Bye

Kicking off Ariana Grande's seventh studio album Eternal Sunshine, "Bye" wastes no time setting a bright, defiant tone. Written and produced by Grande alongside Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh, the track layers a four-on-the-floor beat with funky guitar riffs and shimmering synthesizers, nodding to 1970s disco and funk. Lyrically, it's a sharp goodbye to a partner, but Grande delivers it with a knowing smirk rather than bitterness, she's taking accountability while dancing away. The contrast between the euphoric production and the introspective words became one of the album's early talking points.

Released on March 8, 2024 via Republic Records, "Bye" debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, kept from the top spot only by the album's lead single "Yes, And?". It also cracked the top five in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Critics praised its glossy, retro sound, Pitchfork called it a "glossy, disco-funk opener," while NME described it as a "euphoric, self-aware banger." The music video, directed by Christian Breslauer, dropped the same day and features Grande in a series of surreal, colorful vignettes that mirror the song's playful yet poignant energy.[edit]