Single by Ryan Ross Hernandez
Title: Grandeur
Released: March 5, 2021
Recorded: 2015 - 2017
Studio: Capitol Studios (Hollywood, California)
Genre: Pop, disco, alternative R&B
Length: 5:02
Label: Studio 60 Records
Producer: Ryan Ross Hernandez

"Grandeur" is a song by American singer-songwriter Ryan Ross Hernandez, taken from his seventh studio album Sex with Former Lovers. It was written and produced by Hernandez. The song was released for digital download and onto streaming services as a promotional track on March 5, 2021, the day after the album was confirmed ,and a week before its release, without any prior announcement. It was also sent as a surprise track via e-mail to anyone who had pre-ordered the vinyl pressing of the record.

The song delivers on the promise of Sex with Former Lovers being the most "commercially pop" album Hernandez has ever released, featuring the most synthesizers that we've ever heard on a song by the musician. Grandeur is an understated pop song, with crisp and airy production. It carries a disco and R&B funk to it, from its thumping drums, finger-picking bass, groovy guitar licks throughout. It has has no big drop or key changes, staying at its same rhythm for its runtime. Grandeur is led at the helm by the soulful vocal delivery that Hernandez performs on it, his harmonies fading the song out in its outro.

Lyrically, the track touches upon the subjects of fame, the aftermath of a breakup, and reckless alcohol and drug usage. The central theme of sex is also touched upon. The chorus is a direct shot at the image tabloids have built of him, while also bragging about his own success, especially when compared to someone an ex-girlfriend of his is dating after him. Unlike previous songs heard off the album such as "The Younger Heart" and "Controlled Substances", Grandeur is more subtle on who the subject matter may be, although listeners began to formulate theories online shortly after its release.

---

Critical Reception

The song received universal critical acclaim from reviewers. Travis Perry of New York Times named "Grandeur" as "one of the most ambitious and among the best songs" Hernandez has composed. In an early review of Sex with Former Lovers, Madison Clark of Pitchfork complimented the song's "infectious dance groove" as a standout moment on the album. USA Today critic Stephen Smith commended the song as "the perfect balance of braggadocio (reminiscent of his PANIC! days) and brutal honesty songwriting approach", while Heather Sandberg of Billboard called it an "undeniable" earworm that will get your head bopping. Writing for the LA Times, Jason Williams praised its use of synthesizers, commenting "when Hernandez commits to a particular sound, he goes all in on it." Rolling Stone's Sydney Robertson wrote that the song is one of the "cleanest" vocal performances Hernandez has delivered, complimenting the falsetto delivery during the pre-chorus and outro. Insider writer Sebastian Santos admired the song for its "hip hop-esque" songwriting approach, highlighting the "inner battle" between Hernandez's celebrity status. On the contrary, Annabelle Olsen of AllMusic criticized the lyrics, calling the chorus "lazy," while stating that the song's saving grace was the music behind it.

---

Grandeur

Sleep three hours, call it a night
I’m falling on unhealthy ways to cope
Drinkin’ ’til I forget everything
Do a line of coke and split a molly
Have some sex and not remember her name
That’s not the best light to see me in
It’s a dangerous game every time in Los Angeles

You’re terrified whenever I’m in town
You’re scared about seeing my face somewhere
It’ll take you right back to the moment you fell in love with me
And in the same vein the moment I let you down
My sorry gets lost in all my grandeur

Ain’t my fault that girls born in the 90s love my style
Ain’t my fault that I’ve aged like fine wine
Ain’t my fault that Michelin star restaurants always got a table for me
Ain’t my fault that I can sellout a stadium in two minutes and your man is struggling with theater capacity
Ain’t my fault that your husband or wife fantasizes about me
Ain’t my fault that in my forties I do it even better than a twenty-one year old

You accuse me of ghosting you whenever I was on tour
At least my career isn’t fictional like your boyfriend’s
I could have treated you a lot better but it’s too late now
There’s not enough liquor in the world to drown out all the noise
I lose myself on the regular while you keep on being so composed
I fucking hate it when you act all proper
Only I know every inch of your body with my mouth

You’re terrified whenever I’m in town
You’re scared about seeing my face somewhere
It’ll take you right back to the moment you fell in love with me
And in the same vein the moment I let you down
My sorry gets lost in all my grandeur

Ain’t my fault that girls born in the 90s love my style
Ain’t my fault that I’ve aged like fine wine
Ain’t my fault that Michelin star restaurants always got a table for me
Ain’t my fault that I can sellout a stadium in two minutes and your man is struggling with theater capacity
Ain’t my fault that your husband or wife fantasizes about me
Ain’t my fault that in my forties I do it even better than a twenty-one year old

I will never be a role model
You better call somebody else if you want that boy band, heartthrob shit
I’m still racking up the hits and occupying screen time
You didn’t want me to lie
Although you grew to loathe who I really am
You were in Vegas with my ex-girlfriend to see my ex-girlfriend
It’s a little ironic given all the shit you spoke about them
It’s not my place to call you out, baby
I’ll leave it open-ended like the book of you and I
Do you wanna fuck again?

Ain’t my fault that girls born in the 90s love my style
Ain’t my fault that I’ve aged like fine wine
Ain’t my fault that Michelin star restaurants always got a table for me
Ain’t my fault that I can sellout a stadium in two minutes and your man is struggling with theater capacity
Ain’t my fault that your husband or wife fantasizes about me
Ain’t my fault that in my forties I do it even better than a twenty-one year old

Ain’t my fault that girls born in the 90s love my style
(It ain’t my fault that girls born in the 90s love me)
Ain’t my fault that I’ve aged like fine wine
(It ain’t my fault that I’m top shelf)
Ain’t my fault that Michelin star restaurants always got a table for me
(It ain’t my fault that I always got a table)
Ain’t my fault that I can sellout an arena in a minute and your man is struggling with theater capacity
(It ain’t my fault that my fans are loyal)
Ain’t my fault that your husband or wife fantasizes about me
(It ain’t my fault that your spouse fantasizes about me)
Ain’t my fault that in my forties I do it even better than a twenty-one year old
(It ain’t my fault that at forty I still do it better)

It ain’t my fault, baby
It ain’t my fault
It ain’t my fault, babe
It ain’t my fault
It ain’t my fault, honey
It just ain’t my fault

---

Comparable To: