Risk

Album: The Secret of Us (2024)
Charted: 67 94
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Gracie Abrams throws out the Modern Romance handbook with "Risk," a bubbly ode to a not-so-available crush.

    Abrams told Spin that the song was inspired by "the mania before you actually even know someone, where you get it all sick and twisted in your head and feel like you have a fever and can't control your body and mind."
  • "Risk" marks a turning point in Abrams' artistic journey. While her debut album, Good Riddance, explored the anxieties and self-doubt that plagued past relationships, this song showcases a newfound boldness.

    Tracks like "Difficult" place the blame for failed connections squarely on Abrams' own shoulders. But "Risk" throws open the window on a different perspective. Here, Abrams embraces the nervous thrill of a budding romance, diving headfirst into the unknown with a newfound confidence.
  • Fresh off the whirlwind of touring with Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams returned home with a head full of stories and a heart hungry for connection. Those tales exploded into vibrant songwriting sessions with her childhood bestie and housemate, Audrey Hobert.

    "We would spill every detail of our lives in the time that we had," Abrams shared with Spin. "There was a real urgency to our storytelling, and it very naturally led to us songwriting together. We were like, 'We know how this night went down, but how do we amplify it or make it so dramatic that people want to scream it when we're all at a show together?'"
  • Taking a hands-on approach, Abrams co-produced the track alongside her frequent collaborator, Aaron Dessner (of Taylor Swift fame).
  • The music video, also directed by Audrey Hobert, is a visual extension of the track's spirit. We open on a dark suburban street where Abrams chases her crush. The night then takes a boozy turn as she crashes some unsuspecting dude named Doug's birthday party.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.