Both Logic and Twenty One Pilots are relatively new the mainstream music industry. However, both artists have gathered cult followings. While Logic is considered more rap and hip hop and Twenty One Pilots is more alternative, both have made their way onto mainstream radio. The most important similarity, though, is that both have enhanced the conversation around mental health with their unconventional music.
Twenty One Pilots first became known on alternative radio stations with their hit “Car Radio” from their album Vessel. They didn’t become a household until the release of their album Blurryface and their chart-topping single “Stressed Out.”
Lead singer Tyler Joseph often sings and raps about his own mental struggles in his songs. “Migraine,” which comes from Vessel describes in detail what it’s like to be suffering from depression. The “migraine” Joseph refers to is the unwanted thoughts caused by depression. He sings “sometimes death seems better than the migraine in my head.”
When looking at the entire discography of Twenty One Pilots, “Stressed Out” is one of the lesser intense songs. “Stressed Out” refers to how hard it can be to just to try and make a living on your own. Joseph says that all he wants is to go back to a place where he was a kid and didn’t have to worry about money. “Stressed Out” definitely doesn’t deal with serious mental issues like many other Twenty One Pilots songs. However, realizing that stress can be a part of one’s daily mental health is beneficial. Joseph reminds us all that it’s important to care of our everyday selves because everyday life can be hard.
With Twenty One Pilots becoming more popular, their other songs will become more popular, too. Many fans have already taken comfort in the straightforward lyrics about mental illness, depression, and suicide. Hopefully, more fans will follow suit and learn to stay strong.
Twenty One Pilots will hopefully be setting a precedent for other artists. They are breaking the stigma around mental illness by making it less taboo to talk about.
One of those artists who has already followed in similar footsteps to Twenty One Pilots is Logic. Logic is a rapper who has only been known for a short time. His most popular song is “1-800-273-8255.” The title of the song is the suicide hotline number.
Logic is also explicit when it comes to talking about his personal struggles in his lyrics. In “1-800-273-8255,” the first chorus says, “I don’t wanna be alive. I just wanna die today.” Through the song, Logic narrates his thoughts as he gets to place where he says in the last chorus “I finally wanna be alive. I don’t wanna die today.”
Logic performed this song at the 2017 VMAs. During the performance, suicide survivors were brought out onstage. Logic then gave a powerful speech about bringing awareness to mental health issues. In fact, after this performance, calls to the suicide prevention hotline spiked.
That reason right there is why it’s so important to end the stigma on mental health. The more it’s talked about, sung about, or expressed in any way, the more lives can be saved.
Scatter Brain 