Yes, and? that has already been listened to over 120 million times on Spotify. The album has been created alongside Ilya Salmanzadeh and renowned Swedish producer Max Martin, who has already worked with Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and Ariana Grande on the albums Sweetener (2018) and Thank U, Next (2019).
There is little doubt that the song will join the thirteen other tracks by the singer that have reached over one billion listeners on Spotify, making Ariana Grande the female artist with the most singles to have passed that threshold.
3. Collaborations with SZA, Doja Cat and Ice Spice?
As for the tracklist of Eternal Sunshine, which remains mysterious for now, the star said: “Some tracks are representative of a certain vulnerability, while others match what people would sometimes expect from me.” A duality that could have repercussions on the album’s guest stars…
According to rumors, American rappers SZA, Doja Cat and Ice Spice are part of the featured singers of this seventh record. Fans started to expect these collaborations when they spotted statues resembling the silhouettes of the three stars in the video for Yes, and?. So much speculation, we can’t wait to see it become clear… and true.
The album Eternal Sunshine by Ariana Grande, coming out on March 8th, 2024.
Traduction Emma Naroumbo Armaing
Wicked, the fantastic musical starring Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande’s fans have never been happier since the year started. Indeed, the American superstar is back with a bang and a lot of updates for 2024. Among them is the release of the first images from the adaptation of the musical Wicked, directed by Jon Chu, which are causing quite a stir on social media.
Announced in 2021 by Ariana Grande in a rather mysterious Instagram post, the project features the star as Glinda, alongside British actress Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) and actor Jonathan Bailey, in the fairytale scenery of the famous and magical Land of Oz.
The synopsis? Over the course of the film, the two protagonists forge a beautiful friendship, even though they are worlds apart. In progress since 2004, the film is based on the Broadway musical that opened in 2003 and will be released on November 27th, 2024. A second part is scheduled for November 26th, 2025.
