Here we are at the end of our 30-day journey. And it’s seriously been mind-blowing to me. I’ve learned a lot about the music I’ve listened to, and the support I’ve had during this month has been amazing. Thank you to all of you who have encouraged me to keep going. You’ve taken a peek into the autobiography I’ll never write.
At the end of this series, I’m excited to say that this series has warranted 750 collective views, and that’s infintely more than I could’ve asked for. If you find it in your heart to keep sharing and talking about this series for the weeks to come, I encourage you to do so with the hashtag #30Days30Songs. And it’s never too late to follow the playlist! I’m thinking of making this an annual thing, so please hop on the bandwagon if you so desire.
Now that we’ve wrapped up this journey, I’d like to now announce that I will be taking something of a break from Ground Up Ideas. I’d like to focus more on other writing endeavors. As some of you may know, I was published in an indie magazine earlier this summer, and I would like to pursue further, similar endeavors, as well as more longform writing. So you’ll see the occasional update from me here semi-monthly through the end of the year. Don’t worry – I’m not going anywhere, just changing focus.
I’ll see you all in January 2019 with a newer, fresher Ground Up Ideas.
Now on to the last chapter.
Day 30: Save Rock and Roll – Fall Out Boy feat. Elton John
(Note: This song contains strong language)
Sometimes it’s easy to give up, even on things you’re passionate about. When I go through all of the old stuff I wrote, it can be cringey. Who would ever want to read this? I’ve auditioned for a lot of shows in my city because I love acting, but I’ve turned up with nothing. Maybe no one wants to see me onstage. Dead ends are painful. Pitfalls are painful. And constant disappointment is painful.
So is it worth it? That’s a question only you can answer. One of my professors from my first major once told me, “You can do this because you understand it, but you need to have the want-to.” I’ve used that phrase a lot: the want-to. You can be really good at something but just not have the want-to. A substitute teacher in high school told me I had great handwriting – had I ever considered being an elementary teacher? I said no. “Oh, you’d be great. You have perfect penmanship.” That might be so, but I don’t want to teach kids just because I write longhand a lot. There’s a lot more that goes into teaching kids.
It’s even better if you feel a need-to. As if there’s an innate desire deep within you. As discouraged as I am sometimes by my shortcomings in writing, I have a deep need and desire to tell stories. There are stories inside me – sometimes they just have a hard time getting on the page.
And Fall Out Boy has music inside them.
The quintessential punky boy emo band has gone through a lot since its genesis. Their sound started in the emo, My-Chemical-Romance-style and has evolved to a slightly poppier (and one might wager, less unique) sound. They’ve gotten seriously crapped on for that. “Oh I like the old Fall Out Boy,” some people will tell me when I bring it up.
I actually prefer the new Fall Out Boy. Their music is catchy, anthemic, and a whole lot of fun. Each song is unique enough to become a fast favorite for me. Their newest album, MANIA, is quickly becoming my new favorite. It’s music you can punch stuff to. They don’t claim to be anything more or less.
An enduring favorite of mine is “Save Rock & Roll,” which the band performed on their album of the same name with Elton John. And it’s basically perfect. It’s what you think it’s about – saving rock and roll. FOB is not one to listen to the haters – they’ll perform the music they want, not the music they think people will like. And this song is an encouragement to them to keep going, and an encouragement for us to never give up.
The beginning is a sample of a song from their earlier album.
Until your breathing stops, stops, stops,
Until your breathing stops, stops, stops
Until your, your, your, your, your
Forever, forever
The sample is used a few more times throughout the track, and it sets the mood for what this song is about. It’s the personal anthem of Patrick Stump, the band’s ultimate manifesto – we’re not going to bend to commercially-produced music. We know our roots, and we’re going to stick to them.
I need more dreams, and less life
And I need that dark in a little more light
I cried tears you’ll never see
So f–k you, you can go cry me an ocean,
And leave me be
Patrick sounds a bit bitter (a bit?) about the way things have been for him and the band. They make the music they want – everyone else can go jump in a lake. Even so, they still want to make an impact in whatever way they can.
You are what you love, not who loves you
In a world full of the word yes, I’m here to scream –
I want that first line on a tattoo (don’t worry mom, I’m not getting one.) But it’s so true. How often do we try to put on a show for other people, instead of staying true to ourselves? I’ve realized that a lot lately. It’s possible to do something you’re passionate about but be bad at it – and that’s usually because you’re not doing it for you.
Oh no, wherever I go
Trouble seems to follow,
I only plugged in to save rock n roll
Who knows rock n roll better than Fall Out Boy themselves? Oh, yeah. ELTON FREAKING JOHN. And he has something to say about the new generation of music he’s witnessing.
Blood brothers in desperation,
an oath of silence for the voice of a generation
Oh! How’d it get to be only me?
Like I’m the last d—n kid still kickin’ that still believes
It’s also been proposed that this song is slightly satirical – Stump is taking on the persona of a pretentious, self-entitled artist who only produces art. And no one understands his art. But even the tongue-in-cheek makes for a great anthem to someone who feels alone in what they stand for.
I will defend the faith, goin’ down swingin’
I will save the songs
That we can’t stop singin’
So if you’re doing something that you love, keep doing it. Even if it’s writing a blog that feels like it isn’t going anywhere. Do you still love it? Then keep doing it. Maybe people will think you’re pretentious, but their opinion doesn’t matter. Love what you love.
Because you are what you love.
—
I’ve learned a lot writing this little 30-day biography. I’ve learned, first of all, that it’s hard to write about songs. Sometimes I feel like I’m repeating myself. It’s not because the songs are monotone, it’s because many of them don’t necessarily need to be unpacked – it’s already all there for you, in its neat little package of music. I’ve learned that the music I listen to tends to follow certain themes – heartbreak, faith, with a little bit of rebellion. And those are topics that are often sung about.
It was also hard to just pick 30. If you look at my notes over the last month, you’ll see cross-outs, edits, and changes galore. I changed at least five of the songs that I wrote about, even after journalling about them.
I guess you’ll just have to wait til next year.
Audrey D. DeBoer 