So about Linkin Park · 4:19am Jul 23rd, 2017
I debated a little bit about talking about Linkin Park at all. I don't think I could ever classify myself as a fan of the group, but for some reason the passing of Chester really... got to me.
When I was younger, I actually was sort of into Linkin Park. They're sort of a band who I've always wanted to get into, but I have this natural anxiety about admitting I ever liked anything they made because of how the public viewed them. More specifically, how the public treats a darker approach to emotions. I think there's always this fear I would be judged for enjoying music that was specifically... Emo. I think there's this certain stigma against music that is about hurting in a way that isn't cookie cutter radio friendly in a way that more punk/emo bands tend to tackle. There's a good deal of darker subjects in the vein of death and drug addiction and just general depression that while other genres tap onto at times aren't as reliant as the genre Linkin Park or other bands of the same vein had. And no, I wouldn't strictly call Linkin Park an emo band.
But I think that's the thing. I've always worried that liking their music meant something was wrong with me. That I shouldn't be looking into their lyrics to relate them to myself or my ideas because it was embarrassing. I think I took this recent passing of the lead singer to really go through some of their songs without really fearing judgement and... I think they're a lot more complex than I gave them credit for. I don't know if they're for me or anything, but the songs have a lot of pure genuine emotion in their early days. I find myself realizing why they exist in greater detail than I did before.
To put it bluntly, sometimes my anxiety gets so bad to the point where I feel so bottled up I'm going to scream and break myself in the process of my meltdown. It feels like a goddamn eruption is happening inside of me, and I genuinely believe that's where a good deal of Linkin Park's songs came from. A place of tapped into complex emotions regarding darker topics. I think there's a fear that I have in openly allowing myself to discuss my own dark feelings into such... honest words. Sometime life does feel a bit like how songs described as over emotional and depressing work. I think I grew to be embarrassed by admitting that to myself because I was ashamed in a way.
In a weird way, the death of Chester has kind of got me thinking about that. I avoided music I loved for a long time and only these recent years allowed myself to listen to bands like MCR and Pierce the Veil even if I'm still embarrassed about it subtly. I never really put it into words like this before.
I just wanted to get that off my chest is all. Sort of dark for a rainbow pony website, I know.
Well, it's pretty clear that Chester spoke to a lot of people, so it's not surprising to see his death affected you as well. Linkin Park's music spoke to a whole generation in regards to angst and inner pain, which makes sense given Chester's tragic upbringing as a child. I heard a lot of people comparing his suicide to Kurt Cobain's, which I guess kinda fits (although personally I think it's hard to compare anyone to Kurt). Both were huge rock icons who spoke to millions of fans through their music which reflected their pained feelings and inadequacies with life. Both left a huge crater in the hearts of countless fans with their tragic passings, and showed millions of people just how important it is to recognize depression instead of mocking it.
I personally wouldn't call myself a big Linkin Park fan, but I did enjoy a lot of their music and understood why they were so huge. And with that, I really am shocked and saddened by Chester's passing. He was a profoundly talented musician and rocker, who knew how to play with his heart up until the end. Plus, considering his name is Chester Bennington, it's pretty impressive he was able to get a rock icon status at all, let alone such a large one; I mean, not to speak ill of the dead, but if I never heard of Linkin Park, I would expect a name like Chester Bennington to belong to some preppy socialite kid who gets his comeuppances in a high school movie.
But anyway, Chester's passing is still a huge loss to both music and artists as a whole. All we can hope for is that this death will help shed a little more awareness on how crippling and serious depression can really be. Robin WIlliams' suicide may have gotten the ball rolling, but hopefully Benningtons' can push it a little further towards enlightenment and change.
Trust me, there's been a lot more dark stuff on on this site. Still, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
*Claps* bravo!
While not being a fan linkin park because I wasn't into that or genre of music.
my story is somewhat similar but different! ya see...at the age of 13 yrs I listen to opera(try to imagine a black boy listening to something like that! where others like rap music...blegh!) from watching die fledmaus in English by pbs. also well known in middle school for my singing. until one day singing to myself an aria from Romeo and Juliet a boy overhears it then later tells other boys in gym about it asking me to sing(being emotionally sensitive child it felt more like a demand than request!) I hid it for next four years until I got moved to another school by not keeping up with other students. staring over at new school & across was a bit hard for me. ended up turning out for the better my taste was appreciated & another thing happen while at my school Madonna's music helped me realized this "ya know what...I don't care what people say about me liking opera, if they don't understand it well...fuck them!"
i'm not sure if you and your boyfriend know who Sarah brightman(one of my reasons I got into opera! didn't get into her music till my 7th grade year.) is? she was famous for being in the phantom of the opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber(they were married for seven years!) very highly disregarded as a singer and actress. i'll fight anyone whose says otherwise about her!
in response to your "darker feelings" in music I've experiencing that now in my early 20's with symphonic metal(did I forget to mention i don't like loud noises!) despite listening to Trans-Siberian Orchestra it wasn't that hard to dive deeper into it.
Dark moor was a band i heard during my time in school's library off from the now defunked groove shark. the opening track swan lake from their 2009 album Autumnal got me hooked! so infectious. a few others i listen(but frequent look up on yt) to are within temptation & sirenia (with ailyn 2008 -16).
three more artists i'll mention and then i'm done.
Emilie autumn - a extremely gifted violinist who can sing (and should team up with Lindsey stirling) has bi-polar disorder but she's managed to take all her sufferings in life turning it into a book called the Asylum from wayward Victorian girls. also made an album called fight like a girl(f.l.a.g) in 2012 and plans for a musical on stage then film.
Hannah fury - What can i say about her...omg that voice! she's got a light, ghostly quality that nobody has. heard this one a long time ago then got back into her exploring the catalogue of music on yt. she's back now after being car accident(most assumed she was dead for being away from so long. there's blog showing what happen...look it up) redoing her music for the 3rd album was supposed to happen in 2012.
Tori amos - Her musical The light princess(about two years ago) made me a fan instantly...which a song or two will appear in my story love between brothers by a future character who i won't reveal on here. this artist started in the late with album that failed(but is well loved by fans why Kant tori read.) but came back three years later little earthquakes in 92(buy the remastered deluxe edition whenever you can or have money to buy one.)
if any these artists i mentioned here unexpectedly died today some would be remembered others would just be ignored fade to black or fall into obscurity and forgotten by people.
Lastly to all writers who feel unappreciated, frustrated, going through writer's block and just need to breathe or vent out play this or 16 shades (also by tori)
song https://youtu.be/ne72E-BD328 Peace every pony!:)
some songs you should check out by Linkin Park
In My Remains
Castle of Glass
Breaking the Habit
Numb
Good Goodbye (one of his last recorded songs)