Greyson Chance, Dancing Next to Me | Track Review 🎵

Greyson Chance drops a fierce pop bop about a special, but short-lived romantic experience on “Dancing Next to Me.”

“Twenty-two, he doesn’t drink but he needs to let loose / He doesn’t know what he wants, but I do / And I give into the moment…” Ooh la la! Greyson Chance made a fierce comeback in 2019 with the album, Portraits.  The gay musician definitely opened up more than, say, Hold On ‘Til the Night, released back when he was a kid.  Post-Portraits, Chance also released a fierce single, “Boots” – a must-hear if you haven’t indulged yet.  Chance returns, tackling matters of the heart – from a gay perspective – on “Dancing Next to Me.” Of course, regardless of your sexuality, you should find “Dancing Next to Me” quite relatable, particularly, after a temporary love connection…

“Hold tight, says he wants to come over / And I’ll try, I’ll try to keep my composure…” Greyson Chance has a superb team of songwriters on “Dancing Next to Me,” including Teddy Geiger, who also produces.  The result? A fun, lustful, danceable pop record that’s a perfect fit for the 22-year old standout. On the verses, he sings in commanding fashion, robustly in his lower-mid register.  He contrasts on the pre-chorus and into the chorus section, showcasing a potent, ripe falsetto.

“…But I know that you felt it
And I felt it when you were there, you were there
You were dancing next to me.”

Things are sexier on the second verse, but the listener also begins to see the ‘unhappy ending’ (“‘Slow down,’ those aren’t the words that I wanted / From hour mouth / From our lips that I just kissed…”). The bridge is arguably the most important section of “Dancing Next to Me,” bringing in elements of fear, and perhaps, internalized homophobia:

“I was yours for the weekend
Come sunrise, it’s time for you to dodge your feelings
Call your girl to deny
We know is the truth
You were who you wanted to be
When you were there, you were there
You were dancing next to me.”

Final Thoughts 

Sigh, it’s amazing how far removed Greyson Chance is from his “Unfriend You”/ “Cheyenne” days. “Dancing Next to Me” is pretty sweet and quite jam-packed.  Chance experiences a temporary high, only to be disappointed, ultimately.  It happens, but from the gay perspective, it’s still gaining traction as a song topic.  All in all, “Dancing Next to Me” is a bop.

Greyson Chance • “Dancing Next to Me” – Single • GCM / Arista • Release: 2.21.20

Photo Credit(s): GCM / Arista