Two months after announcing Pray for the Wicked + releasing two singles, Panic! At the Disco returns with a 3rd single, “High Hopes.”

Get excited folks – Panic! At the Disco is back.  The follow-up to the Grammy-nominated Death of a Bachelor (2016), Pray for the Wicked, arrives June 22, 2018.  With the announcement of Pray for the Wicked back in March, frontman Brendon Urie dropped two singles: “(Fuck a) Silver Lining” and “Say Amen (Saturday Night)”. Now, two months later, the band drops a third single, “High Hopes.”

“High Hopes” kicks off with driving brassy, exuberant production work, set in a major key. After setting the tone with the intro, Brendon Urie unveils the optimistic, chorus, singing in his powerful upper register.

“Have to have high, high hopes for a living
Shooting for the stars when I couldn’t make a killing
Didn’t have a dime but I always had a vision
Always had high, high hopes…”

Following an initial burst excitement which is ultimately the centerpiece of “High Hopes,” Urie settles into the first verse.  Here, he speaks of destiny, dreams, and “rewriting your history,” as advised by his mom.  Later, on the second verse, Urie speaks about being true to self, personally and musically.  “It’s uphill for oddities / The stranger crusaders / Ain’t ever wannabes / The weird and the novelties / Don’t ever change.” Clearly, “High Hopes” is an anthem for dreamers and definitely encouragement for the non-conformists of the world.

Final Thoughts

In addition to the driving sound established initially where production is concerned, some other scrumptious cues enter into picture.  This includes a dash of strings and some Baroque-pop styling, not far-fetched from some of the ideas that appeared on Pretty Odd.  Clearly, the enjoyable, uplifting “High Hopes” is characteristic of Panic! At the Disco to the nth degree. It soundly complements the two singles that precede it.

Panic! At the Disco • Pray for the Wicked • Fueled by Ramen • Release: 6.22.18

Photo Credit: Fueled by Ramen