“A wishbone is one of the only wishing rituals that requires two people. That reminded me of relationships because there’s one winner and one loser,” states singer/songwriter Conan Gray in an interview with TODAY. 

This metaphor has opened the doors to some amazing pop and even pop-rock style tracks on Gray’s new album titled Wishbone. At first glance, the 70’s inspired coastal aesthetics associated with the album’s cover set the scene for a story, ready to express an emotional and personal look into Gray’s life. Let’s break this story down and take a deeper dive into the ocean of musical self-discovery that is called Wishbone.

In the Making

At 12 years old, Conan Gray started his journey into the world of music by uploading vlogs and original songs to YouTube. Little did he know that his talents and dreams would soon take off and result in around 25.8 million listeners per month. Gray’s career really took off in 2020 with the release of his debut album Kid Krow. Popular and easily recognizable tracks such as “Heather” resulted from this album and were only used as more motivation to keep creating music.

Now in 2025, three albums later, Gray has once again contributed to the music industry with another heartbreaking and beautifully written album. He mentions in a post on his Instagram that “Over the past two years, this album fixed something broken in me. I’d been standing at the edge of myself for years, not knowing that all I had to do was jump into my own life”.

It’s clear to see that this project was a major part of Gray’s life, serving almost as a diary for him to spill his feelings and artistic creativity into. Critics note that Wishbone is a comparatively more vulnerable and storyline-oriented follow-up to Gray’s previous album, titled Found Heaven. With Found Heaven being a more upbeat, 80s-inspired project, Wishbone comes full circle back to Gray’s original, intimate, and acoustic writing and production style. 

Concept

Like previously mentioned, the title of the album references the idea that when you break a wishbone, whoever gets the long end is deemed the winner of the game. This is meant to represent that there can only be one “winner” at the end of a relationship. Whether it’s a friendship or something more romantic, it’s a concept that many can relate to. 

With this, there are two recurring characters associated with the cinematic music videos for singles “This Song”, “Vodka Cranberry”, and “Caramel”. Brando, played by actor Corey Fogelmanis, and Wilson, played by Conan Gray himself, are meant to mirror Gray’s last relationship, the catalyst for the main subject of the album. The story between these characters depicts themes of self-discovery, rejection, and identity.

Gray’s use of emotional lyricism, vocals, and overall production manage to deliver these concepts in an effective and meaningful way.

Lyricism

Throughout Wishbone, Gray manages to demonstrate his clear songwriting talents. His well-thought-through and emotionally raw lyrics paint a picture for listeners to enjoy. In tracks like “Actor” and “This Song”, Gray uses vivid language and metaphors that have a sort of complexity to them, yet aren’t difficult to understand. The accessible way of writing effectively communicates emotions about love, vulnerability, and wishful thinking. For example, in “Actor” he writes, “Let’s pretend nothing happened, I agree, but you’re a much better actor than me”. Not only do his lyrics relate to many, but they also tell the story of his characters, Brando and Wilson, mentioned earlier, building up a cohesive narrative throughout the album.

When you move further down the track list, you run into songs like “Class Clown” and “Nauseous,” which delve more into Gray’s personal life, depicting themes of trauma, insecurity, and fear of being open to new love. Gray does a great job at writing these tracks in a specific way that show his personal story while also being open enough for interpretation that anyone can find a meaning within them. In “Nauseous,” Gray confesses, “Maybe that’s why I feel safe with bad guys, because when they hurt me I won’t be surprised,” showing how his past experiences with love continue to shape him today. “Connell” could fit into this category as well, going over the feeling of being so guilty for letting someone treat you so horribly that you believe you might deserve it. 

By the time listeners reach tracks like “Caramel” and “Sunset Tower”, Gray has reached the part in his story where he wants to reflect on his past experiences and accept his heartbreak. “Care” ties everything together with Gray saying he still cares for the person he was with and was grateful for the good times, but is ready to move on and do what is best for himself. Overall, Gray’s lyricism stands out for its thoughtful sentiments, intentionality, and flowery descriptions.

Production and Vocals

Oftentimes in music, when the lyrics are great, the overall production lacks substance and diversity. However, Wishbone doesn’t follow this pattern. The producers who helped with this project ensured that the instrumentals on this album would do an excellent job of staying cohesive yet having enough diversity between tracks to keep the listener engaged. 

Something in particular that stands out is the recurring violins throughout the album, almost developing a theatrical sort of sound to tracks such as “Actor,” “This Song,” and “Care.” Songs like “Class Clown” and “Nauseous” have more raw, acoustic instrumentals which perfectly mirror the haunting and heartfelt themes presented within their meaning. “Caramel” is notably the most electric track on the album, giving listeners a fuller and almost rock-pop tune to blast in their headphones. While most of the production on this album was great, “Sunset Tower” was a bit lackluster.

Tour and Influence

As this is being written, Conan Gray has played through more than half of the shows planned for his tour “The Wishbone Pajama Show”, a concert where the only rule is to show up in your favorite PJs. The opening night of this tour was at our very own Blossom Music Center in Cleveland, Ohio, where a few Mentor High School students even attended to see it for themselves. 

When being asked about her experience at The Wishbone Pajama Show, 10th grader Kara Kelly replied, “My experience was really great! It was kinda my first concert, and I totally wasn’t expecting all of the sequences and experiences I got. Conan did a wonderful job, I think it’s really crazy that he was singing live!”

Similarly, sophomore Paige Crozier said, “My overall experience at the concert was amazing, I loved every second and if I could relive it, I would.”

The two were also asked about how the album influenced them and their thoughts and recommendations for new listeners. Kelly answered, “I think I’d say that overall, the album is just a good one to listen to. I think that the feelings that the album makes its listeners feel (and is meant to be) confusing, bittersweet emotion, while still being fun to listen to!”

Crozier replied, “The album makes me feel emotional but in a good way. It gives me something I can relate to and enjoy at the same time. My favorite tracks would probably be ‘Care’ and ‘My World.’”

The feedback received from fans and music critics was extremely positive and shows that Wishbone will continue to be a staple in pop-lovers’ playlists for years to come.

Final Thoughts and Personal Opinions

When it comes to my personal experience with this album, it really took time to grow on me. I’ve listened to various of Gray’s albums in the past and have some favorite songs of his, the majority coming from Found Heaven. I listened to Wishbone the day it was released and thought it was okay, but not revolutionary due to my pickiness when it comes to music within the pop genre. However, when I chose to write about it and really take a look into its meaning and lyrics, it climbed up the charts to be in my top 3 albums of 2025. I have grown to appreciate this album and the true creativity and effort that Gray has put towards it, with so much of its content resonating for many reasons. I would recommend the album to anyone interested in watching a story unfold in the most cinematic and beautifully written way. With my favorite track being “Caramel” and my least favorite being “Sunset Tower,” Wishbone earns a solid 4.5/5 stars from me.