Fall Out Boy, Song of the “Centuries”
After a cryptic, six second, Morse code video was released on Fall Out Boy’s VEVO, the entire world wanted to know what it meant. The band was quick to enlighten us – although not their blackened social media icons: “Centuries”, their next single! They just finished off touring Save Rock And Roll and apparently the pop-punk quartet, who are notorious for experimenting with new styles, had been writing on the road!
If the quiet chanting in the beginning sounds eerily familiar to you, that’s because it should be. Not only is it the well-known melody from 1987 hit “Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega, but it is sung by someone most Fall Out Boy fans will recognize: the very same LOLO that performed “Miss Jackson” with Panic! At the Disco on Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! I recommend you familiar yourself with the original if you haven’t already; homage is kind of why they featured the bit.
I listed the lyrics below because I feel they, like most Fall Out Boy lyrics, are a defining feature, and I’m more happy with this song than I was for most of Save Rock and Roll. Feedback? Here’s the song
After this familiar segment, it cuts right into the powerful, chanting chorus with and pretty piano melody in the background along with clapping in the form of quarter notes.
“Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold
But you will remember me
Remember me, for centuries
Just one mistake
is all it will take
We’ll go down in history
Remember me for centuries”
The verses follow Fall Out Boys reliably unpredictability, with an unique rock vocal style backed by a pop beat.
“Mollify my teenage dreams
No, it’s nothing wrong with me
The kids are all wrong
The stories are off
Heavy-metal broke my heart
Come on, come on, and let me in
Bruises on your thighs like fingerprints
This is for tonight, the darkness that you felt
I never meant for you to fix yourself”
The first verse was my favorite for no particular reason, although I love the word mollify.
You have to enjoy that strange thing Patrick does to the word amnesia. More of that Fall Out Boy spontaneity.
“And I can’t stop till the whole world knows my name
Cause I was only bold inside my dreams
Until you die for me, as long as there’s a light
My shadow’s over you cause I, I am
the opposite of amnesia
and you’re a cherry blossom, you’re about to bloom
You look so pretty but you’re gone so soon”
The most interesting part of this song’s lyrics is the big bridge,
“We’ve been here forever
And here’s the frozen fruit
I could scream forever
We are the poisoned youth”
If you consider the post Fall Out Boy made on their website when the song was released, it’s really interesting that you can connect their biblical reference of David and Goliath to these lines. At least I think so.
All in all, the song speaks for itself. The vocals, the interesting use of backing sounds and instruments, it seems like it should feel generic but it’s so unique Fall Out Boy. It is an experiment. It is an anthem. It is a promise from Fall Out Boy, but also a call to action. Pick up your weapon, no matter what style or denotation, and fight with it.
Oh and seriously, what is up with the thing on the wrist of their cover art?
What do you think?
Xoxo,
Radium Rollercoaster
Posted on September 8, 2014, in Interviews and tagged centuries, Fall Out Boy, falloutboy090814, music, New Releases, Pop-Punk. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.
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