Everyone wants a yellow, but only the lucky get a blue

By Val Hernández
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Love songs are rare in Joshua Bassett’s catalogue, which makes ‘Blue’ feel like a milestone. For the first time in a while, Bassett sounds like someone who’s in love and actually letting himself enjoy it. No heartbreak, no veiled sadness — just a dreamy, soft track that captures the thrill of new joy.

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The track itself is stripped-back and intimate, keeping things minimal so the focus lands on Bassett’s voice. His delivery is soft and storytelling, floating easily between chest voice and falsetto. Long-time fans will recognise this side of him immediately, but for anyone hearing him for the first time, it can definitely be a wow moment — he makes vulnerability sound effortless. When he leans into the line “kiss me like you mean it, dear,” it’s the kind of pop-ballad moment that sticks.

Lyrically, ‘Blue’ is classic Josh: simple, heartfelt, and direct. That doesn’t mean it’s shallow. In fact, the chorus phrase “out of the blue” ties back beautifully to the song’s title. I know this is giving “English teacher overanalysing stuff”, but hear me out: the duality of blue is fascinating here. According to HunterLab (2023), this color is linked to calmness, security, and serenity, but, as we all know, also to sadness — hence the phrase “feeling blue.” So here’s where my own take comes in: for years, Bassett’s songs leaned toward the sad side of blue. With this new song, he reclaims it, painting the colour as something loving, dependable, and peaceful.
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Other lyrics highlight that lightness. In the second verse, Bassett sings: “Spillin’ out my secrets now / At a table for two / It’s getting hard to keep it down / When we laugh like we do.” On the surface, it’s kind of a sweet snapshot of a couple being loudly cute, yet I feel that the simplicity of the lyrics also shows a boundary. Everyone can know he’s happy and in love, and he’s not trying to keep it a secret. But the song doesn’t spill the full story either — the details stay just between him and his partner. That balance, where joy is shared but intimacy is protected, gives the track an extra layer of tenderness.

Pictures taken by Juneau Janzen during The Golden Years Tour (2024)

Production-wise, the track stays understated. You can even hear where lines are doubled — not to create harmonies, but simply to give the words extra weight. That rawness makes it feel personal, almost diary-like. The only real shift comes at the bridge, where the arrangement swells and Bassett pushes his vocals harder. It’s not flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. Sometimes simplicity carries the most power.

Emotionally, ‘Blue’ is one of those songs that hits different depending on where you are in life. If you’re in love, it’ll feel like a soundtrack. If you’re heartbroken, it’ll probably sting a little but also remind you that joy is possible again. And if, like me, you’ve never been in love, it still sparks something — a kind of longing for what could be, mixed with fan pride at seeing Josh step into this lighter, more secure version of himself. It feels like a best friend finally getting the love they deserve. Parasocial? Perhaps, but powerful nonetheless.

Of course, not everyone will have it on repeat. Fans will devour it, no doubt. Casual listeners might keep it for certain moods or special playlists — it’s not exactly background noise, it’s too tender for that. It’s a “special occasion” track, the kind you’d send to someone when you actually mean it.
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At its core, ‘Blue’ is everything a pop ballad should be: simple, soothing, and full of love. Bassett doesn’t reinvent the wheel here, but he doesn’t need to. By choosing to tell this story with honesty and restraint, he’s created something timeless.

Joshua Bassett is a singer-songwriter and musician whose career has grown rapidly beyond his breakout role on Disney+. In 2020, he released his debut single 'Common Sense', followed by his self-titled EP in 2021. In 2022, Bassett unveiled the EP Sad Songs in a Hotel Room, demonstrating his range from stripped-back ballads to dynamic pop. His momentum culminated in The Golden Years (2024), his first full-length album, which underscored his development as both a storyteller and multi-instrumentalist. With each release, Bassett has built a catalogue that traces his evolution from rising actor to an established recording artist with a distinctive voice.

Brief note from the author, who also is a fan:
Release "Pretty Please". IYKYK.

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