In case you missed the noticeable shift in the universe, I am delighted to be the one to tell you that the Jonas Brothers are back, baby! After six long years of brotherly silence, Kevin, Nick, and Joe announced that they had gotten the band back together, releasing a documentary titled Chasing Happiness on June 4 and then an album titled Happiness Begins (do you sense a theme?) on June 7.
But there’s been another (maybe less noticeable to the greater population) shift in my world. I used to be a Nick girl, but after a very thorough and critical review of the documentary, the album, and recent interviews of the JoBros, I have come to a new and important conclusion: Joe Jonas is the best Jonas brother. “But WHY?” I hear you asking. Allow me to explain!
First off, it is important to understand that opinions change. I’m not saying this just because I’m trying to cover my own ass in case, in three weeks, I decide to change my mind. As mentioned earlier, back in the day, Joe was most definitely not my favorite. He actually probably was on the bottom of my list. When the Jonas Brothers first came on the scene, I would say I enjoyed their music but didn’t have a particularly vested interest in them. However, it was clear that Nick was the leader of the group, and he ended up dating Miley Cyrus, so he seemed like the Correct Choice when people asked who your favorite was.
Then, I started to grow up, and Nick did, too. He released “Jealous” and “Chains,” and I began to think, Wow, do I love Nick Jonas? Like, this video of him singing “Jealous” with a gospel choir has over 22 million views, and I am pretty sure 11 million came from me:
Also, did you forget about these photos? Because I did not.
After Nick, my next choice would’ve been Kevin, because I love an underdog. (True story: I once had the drummer from All Time Low sign the back of my Indigo Girls T-shirt, thus proving my love for the underdog band member, as well as my clearly diverse musical palette.) Kevin always seemed slightly separate from the other two, so I felt in my heart that I needed to show him some love.
As for Joe, I barely ever thought about him, save for the few times I listened to his other band DNCE’s song “Cake By the Ocean,” which is admittedly a banger.
That is, until this revival.
If you’ve watched Chasing Happiness or dug into any of the group’s interviews of late, you’ve probably learned that Nick was the one to quite abruptly instigate the break up of the band. (Point 1 against Nick! Sorry!) In the documentary, it’s clear that Joe was heartbroken by his brother’s decision, tearing up and making me feel for him in a way I never had before.
I also loved the incredibly petty beginning where it’s explained that, as children, Nick started auditioning and getting cast in shows, so Joe got jealous and started doing the same thing. Sibling competition is truly the key to success, and I respect Joe’s competitive spirit.
Then after watching the documentary, I did some more thinking and decided that Joe is hot. Like, in a relatable kind of way that makes you feel like maybe in some alternate reality you would have a chance with this person. He’s the kind of hot where he always looks good in photos, but he isn’t so ripped that looking at him makes me feel intimidated, like in another life he’d be a CrossFit instructor or the president of a fraternity.
Of course, Joe is not single. He’s married to Sophie Turner—another point in his corner! Turner, who played Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones, consistently seems like a chill, funny, down-to-earth human being (exhibits A, B, and, C at the :30 mark), giving me more reason to believe Joe must be a decent dude. (She’s even said he saved her life in a way.) I also can’t help but root for a couple that gets married in Las Vegas by an Elvis impersonator after the Billboard Music Awards.
Joe wrote a song about her on the new album, with sweet, though perhaps a little clichéd, lyrics about how he wants to take her pain away and how he’d do anything for her.
This all brings me to the new album. Guys. I love this album. It might not be the most lyrically interesting music you’ve ever heard, but there are true bops throughout, making it the ideal thing to throw on for a pool party or summer picnic. Joe sounds great on it and, most importantly to me, a writer, he has writing credits on my favorite track, “Strangers.”
What else? Joe knows the importance of being a good Insta boyfriend. He’s silly! He’s down for a bit. He’s ~emotionally vulnerable~ and admitted he cried when the album finally came out. Plus, who can forget that “Cake By the Ocean” got its name because the Swedish producers he worked with kept confusing it with the phrase “sex on the beach,” a truly perfect story. One ELLE.com editor, who I will keep anonymous for her protection, told me that she saw the Jonas Brothers perform live recently and that Joe had outstanding stage presence, dancing around like he was the leader of the group and truly happy to be there.
Look, this is not to say that Nick doesn’t still have the voice (and abs) of an angel or that I don’t love Kevin’s new identity as a Rockstar Dad. It’s just to say: Congrats, Joe! You’re my favorite Jonas now.