Exploring the Influence of Saturn Return in Music: Insights from Ariana Grande, Kacey Musgraves, and Beyond

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Ariana Grande, Kacey Musgraves. Getty Images (2)

Whether you're a believer in astrology or not, it's hard to ignore the buzz around pop stars talking about their Saturn return this year.

Recently, Ariana Grande and Kacey Musgraves released albums that touch on this astrological event. The Saturn return is said to happen when the planet Saturn returns to the same position in the sky as it was when a person was born. But why is this event significant, and why are so many artists singing about it?

The first Saturn return usually takes place between the ages of 27 and 31. It is seen as a significant moment in astrology when a person truly enters adulthood, facing new challenges and responsibilities.

Saturn "returns" about every 29.5 years, meaning most individuals will go through this phase three times. Astrologers in the West consider the Saturn return as a period of important transformation: it marks the transition to the next phase of life. The first one occurs in young adulthood, the second in middle age, and the third towards the later years. (A fourth Saturn return would only happen if someone lived to around 114 years old.)

Many musicians often pay attention to the first Saturn return since a lot of them begin their careers at a young age. By the time they reach 27, they have already experienced a lot in their lives.

Continue reading to learn more about the history of Saturn return in music.

Stevie Wonder (1976)

In his classic album Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder's song "Saturn" may not be explicitly about a Saturn return, but the lyrics describe a peaceful place where life is slower and people are less impulsive. Wonder sings about leaving for a cleaner place where there is no need to witness death or engage in war. The song conveys a message of putting things back and avoiding crimes, reflecting a harmonious and responsible society on Saturn.

Stevie Wonder may not have mentioned "Saturn return" in his song, but it's possible that he was experiencing his first one when he wrote it. "Songs in the Key of Life" was released when he was 26.

No Doubt (2000)

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R.E.M. (2001)

For millennials of a certain age, the phrase “Saturn return” brings to mind No Doubt’s album, Return of Saturn. Following their success with Tragic Kingdom in 1995, the band came together for a deeper exploration of young adulthood, influenced by frontwoman Gwen Stefani’s own Saturn return. In tracks like “Simple Kind of Life,” Stefani reflects on her feelings about motherhood and marriage, while “Six Feet Under” contemplates the connection between birthdays and mortality. In “Artificial Sweetener,” Stefani directly mentions astrology, singing about “The return of Saturn” and reflecting on her life decisions.

Katy Perry (2013)

Katy Perry released her fourth studio album, "Prism," in 2013. The album featured hit singles such as "Roar" and "Dark Horse," showcasing Perry's evolution as an artist. With catchy hooks and empowering lyrics, Perry solidified her status as a pop superstar with this album.

Perry reflected on her Saturn return in the song "By the Grace of God" from her Prism album. The track opens with the

Adele (2021)

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Adele subtly mentioned her Saturn return while talking about her fourth album, 30, which was mainly influenced by her separation from ex-husband Simon Konecki. At a concert in the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles in November 2021, Adele was seen wearing earrings shaped like the planet Saturn.

Angie McMahon (2023)

In a cover story with Vogue, she also talked about her Saturn return, sharing, "It's where I lost the plot... When that comes, it can rock your life. It shakes you up a bit: Who am I? What do I want to do? What makes me truly happy? All those things."

The Australian singer-songwriter took a three-year break from music before releasing a track called “Saturn Returning,” sparking a wave of Saturn references. In the song, she sings, “I’m gonna let Saturn returning distort me / Just wanna be wide awake when I’m 40.”

McMahon shared with Rolling Stone in June 2023 that “Your Saturn return is like a teacher,” describing the song as a conversation with herself during a time of significant endings and beginnings. She emphasized the importance of compassion and hope in dealing with her mental health struggles. McMahon learned the value of having a gentle and loving relationship with herself in this chapter of her life.

MS MR (2023)

In September 2023, the duo MS MR released their final single as a band. The song, titled "Saturn Return," features lyrics like "You’re my Saturn return / We orbit and burn / With one foot out of the grave" in the second verse.

Rêve (2023)

Rêve, a Canadian singer-songwriter, launched her first album, Saturn Return, in October 2023. The final song, also named "Saturn Return," explores the mixed feelings of aging, with lyrics such as, "We look back on the past with kindness / Why were we so eager to grow up quickly?"

Paramore (2023)

Hayley Williams, the lead singer of Paramore, described their sixth album, This Is Why, as a significant moment for the band. In an interview with Coup de Main in November 2023, she mentioned that it feels like a Saturn return for them. She explained that certain aspects of their career seem to be coming full circle, signaling a new chapter for Paramore. Despite still having several years ahead before their actual Saturn return, Hayley expressed optimism about the band's future. With the upcoming end of their current contract, which has defined Paramore as their job and livelihood, there is a sense of excitement and possibility for new directions and opportunities that lie ahead.

SZA (2024)

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SZA’s song "Saturn" was released a few years following her experience with her Saturn return. The lyrics talk about feeling trapped in a cycle of difficult moments. She expresses, "This must be what hell is like / There’s got to be more, got to be more." SZA also sings about being tired of her own thoughts and feeling paralyzed by them. She questions the idea of nirvana not living up to expectations and feeling like she has been in this situation before.

Ariana Grande (2024)

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Grande's seventh album, titled Eternal Sunshine, features a special "Saturn Return Interlude" narrated by YouTube astrologer Diana Garland. In the track, Garland explains the concept of Saturn's 29-year cycle, which signifies a time for personal awakening and self-discovery. She describes how Saturn serves as a wake-up call, urging individuals to face reality and truly understand their authentic selves.

Kacey Musgraves (2024)

Kacey Musgraves, who celebrated her 30th birthday while working on Eternal Sunshine, experienced significant transformations during her Saturn return. This period included her divorce from Dalton Gomez and her blossoming relationship with Ethan Slater.

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At the age of 35, Musgraves released her sixth album, Deeper Well. The title track of the album reflects on the past decade of her life, with lyrics like "My Saturn has returned" and "When I turned 27, everything started to change." It was in 2015, the same year she turned 27, that she released her breakthrough album, Pageant Material. The next year, she met Ruston Kelly, whom she married in 2017. In 2018, she released Golden Hour, which brought her several Grammy wins and catapulted her to superstardom. However, in 2020, she and Kelly filed for divorce as she was nearing 32, marking the end of her Saturn return phase.

Editor's P/S:

The Saturn return, a significant astrological event, has become a topic of fascination for pop stars. This article explores how artists have incorporated their Saturn return experiences into their music, from Stevie Wonder's "Saturn" to Ariana Grande's "Saturn Return Interlude." The first Saturn return, occurring between ages 27 and 31, marks a transition into adulthood, bringing challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities for self-discovery.

As musicians often begin their careers at a young age, their first Saturn return often coincides with a time of intense growth and reflection. The article highlights the experiences of Kacey Musgraves, who underwent a divorce and new relationship during her Saturn return, and Angie McMahon, who took a break from music before releasing the track "Saturn Returning." These artists' songs explore themes of self-reflection, growth, and the search for meaning as they navigate this transformative period. and creative implications of Saturn returns, musicians offer a relatable and introspective perspective on the challenges and opportunities of this pivotal stage in life.