How the Jonas Brothers Made the Song 'Sucker'

“Sucker” is a song by the American pop rock band the Jonas Brothers. The track was released in 2019 and became the band’s first single after a six-year hiatus, coinciding with their official reunion the day before the release. The song set a career record for the brothers, topping the charts in a number of countries, including Australia, Canada, Latvia, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovakia, and the United States.

The Story Behind the Song Sucker by Jonas Brothers

“Sucker” by the Jonas Brothers tells a vivid, emotional love story where the characters feel they are “made for each other.” Although the romantic notes of striving for the best sound at first, the key moments of the song reveal a deeper subtext: a man willing to sacrifice himself just to match the dynamic, non-stop rhythm of his beloved’s life.

The Jonas Brothers – Kevin, Joe and Nick – were once considered the leading pop group in the US. However, in 2013, the band broke up due to declining commercial success and growing disagreements between the members. A few years later, the musicians reunited, and the result of their reunion was the hit “Sucker”, which brought the group first place on the prestigious Billboard chart.

Monte Lipman, founder and CEO of Republic Records (the band's record label), notes:

“This is a group whose popularity has exceeded all expectations, and their army of fans has turned out to be larger than anyone could have imagined.”

Lipman attributes the phenomenal success of “Sucker” to the element of surprise:

“You have deprived the public of the opportunity to predict or even assume your return.”

While the Jonas Brothers don't mention Pete Davidson (or any other media personalities) in their lyrics, they are well aware of the public interest in their romantic relationships. The video for "Sucker," which features the band hanging out in a lavish Victorian mansion with their respective girlfriends, undoubtedly contributed to the track's commercial success.

The band members' spouses also became unofficial musical advisers. As Nick admits:

“Priyanka and Sophie are big fans of pop music and are constantly listening to popular hits on Spotify and Apple Music. Their opinions were a big guide for us – they immediately let us know: ‘Does this really sound good?’”

Ryan Tedder, the song's composer, shared some interesting details about the creation of the track:

“Frank Dukes loves unusual chord progressions. He avoids banal and predictable harmonies on principle. It was his unusual chord changes in the chorus that gave the composition its special charm. I remember well the moment when he first played me these chords. My immediate reaction was: 'Wait, I have an idea for a lyric: “I'm crazy about you, say it”... I needed just such unusual harmonies.

If you take a really pop melody and put it on standard chords, it will be too cloying. It’s like a cake placed on top of a cake – completely unbearable. You need to combine bitter with sweet, dark with light. It was this contrast between the unusual harmonic base and the pop melody that made the track really cool.”

Ryan Tedder revealed the technical details behind the hit:

“The harmonic basis of ‘Sucker’ deliberately goes beyond the template four-bar cycles. In the chorus, we made an unconventional chord transition - it’s like a sharp change of atmosphere, giving the effect of freshness. Every four bars, some element appears or disappears unnoticed by the listener.

Why does the track hold your attention for all three minutes? The secret is in the constant updating of musical information. It can be a barely perceptible hi-hat, an unexpected melodic turn, a whistle or a guitar break. I literally fixated on these micro-changes.

For the second verse we recorded some extra guitar parts. I worked with top guitarist Andrew Roberts - I just said to him: 'Put out all your best ideas, I want a real musical delicacy'. He sent five options, from which I selected the two best ones.

These subtle guitar insertions create a special atmosphere – they work on a subconscious level, adding depth and dynamics. Compare the first and second verses: in the second, new textures appear that maintain tension and prevent boredom.”