twilight zone

Album

Eternal Sunshine

Label

Republic Records

Genre

Rhythm & Blues

Composer(s)

Ariana Grande;Ilya Salmanzadeh;Max Martin

Entered Chart

Apr 12, 2025

Peak Date

Apr 12, 2025

B-Side

"Twilight Zone" (a cappella)

"Twilight Zone" is what happens when heartbreak meets vintage sci-fi: a dreamy, synth-pop reflection on emotional closure, wrapped in nostalgia for Rod Serling's eerie television series. The song finds Grande sifting through the surreal disbelief of her past relationship with ex-husband Dalton Gomez, using The Twilight Zone as a metaphor for the unsettling feeling of looking back and wondering, Wait, did that really happen? Grande has long been a fan of the 1959–1964 anthology series The Twilight Zone - in 2019 she dressed up as a character from the series. In this song she channels themes of the bizarre and unexpected to frame a story of love gone strangely wrong. The idea of being "stuck in the twilight zone" serves as a poetic shorthand for that detached, disoriented state that follows a painful breakup - the kind where memories feel like they belong to someone else. Musically, "Twilight Zone" leans into ethereal melodies and haunting undertones, courtesy of longtime Grande collaborators Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh. Grande recorded the song for the deluxe edition of her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead, a project that chronicles the emotional roller coaster of her post-divorce world. The original album, recorded between September and December 2023, a few months after their separation, captures the immediate fallout. Tracks like "Intro (End Of The World))" and "Bye" directly address the breakup, capturing feelings of heartbreak, introspection, and reluctant closure. The six new tracks added in the deluxe edition, released on March 28, 2025, delve further into Grande's journey of healing and moving forward post-divorce. Songs like "Twilight Zone" explore themes of detachment from her past relationship and newfound confidence. The Twilight Zone TV series has inspired several songs that reference its eerie, surreal storytelling. Here are a few notable examples: 1976 "The Twilight Zone" by Rush The late Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart was a big fan of the series, and he based this song on two separate episodes of the show, "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?" and "Stopover in a Quiet Town." 1979. "Twilight Zone" by The Manhattan Transfer This jazz-pop track plays with Twilight Zone themes of the bizarre and unknown. The song's lyrics refer to the show's unsettling atmosphere, and its melody echoes the eerie quality of the iconic theme music. 1982 "Twilight Zone" by Golden Earring Perhaps the most famous Twilight Zone-inspired song, this Dutch rock band's hit is directly based on the show's themes of paranoia, espionage and existential dread. The lyrics tell the story of a spy on the run, not sure if he'll make it out alive. The music video even features a shadowy, noir-esque storyline reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode. 1984 "The Body Electric" by Rush "The Body Electric" tells the story of a rebellious android escaping from a dystopian system. The title references a 1962 Twilight Zone episode of the same name. Its connection to AI, free will, and a mechanical being seeking individuality echoes The Twilight Zone's speculative storytelling. 2002 "Paint The Moon" by The Czars This dreamy, melancholic track by The Czars has an eerie, otherworldly feel, and its lyrics evoke themes of loneliness, longing, and a surreal atmosphere - elements often found in The Twilight Zone. Frontman John Grant wrote the song while watching an episode of The Twilight Zone on French TV. 2019 "Somewhere in the Twilight Zone" by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross (2019) This atmospheric instrumental was composed for Watchmen: Volume 3, evoking the eerie, suspenseful feeling that defined the original Twilight Zone series.

Did I dream the whole thing?
Was I just a nightmare?
Different dimensions
Stuck in the twilight zone
Is this a black and white scene?
If so, then I'm in the gray one
Hope you win for best actor
'Cause I had you completely wrong

Does she know you're not who you say you are?
'Cause I might give her a call
Or was I just not me at all?

And it's not like I'm still not over you
It's so strange, this I never do
Not that I miss you, I don't
Sometimes, I just can't believe
You happened
It's not like I'd ever change a thing
'Cause I'm right here where I'm meant to be
Not that I'd call you, I won't
Sometimes, I just can't believe
You happened

Were we just mistaken?
Disguised our intentions?
Our nest was a masquerade (masquerade)
Why do I still protect you? (Mm)
Pretend these songs aren't about you (songs aren't about you)
Hope this might be the last one
'Cause I'm not foolin' anyone (I'm not)

Does she know you're not who you say you are?
'Cause I might give her a call
Or was I just not me at all?

And it's not like I'm still not over you
It's so strange, this I never do
Not that I miss you, I don't
Sometimes, I just can't believe
You happened
It's not like I'd ever change a thing (not like I'd change a thing)
'Cause I'm right here where I'm meant to be (ah)
Not that I'd call you (you), I won't
Sometimes, I just can't believe (I can't believe you)
You happened

(Not) it's not (like) like (I'm) I'm over you
It's so strange (I don't miss you)
Not that I miss you, I don't
Sometimes, I just can't believe (can't believe)
(You) you happened