On October 18th, every teenage girl’s favorite nepo-baby, Gracie Abrams, released the new deluxe edition of her popular album “The Secret Of Us.” The album features four new songs, as well as three live recordings of her pre-existing songs. The four new songs are all very unique, guaranteeing that listeners will find something they enjoy.
This release may not be revolutionary since it’s derived from a pre-existing album, but these four new songs carry their weight enough for this drop to be the sound of autumn. So, say goodbye to “Brat Summer” and hello to Gracie Abrams Fall.
None of the new songs (“Cool,” “That’s So True,” “I Told You Things” and “Packing It Up”) missed the mark, and all deserve at least one listen. Abrams’ music is similar to pop-icon Taylor Swift, with a mix of songs that are emotionally vulnerable and upbeat and fun. A unique quality of Gracie Abrams’ lyrical style is relatability. If you do give these songs a listen, you may find your own life in the lyrics.
“Cool”
My personal favorite of the four new releases was “Cool.” This song is about being blindsided and having to accept the end of a relationship. The lyrics are about her ex being a “phony superstar” and how she built him up to be so great when, in reality, he was just a regular guy. She also sings about having to play it “cool” once a relationship ends and to try and not reveal her hurt. This song may sound sad, but the tune is actually very upbeat and catchy, making the song unique compared to other breakup songs.
“That’s So True”
“That’s So True” is the ultimate “girly” song of the year. If you are an Olivia Rodrigo fan, this song is very similar to her hit song “Deja Vu” but with the pettiness amped-up to the fullest. Abrams sings about her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend and how all the things they are doing together are things he and Abrams used to do. She exemplifies the jealousy and anger a lot of people feel every day. Whether you’re thinking about an ex and their new item or an unrequited crush, this song can provide the perfect lyrics to scream in your car to let all your anger out.
“I Told You Things”
“I Told You Things” is about having to say so many things to a person who has wronged you, but knowing it’s not worth it. Abrams expresses how much it hurts when all you want to do is tell someone how much they hurt you, but you know deep down that they won’t care. She also sings about how bad of a person her ex was, and she lets herself feel vulnerable through the lyrics.While this song may not be my favorite of the new releases it is still really good. From the anguished lyrics to the witty insults, this song is an emotionally-relatable listen.
“Packing It Up”
All of the aforementioned songs portray the events that lead up to her song “Packing It Up.” She sings about how she was giving up on love after so much failure, only for someone to pop into her life right when she was “packing it up.” This song is about an unexpected relationship and the innocence and joy that blooms from it. Unlike your everyday love ballad, this song is upbeat and explores love after hurt and overcoming the past in a surprising and positive way.
The live recordings
In addition to her new releases, Abrams released three live recordings of her already popular songs, “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” “I Knew It, I Know You” and “Free Now.” You may think since these songs aren’t new releases that they can’t be too interesting, trust me I thought the same. When I heard four out of her eight “new songs” were just live recordings I was very disappointed. However, after I gave them a listen I realized that these songs were so much more than just re-recorded music. Since these are recorded live, you can feel the raw emotion in her voice, making the songs more powerful. The live recording almost makes you feel like you are at her concert, completely changing how the song makes you feel. These recordings are arguably even better than their original counterparts. If you are going to listen to anything discussed in this article, listen to “Free Now (Live)” because it will change your life.
This deluxe album has brought a few new amazing songs onto the scene, but Abrams’ could benefit from a whole new album. Maybe I am just fishing for new songs to listen to by my favorite artist, but the deluxe album was just not enough to satisfy my needs. It’ll hold me over for now since the songs are so good, but I am hoping to see some more material from her.
Gracie Abrams’ new deluxe album is worth checking out. She is one of the most relatable pop stars out there since she conveys so many different emotions through her songs. Anyone can find something they enjoy on this album since all of her songs are so versatile. If you are feeling sad, jealous, in love or all of the above, tune into “The Secret Of Us (Deluxe).”