Written by Rachel Schmieder

Photography by Madison Guetzkow

Modeled by Kaitlyn Patton & Cole Vest

With an homage to the gut-wrenching 2004 film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” Ariana Grande has captured the media's attention following the release of her seventh studio album, “Eternal Sunshine.” In fact, Grande drew significant inspiration from the film for the album. The movie’s themes of memory and emotional connection resonated with her, influencing the lyrical content and emotional depth of the album. 

Grande has also been a lifelong fan of Jim Carrey, who stars in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” His performance in the film has had a profound impact on her. She has frequently spoken about how Carrey’s vulnerability and honesty, especially in relation to mental health, have inspired her both personally and artistically. Grande has dealt with her own struggles with depression, and Carrey's openness about his challenges has served as a source of comfort and motivation. His ability to blend humor and emotional depth has influenced not only her music, but her outlook on life. By channeling the film’s exploration of love and loss, Grande crafted songs that mirror the film’s touching and introspective qualities while sharing her connection to the movie in her personal life.

“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” intricately explores heartbreak through its inventive narrative. The film focuses on a procedure designed to erase memories of a failed relationship. As the protagonists, Joel and Clementine, undergo the surgical process of erasing their memories of each other, the film vividly illustrates how heartbreak deeply affects one’s identity and emotional well-being. The memories of their time together, despite being painful, remain significant and resistant to complete obliteration. This emphasizes that true emotional healing involves more than merely erasing painful memories; it requires a deeper engagement with and understanding of the enduring impact of lost love. 

A review of the film in The New York Times says, “Brain damage as the antidote to love is an ambitious movie premise, but the film’s uncanny truths have proved timeless. We live in lonely times, and Joel serves as an Everyman for our current lovesickness.” Through this, the film invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of heartbreak and how past relationships continue to shape who we are.

In the ending of the movie, Joel and Clementine, despite knowing the painful history of their relationship and the fact that they’ve already attempted to erase each other from their memories, decide to give their love another chance. This moment reflects the film’s central theme: love, with all its imperfections and heartache, is deeply tied to personal growth and identity. The characters’ choice to embrace the possibility of future heartbreak rather than remain emotionally untouched highlights the resilience of love and the acceptance that even painful memories play a vital role in shaping who we are.

Following her breakup with Mac Miller and his subsequent death, Grande’s music took on a new level of depth and vulnerability. These impactful personal losses deeply affected her mental health, leading to a noticeable shift in her artistic expression. These experiences are reflected in her music as she transitioned from the upbeat, pop-driven sound of her earlier work to a more vulnerable and personal style. Albums like "Thank U, Next" and "Sweetener" reveal her struggles. Songs from these albums capture a wide range of emotions, from the raw pain of loss to moments of healing and self-reflection.

“He just comes to visit me

when I'm dreaming every now and then.” 

“Ghostin,” “Thank U, Next,” 2019

"Ghostin" is known as one of Grande's most emotional songs, exploring her struggle to let go of her late ex while navigating a new relationship. The lyrics reflect her ongoing connection to him, highlighting how he lingers in her mind and dreams. Despite its significance to her life, she has never performed this song live and has indicated she doesn’t plan to in the future.

Grande’s lyrics often dive into themes of emotional recovery, resilience, and the complex nature of love and loss, offering listeners an intimate glimpse into her struggles. “Eternal Sunshine” marked a significant shift in her ability to channel her experiences into a powerful and relatable musical narrative, while also confronting and navigating her own mental health challenges.

The song “We Can’t Be Friends” stands out as a prominent reflection of this, as the music video for the song is the face of the whole album. In the music video, Grande produced a surreal, dreamlike aesthetic reminiscent of the movie’s visual style, featuring fragmented and distorted imagery that symbolizes the fragmented memories and the disorienting aftermath of a breakup. The video’s exploration of these themes serves as a direct commentary on Grande’s personal experience with Miller. The song and video encapsulate her struggle with moving on from Miller, illustrating the difficulty of fully erasing or overcoming the emotional impact of such a significant relationship. By intertwining the film’s concepts with her own narrative, Grande creates a deeply personal and evocative tribute to her past and her journey through grief.

The album is filled with intentionality in both the songs and their arrangement. In "Imperfect for You," the chord progressions create an eerie sound that mirrors the complexity of relationships. This choice underscores the song's exploration of how love can be messy and imperfect, yet ultimately the partners know they’ll have each other at the end of the day.

By incorporating the themes of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” into her album “Eternal Sunshine,” Grande creates a deeply personal and evocative exploration of love, memory, and loss. In drawing inspiration from a film that resonated with both her and Miller, she channels her grief and emotional journey into her music. Grande’s artistic tribute not only honors her past with Miller but also offers a moving commentary on the universal experience of heartache and healing, revealing how deeply personal experiences can shape and enrich creative expression.