How Taylor Swift became Gracie Abrams’ secret weapon with new duet: ‘Us’ song review
Opening for Taylor Swift is like winning the lottery in music right about now.
We all saw what happened to Sabrina Carpenter’s career after she opened for Swift on her epic Eras Tour last year. I mean, she blew all the way up — and now she’s got the song of the summer with “Espresso.”
Now it’s Gracie Abrams’ turn to have a hot girl summer after also opening for Swift last year.
Call it her Post-Tay Era.
Abrams even got the ultimate co-sign on her new album “The Secret of Us” — which dropped on Friday — from Swift herself.
That’s right. The Empress of Eras blesses this set on their duet “Us,” which they co-wrote while, you know, just chilling at Swift’s apartment in New York.
And it’s not only the most anticipated song on Abrams’ sophomore album, but one of the most anticipated songs of the summer period.
Does it live up to the hype?
Yes … and no.
First off, despite all of the Swiftie hoopla, this is not a single. This is an album track that — in theory — isn’t meant to take away from Abrams’ actual current single, the electro-pop bop “Close to You.”
But of course, it does.
Like many Swift songs, it’s — surprise, surprise — a breakup song all about missing “us.” As in exes, not BFFs.
It’s kinda moody, kinda folky. Sorta like “Folklore” meets “Midnights.”
And there’s more references to poetry and literature a la “The Tortured Poets Department.”
Plus, when they sing together — “I felt it/ You held it/ Do you miss us?” they croon in the chorus — it’s almost hard to tell their voices apart.
But hey, at least Abrams gets that first verse all to her damn self.
You know what though? It’s not fair that Abrams’ album has become all about Swift.
Before this collab came along, she had already earned a Best New Artist Grammy nomination on the strength of her 2023 debut “Good Riddance.”
And she had another cred-boosting collab with “Stick Season” singer Noah Kahan on their duet “Everywhere, Everything.”
But at 24, Abrams is one of a generation of young female singer-songwriters who no doubt studied the “Tao of Taylor.”
You can hear that all over her new album, which almost feels like “Taylor Unplugged” sometimes with the acoustic vibe. They even have a similar vocal delivery.
And if that album title “The Secret of Us” sounds familiar, well, it echoes Swift’s “Speak Now” single “The Story of Us.”
I’m sure the “Fortnight” singer can see her younger self in an artist who is 10 years her junior. And, thanks to this Swift kick in her career, all ears will be on Abrams now.
