Music has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up listening to 80’s music and rock music. It was no surprise to anyone when I discovered a band that would change my life forever: Panic! At the Disco.
I remember the day like it was just yesterday. I was scrolling through the Vine app (God rest its soul), and I came upon an edit of the lead singer, Brendon Urie. I saw many other posts like this and also started to see videos of the band performing live. I decided to dig a little deeper and listen to their songs, .It was then and there that I knew this band was going to stick with me for many years to come.
Fast forward two years to my freshman year of college, when I found out Panic! At the Disco would be coming to Pittsburgh. I knew I had to get tickets, and that’s just what I did. The following month, I drove to what seemed like the middle of nowhere for this concert. It was a music festival, so many different bands would be performing, and Panic! At the Disco was dead last to perform. Still, I got to the “venue” early. (I’m using the term venue very loosely, since this concert was in a field.) This was one of the best decisions of my life. As soon as the gates opened and I got my ticket scanned, I made the grueling walk to the stage. I ended up getting front row and it was one of the best concerts I’ve been to in my life.
Since I discovered Panic! At the Disco back in 2013, they have helped me immensely. Not only have I found a lot of great songs to listen to through them, but they have also helped me with my mental health a great deal. Back in high school I had really bad anxiety. I do still have anxiety, but this band has helped with it in more ways than they can imagine, and I can never thank them enough for that. I have also met many people through them and gotten closer to them thanks to their music, and I am extremely thankful for that.
That being said, not everybody is going to have the same idol. Some people look up to athletes, actors, or even singers. They are influenced by these other human beings and look up to them for different reasons. Maybe they helped the people through a tough time in their life. Or maybe people just simply thinks they are enjoyable to watch. Whatever the reason, having someone to look up to is important. Healthguidance.org states, “A good role model should be someone hard working, creative, free thinking and moral. At the same time though a role model must be fairly similar to yourself.” People should have role models, but they shouldn’t be someone who is the complete opposite of the person. There should at least have similarities. The website continues by stating, “Role models are highly important for us psychologically, helping to guide us through life during our development, to make important decisions that affect the outcome of our lives, and to help us find happiness in later life.”
Although the guys of Panic! At the Disco have very busy lives, they still find time to help people around them. Not only are they a great band, but they are great people as well. In the past, the members have donated millions of dollars to several charities and organizations. Some include the Human Rights Campaign, Cancer Research UK, and Planned Parenthood. The members are huge believers in equal rights. Every time they have a concert, Urie gives a speech about what he believes in. These speeches usually revolve around topics like equal rights and the LGBTQ+ community.
Music is a universal language. It connects people of all ages all around the world. According to the Huffington Post, music can lower stress and anxiety, decrease pain, improve the way the immune system functions and help memory. The Huffington Post said, “In some cases, music’s positive impacts on health have been more powerful than medication.” This is why people enjoy listening to music so much, because they know it’s good for their health. That, and of course, some songs are really catchy. Either way, music is an important part of people’s lives.
While music is healthy for the listener, that is not the only reason why he or she enjoys it. Lyrics are a huge part of an attachment to certain bands. Of course, Panic! At the Disco has some great lyrics. Some of their lyrics are really deep and depressing, and some just put the person listening in a great mood. One of my personal favorite lyrics is “It’s better to burn than to fade away, it’s better to leave than to be replaced.” This lyric also happens to be from my favorite song by the band. This lyric is saying that if someone is in a tough situation, it should be left behind them. Being replaced isn’t fun, but if the person leaves, it won’t hurt as bad. It’s better to just leave a negative situation.
So yes, Panic! At the Disco means a lot to me. However, I’m not going to put them on a pedestal or build a shrine for them and literally worship them. They are people just like you and me. Of course, I would be ecstatic at the thought of meeting them, but I wouldn’t be one of those crazy fans that screams at their idols while meeting them. Props to those people for living their dreams and meeting their favorite people, but they are just people. This band has been with me for five
years now, and I hope they are with me for a long time. I am who I am because of them today. If I could get the opportunity to sit down with them one day and interview them, that would be amazing. That is my dream as a journalist. But for now, I just have to work hard and get my degree.
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