2=

Vodka Cranberry

Average score: 9.7

Highest scorer: 11.0 (Josh!)

Lowest scorer: 08.5 (JosephBoone)

2=

People Watching

Average score: 9.7

Highest scorer: 11.0 (-Jay-)

Lowest scorer: 08.5 (HarryGarfield)

In joint second place - a tie that couldn't be broken - we have Vodka Cranberry and People Watching, singles from Wishbone and Superache respectively. Released in July this year, Vodka Cranberry serves as the second single from Conan's fourth album Wishbone and the second instalment of the trilogy of music videos tying everything in this era together. Vodka Cranberry became one of Conan's best-charting songs and ultimately ended up drawing a lot more attention to the album itself as a result. The creative process for Vodka Cranberry was apparently quite complex. It was the final song from Wishbone to be finished and was played around with a lot - initially going to be sung an octave lower, and with an anti-chorus. The production was made from scratch twice and the final product gave us the beautiful (and dramatic!) high note during the bridge. Continuing the story of Conan and his lover from This Song, Vodka Cranberry tells the story of being treated differently by somebody after taking a break. Although I can't help feeling recency has allowed for this to soar so high, it's not unwelcome either because I was blown away the first time I listened to this, and still am. It's such a beautiful song and when Conan really lets loose vocally on a song it gives us the most epic moment; more recurring on Wishbone than any other album.

Joining Vodka Cranberry in the tie is People Watching, released in July 2021 (and also co-written with Julia Michaels) and from his sophomore album Superache. The concept of this song is quite straightforward, commenting on the activity of people watching, and then sprinkling in some sentimentality and inner-perspective. The song was written before Conan had been in a romantic relationship with anybody and that's apparent from the lyrics of the song; hearing his yearning and desire to have what other people have with someone, while watching on and observing the beauty of it all. It's an interesting perspective too because you could say that, at this point, Conan is safe and protected from the bad that comes with relationships at this point, but also lacking in all of the good, the intimacy, the rush of being so in love. For me, personally, I think People Watching (and the Superache era in general) was the first big step of me sitting back and thinking that Conan had well and truly arrived. I'd been a fan since Sunset Season was released, and then followed the Kid Krow era, but getting to this point and hearing his lyrics and his artistry unfold like this... simply wonderful.

And with all of that said, that only leaves us with one single, the winner (not looking at you Found Heaven, sorry)...

1

Maniac

Average score: 9.8

Highest scorer: 10.0 (Josh!, -Jay-, Calum, JosephBoone)

Lowest scorer: 09.0 (HarryGarfield)

Despite not receiving an 11.0 score from anybody, Maniac wins with an almost-perfect score of 10.0 from all that voted, minus Harry who's the Craig Revel-Horwood of the judging panel in this instance refusing to get his 10.0 paddle out. Released as the third single from his debut album Kid Krow in October 2019, Maniac sees Conan give us another incredible all-out pop bop and it's little surprise to see it win here with its broad appeal. Described by Conan himself as a song dedicated to psychotic exes, this song explores a partner (or ex-partner, rather) spreading rumours about Conan claiming he was a freak that wouldn't leave them alone, while they're sending messages at midnight sobbing and begging. It seems Conan's got a knack for ending up with narcissistic people. What works brilliantly with this single too is the music video, feeding into the Halloween theme perfectly around the time of its release, seeing Conan and his co-worker fighting off psychotic ex-boyfriends who have all risen from the dead. Paying homage to horror films through the visuals while also making an incredible 80s-feeling, synth-filled pop song with slam dunk lyrics that stick the middle finger up is quite the feat and probably one of the best moments on Conan's debut album.

And with Maniac coming out on top, we're at the end of the Conan Gray Pyjama Party Singles Rate! Thank you to Josh, Harry, Jay and Joseph for contributing your rates, and for everybody else that's commented on the results along the way. It's been a lot of fun diving back through all of Conan's discography.

Amazing winner, a BJSC smash for me as well

Thanks for hosting this Calum!!

That's an incredible Top 3, given that they're my Top 3 songs, but just not the same order (I'd go 1 People Watching, 2 Maniac, 3 Vodka Cranberry)

Thanks for the hard work with the results Calum, I enjoyed reading through the commentaries. Conan really does have a stellar discography, and I wish more people would give him a chance... I'm sure many would be pleasantly surprised.

P.S. @HarryGarfield babe let's discuss that 8.5 for People Watching, I'm sat and I'm awaiting your explanation xx

6 minutes ago, -Jay- said:

P.S. @HarryGarfield babe let's discuss that 8.5 for People Watching, I'm sat and I'm awaiting your explanation xx

You will be sitting for a long time xx

It's a good song 8.5 is a great score 😭

Vodka Cranberry and Maniac also worthy of being top 3 too!

Well despite my favourite Conan song finishing so low, I can't complain at the #1, 'Maniac' is a bop and a half!