Conan Gray is an American singer and songwriter well known for songs like “Maniac” and “Heather” from his 2020 release, Kid Krow. This past Friday, he released a new single titled, “Winner”. Though he has billions of streams and over 20 million monthly listeners, this song is my first introduction to Conan Gray. Being that his music is completely foreign to me, the fact that I was immediately immersed and captivated by the track goes to show how powerful it is. 

“Winner” wastes no time, as blissful baladry introduces Conan’s first verse. He describes the end of a relationship with spine-chilling melodies and a fragile timbre. With the support of tearful piano, his cadence is potent and emotionally gripping. Once the song enters the pre-chorus, Conan encapsulates this person in a few short lines, “You don't really want to hear the truth, do you? / It's obvious to anyone who ever knew you / That all you ever want is to be right / Even if that means you gotta lie to do it.” This person is spiteful and neglects the impact they have on the speaker. “Winner” becomes truly gratifying once it enters its hook. This moment is the breaking point for the speaker. They finally give in to the fight and wave the white flag. In doing so, as ironic as it may be, it feels freeing for the speaker. Conan describes this dynamic as, “a moment where I finally felt like, fine. Great job. You did it. You hurt me more than anybody ever could hurt me. And it oddly felt nice. I see now that there is a certain freedom that comes from recognizing that you’ve been hurt. In no longer running.” The balladry comes to a sudden stop halfway through the hook as the rest of the instrumental begins to build. Radiant electric guitars and boastful drums that sound like they came from an 80’s sentimental Rock anthem, carry the track into its emotional crescendo. Following a second verse that further explores the speaker and the subject’s relationship, the final pre-chorus and hook play and it is… powerful to say the least. With the complete and total presence of phenomenal instrumentation and production (from Greg Kurstin) as well as vibrant harmonies brought on by background vocals, the final minute of this track is pure goosebump fuel. Conan’s vocal performance is absolutely stellar with seamless transitions between angelic falsettos and passionate belting. Every ounce of this song feels earned and emotionally striking. When the song fades out, it feels like a battle has been fought and you as the spectator lay amongst the debris and wreckage. It’s a fulfilling yet bleak experience. 

I’m beyond stoked to have been introduced to Conan Gray and this song. “Winner” is a stellar track and I’m happy to say that Conan has earned another fan today. Given that this is Conan’s second single this year, the speculation seems to be that he’s working towards the announcement and release of his next album. I heavily anticipate and await its arrival! Until then, “Winner” is out now and available everywhere. 

Author: Jordan

Jordan Wisniewski is a passionate writer and Hip-Hop artist from North Carolina, US.