Artist(s): Joshua Grimmie
Title: SURPRISE!
Genre(s): Pop, R&B, Rock
Length: 3:21
Writer: J.Grimmie
Producer: Joshua Grimmie
Label: Five Pesky Kids
From The Album: GOLDENHEART
SURPRISE! is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter and producer Joshua Grimmie. The song was released worldwide on May 24th 2020 with no prior warning or promotion. It serves as the lead single from his upcoming sophomore album, "GOLDENHEART", set for release on an undisclosed date in 2020. The track was written, arranged, mixed and produced entirely by Joshua Grimmie himself, a first for the singer. The track was initially created in 2019 with Grimmie completing it himself in self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and after a break from work following a multitude of personal traumas.
"SURPRISE!" is an experimental pop track, marrying a multitude of genres from late 90's R&B, metal and electropop. It opens up with distorted, digitally altered vocals and dramatic strings before the heavy and unexpected thrashing of an electric guitar, which is in turn followed up almost instantaneously again by a switch in style - this time, an acoustic guitar beat not dissimilar to late 90's/early 00's pop and R&B hits. The song is seen as a response to his ex-lover, Johnny Carter, who released an album full of songs documenting their split earlier this year. In the track it is revealed that Johnny cheated, still tries to contact Grimmie and that Joshua is in a new relationship.
"SURPRISE!" is Joshua's first release in almost three years, following the Eilidh assisted
"Ticking On It". In 2017, Grimmie experienced a wave of success, following a legal battle with a former record label in 2016. His debut album "PORCELAINHEART" received rave reviews, topped the charts and is still selling strongly three years on. The album also produced four top 10 hits and two successful tours in support of it. However, personal turmoil meant that Joshua had to take a break from the music scene. Multiple incarnations of his second album have been scrapped in the interim as Joshua either "wasn't feeling it" or the muses and topics of certain songs were no longer relevant to him.
"SURPRISE!" was the turning point for Joshua, turning the original concept of the album from a heartbreak record into a defiant, self-love project.
Joshua Grimmie wrote:"With "SURPRISE!" I was in a real "fuck you!" moment. I'd often flip back and forth between self pity and anger during the process of the second album but the songs I created were either too soppy or too aggressive. "SURPRISE!" was the first tangible idea I had in a long time. The title alone is great for a comeback single and as I worked on it over the months, that became the goal - to have this as the lead single. The lyrics, the vibe, the attitude...it just summed up everything I wanted to get off by chest and also reflected the sonic direction I was taking with this new record. I'm known for playing guitar. I'm never without it on stage but I feel like the first album didn't lend itself to live instrumentation as much as I would've liked. For this record, I want to marry live, raw and serious live instrumentation with mainstream-ish pop music. I like to call it this new sound "Anger Management Pop". On "SURPRISE!" there is this really breezy guitar and pop melody akin to old She'kspere, Darkchild productions. Very TLC, DC, early Britney type stuff...then there's this fucking thrashing of a heavy metal guitar thrown in. It's intricately chaotic. It reflects the vibe of the song. I'm breezy and above all that shit...but then there's the very "matter of fact" jibes coming in every so often to knock you around a little."
SURPRISE!Spilled my last drop into the ocean
Dried my eyes, calmed from the commotion
Tired of giving negativity my devotion
You fucked with my trust so leave my emotions
What did I ever see in you?
I had to clear and rewire my head
Stuck on loop with all the words that you said
Tainted every crevice, needed a reset
Couldn't even rest up with what you brought to our bed
Don't act like you never knew
Do you really wanna know?
Well, if you really wanna know,
I just fucking hate you!
Does that cut right through to the bone?
Does that stick in your throat?
I'm not losing any sleep over you
You thought I'd run and jump,
Well...surprise!Don't worry, I'm not a walking disaster
These tears are just from dying with laughter
Climbing the snakes and moving the ladders
Rules to you, they just never seemed to matter
Guess it was just one big joke
Always thought that I had a thick skin
But I found it so hard to take it on the chin
I know they say that "he who without sin..."
But I really hope you get a taste of your own medicine
Praying that it burns in your throat
Do you really wanna know?
Well, if you really wanna know,
I just fucking hate you!
Does that cut right through to the bone?
Does that stick in your throat?
I'm not losing any sleep over you
You thought I'd run and jump,
Well...surprise!Do you really wanna know?
Wanna know exactly where to go?
It's dark out and getting frosty
And no, I'm no longer sleeping alone
Not holding onto hope and my phone
Clinging onto his gorgeous body
Speaking of, he's coming around tonight
Ain't that a surprise!Who the fuck do you think you are?
Did you want me to fall apart?
Did you just want to dim my star?
But you can't break this golden heart
Oh, I bet that was a surprise!
Never complained when I came out on top
So why do you now want me to stop?
Do you really wanna know?
Well, if you really wanna know,
I just fucking hate you!
Does that cut right through to the bone?
Does that stick in your throat?
I'm not losing any sleep over you
You thought I'd run and jump,
Well...surprise!Do you really wanna know?
Wanna know exactly where to go?
It's dark out and getting frosty
And no, I'm no longer sleeping alone
Not holding onto hope and my phone
Clinging onto his gorgeous body
Speaking of, he's coming around tonight
Ain't that a surprise!Who the fuck do you think you are?
Did you want me to fall apart?
Did you just want to dim my star?
But you can't break this golden heart
Oh, I bet that was a surprise!
Can Be Compared To:
