Fall Out Boy released a new song titled “My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark (Light ‘Em Up),” where the only thing similar between this and the old Fall Out Boy is the long song title.
“It’s definitely different,” says Elizabeth Parks ‘15.
“Different” does not begin to describe it. The song does not take advantage of lead vocalist Patrick Stump’s vocal range. It relies more on heavy effects and a catchy tune than insightful lyrics and a pop-punk sound, which helped establish their fan base. The song can be considered almost mainstream with how “cheesy and over the top” it is, according to Alex Harrington ’15.
Fall Out Boy was created in 2001 and released their first album in 2003 titled “Take This to Your Grave.” Their fifth studio album titled “Folie à Deux” came out in 2008, and they released “Greatest Hits” in 2009. That year, the band stated that they were taking a hiatus to work on their solo careers but assured fans that they were not breaking up.
Bassist Pete Wentz and singer Patrick Stump worked on the lyrics together, with Wentz writing most of the songs. He established an ironic and almost satirical tone to Fall Out Boy’s music, which is known for songs covering topics about love, heartbreak, trust and infidelity.
“My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark,” however, will surprise avid fans of Fall Out Boy with what is nothing more than a mainstream sound. It does not have an overall theme, and other than four short verses that add depth to the song, it is simply a replay of the chorus.
The band went from “I’m just a notch in your bedpost, but you’re just a line in a song,” to singing, “So light ‘em up up up” over 12 times in the three-minute song. It has about as much depth as Nicki Minaj rapping, “Starships were meant to fly, hands up and touch the sky.”
Granted, music has changed since their hiatus. What used to be radios constantly playing Panic! At the Disco, My Chemical Romance and blink-182 has turned into music being consumed by the likes of Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj and the popular “Gangnam Style.”
The focus on today’s songs has become more about the beat, with 2 Chainz’s “Birthday Song” becoming popular, even though its lyrics consist of “All I want for my birthday is a big booty [girl],” only because of how catchy it is. The importance behind song lyrics has been lost.
Fall Out Boy is unfortunately exemplifying this change in music by focusing more on special effects, which do not do Patrick Stump’s voice justice. There are no instrumental bridges or soaring vocals that established their unique sound. The band is going against their original intentions of creating seamless and cohesive albums, with the consensus being that they can do much better than this.
The song had a stint on the list of top 10 singles on the iTunes charts, so do give it a chance, but do not except to be relieved of the nostalgia that Fall Out Boy’s four-year hiatus created.
What do you think of Fall Out Boy’s new song? Check it out here.
Leave a Reply