He didn't want to release it. Honestly, that’s the first thing you have to understand about the conan gray wishbone songs. For nearly two years, Conan kept these tracks under lock and key, playing them only for a tiny circle of friends. They called it an "egregiously niche soundtrack" to their own lives. Eventually, the world got to hear it on August 15, 2025, and it didn't just land—it shattered things.
The album, Wishbone, feels like a jagged U-turn. After the neon-drenched, 80s synth-pop explosion of Found Heaven, everyone expected more glitter. Instead, we got a "truly miserable" record (Conan’s own words, not mine) that leans into 90s grunge, pop-rock, and folk. It’s visceral. It’s messy. And if you’ve ever been the one holding the short end of the stick in a relationship, it probably feels like he’s reading your diary.
Why the Conan Gray Wishbone Songs Hit Different
The metaphor of the wishbone is everywhere in this era. Think about it: a wishbone is the only luck ritual that requires two people to participate but only allows one person to win. Someone always gets the short end. That’s the core of the conan gray wishbone songs—the reality of being the "loser" in a breakup while the other person moves on without a scratch.
The Wilson and Brando Trilogy
If you’re trying to piece together the lore, you have to watch the music videos for "This Song," "Vodka Cranberry," and "Caramel." Directed by Danica Kleinknecht and starring Conan’s real-life best friend Corey Fogelmanis, these videos follow two characters: Wilson and Brando.
- This Song: It starts as a "gaslight" love song. It’s hopeful, cinematic, and ends with a kiss. It makes you think Wishbone is going to be a happy album. It’s not.
- Vodka Cranberry: The cracks show. It’s shot in Conan’s home state of Texas. Wilson (Conan) is wailing into a phone after too many drinks while Brando is checked out.
- Caramel: This is the "sweet" delusion. It’s about how we "caramelize" bad memories to make them look golden. The rock-heavy production matches the internal chaos of trying to love someone who is already gone.
A Track-by-Track Reality Check
Most people think Wishbone is just another heartbreak album. It’s deeper than that. It’s about the intersection of romantic failure and childhood trauma.
"Actor" (The Opener)
The album starts with a literal "fuck you" to a secret relationship. Conan name-drops himself here, which is a rare move. He sings about a friend asking an ex, "Have you talked to Conan?" and the ex replying, "I barely even fucking know him." It sets the stage for a theme of being "erased" by someone you loved.
"Class Clown"
This might be the most important song on the record. It’s not about a boyfriend. It’s about being a mixed-race kid in Texas using humor to hide a "writhed" upbringing. Conan has talked about how making people laugh allowed him to "vanish" so nobody would see the trauma at home. It’s fidgety, eerie, and uncomfortable.
"Connell"
Named after the character from Sally Rooney’s Normal People, this track is a gut-punch. Conan admits he allows men to treat him poorly because it reminds him of his father. "I know pain is what I earned," he sings. It’s a level of honesty that makes you want to reach through the speakers and give the guy a hug.
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"Nauseous"
This one gives you literal thematic whiplash. The instrumentals swell and heave to mimic the feeling of anxiety. It’s about the terror of a stable relationship—being so used to chaos that "good" love feels like a threat.
The Production Shift: Goodbye 80s, Hello Grunge
Working with Dan Nigro again (the mastermind behind Kid Krow and Olivia Rodrigo’s SOUR) brought back that raw, indie-pop edge. But Wishbone pushes it further. You’ve got:
- Trumpet fanfares and gang vocals on "Romeo."
- Chromatic melodies and unresolved guitar chords on "Class Clown."
- Distorted vocal outros on "Connell" that sound like screaming into a void.
It’s less polished than his previous work, and that’s the point. It’s supposed to feel like a "wet dream" of an album where he could do whatever he wanted as long as it felt real.
What Most People Get Wrong About "Eleven Eleven"
The penultimate track, "Eleven Eleven," is often dismissed as a standard sad song. But pay attention to the lyrics. Conan says he doesn’t actually believe in superstitions, yet he still finds himself wishing for the same person at 11:11 p.m. It’s about the illogical nature of hope. Even when you know the wishbone is broken and you have the small piece, you still close your eyes.
The Ending of the Era: The Wishbone Pajama Show
To support the album, Conan did something weird: he told everyone to show up in their pajamas. "The Wishbone Pajama Show" tour was meant to feel like a giant sleepover where everyone could just be miserable together. It eventually evolved into the massive "Wishbone World Tour" of 2026, but that initial intimate vibe is what defined these songs.
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Actionable Insights for New Listeners
If you’re just diving into the conan gray wishbone songs, don’t just hit shuffle. The order matters. Start with "Actor" to understand the betrayal, hit "Class Clown" to see the root of the trauma, and finish with "Care."
"Care" is the final track for a reason. It’s a softer, mid-tempo realization. He’s not saying he wants the person back, but he’s admitting it’s "nice to linger in the past." It’s an honest ending—not a happy one, but a finished one.
To truly experience the Wishbone era:
- Listen in a dark room. This isn't "running in a field" music; it's "staring at the ceiling" music.
- Watch the music video trilogy in order. "This Song" -> "Vodka Cranberry" -> "Caramel."
- Read "Normal People" by Sally Rooney. It provides the emotional context for why "Connell" exists.
Conan Gray proved with these songs that he’s not interested in being a perfect pop star. He’s interested in being a person who gets the short end of the stick and writes about it so the rest of us feel a little less alone in our own "miserable" moments.