Canadian singer-songwriter Johnny Orlando rose to fame like a Generation Z Justin Bieber. By posting covers of pop songs on YouTube, he garnered the attention of over 100,000 viewers worldwide. He released his first EP at just 12 years old and put out music almost constantly for the next decade.
The singer’s debut album, All the Things That Could Go Wrong, was released in 2022. In 2024, he released the Ride EP before stepping out of the spotlight to reconnect with why he loved making music in the first place. Now, Orlando has returned with his 12-track sophomore album, Songs for Young Lovers, bringing with him the lessons he learned during his time away.
The album kicks off strong with “Charlotte,” a track that perfectly encapsulates Gen Z’s infatuation with the messy rockstar love affairs of the ’60s and ’70s. With its retro “sha la la’s” that repeat throughout the chorus and nods to the song’s muse “being with the band,” Orlando sets the stage for the passionate, retro-feeling love stories that populate the rest of the album.
“Linger,” the song following “Charlotte,” is equally great; it captures the moment when you realize you want more out of a situationship than you initially thought. It almost feels like a limerence song, with a streak of obsession underscoring the lyrics. It’s as though Orlando is describing his own manic pixie dream girl.
The next few tracks move very quickly as Orlando takes the listener further through the maze of romantic entanglements he has found himself in over the last few years. “Oh!” and “Have Your Lovin” capture the ferocity of a hookup with someone you really like. However, on tracks like “Get Me High” and “Easy,” I found myself wanting to linger in some of these moments for a bit longer. It’s ironic that “Slow & Steady” is the album’s shortest track.
The standout track to me was “Shelf Life.” It takes a lot for me to add something to my “Liked Songs” playlist, but I added this one before the song ended. “Shelf Life” is the confessional moment that a record like this needs to succeed. It’s honest and raw, but not overcomplicated. Sometimes saying something plainly is more impactful than overloading a song with metaphors. Thematically, the track is reminiscent of “Coming Up Roses” by Harry Styles. Both play with the idea that not all good things need to last forever, and that this doesn’t diminish the value of the love shared in a single moment.
The album concludes with “Johnny Bossa Nova.” Bossa Nova translates to “new wave” in Portuguese. By ending the record with this track its as though Orlando is entering a new era of himself. The loose threads of his past love affairs are neatly tied up, and he has finally given himself permission to move forward.
Overall, Songs For Young Lovers is a fantastic return for Orlando and a great sophomore album. He has crafted a compact and complex snapshot of the current romantic landscape that young people navigate every day. It’s a cohesive album and a meticulously planned body of work. To me, it feels like the more mellow sister album to sombr’s debut record I Barely Know Her. If you’ve just had your heart broken or feel like getting involved with a person you know isn’t right for you, give Songs For Young Lovers a listen.
Keep up with Johnny Orlando: Instagram // TikTok // Youtube // X // Spotify // Apple Music
