In the early, angst-ridden years of being a teenager, music is a huge outlet for many. Personally, I gravitated toward the emo, punk and scream-o genres. While I still listen to a plethora of emo, punk and scream-o, I have widely expanded my playlist. By the time we get to college, most of us have exposed ourselves to enough artists and varying styles to not be as secular in music tastes as we were in our early teen years.
Even with an elongated playlist, many people still look back at their early music interests and continue to listen to those same artists and genres, whether it be for reminiscing’s sake or a forever bond with that music. And many of the artists have continued on, pumping out album after album to a sea of excited and devoted fans.
One of the most notable, Panic! at the Disco, continues to release catchy, obsess-worthy tunes. The only member left of the band’s original lineup, Brendon Urie, is still amassing crowds of new fans as well as keeping old fans engaged, whether it be due to his immensely powerful voice, beautiful hair and face or his overall charm.
Cleverly released about a week and a half before Halloween this year, Panic! at the Disco’s newest release, “Emperor’s New Clothes,” is a song every fan can appreciate and listen to on repeat for hours on end. At first, it seems a bit confusing, as the song’s video starts with the video and audio from the band’s song “This is Gospel,” which came out in 2013.
The video for “This is Gospel” leads all too well into “Emperor’s New Clothes.” “This is Gospel” is about letting go and the video paints a story of a person dying. Fast forward to the official release of “Emperor’s New Clothes” on Oct. 21 and we hear again the familiar flat-line tone from the end of “This is Gospel” and the overarching croons of Urie’s lyrics saying, “If you love me let me go…”
Instantly there is a transition into the new song, where Urie is plunged into Hell and slowly transforms into a demon, complete with menacing fangs and intimidating horns. Urie displays good acting in the video, but his body acting is remarkable. The main focus of the video itself is his transformation, which his jerking, sudden movements only enhance.
Even if you don’t appreciate the brilliant cinematography within the video, you can love the catchy song itself. It still fits the band’s most recent release before this, “Victorious,” with a beat that’s hard to sit still to. Urie’s phenomenal range is used to its full potential and once again, the band has put forth lyrics that are fun to sing with and that still paint a picture better than any standard, boring pop song.
If you are already a Panic! at the Disco fan, get to Youtube fast and delve into the full experience. If you never really cared for the band or haven’t listened to them, go to Youtube anyway and see what it’s all about. It is easily one of the band’s best studio releases in its more recent endeavors.
CASSIE BIELECKI
