The Meaning Behind Ariana Grande’s New Album Title

Ariana Grande’s music and music videos are a treasure trove of references—to pop culture and to her personal life. Her seventh studio album Eternal Sunshine is no different, from the film-inspired title to the Paula Abdul homage in the video for its lead single “Yes, And?”. Out Friday, it’s her first album since 2020’s Positions. Here’s everything to know about Eternal Sunshine and the meaning behind the album’s title.

What is Eternal Sunshine referring to?

The album title is in reference to the 2004 Jim Carey and Kate Winslet-led film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The sci-fi romance, directed by Michel Gondry and written by Charlie Kaufman, follows a couple that breaks up and decides to erase each other from their memories through a medical procedure. (Coincidentally, March 19 marks the 20th anniversary of the film).

Why did Ariana Grande name the album Eternal Sunshine?

Grande has previously mentioned her love for Jim Carrey. In a 2015 interview on Live with Kelly and Michael, she talked about how she started crying the first khbrknews she met the actor.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was also a favorite film of the rapper Mac Miller, who Grande dated for two years. Miller, who died of an accidental drug overdose in 2018, referenced the movie in his work and spoke of his love for Carrey too. “I love Jim Carrey when he’s being serious. He killed this role,” he told Complex in 2013. “Whenever I’m talking to a girl, I always tell them to watch Eternal Sunshine. It cuts deep.”

What to know about Grande’s Eternal Sunshine

Audiences first learned the name of the album in the music video for the lead single, “Yes, And?”, which contains nods to the movie. In the video, she invites a group of critics to watch an exclusive performance. As the critics ride the elevator, they look at a card that has coordinates on the front leading to Montauk, New York—an important place in the…