Ordinary Things

Album: Eternal Sunshine (2024)
Charted: 55
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Ariana Grande's Eternal Sunshine album concludes with "Ordinary Things," a track that celebrates finding magic in the mundane. Forget chasing dragons or scaling mountains for excitement – Grande revels in the simple joys shared with a loved one. It's a sentiment that hits home even harder after wading through the album's emotional turmoil.
  • With a heartwarming twist, the album's exploration of love ends with the wisdom of the pop star's grandmother, Marjorie Grande (affectionately called Nonna). Her voice recording offers a direct answer to the question posed in the album's opening track: "How can I tell if I'm in the right relationship?"
  • Grande explained to Apple Music's Zane Lowe that she captured Nonna's wisdom during a casual conversation. A simple line spoken by Nonna – "Never go to bed without kissing goodnight" – becomes a powerful message. It emphasizes the importance of small gestures and the significance of nurturing connection within a relationship. While the album explores the complexities of love, Nonna's reminder underscores the importance of cherishing the simple acts that solidify a bond.

    "Honestly, I didn't realize it until I found the voice note," said Grande. "I knew 'Ordinary Things' was the end of the album, I was like, 'This is the last song, but I wonder how I can put that button on it and have it land emotionally the way that I feel it can, and how can I answer the question?' I always record my Nonna when I'm with her because you never know what she's going to say, and she's the most hilarious person in the world. I had this 30-minute voice note of her and her friend, Shirley, talking. It was just right smack in the middle of it, and I said, 'Oh my God, that's the answer.'"
  • Grande isn't alone in the creative kitchen for "Ordinary Things." She teamed up with Nick Lee and Luka Kloser to craft the song. Lee, a Juilliard-trained musician with a knack for catchy hooks, has already racked up Grammy nominations for his work on Lil Nas X's 2021 hit "Industry Baby." Kloser also boasts an impressive resumé, contributing to songs by Tate McRae and Benee.
  • The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #42, making 98-year-old Marjorie "Nonna" Grande the oldest credited artist to appear on the chart. She surpassed the previous record held by Fred Stobaugh, who at 96 was featured on Green Shoe Studio's "Oh Sweet Lorraine," which peaked at #42 in 2013.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Carol Kaye

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Rosanne Cash

Rosanne CashSongwriter Interviews

Rosanne talks about the journey that inspired her songs on her album The River & the Thread, including a stop at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.