Latest news with #BrighterDaysAhead
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Life Listens: New music from Rose, Ariana Grande, Shazza and Benjamin Kheng
The Straits Times curates the most buzz-worthy music you need to know about that was released in the past month. PHOTOS: ROSES_ARE_ROSIE/INSTAGRAM, AFP, CROSS RATIO ENTERTAINMENT SINGAPORE – In this monthly column, The Straits Times curates the most buzz-worthy music you need to know about that was released in the past month. Stream This Song: Rose – Messy The latest single from Rose of K-pop girl group Blackpink is also her first contribution to a film soundtrack. Messy is the second single from F1: The Movie , the sports action drama starring Brad Pitt. It is set to open in Singapore cinemas on June 26. The minimally produced, electronic-tinged pop ballad has her taking a more restrained approach, with more crooning and less belting. Lyrically, it shares the same space as her previous solo single, Toxic Till The End. She also explores the darker side of complicated relationships in Messy, and how being in love can blind one to toxic traits. 'How bad could it really hurt?' she asks in the song. The South Korean-New Zealand singer is credited as a songwriter on the track, together with a team that includes Lostboy, the British songwriter-producer who won a Grammy for Best Pop Dance Recording for Australian diva Kylie Minogue's 2023 hit Padam Padam. Messy is also gaining traction among local listeners, and made its debut on Rias' Official Singapore Chart at No. 6 in mid-May. Must-see MV: Ariana Grande – Supernatural In the new music video for Supernatural, American singer-actress Ariana Grande walks through a burning, post-apocalyptic neighbourhood and get s abducted by aliens. It sounds like the plot of a B-grade science-fiction flick, but there are layers of hidden meanings behind the visuals. The UFO at the end, for example, is a symbol of the otherworldly love and loss of control she sings about on the track from her seventh album Eternal Sunshine (2024), while the destruction is a metaphor for the end of a doomed relationship. Directed by Grande and American music video director Christian Breslauer, the video first appeared as part of Brighter Days Ahead, the short film that accompanied Eternal Sunshine. It spawned a reissue, Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead, released in March. American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande in the music video for her song Supernatural, which is also part of Brighter Days Ahead, a short film that accompanies her seventh album Eternal Sunshine (2024). PHOTO: ARIANAGRANDE/YOUTUBE In the Brighter Days Ahead film set 70 years after the events of her We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) MV, Grande plays Peaches, a character who has her memories of a past relationship wiped out. If that sounds familiar, it is because it was influenced by Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, the 2004 sci-fi romance film starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet that inspired Grande's album title. Ace Album: Sleep Token – Even In Arcadia Even In Arcadia is the fourth album by enigmatic British band Sleep Token. PHOTO: RCA RECORDS In the last couple of years, Sleep Token went from viral sensations to chart-topping global music stars. Fronted by a singer and multi-instrumentalist who is known only as Vessel, the enigmatic, mask-wearing British band are known for widening the scope of metal music by incorporating pop, R&B and electronic, ambient soundscapes. Even In Arcadia, Sleep Token's fourth album, strays even further from their hard rock and metal roots. Vessel croons passionately in emotionally-laden verses before being engulfed in big, downtuned power chords and polyrhythmic drums. British band Sleep Token are fronted by masked singer and multi-instrumentalist Vessel. PHOTO: ANDY FORD The cathartic screams are kept to a minimum, and he seems more intent on employing vibratos and falsettos in songs that tackle personal introspection and emotional vulnerability. Notably, in Caramel and Damocles, he sings about the burden of fame, and how a rising and increasingly demanding fan base paved the way to existential dread. Thanks to massive streaming numbers – Even In Arcadia registered the highest streaming week for a hard rock album – the release reached No. 1 on the Billboard album charts, a spot normally reserved for pop, hip-hop and country acts. Chart Champ: Morgan Wallen – I'm The Problem I'm The Problem is the fourth album by American country music singer Morgan Wallen. PHOTO: BIG LOUD American country singer Morgan Wallen's I'm The Problem went straight to No. 1 on the US Billboard album chart, its biggest debut so far in 2025. The new offering also scored the highest streaming week for any album released in 2025. His fourth album overall, it is his third to top this chart. A marathon of a listen, I'm The Problem runs a little under two hours, with 37 songs in total. American country music singer Morgan Wallen. PHOTO: DAVID LEHR As the title suggests, there is a distinctive shift to introspective songwriting throughout, a sign that the country star has embraced newfound maturity in his craft. It is a far cry from the carefree, pleasure-loving early works. Songs such as the title track and Kick Myself see Wallen tackle his imperfections, while Superman showcases a desire to be a better role model for his young son. Being one of contemporary country music's most successful artistes is sweet, but as he points out in tracks such as Falling Apart and Genesis, fame can come with a heavy emotional toll. Singapore Scene: Shazza and Benjamin Kheng – Olivia Dean Home-grown singer-songwriters Shazza and Benjamin Kheng collaborated for the first time on a pop song in Olivia Dean. PHOTO: CROSS RATIO ENTERTAINMENT Home-grown singer-songwriters Shazza and Benjamin Kheng collaborate for the first time on Olivia Dean, a sprightly pop track and a paean to first love. The pair mooted the team-up while they were both performers at the 2024 National Day Parade. The upbeat tune ha s an infectious melody and their voices blend harmoniously as they sing about the exhilarating rush of a new romance. Titled after English neo-soul singer-songwriter Olivia Dean, the song also features a catchy, choir-ready bridge as well as orchestral embellishments. Home-grown singer-songwriters Shazza and Benjamin Kheng collaborate for the first time on a pop song in Olivia Dean. PHOTO: CROSS RATIO ENTERTAINMENT Shazza, whose real name is Shareefa Aminah, was recently featured in the 10th edition of Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia list released on May 15. The list, which includes other Asian personalities such as K-pop boy band Stray Kids, highlighted her viral TikTok videos with Canadian duo Crash Adams and the shoutout she got from Coldplay's singer Chris Martin during the British rock band's 2024 concert in Singapore. Olivia Dean is the second single Kheng released in 2025. He also dropped the pop-punk-tinged tune Spine in April. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Ariana Grande's Album Cut May Finally Be Receiving The Attention It Deserves
At the moment, Ariana Grande is still promoting her current single, 'Twilight Zone,' which reaches new people every day. The tune serves as the focus track from the deluxe reissue of her latest album, Eternal Sunshine, which she refers to as Brighter Days Ahead. The cut is still performing fairly well at pop radio and growing its audience, but Grande may soon shift her attention to another track — an older one — as there appears to be genuine interest surrounding it. 'Supernatural,' an album cut featured on Eternal Sunshine, returns to one Billboard chart this week. It reappears at No. 146 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S., the tally that ranks the most consumed songs around the world, excluding all streaming and purchasing activity from the U.S. The tune has only spent five frames on the list, and while it previously peaked at No. 24, the fact that it's back at all suggests there may be some heat behind the pop composition. Grande's team may have anticipated this surge — or it may be a coincidence — as the singer recently released a music video for the track. The visual isn't completely new, but is made up of scenes from her Brighter Days Ahead short film, which debuted at the same time as the deluxe edition release. In just a few days, the 'Supernatural' treatment amassed nearly two million views. Following the release of the 'Supernatural' video, it's entirely possible that the track will rise in consumption in the coming week or two. The tune could climb on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. once again and may even find its way back to the Billboard Global 200 as well. That tally does include American streams and sales, and YouTube plays factor into where a song lands. While 'Supernatural' is the more exciting of the pair, 'Twilight Zone' remains the Grande single receiving proper promotion at the moment. The track debuts on the Radio Songs chart, hitting Billboard's list of the most successful tunes across all American radio stations. It opens at No. 42, giving the Grammy winner her milestone thirtieth placement on the ranking. Simultaneously, it lifts to a new all-time peak of No. 28 on the Adult Pop Airplay tally and holds at No. 16 on the Pop Airplay list, matching its previously set high point.
South China Morning Post
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Meet Ariana Grande's childhood BFF, Courtney Chipolone: the ‘Twilight Zone' singer's pal works at R.E.M. Beauty, was in a music video with Kris Jenner, and hangs with the Wicked star and Ethan Slater
Ariana Grande transformed into a much older version of herself for her new 26-minute short film, Brighter Days Ahead. The music video was released at the end of March alongside the deluxe version of hit album Eternal Sunshine, which features new songs including 'Twilight Zone' and 'Past Life'. It's been a busy 12 months for Grande, who also appeared in the award-winning musical Wicked last year. Advertisement Courtney Chipolone (right) and Ariana Grande have been friends since childhood. Photo: @courtneychipolone/Instagram But what do we know about her personal life and friendships, away from the headlines? Courtney Chipolone posted this sideways photo to her 300,000 followers on Instagram in February. Photo: @courtneychipolone/Instagram Meet one of Grande's BFFs, Courtney Chipolone, who has been by her side for years. How did Courtney Chipolone and Ariana Grande meet? 'Happy Birthday, pop star,' Courtney Chipolone wrote on this dedication post to her friend Ariana Grande. Photo: @courtneychipolone/Instagram It's not clear how Chipolone and Grande met, but reports suggest that they grew up together.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Was Ariana Grande Right to Wait a Year for the ‘Eternal Sunshine' Deluxe Reissue?
For the third time — and in the second different calendar year — Ariana Grande's Eternal Sunshine tops the Billboard 200 this week. The album, which originally debuted atop the chart dated Mar. 23, 2024 and spent two weeks at No. 1, returns to the apex with 137,000 units moved, according to Luminate. The album's resurgence comes following the release of its Brighter Days Ahead deluxe edition, which boasts six bonus tracks — all of which appear on this week's Billboard Hot 100, led by 'Twilight Zone' at No. 18 — and comes with a short sci-fi film of the same name, starring Grande and her father, Edward Butera. More from Billboard Lorde Shares Snippet of New Song Ahead of L4: 'Since I Was 17, I Gave You Everything' Is Drake's 'Nokia' the Biggest Threat to Kendrick Lamar & SZA's Hot 100 Supremacy? Shenseea & Masicka Lead 2025 Caribbean Music Awards Nominations Do we think the commercial response validates the relatively lengthy wait for the deluxe edition? And what do we make of this mini-movie? Billboard staffers discuss these questions and more below. 1. returns to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this week — a year after topping it the first time — with 137,000 units moved, following the release of the set's edition. Is that performance better than, worse than, or about what you would have expected? Hannah Dailey: Overall, I would say that it's even better than I expected for a deluxe edition released a full year after the original – but I did anticipate the deluxe doing well in general. I think a lot of people really underestimate just how loved this album is. I'm certainly not surprised that there's still so much interest in it all this time later! Kyle Denis: Much better. I assumed the album would return to the bottom half of the top 10 – especially because there's no current radio single from the standard version and 'Twilight Zone' didn't exactly explode upon release – but to pull a six-figure total and return to No. 1 over a behemoth of a Playboi Carti album and Lil Durk's latest set is amazing. Lyndsey Havens: What I would expect. Ariana is a consistent chart-topper at this point, and the only thing I wouldn't see coming is if Brighter Days Ahead fell short of the tally's top spot. And the thing I love about this particular feat is that it wasn't a curiosity rebound, meaning I don't get the sense people listened only out of curiosity and then moved on. The songs on this deluxe are that good — and if Eternal Sunshine didn't tell such a tightly knit story, they could have easily arrived then. But that's what I love most about this deluxe; it arrived when the stories in these songs needed to be told, and when Ari was ready to tell them. Jason Lipshutz: Better. Deluxe editions of major albums typically don't arrive one year after the original album's release, and considering how much of Ariana Grande's focus has been on Wicked (and the upcoming Wicked: For Good), it'd be easy to surmise that she and her fans had moved on from Eternal Sunshine. So the fact that these deluxe tracks arrived less like a belated thank-you and more like the completion of a beloved project, with a six-figure equivalent album units total and a return to the top of the Billboard 200, represents a major win for Grande, on an occasion that she could have dismissed as minor. Andrew Unterberger: Definitely better. This deluxe came a long time after the original album, and it feels it — since so much else happened in the interim, both in Grande's career and pop music in general. To still have enough in interest in you and your most recent project to chart a half-dozen new songs on the Hot 100 (and none that low), while moving six digits' worth of album units, should all feel pretty validating for Grande. 2. A year is a long time in 2025 to wait to release a proper deluxe edition of a hit album. Do you think it has proven a smart strategy for Grande, or should she have come with it a little sooner? Hannah Dailey: I'd usually say a year is an egregiously long time to wait between an album and deluxe, but in this specific case, I think the distance was to Grande's benefit. First of all, a lot of the big pop releases that came after Eternal Sunshine in 2024 kind of overshadowed the album and pushed it out of the general public's consciousness a bit; waiting this long to drop the deluxe gave it more than enough space from those other releases to totally stand out and have a second chance at being a quintessential pop moment of 2025, if not 2024. Second, it was nice to have a breather from all the Wicked craziness before Eternal Sunshine Part 2. It gave us a bit of time to miss Grande before she did anything else and re-orient our brains back to thinking of her as in pop star mode, not Glinda mode. Kyle Denis: I think it's absolutely proven correct. She was risking serious overexposure if she launched a deluxe edition with six new songs and a movie while she was still knee-deep in Wicked press. The standard version got ample time to shine, and the deluxe now has several months – before Wicked: For Good press ramps up – to itself. It also helps that Grande put out a 'slightly deluxe' version of the album in between its initial release and Brighter Days Ahead, so her Eternal Sunshine rollout has been meticulously plotted to avoid having too much Ari at one time. Lyndsey Havens: I'm genuinely curious how much of it was strategic and how much of it was basic logistics and/or intuition. Since Eternal Sunshine has arrived, Ariana has mostly been in Wicked promo mode. For the deluxe to arrive after awards season makes perfect sense on paper. But what could make even more sense is that Ariana could have still been living in or stuck on the stories behind these songs, and all they needed was a bit more time and space. Either way, I would love if this practice is adopted more. Take SZA's Lana, for example: Was it a stretch to call it a deluxe? Sure. But was it nice to have some space in between projects? I think so. And at the end of the day, I think the best strategy is releasing something when the artist feels it's ready — because that's when it will likely hit the hardest. Jason Lipshutz: Six months ago, I would have said the latter… but as it turns out, Grande was smart to roll out these songs following Wicked campaign. A months-long awards tour made it impossible for Grande to focus on Brighter Days Ahead promotion, so if these songs had arrived in late 2024 or early 2025, there likely would have landed as more of an afterthought during a hectic time. And instead of serving them up a month or two after Eternal Sunshine's release, Grande let the standard edition stand on its own — and 'We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)' grow into one of her most enduring hits — before giving these deluxe tracks their own moment. A unique strategy for unique circumstances, but she pulled it off expertly. Andrew Unterberger: I think it's proving pretty smart. Intuitively I would've said it was a little late, but most deluxe projects come so early these days — sometimes just days, if not mere hours — after their originals that Grande actually giving some real breathing room between the two is something I'm more grateful for than I would have expected. (The songs being good also certainly helps!) 3. 'Twilight Zone' is the clear leader of the new tracks from the reissue on the Hot 100 this week, debuting at No. 18. Does it feel like a long-lasting hit to you, or will it fall once the reissue's early momentum wears off? Hannah Dailey: It definitely sounds like a hit to me, and I love how it adds to the narrative of the rest of the album. I predict that it'll be a slow grower – it's not the splashiest-sounding pop song, but it's one that's been getting randomly stuck in my head repeatedly ever since it came out, and I'm guessing I'm not the only one. I think that people will continue to keep coming back to it more and more over the next few weeks. Kyle Denis: I think it depends on how much Grande is willing to do for the song. If it gets a standalone video and some kind of live performance, I can see 'Twilight Zone' sticking around the charts as a cute springtime hit. If she lets these songs sit and shifts her focus back to Wicked, I anticipate 'Twilight Zone' falling a bit faster than the average Grande single. Lyndsey Havens: What's crazy to me is while all five of the new tracks compete for the title of my favorite, 'Twilight Zone' doesn't often lead the list. It's almost like each new song is better than the last, as I loved 'Warm' but then 'Dandelion' (the horn!) into 'Past Life' into 'Hampstead' is just an incredible run. But I do think 'Twilight Zone' is the most sonically linked to Eternal Sunshine, which is why it was the perfect track to open the deluxe — and maybe why it's connecting the most right now. Jason Lipshutz: I think 'Twilight Zone' is actually in for a pretty lengthy run, based on three things: the quality of the song, Grande's established presence at top 40, and the fact that no new non-Wicked music is on the horizon. 'Twilight Zone' travels down the same cozy synth-n-B path as 'We Can't Be Friends,' and streaming playlist curators and radio programmers should embrace it pretty quickly; the Wicked: For Good campaign will dominate Grande's focus during the second half of the year, so even if Eternal Sunshine tumbles back down the Billboard 200, this song will stand as her traditional pop bid in the months leading up to the film. Andrew Unterberger: It does feel like a hit to me, but I'm not sure that it actually will be. Top 40 is just embracing so few new songs from anyone these days — even from proven hitmakers like Grande — and I'm not sure if the format will cut into its Benson Boone or Gracie Abrams spins for this deluxe edition song, especially if Grande isn't really gonna push it herself. I hope it does, though — or that it finds footing enough on streaming to be a long-lasting hit there — because it certainly does deserve to have that kind of endurance. 4. In addition to the new songs, comes with an accompanying short film of the same name, featuring many of the album's tracks. Does the mini-film add much to the album era/experience to you? Hannah Dailey: Honestly, the short film didn't do much for me by way of enhancing the album. I more just love to see Grande marrying her loves for music and acting in a way that clearly makes her feel really fulfilled creatively, and in general it was nice to have something extra to end the Eternal Sunshine era on a grander note. Kyle Denis: In some ways, yes. Longtime Grande fans are very aware of how rocky her relationship with her father has been throughout her career, so to see him make a cameo in the film as the doctor who uses music to put her back together after the press tore her to shreds… that was an unbelievably beautiful full-circle moment. Brighter Days Ahead is also easily the strongest distillation of Grande's creative pysche that she's offered so far; her beloved horror elements are on full display, and the film's throughlines help emphasize the message of Eternal Sunshine and flaunt her dramatic acting skills. While the pacing was a bit clunky, the short film only leaves me more excited to see where Grande (and Christian Breslauer, or perhaps a different collaborator?) goes next visually. Lyndsey Havens: Only in the sense that it's a great metric for fans to understand that in this case, similar to what I said above, this deluxe isn't necessarily a strategic play. Creating and delivering a short film to accompany these new tracks only proves how much of a story is baked into them, and how moved Ariana felt to not only tell that story, but bring her fans into it, in more ways than one. Jason Lipshutz: The short film adds a compelling visual element to the Eternal Sunshine deluxe edition, but ultimately, 'Twilight Zone' transcends the greater context around it, just like prior Hot 100 chart-toppers 'Yes, And?' and 'We Can't Be Friends.' Grande has spent time over the past eight years re-positioning herself as a traditional albums artist after breaking through with a string of hit singles beginning in 2013… but full-length statements like Thank U, Next, Positions and Eternal Sunshine still contain those hits, and her latest album is defined by those radio-ready standout moments. If the short film better exemplifies the tone of Eternal Sunshine, Grande's latest chart hit prolongs the era with more powerful commercial intent. Andrew Unterberger: I can't be mad at any music video with real ambition (and a real budget!) in 2025. 5. Has your relationship with or view of changed any over the past year from when it was released? Hannah Dailey: I loved Eternal Sunshine on my very first play-through, and I have loved it (and listened to it on, at minimum, a weekly basis) ever since. To me, it still represents Grande in a place of full creative liberation – you can hear that she made these songs, both original and deluxe, not because she had to, but simply because she had music and words inside of her that desperately needed to come out in the studio. If anything, I've come to accept more since its release that this could very likely be the last album we get from her in a long time as she shifts her focus to acting, which makes listening to it a little more bittersweet. Kyle Denis: I already loved it upon release, and I've only grown to appreciate it more. Eternal Sunshine is now officially my favorite Ari album. She's really settled into post-Imogen Heap/Brandy lane that suits her damn-near perfectly. Lyndsey Havens: Hm, not really. I think another benefit of releasing a deluxe so long after the album itself is that it can reignite interest. While I listened to Eternal Sunshine on loop for months after it came out, naturally that fades with time and with more and more new music always incoming. So, while my love for the album never waned, this deluxe has only helped strengthen my relationship with it once again. And now, perhaps unfortunately for me, it's only left me wanting even more. Jason Lipshutz: Definitely — after previously considering Eternal Sunshine a mid-tier Grande project, the album's emotional maturity has resonated with me in a clear way in the months following its release. The Brighter Days Ahead songs have underlined the overall project's tone and purpose — so, chart performance aside, the deluxe edition has been an unequivocal success. Andrew Unterberger: Not really, but I do have more of a belief now that it will go down as a classic album and a major part of her legacy. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100
Forbes
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Ariana Grande's 'Eternal Sunshine' Reaches A Special Milestone
Ariana Grande's Eternal Sunshine is still basking in a very special glow, even as it celebrates its first birthday. More than a year after its release, the album shows no sign of fading – in fact, it's still one of the most popular sets in the United Kingdom. The pop singer recently gave the project a second life with a deluxe edition, titled Brighter Days Ahead, which added several new tracks to the set, making it a smash all over again. Now, that boost has helped the title hit an important milestone. As of this frame, Eternal Sunshine has officially spent a full year on the Official Albums chart in the U.K. The list ranks the most consumed full-lengths and EPs in the country, blending pure sales and streaming activity to determine which titles are connecting with British audiences. The project reaches 52 total weeks on the tally this period, becoming the latest in Grande's growing list of smash successes to achieve that honor. Out of Grande's seven full-lengths, only two have failed to make it to the 52-week milestone on the U.K. chart. One of those near misses was Positions, which still enjoyed a run of 43 weeks on the tally. Her debut album Yours Truly remains her weakest performer on the ranking. That release peaked at No. 7 – her lowest high point – and managed just five weeks on the chart. While Eternal Sunshine celebrates its fifty-second frame, two of Grande's past efforts have gone much further. Dangerous Woman currently stands as her longest-charting release in the U.K., with an impressive 114 weeks on the Official Albums chart to its credit. My Everything isn't far behind, climbing to 105 total weeks — just over two full years. Even as it reaches the one-year mark, Eternal Sunshine is performing better than the vast majority of albums at this stage in their lifecycle. This week, the collection appears on six U.K.-based charts, and while it slips slightly on each ranking, it doesn't do so dramatically. On the Official Albums chart, the set dips from No. 3 to No. 4. When it comes to the Official Albums Streaming list, the project is also holding steady inside the top 10. Grande released Eternal Sunshine in March 2024, and in a little over a year, the set has become one of her most successful releases in the U.K. With Brighter Days Ahead giving the project new momentum, it wouldn't be surprising to see the album push well past this one-year marker, and perhaps even join her two longest-running efforts down the line.
