Songs of the Issue: Jonas Brothers: “Sucker”

On October 29, 2013, Jonas Brothers announced their breakup. After eight years together, five albums, and a Disney Channel television show, Joe, Nick, and Kevin Jonas decided to leave the band and pursue solo projects, pop bands, and marketing companies. Joe Jonas became the lead singer of the band “DNCE,” Nick Jonas embarked on a solo career, and Kevin Jonas started The BLU Market.

Recently, Jonas Brothers reunited after a six-year hiatus to record a new single. On March 1, “Sucker” earned the band their first number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The song features vocals from all three brothers as they sing to a special someone “they’ll go anywhere blindly” for.

“Sucker” marks the beginning of the Jonas Brothers’ comeback. Since its release, they released a second single, “Cool” and performed together at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. The Jonas Brothers also announced “The Happiness Begins” tour, beginning on August 7.

Additionally, the band debuted a new brand image. They chose to leave behind their dramatic black-and-white album covers from the late 2000s for more vibrant, sophisticated images of the band. In the tour’s promotional image, the brothers wear bright, patterned shirts, posing in front of elaborate gardens. Nick and Kevin Jonas also seem to be in more leading roles, as they are featured in the front of their signature triangle formation.

The content of their singles provides a contrast to the youthfulness of old hits like “S.O.S.” and “Play My Music.” All three Jonas brothers are married, and their music video for “Sucker” features their wives Priyanka Chopra, Sophie Turner, and Danielle Jonas. The video depicts the six of them running through the halls and gardens of a palace, starkly contrasting the garage setting of their “Year 3000” video in 2006.

While Jonas Brothers adapted their image, the boy-band dynamic remains. Their rapid success proves their fans crave both the nostalgia and the fresh sound in “Sucker.”