Conan Gray has recently released a new single, which has quickly become popular among his fans. His song, “Holidays,” is a reminiscence of his childhood friendship when visiting his hometown, and a reflection on his complex emotions that he re-visits every time he goes back. 

Gray’s lyricism truly shines in this piece, with the bittersweet tone shining through his phrasing and the repeated lines, “All my youth I never knew that life would ever change/ But we keep on growing, didn’t think it’d show/ But I see it on your face.” First Sergeant James Hart said, “I like the lyrics, and I get the message he is trying to convey. It’s a little melancholy, though.” 

The background draws in the listener, with the nostalgic atmosphere bringing a sense of vulnerability that reflects the feelings that come with change and distance. 

Senior Onix Crittenden had some in-depth thoughts about the song, saying, “The strongest bonds of relationships form in adversity of one another. Though hardship forms growth, in Conan Gray’s song called Holidays the lyrics used prove meaning deeper than just growing apart; they show the connection between strength and bonds that’s proven through hardships.” 

The song is reflective of the passage of time, using instrumentals and vocals to convey the longing that comes with growing up and out of the life you knew. This song was a way for Gray to exhibit emotional depth within his work, telling a story using all aspects of a song: melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, timbre, and form. 

Gray delves into the curiosity of human connection, bringing up the pains of change and re-visiting the past. He sings of the changes in life that he has experienced as he grew, but also the continuity of friendship and the strengthening of connection despite being apart.