Close to You (Gracie Abrams song)

"Close to You" was first posted as a 20-second snippet on Gracie Abrams's Instagram account in 2017, and was never originally intended to be officially released. She shared another preview in the following year. At a concert in 2023, Abrams confirmed that the album's sound she was working on did not match "Close to You", but explained: "Maybe we find a one-off situation where we can get it out there". At the beginning of 2024, she shared on TikTok a demo of the then-unreleased song, and went viral on the platform. After a good reception from fans, Abrams announced her second studio album, The Secret of Us, on April 29, 2024, subsequently revealing that she would be releasing "Risk" as the lead single on May 1. Following the song's release, Abrams revealed the track listing of the album via social media on May 13, 2024, which included "Close to You" as the thirteenth song. She explained that "Close to You" was initially not part of the album: "It's from a different time entirely, we had finished the whole record top to bottom, but I heard you loud and clear". It was released as the B-side of "Risk" in its 7-inch format on May 31. Abrams announced the release of "Close to You" as the second single from the album on June 5, 2024, along with the dates of her then-upcoming fourth concert tour, the Secret of Us Tour. == Music and lyrics ==

"Close to You" is an upbeat synth-pop song. Its radio-friendly sound was compared by Billboard Andrew Untererger to the Pure Heroine-era Lorde and 1989-era Taylor Swift, and its lyrics are a "declaration of love and lust". Reviewers said the chorus frames a direct, breathless plea for proximity, casting the narrator’s desire in risk-laden imagery and, at times, a portrait of unrequited longing. Coverage also noted the song’s euphoric hook and “dance-ready” lift relative to Abrams’s earlier material. == Critical reception ==

Several outlets highlighted "Close to You" as a standout on The Secret of Us. Reviewing the album, NME called the track a “megawatt” closer that gives Abrams her Green Light moment, praising its “breathless” rush of lush synths and layered backing vocals. Rolling Stone (Québec edition) described Abrams as putting “her heart in the line of fire” on the single and noted the seven-year build-up in fan demand from its original teaser to release. Entertainment Weekly likewise framed the song as a long-anticipated studio version of a fan-favorite demo. == Music video ==

An official lyric video and an "official visual" accompanied the single's release on 7 June 2024 via Abrams' YouTube channel; Universal Music Canada announced the visualizer in a same-day press release. == Commercial performance ==

"Close to You" peaked at number 49 on the US Billboard Hot 100; it marked her first solo entry on the chart. The song debuted at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart published by the Official Charts Company, becoming her first top 40 single in the United Kingdom. It also reached the top 40 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Singapore. == Live performances ==

Abrams performed "Close to You" on The Today Show on June 28, 2024, one week after the release of The Secret of Us. She included "Close to You" in the regular set list to The Secret of Us Tour, where she performs it as the last song of the concert. She also performed it as part of her opening act for the last leg to Swift's The Eras Tour. == In other media ==

The song is featured in the final episode of the fourth season of the American television series Emily in Paris, which premiered on September 12, 2024. It was also featured in the trailer for the Netflix TV series Nobody Wants This. == Charts ==

Weekly charts Yearly charts ==Certifications==