"People Watching" is a song by American singer-songwriter Conan Gray from his second studio album Superache (2022). The song was written by Gray, Julia Michaels, and Dan Nigro, the latter of whom also produced the song. It was released by Republic Records on July 15, 2021. Inspired by Gray's personal experiences during college, it is an indie pop song that is about the activity of people-watching.

The song received positive reviews from citics, who praised the sentimental aspect of the lyrics. "People Watching" placed on charts in New Zealand and Singapore, and was certified gold in Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand. A music video featuring Gray working in a café was released on the day after the single. In 2022, the song was performed on The Today Show.

Background and release

In 2017, Gray posted a tweet on Twitter stating "i love people watching so much".[1] He later released his debut album, Kid Krow, in 2020 on which he also collaborated with Dan Nigro.[2][3] The following year Gray released two singles: "Overdrive" and "Astronomy".[4] Gray began teasing a third single,[5] later revealed to be "People Watching", which was released by Republic Records on July 15, 2021.[6][7] The song was featured as the second track on Gray's second studio album Superache in 2022.[8] "Astronomy" was also released on the album while "Overdrive", and Gray's following single, "Telepath", were featured as bonus tracks on Superache's Japanese CD release.[9]

Composition and lyrics

"People Watching"
A brief sample of the chorus from "People Watching" which highlights the jealousy experienced by Gray while he is people-watching but longing for a romantic relationship that he has seen others experience.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"People Watching" is an indie pop up-tempo ballad that explores the activity of people-watching.[10][11][12] For the song, Gray collaborated with Julia Michaels and his producer Dan Nigro; the three share a writing credit on the single.[13] Gray said he obtained the idea for the lyrics from eavesdropping on couples and wanting to share true romantic feelings with someone.[14] He also explained that he had never dated anyone prior to writing the song,[15] which is representative through lyrics in the chorus which states, "I wanna feel all that love and emotion; be that attached to the person I'm holding".[16]

The overall concept of the song expands on Gray's view of romantic relationships which he previously explored in "Crush Culture" from his 2018 extended play, Sunset Season.[17] "People Watching" opens with a steady guitar; the song slowly builds cumulating in a swell at the chorus.[18] The bridge features steadily increasing bass, piano, and drums over the lyrics "Cut people out like tags on my clothing", followed by Gray describing life as being monotone.[11][19]

Reception

Robin Murray with Clash said the song "balances a longing for love with an awareness of loneliness" and noted Gray's ability to write from the perspective of an outsider.[20] Ones to Watch writer Maxamillion Polo mentions the "emotional depth" that Gray harnesses in the track by highlighting the significance behind the lyrics.[21] Uproxx's Caitlin White described the song as "vulnerable" and mentioned how the song is told from a position where the subject is safe from relationship turmoil but at the same time, lacks intimacy.[22] Sofie Hernandez from NPR Music stated that Gray "has an acute ability to pick up on the intimate intricacies of love" and wrote that the song romanticizes relationships.[10] Writing for Affinity Magazine, Helen Ehrlich opined that Gray used the song to separate himself from the emotional baggage of his previous works.[18]

"People Watching" placed number 22 on the New Zealand Hot Singles Chart and number 25 on the Singaporean chart.[23][24] It was also certified gold in Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand.[25][26][27]

Music video and promotion

A music video for the song, directed by Joe Mischo, was shared on the day after its release.[28] In the video, Gray is featured working in a café and jealously observes various couples drinking coffee and eating pastries.[29] In the process of people-watching, he falls behind in performing his job duties causing a croissant to catch fire and allowing a coffee mug to fall to the ground and break. As the other employees deal with mishap, the café fills with smoke while Gray appears unfazed and continues to people-watch.[30][31] Gray attributed the concept of the video to his time in college when he would regularly people-watch in a similar café on campus.[29] He also stated he would joke about being terrible at working in a café with his best friend Ashley who appeared in the video.[32][33]

Gray performed "People Watching", along with "Disaster" and "Memories" from Superache and "Heather" from Kid Krow on The Today Show as part of their "Citi Concert Series".[34] It was also performed on the Superache Tour.[35] "People Watching" was featured along with "Crush Culture" in the Heartstopper season two episode, "Sorry".[36] The song was also used on Gray's following tour for his third studio album, Found Heaven (2024).[37]

Credits and personnel

Adapted from Tidal.[13]

  • Conan Gray – composer, lyricist, associated performer, background vocalist, vocals
  • Dan Nigro – producer, composer, lyricist, associated performer, background vocalist, bass, drum programming, percussion, piano, synthesizer
  • Julia Michaels – composer, lyricist, associated performer, background vocalist
  • Ryan Linvill – associated performer
  • Sterling Laws – associated performer, drums
  • Randy Merrill – mastering engineer, studio personnel
  • Serban Ghenea – mixer, studio personnel

Charts

Chart placements for "People Watching" by Conan Gray
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Singapore (RIAS)[24] 25
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[23] 22

Certifications

Certifications for "People Watching" by Conan Gray
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[25] Gold 35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[26] Gold 20,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[27] Gold 15,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Gray, Conan [@conangray] (April 25, 2017). "I Love People Watching so Much" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2024 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Corner, Lewis (July 15, 2021). "Conan Gray Releases New Single People Watching for 'All My Fellow Lonely People'". Gay Times. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Mier, Tomás (June 17, 2022). "How Conan Gray Became Pop's Oversharing Next Big Thing". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  4. ^ Newton, Felicity (July 15, 2021). "Conan Gray Had Dropped His New Single 'People Watching'". Dork. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Gray, Conan [@conangray] (June 13, 2021). "Life Feels so Monotone" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2024 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ Nigro, Daniel [@dan_nigro] (July 15, 2021). "It's Out! Conan Gray - People Watching. @Conangray - You Are Such an Inspiration to Me, Thanks for Always Being so Honest and Humble. And Thank You @Juliamichaels for Coming into Our World and Bringing so Much Wit and Rawness into Everything You Do. Hope Y'all Enjoy!". Retrieved February 14, 2025 – via Instagram.
  7. ^ "People Watching by Conan Gray – Album Details". Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  8. ^ Hicks, Shaeley (August 10, 2022). "Superache: A Review of Conan Gray's Newest Album". Unpublished Zine. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  9. ^ "スーパーエイク" (in Japanese). Amazon. June 24, 2022. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Hernandez-Simeonidis, Sofie (August 12, 2021). "Conan Gray, 'People Watching'". NPR Music. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Joshi, Mitali (July 12, 2022). "Conan Gray 'People Watching' Song Review". WKNC-FM. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  12. ^ Coleman, Diana (July 19, 2021). "Conan Gray Goes "People Watching"". Music Daily. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Credits/People Watching/Conan Gray - Tidal". Tidal. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  14. ^ Graves, Shahlin (July 15, 2021). "Conan Gray Releases New Song 'People Watching'". Coup De Main Magazine. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  15. ^ "Conan Gray Releases New Track 'People Watching'". DIY. July 15, 2021. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  16. ^ Gordon, Jeremy (June 28, 2022). "Conan Gray, A Budding Pop Singer Who Feels It All". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  17. ^ Ehrlich, Helen (November 16, 2018). "Review: A Track By Track Analysis Of Conan Gray's Debut EP 'Sunset Season'". Affinity Magazine. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Ehrlich, Helen (September 12, 2021). "Conan Gray Releases Hit 'People Watching'". Affinity Magazine. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  19. ^ Sani, Fatima (August 12, 2021). "'People Watching' Proves Longing Can Exist Without Loneliness". Study Breaks Magazine. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  20. ^ Murray, Robin (July 15, 2021). "Conan Gray Shares Bittersweet Jewel 'People Watching'". Clash. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  21. ^ Polo, Maxamillion (July 16, 2021). "Conan Gray's 'People Watching' Sees Him Turning His Deeply Personal Songwriting Outward". Ones to Watch. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  22. ^ White, Caitlin (July 14, 2021). "Conan Gray Is 'People Watching' In His Vulnerable New Single". Uproxx. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  23. ^ a b "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 26, 2021. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  24. ^ a b "RIAS Top Charts Week 29 (16 - 22 Jul 2021)". RIAS. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  25. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Brazilian single certifications – Conan Gray – People Watching" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  27. ^ a b "New Zealand single certifications – Conan Gray – People Watching". Radioscope. Retrieved January 4, 2025. Type People Watching in the "Search:" field.
  28. ^ Paul, Larisha (July 16, 2021). "Conan Gray Shares Yearning Visual For Latest Single 'People Watching'". UDiscover Music. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  29. ^ a b Robinson, Ellie (July 17, 2021). "Conan Gray Almost Burns Down a Café in the New Video for 'People Watching'". NME. Archived from the original on April 6, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  30. ^ "Conan Gray's Releases Music for New Single 'People Watching'". VMan. July 19, 2021. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  31. ^ Mischo, Joe (director) (July 15, 2021). People Watching - Music Video by Conan Gray (Music video). UMG Recordings. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2024 – via Apple Music.
  32. ^ Graves, Shahlin (July 19, 2021). "Conan Gray - 'People Watching' Music Video". Coup De Main Magazine. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  33. ^ Gray, Conan [@conangray] (July 16, 2021). "Ash N Cone Reunited for the 'People Watching' Music Video :,) Out Now. Hope U Enjoy <3". Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2024 – via Instagram.
  34. ^ Hines, Ree (June 24, 2022). "Watch Conan Gray Hit the Plaza with Stellar Performances — and a Bold Outfit". The Today Show. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  35. ^ Lawler, Lucky (October 3, 2022). "Concert Review: Conan Gray Aestheticizes Pain, Pleasure and Pining on His 'Superache' Tour". The Lantern. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  36. ^ Craig, David (August 3, 2023). "Heartstopper Season 2 Soundtrack: Every Song in Netflix Drama". Radio Times. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  37. ^ Poynton, Charlotte (July 15, 2024). "Live: Conan Gray – Found Heaven On Tour". The Live Wire. Archived from the original on July 21, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Watching_(Conan_Gray_song)
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