Joeboy traces the trajectory of a doomed relationship in his song "Contour," a haunting, piano-driven ballad that doesn't shy away from the paradoxical complexities of a love story that is fraught and painful — but ultimately still worthwhile.
"A contour is something that is not straightforward, that's not symmetrical, not a straight line," the singer said in a statement. "This song deals with the contour of a relationship. It's a heartbreak song, but it's a 'feelgood' heartbreak song."
In this episode of Global Spin, Joeboy brings all the counterintuitive details of his song to life with a moody performance of "Contour." He stands at a microphone, singing under a spotlight next to a small table decorated with a vase full of blue flowers. Fog and darkness surround him, but peeking out of the shadows, the viewer can see glimpses of the instruments being played by his backing band.
While the main focus is on the song's story, a melodic accompaniment from a keyboard helps up the drama, as does the soft addition of a string section. Altogether, Joeboy paints an angsty picture of a breakup in his song, focusing on the complexities that made a relationship worthwhile — even as he faces its demise.
"Contour" arrives as Joeboy sees a massive career upswing thanks in part to his 2021 megahit, "Sip (Alcohol)," which has netted over 400 million streams. The Nigerian singer also expanded his global reach in 2022, embarking on his first U.S. tour early in the year.
Aside from "Contour," Joeboy also released his single "Likkle Riddem" this year. Both songs preview his upcoming album, Pon Deck, which is due in early 2023.
Press play on the video above to watch Joeboy's moody performance of "Contour," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more episodes of Global Spin.