October 2013 isn’t that far back in the past—in pop terms, it was the month of Bangerz, Prism and “Royals”—but for Nick Jonas, it's already a lifetime ago.
That was the month in which the Jonas Brothers abruptly scrapped a comeback tour over “creative differences,” and then called it quits. Looking up to his brothers Kevin and Joe, Nick said that he felt “trapped” by the trio; from doing what, we weren’t sure at the time. The youngest Jonas had already headlined an unsuccessful project, Nick Jonas & The Administration, in 2010. Perhaps he desperately needed his inner artiste to shine, but did Nick really think that flying solo was more promising than continuing the best-selling pop-rock bro-band?
Apparently he did, and now we look like idiots for doubting the move. Jonas’ 2014 self-titled solo debut boasted two endlessly listenable Top 40 hits, “Jealous” and “Chains,” that simultaneously redefined the now-grown-up Jonas as a swaggering heartthrob (and if the singles weren’t convincing enough, the beefed-up, shirtless press shots certainly drove the point home).
“Jealous,” in particular, is exactly the type of pop track that solo stars crave for their arsenal: simple, slinky pop-R&B, catchy enough to command a karaoke room but innovative in the way it unlocked the hidden strengths of his voice. Nick performed it with a gospel choir; he performed it at the Kids’ Choice Awards; he performed a countrified version of it at the CMAs. A tireless worker who’s been part of the major label factory since the age of 12, Jonas recognized a high demand for a song like “Jealous,” and supplied it to awards ceremonies, late-night shows and pride parades for a full year after its September 2014 release.