Found Heaven by Conan Gray

Bibliographic Information:

Title: Found Heaven

Artist: Conan Gray

Copyright Date: April 2024

Record Label: Republic Records

Format: Music Album

Genre: Pop/ New Wave/ Rock

Awards: None...Yet

Interest Level: While Conan Gray is no longer a teen, they have been in the teen eye for over the past five years. This album is no different. Conan Gray is now a young adult and their music is an example for

teens on how to handle identity and become an adult.

Running Time: 37 Minutes

Album Description:

Found Heaven has vibes of synth-pop, 80's new wave, and is disco-tinged. The album consists of themes of love, loss, heartbreak, shines a light on the lonely and the desperate, and is written for people who are looking for a hand or a path forward. Conan Gray lives by the idea of owning your vulnerability and owning your pain in this album (Apple Music, n.d.). Conan wanted to surprise people withe this album and letting themselves feel all the emotions rather than running away. Conan found heaven through discovering love and experiencing the emotions around it.

Artist Background:

Conan Gray is an American signer/songwriter and social media personality. They started doing covers and vlogs on YouTube eventually signing a record deal. Some other content that Conan Gray has created is the EP Sunset Season, the album Kid Krow, single "Maniac", and album Superache. Conan Gray attended UCLA but left to pursue their music career. They have often discussed their identity and explains that labels help some people but not everyone. Conan encourages people to be themselves and be who makes you happy.

Critical Evaluation:

I am taken back to sitting in my parents car driving to soccer practice listening to 70s and 80s music. This album is so cool! I recommend listening to this with headphones or blasting it in the car because the music and the vocals are just so amazing. Found Heaven is such a modern throwback! I was obsessed with 80's movies as a teen (and still am) and can just imagine the songs on this album in any high school romcom or drama! Conan Gray was not familiar to me other than coming across "Bourgeoisieses" but has become a new favorite. My loves from this album are of course "Bourgeoisieses" and also "Eye of the Night" but they are all bangers!

Creative Use for Library Program:

Lyric Archeology Club- Found Heaven has many different themes that Conan Gray discusses in this album. It is filled with their emotions and experiences as they have grown up and learn about life. Teens meet weekly to uncover meanings within the lyrics of the songs of their favorite artists, like Conan Gray, and reflect on what they might mean to the artist and to themselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPBFMK56NBI

Speed Round Album Trailer:

"Let yourself get your heart truly broken for the very first time. Let yourself laugh with your friends about how you handled it (poorly). Let go of the idea that the only way you could find happiness in life is within a white pickett fence with that golden retriever. Let yourself cry a lot about that too." -Conan Gray Thats how Conan Gray Found Heaven.

Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation:

This album expresses feelings of religious trauma which is often a hot topic amongst strict/religious parents who challenge content. However this was Conan Gray's experience and often many other teens experiences too. It creates a safe space to reconsider how religion has affected their lives and how to move forwards.

Reason for Inclusion:

I am including Found Heaven because it discusses themes that teens are discovering, going through, and will eventually face. Conan Gray is beloved by teens and is a unique sound in todays music. They stand for self love, self discovery, and experiencing emotions, things teens need!

Check Out:

This is a Teen Vogue article from 2019 which discusses Conan Gray's popularity amongst teens!

References:

Apple Music. (n.d.). Found Heaven Description. Accessed July 2024 from https://music.apple.com/us/album/found-heaven/1727371945

Bergado, G. (2019). Conan Gray on Being the Pop Prince of Sad Internet Teens, Growing Up in Texas, and His Upcoming Debut Album. Teen Vogue. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/conan-gray-music-month

Billboard. (2024, April). Conan Gray Talks 'Found Heaven' Album, Working With Max Martin & More | Billboard News [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/LPBFMK56NBI?feature=shared

Conan Gray Wiki. (n.d.). Conan Gray. Accessed July 2024 from https://conangray.fandom.com/wiki/Conan_Gray

Conan Gray Wiki. (n.d.). Found Heaven. Accessed July 2024 from https://conangray.fandom.com/wiki/Found_Heaven

Gray, C. (2024). FOUND HEAVEN ✪ THE ALBUM ✪ APRIL 5TH [Photo]. X. https://x.com/conangray/status/1752740185303814377

Spotify. (n.d.). Conan Gray [Photo]. https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Uc8Dsxct0oMqx0P6i60ea