Historically, it’s proven that boy bands hold a direct line to fan pandemonium. No exception to that rule, the Jonas Brothers are nothing short of a global phenomenon. Since their Disney inauguration, they’ve gone on to earn Grammy nominations, achieve three consecutive number one debuts on the Billboard 200, and maintain a very ravenous fanbase. Since coming onto the scene in 2005, their pop-rock sound has captivated millions, putting out six studio albums that are, among other themes, filled to the brim with love songs. Many of these tracks are objectively considered iconic, from the timeless hit “Burnin’ Up” to their mega-successful comeback record, “Sucker.”
Yet, in a recent interview with LADbible, the youngest brother Nick Jonas was asked which song of his he’s most proud of. The Broadway star replied, “The song I’m most proud of in my career would probably be ‘Lovebug’. It encapsulated the feeling I had at that time.” The 2008 song, a mega single off their third album A Little Bit Longer, is widely rumored to be about Nick’s first love, Miley Cyrus. Here’s a deeper look at “Lovebug,” why it could stand as Jonas’ most impressive piece of work, and the lore behind its inception.
The Jonas Brothers Reign
When it comes to the Jonas Brothers’ catalog, there’s no shortage of material. They hit the ground running upon arrival, getting signed by Columbia Records in 2005 after just one recorded demo. While writing their debut album, It’s About Time, the band toured with artists like Kelly Clarkson, Jesse McCartney, Backstreet Boys, Aly & AJ, and The Cheetah Girls. Though they didn’t know it at the time, their names would soon be just as big, if not bigger, than the acts they once supported.
By 2008, their magnitude was being compared to that of The Beatles. They were Disney’s most guaranteed money machine, selling out tours across the globe and starring in hit original films like “Camp Rock” and its sequel. By the time their third album rolled around, the Jonas Brothers were considered the biggest act in pop music. They even earned the Guinness World Record for “Most Singles to Enter Straight into the U.S. Top 20 in a Year by a Group,” with five singles in 2009.
However, things came to a screeching halt in 2013, when the band announced their unexpected split. The announcement rocked the industry and fans alike. This was an emotional decision bred from a heated exchange between the brothers, prompting Nick to launch a successful solo venture, and Joe Jonas to launch a less successful solo venture (though he eventually found his ride as frontman of the alternative band, DNCE.)
Six years following their split, the group reunited with the release of “Sucker” in early 2019. The song became the 34th song in history to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and also served as the Jonas Brothers’ first number one single on the chart. Their second run is arguably as successful as their first, selling out tours and earning billions of streams. While you’d think their most revered piece of work would have come from the later years, Nick has revealed much of the opposite.
Significance of the Jonas Brothers’ “Lovebug”
During the band’s 2019 documentary Chasing Happiness, Nick’s relationship with fellow Disney alum Miley Cyrus was spotlighted. “We got to be on the Hannah Montana episode on the Disney Channel. That changed girls for Nick forever,” the oldest brother, Kevin, shared. “When we met Miley, I think that kid’s head exploded.” Nick adds, “I started writing about love and I actually knew what it felt like,” as the film then shows old footage of him recording the vocals for “Lovebug.”
He and the Grammy-winning singer dated from 2006 to 2007, suffering through the character-defining tumultuous teenage breakup that serves as every young lover’s rite of passage. Cyrus has also recently spoken to their romance while promoting her most album, Something Beautiful. “I like Nick, I’m into him,” she said during the June 6 episode of the Every Single Album podcast. He’s married with children. We’re all moving on. Everything is good in the world. Niley for life,” she proclaimed. From their love came many songs inspired by one another, from “7 Things” to “Wedding Bells.” Yet, nothing came quite as close to the potency of “Lovebug.”
It’s impossible to wrap your head around the fact that Nick was only 15 when writing a song as tender yet delicately genius as “Lovebug.” The acoustic soft pop single gorgeously encapsulates how all-consuming new love can feel, the rush of surrendering to the swallowing of it. It is as much of a physical experience as it is an emotional one, which is what centers “Lovebug.” The panic of a first phone call, the longing over an unfathomable distance. Tonally Jason Mraz, John Mayer-esque, it’s young yearning delivered through a mature lens, and it’s one Nick still feels fondly about performing. “It encapsulated the feeling I had at that time and I love playing it to this day,” he told LADbible. The song slowly builds into an explosive guitar-driven symphony, which soon became a Jonas sonic signature.
Though it isn’t the brothers’ most successful single to date, it is without a doubt one of their most beloved. “Lovebug” remains an avid fan favorite, soaring at nearly 140 million streams via Spotify. It’s a song that reached listeners far out of the Disney demographic, a euphoric reminder that amid the chaos of existing, love can still be gentle and dreamy.
