John Grimes of Jedward has tonight released an acoustic cover of ‘Lonely’, originally by Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco. Singing as he plays his acoustic guitar, John faces the camera directly, making the verses and choruses his own. Like Justin Bieber, John and his twin brother Edward, started their music careers as teenagers, and know only too well how it feels to be a household name, trapped, as it were, in a gilded cage, always watched, and not knowing who to turn to, who to trust.
The song bears some lyrical similarity to the Emeli Sande song, ‘Clown’, which likewise focuses on people in the public eye, who, despite seeming to have everything, are still unable to live the lives they want, for fear of judgment.
John’s added a third verse of his own to the song, making it even more poignant. With his voice pure and strong he pulls at our hearts as he sings of a lost love; someone who’d changed, with whom he’d made the best memories. As always, he’s recorded straight to his phone: there’s been no additional editing, it’s just John’s gorgeous voice and expert guitar playing.
The song draws attention to the fact that we can look like we have it all together in our lives, but the reality is that we can be surrounded by people and still be completely alone. In times of lockdown, such as Ireland’s current stage 5 restrictions, you can feel even more vulnerable; the feeling of always being watched when you go out, or never being able to have time to yourself in your house. If you’re a well-known person, that feeling is exacerbated by the feeling that no matter where you go or what you do, someone will see you, and make up their own mind about you.
If you’re feeling lonely, or know someone who’s struggling, there’s resources available here.
Watch the video below for ‘Lonely’:
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