Music Review: Nick Jonas "Chains"

Nick Jonas

Chains

Album: Nick Jonas

Year: 2014

             Nick Jonas wants to help his destructive girlfriend in the conflicted                 “Chains.”

            Wary synths open the single, setting a suspicious tone. She hits her arm on the edge of the counter and erupts into giggles. He gets up to steady her and she shakes his arms away. She slurs that she can do it herself. He cares for her. However, the relationship is on her terms. She made it clear she likes having him around but the moment he starts talking long-term, she runs. She knows what to say to make him do what she wants. (“With her wine-stained lips, yeah she’s nothing but trouble/Cold to the touch but she’s warm as a devil/I gave her my heart but she wanted my soul/She tasted her break and I can’t get more.”)

            In the chorus, he believes she will want more for him eventually. He just has to wait. In the back of his mind, he knows it may not happen but he’s not ready to give up yet. (“You got me in chains, you got me in chains for your love/But, I wouldn’t change, no I wouldn’t change this love/You got me chains, you got me in chains for your love/But, I wouldn’t change, no I wouldn’t change this love/Tryna break the chains but the chains only break me/Tryna break the chains but the chains only break me.”)

                  A loud banging shocks him out of his sleep. Shaken, he stands up slowly from his bed. Who is at his house at 3 am? His cell phone buzzes and it’s a text from his girlfriend, telling him she’s outside and let her in now. As he opens the door, the stench of her alcohol reaches him first before her arms. She says she needs him and why wasn’t he with her tonight. He says she told him she wanted to be alone tonight. She says “whatever.” He wonders why she turns to liquor before him. (“Alone in the night ‘til she knocks on my door/Oh no, wasted again but I can’t say no (no)/Baby tell me why, why you do, do me wrong/Baby tell me why, why you do, do me wrong/Gave you my heart but you took my soul.”)

              The chorus is sung again.

            In the final section, he wishes she would him treat him better. (“Baby tell me why, why you do, do me wrong/Baby tell me why, why you do, do me wrong/Gave you my heart but you took my soul.”)

                         The chorus is sung again to end the single.

                 Jonas wants to do the right thing and stand by her. He believes all she needs is someone to truly love her and it will be enough. He wants to save her even though she might not want it.

              The impressive “Chains” turns what may have been a song about casual sex and gives it depth.