Monday, July 6, 2009

Say It Ain't So (as sung by Weezer)

I think a little bit of me died today. Panic(!) at the Disco (I'm attached to the "!" but there is rumor of it coming back?? *fingers crossed*) is officially split in half. Brendon and Spencer are sticking it out while Ryan and Jon are off on a different (musical) career path. I almost feel ridiculous for feeling this way, but I don't think I can help it. What with all the official messages from the band members themselves, there is a dull ache within me, and I'm not trying to be melodramatic. Explanation as to why? Might as well...

I whole-heartedly admit that in the earlier years of my middle school career, I was trying to "fit-in"; I did not want to be embarrased because I wanted to be different. I wouldn't say I was in the "popular crowd" because I don't think those existed at our school, but I will say that I was in that main group of girls that everyone in our grade knew. I didn't care to be in it or not, but I was and didn't want to be judged. I tried to dress similar, I listened to the same music, and I went out on the weekends with them and watched movies that, to be honest, I had little interest in.
And then I found something for myself.
Watching MTV and TRL (when it was still alive and well), I saw music videos for My Chemical Romance's "Helena," Fall Out Boy's "Sugar, We're Going Down," and Panic! at the Disco's "I Write Sins Not Tragedies." Three bands, three songs. Different from the norm of mainstream, yet still making it big at some point. It wasn't sudden, it wasn't like a flick of a switch, but at some point after seeing them and listening to them, I found myself not caring what others thought and doing things I wanted to do. Indirectly, they taught me to be myself, that it's okay to be different. Cliche as it may be, I probably wouldn't be the same person today without them.

And to hear about Panic's split breaks my heart.

Best of luck to Ryan and Jon, who will undoubtedly be successful if they play their cards right, and best of luck to Brendon and Spencer, who carry on Panic's legacy, if you will. Maybe they'll ressurect the "!" who knows? I'll be following both parties and will hopefully not be disappointed.

1 comment:

  1. I cannot believe how good of a writer you are! I wish you had more to say because I could read this for hours!

    I think both projects will be really good. Brendan's voice and pop aesthetics will keep me attached to Panic!, and Ryan's voice and songwriting ability will keep me attached to his project too. I see the split as a positive thing.

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