Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Gabby Barrett says she wanted to show how girls really feel about love gone bad on new single.

But she just won the battle of the singles. And considering how good the new songs from Maddie Poppe and Caleb Lee Hutchinson are, that’s saying something.

But Gabby’s “I Hope” is simply superb. Edgy, defiant, radio friendly all at the same time. One of the best singles we’ve gotten from a former singing show star in a long, long time.

we’re talking “Before He Cheats” good here. And speaking of Carrie, cheating is at the heart of Gabby’s song too.

As in she’s hoping her ex falls madly in love. And that his new girlfriend cheats on him the way he cheated on Gabby.

Gabby wrote the song with Zachary Kale and Jon Nite, who she calls “super talented guys” in a video on her Facebook page.

“I walked into a room with them on Halloween,” she says. “I remember this very vividly. We came to the idea of writing a song about a guy and a girl and it didn’t work out, but the girl kind of wishes him well, even though he’s moved on. She’s still being nice.

“I said, ‘That’s not how girls really think. We’re really like, ‘Well, I hope she winds up cheating on you because you did me wrong.’

“That’s kinda what this song is about. I wanted it to be the things that we never say, for it to be the song that just kind of empowers girls when they hear it.”

Gabby’s already released more than a half dozen songs since her run on Idol. But this is easily her best yet.

Without further ado, “I Hope.”