Twenty One Pilots

2009–2011: Formation and self-titled album

Tyler Joseph first met future bandmate Nick Thomas at a young age while playing youth basketball in Columbus, Ohio. Thomas later transferred to Joseph's middle school, and the two would remain friends throughout high school.

Musical style

The band's musical style has been described as alternative rock, electropop, alternative hip-hop, pop rap, indie pop, pop rock, rap rock, electronic rock, indie rock, hip-hop, emo, and indietronica.

Name, iconography, and fandom

According to the band, their purpose for making music is "to make people think" and encourage them to find joy in what they come to believe in life. Twenty One Pilots derives their band name and philosophy from literary origins. "Bicycle Thief" and "Chill Coat", a play on the last name of the band's lawyer, Jeff Chilcoat, were among some of the rejected band names. Joseph got the band's name and meaning from reading the 1947 theatrical play All My Sons, by American playwright Arthur Miller. In the story, the main protagonist is a defense contractor named Joe Keller who builds airplane parts for military aircraft. Upon discovering some are faulty and would fail if used, he must decide whether or not to recall them. Keller is forced to make...

Heathens

"Heathens" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, released as the lead single from the motion picture soundtrack to the DC Comics film Suicide Squad (2016) on June 16, 2016, through Atlantic Records. The song was written by Tyler Joseph and produced by him along with Mike Elizondo.

"Heathens" peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, tying with "Stressed Out" for the duo's highest-charting single to date. "Heathens" was nominated for three Grammy Awards at the 59th annual awards ceremony.

Background

On June 15, 2016, Twenty One Pilots tweeted a message in Morse code which read "takeitslow", a lyric taken from the song "Heathens". The following day, June 16, the song was revealed to be featured on the motion picture soundtrack for the 2016 American superhero film based on the DC Comics antihero team Suicide Squad. The soundtrack was released on August 5.

Composition

"Heathens" is a rap rock song that has a duration of three minutes and fifteen seconds. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music, it is written in the time signature of common time, with a moderate tempo of 90 beats per minute. "Heathens" is composed in the key of E minor, while Tyler Joseph's vocal range spans one octave and three notes, from a low of E3 to a high of G4. The song has a basic sequence of C–Em–Am–Em in the verses, changes to C/E–Am–Em–C–Am–B7 during the pre-chorus, and follows C–Am–E at the refrain, bridge and outro as its chord progression.

Critical reception

Sam Law of Kerrang! named it the band's sixth best song in April 2020, describing it as a "deliciously insidious single" and "largely unlike anything else they'd done". He further said that it was "the best thing to come out of 2016's otherwise almost-entirely abortive Suicide Squad adaptation".

Music video

The music video for "Heathens", directed by Andrew Donoho, was uploaded to the Fueled by Ramen YouTube channel in June 2016. It shows Tyler Joseph singing the song in the prison Belle Reve, with Josh Dun appearing while playing drums during the course of the video. Joseph makes his way to a small stage in the middle of a room, where Dun is already on the stage playing the drums. Joseph then picks up a floating bass guitar and begins playing it while the prisoners leave their cells and watch the duo perform the remainder of the song. At the end of the video, Joseph is sitting in the room alone as the prison security guards surround him. Throughout the music video, various clips from Suicide Squad are played.

Chlorine

"Chlorine" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released through Fueled by Ramen on January 22, 2019, as the fifth single from their fifth studio album, Trench (2018).

The track was written and produced by lead singer Tyler Joseph and Paul Meany of rock band Mutemath. It is a trip hop, rap rock and electropop song which discusses "how creativity can cleanse dark impulses but cause its own pain".

Composition

As with much of Trench, "Chlorine" was written and produced by Tyler Joseph, the lead singer of Twenty One Pilots, and Paul Meany of Mutemath, who also provided part of the voice for the track's opening lines. The songwriting process and recording took place in secret in Joseph's basement studio in Columbus, Ohio, while the track was mixed by Adam Hawkins and mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound, New York City. In an "Ask Me Anything" session on Reddit, Joseph wrote that "wrestling on trying to tackle what he was feeling in 'Chlorine' was exhausting."

Release

Trench was released on October 5, 2018. Chlorine was released as the fifth track of the album. On January 22, 2019, fans of Twenty One Pilots began speculating that a music video for the song "Chlorine" would be released the following day due to a series of teasers that the band posted on social media, including a short clip of a dirty swimming pool soundtracked by a drum beat similar to the one found on the track. Tyler Joseph, the band's lead singer, also posted a message on Twitter which reads "there's someone i'd like you guys to meet. i'll introduce you to him tomorrow. his name is Ned. <{•.•}>". However, the band later announced that they could not wait to share the video any longer and subsequently released the music video that same...

Reception

"Chlorine" received critical acclaim, with positive sentiments being directed towards its catchiness and the band's increased songwriting maturity compared to their antecedent records. Joshua Copperman of PopMatters complimented "Chlorine"'s musical restraint in comparison to the band's previous work and opined that it featured the "catchiest chorus on the record." Gary Ryan of NME wrote that the track was one of the songs off Trench "strong enough to exist outside of any story," referring to the narrative found on the album. Billboard writer Chris Payne found that the evolution of the band's musical style on tracks off Trench including "Chlorine" as "jarring." GIG Soup's Jo Cosgrove expressed a similar sentiment, further adding that the...

Music video

The music video for "Chlorine" was uploaded upon the song's release as a single on January 22, 2019, and was directed by Mark C. Eshleman of Reel Bear Media. It shows the duo filling up a dirty swimming pool and cleaning it while being watched by a small, white alien-like creature with small antlers, black eyes and hairy bat-like ears named Ned. When the duo finish cleaning and filling the pool, Ned dives into it and his antlers seem to grow in response. The video ends with Joseph sitting in an empty pool accompanied by the creature, whose antlers begin to shrink again, before offering it a cup containing an unknown substance, which Ned refuses to take. As of January 28, 2026, the video has surpassed 646 million views on YouTube.

Stressed Out

"Stressed Out" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. Produced by Mike Elizondo and recorded at studios in Los Angeles and London, it was released as a promotional single from their fourth studio album, Blurryface (2015), on April 28, 2015, through Fueled by Ramen.

The song later impacted US contemporary hit radio as the album's fourth official single on November 10. Elizondo initially took issue with the nature of the song's lyrical content, but relaxed after lead vocalist and songwriter Tyler Joseph explained the larger album concept.

Background and production

"Stressed Out" is a focal point for the thematic elements of the duo's second major-label studio album, Blurryface (2015), acting as an introduction to the "Blurryface". It was written by Tyler Joseph from the perspective of the character Blurryface rather than an impersonal third-person narrator. Blurryface appears as the alter-ego of Joseph, "a monster-image of his insecurities and self-hatreds", and on "Stressed Out" Joseph attempts to defeat it. In an interview with MTV News, Joseph elaborated on the Blurryface, saying "it's a guy that kind of represents all the things that I as an individual — but also everyone around me — am insecure about. When I think about insecurities and my insecurities are getting the best of me, the things...

Composition

"Stressed Out" is a mid-tempo alternative hip hop, alternative rock and rap rock song that runs for a duration of three minutes and twenty-two seconds. The musical composition has a throwback to rock music and psychedelic pop while maintaining clear pop sensibilities. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music, it is written in the time signature of common time, with a moderate tempo of 85 beats per minute. "Stressed Out" is composed in the key of A minor, while Tyler Joseph's vocal range spans one octave and four notes, from a low of E3 to a high of A4. The song has a basic sequence of F–Dm–Am in the verses, pre-chorus and outro, changes to Am–G–C–E at the refrain and follows Am–G–C5–E during the bridge as...

Lyrics

Lyrically, "Stressed Out" follows a one-line rhyme scheme pattern and tells a story about the harsh end of adolescence, touching on Tyler Joseph's aging anxiety and his experience with making music. Tyler Joseph was in his mid-20s at the time of the single's release, performing a nostalgic "ode to the innocence of childhood" with lyrics speaking on the adolescent insecurity, transition from adolescence to adulthood, and millennial angst. He is speaking as a member of millennial generation "drowning in college loan debt" and sharing their anxieties while feigning apathy and yearning peer acceptance all over social media.

Release and commercial performance

"Stressed Out" was first released as a promotional single through Fueled by Ramen on April 28, 2015, on the Google Play Store and Amazon. It was later added as the second track on Twenty One Pilots' fourth studio album Blurryface on May 17, 2015. The song was issued to contemporary hit radio stations as the album's fourth official single on November 10, 2015. "Stressed Out" became the first rock song to surpass a billion streams on Spotify.

Ride

"Ride" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, from their fourth studio album, Blurryface. "Ride" was originally released as a promotional single on YouTube on May 11, 2015.

The music video for the song was released on YouTube the following day. It was serviced to US contemporary hit radio on April 12, 2016, as the album's fifth official single.

Composition

"Ride" is an uptempo alternative rap song that lasts for a duration of three minutes and thirty-four seconds. The track combines elements of rock, hip hop, reggae, punk, electro and pop. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music, it written in the time signature of common time, with a fast tempo of 150 beats per minute. "Ride" is composed in the key of G-flat major, while Tyler Joseph's vocal range ranges from a low of D♭3 to a high of B♭4. The song has a basic sequence of G–Am–Em–C/D during the introduction, changes to G–Am–Em–C–G–Am–Em–Dsus2 in the sung verse, has G–Am–Em–C during the pre-chorus, follows G–Am–Em–C♭–G–Am–Em–Dsus2 at the refrain, changes to G♭–A♭m–E♭m–C♭–G♭–A♭m– E♭m–C♭/D♭ in the rap verse and...

Critical reception

Billboard's Garrett Kamps favorably compared "Ride" to the work of Jamaican sound engineer King Tubby. Gab Ginsberg, from the same publication, called the single "irresistible." Erik Leijon of Montreal Gazette described "Ride" as "impossibly catchy faux-reggae." Jason Pettigrew from Alternative Press claimed it "might be the most happiest song in TOP's songbook, and there's still an ominous message." Mitchell Hillman for Phoenix New Times remarked that the song "is pushed even further into a blissful realm by Joseph's supersonic rapping." Chelsea Deeley from Music Feeds praised the vocal parts Tyler Joseph contributed to the song, writing that it "showcases a succinct vocal delivery that can go from rapping to balladry to screaming in a...

Music video

The music video for "Ride" demonstrates a stark contrast of a performance within a forest, abruptly transitioning from the dark to daylight. It showcases Tyler Joseph playing bass guitar wearing white-rimmed sunglasses while Josh Dun performs on drums. The white-rimmed pair of sunglasses seen in the video for "Ride" have since become part of Joseph's signature attire. The video, as of November 2025, has over 1.6 billion views on YouTube.

Reception

Rachel Campbell from Alternative Press commented, "While this track instrumentally gives off an upbeat, reggae vibe, the video for it is anything but, showing a stark contrast of a forest performance in the dark and in daylight. The one unique thing about it is Joseph plays bass, a talent minimally showcased in their live performances as he normally runs, crashes and dances across the stage while Josh Dun holds it down on the drums." Writing for the same publication, Jessica Bridgeman complimented Joseph's stylish fashion sense, saying, "Who needs boring Aviators when you can step out in some statement shades, à la Tyler?" The music video for the single "Ride" has since surpassed a billion views on YouTube. Although this is not the first...

Doubt

"Doubt" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. First released as the eighth track of their fourth studio album Blurryface (2015), a demo version was released as a non-album single on April 9, 2025.

Heavydirtysoul

"Heavydirtysoul" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots from their fourth studio album Blurryface (2015). It was written by vocalist Tyler Joseph, who derived some of its lyrics from a poem called "Street Poetry" which he had written and published three years earlier.

The track was produced by American record producer Ricky Reed and recorded at Serenity West Recording in Hollywood, California. As the opening track of Blurryface, "Heavydirtysoul" acts as the album's introduction, both musically and thematically.

Background

Three years prior to its single release, vocalist Tyler Joseph wrote and published a short poem called "Street Poetry", and lyrics from it were partially used by Twenty One Pilots for the song "Heavydirtysoul." In 2013, Joseph was first filmed performing "Street Poetry" in the open air in London, England. The duo had been the monthly cover stars for Rock Sound and provided the British magazine with exclusive video footage. Some of the lyrics he recited on camera subsequently appeared on "Heavydirtysoul", and it was included as the first song on the band's fourth studio album Blurryface in 2015.

Recording

"Heavydirtysoul" was produced by Ricky Reed and recorded at Serenity West Recording in Hollywood, California. The track was then mixed at The Casita in Hollywood, California and mastered at Sterling Sound in New York City. Some of the lyrics for "Heavydirtysoul" originated from a short poem called "Street Poetry," which had been written three years earlier by Joseph. Twenty One Pilots incorporated part of its lyrics, transforming them into a fast-talking song that sports a melodic chorus. The track exemplifies the manner in which the duo mix and move between several music genres on Blurryface. Similar to their previous studio album Vessel, their fourth album was musically diverse and reflective of the wide range of Joseph and drummer Josh...

Composition

"Heavydirtysoul" is an alternative hip hop song that runs for a duration of three minutes and fifty-four seconds. Within its track, the duo mesh several genres, moving between funk-tinged rock, hip-hop, grandeur pop and soul while flashing R&B hooks and experimenting with electronic dance beats. "Heavydirtysoul" is an intense, aggressive song that features high-speed vocals and complex rapping from Tyler Joseph. His rapid rapping is supplemented by soulful drumming from Josh Dun, generating its heavy beats and groove. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music, the song is written in the time signature of common time, with a moderately fast tempo of 130 beats per minute. "Heavydirtysoul" is composed in the key...

Release and promotion

"Heavydirtysoul" was released as a single from their fourth album Blurryface by Warner Music Canada in December 2016.

Nico and the Niners

"Nico and the Niners" is a song written and recorded by the American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released on July 11, 2018, as the second of the lead singles from their fifth studio album Trench (2018), alongside "Jumpsuit".

The song peaked at number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Composition

"Nico and the Niners" is a reggae, rap, rock and psychedelic song with a length of three minutes and forty-seven seconds. It was the first song to be completed off Trench. The song is played in an A minor key, and at 140 beats per minute.

Music video

A music video for "Nico and the Niners" was released on July 26, 2018. It was directed by Andrew Donoho, who had directed all the music videos from the Trench trilogy, and was filmed in Kharkiv and Kyiv, Ukraine.

The Hype

"The Hype" is a song recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released through Fueled by Ramen and Elektra Music Group on July 16, 2019, as the sixth and final single from their fifth studio album, Trench (2018).

The track was written by lead singer Tyler Joseph, with production being handled by himself and Paul Meany. The song's lyrics discuss perseverance and loyalty.

Composition

As with most of its parent album Trench, "The Hype" was written by Tyler Joseph, the lead singer of Twenty One Pilots, and produced by him alongside Paul Meany of the alternative rock band Mutemath. The songwriting process and recording took place in secret in Joseph's basement studio in Columbus, Ohio, while the track was mixed by Adam Hawkins and mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound, New York City. In an interview with Coup de Main Magazine, Joseph revealed that while writing the track, he intended for its production to sound like that of which he found in his childhood. In an AMA on Reddit, he disclosed that the track was among the hardest to write on Trench.

Music video

On July 26, 2019, Twenty One Pilots published an official music video for "The Hype" on YouTube. The video has garnered over 84 million views on YouTube as of January 2026.

Critical reception

"The Hype" was critically acclaimed by music critics. Gary Ryan of NME opined that "The Hype" was one of the songs off Trench "strong enough to exist outside of any story," referring to the narrative found on the record. Billboard writer Chris Payne described the song as a "jubilant, crowd-ready panorama." In his review of Trench for AllMusic, Neil Z. Yeung lauded it as one of the record's "second-half highlights." Stephen Keegan, writing for Hot Press, considered that the track displayed "the pop sensibilities that have earned the band their audience," additionally predicting that the track "is sure to become an alternative anthem."

The Judge

"The Judge" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released on their fourth studio album Blurryface in May 2015.

It was written by Tyler Joseph and produced by Mike Crossey.

Background

On their fourth studio album Blurryface, lead vocalist Tyler Joseph explored various lyrical and musical styles throughout several of its songs. "The Judge" was one of the softer moments in the album and features repetitive lyrics that are driven by a narrative.

Recording

"The Judge" was produced by Mike Crossey and recorded at Livingston Studios in London, United Kingdom. The track was then mixed at The Casita in Hollywood, California and mastered at Sterling Sound in New York City. It is built on Joseph lightly strumming his ukulele before additional instruments are incorporated into the arrangement. The band opted to eschew synthesized sounds in favor of the acoustic instruments such as piano and guitar in addition to vocals and marimba.

Composition

"The Judge" is a pop song that lasts for a duration of four minutes and fifty-eight seconds. It is a summery sing along with an island flavor that is based on ukulele folk and enduring emo. The track features acoustic guitar and piano, marimba tones, soulful singing, rapping and multiple changes in time signature. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc, the song is written in the time signature of common time, with a tempo of 80 beats per minute. "The Judge" is composed in the key of A Minor while Tyler Joseph's vocal range spans two octaves, from the low-note of D3 to the high-note D5. The song has a basic sequence of Am–F–C–Dm–Am–F–C in the introduction and verses, changes to Em–B–Am–G...

Critical reception

AllMusic's Neil Z Yeung wrote, "Despite the intensity of some of the lyrics, when one focuses strictly on the music, it's a party... Joseph strums his ukulele to effective measure on 'The Judge'." Sharing similar sentiments, Anne Nickoloff and Troy Smith from The Plain Dealer stated, "Of all the Twenty One Pilots ukulele-based songs, 'The Judge' stands out on top with its free-flying vocals and lyrical storytelling. By the end of the song, the light strumming collides with a playful piano singalong bop—a needed sonic contrast to the darker themes on the rest of Blurryface. However, Smith also felt "The Judge" was as among the songs which dragged the album down, and was critical of its "overlong emo." Writing for Eagle News Online, Ashley...

Car Radio

"Car Radio" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. Originally appearing on their second studio album Regional at Best (2011), it was re-recorded and released on March 18, 2014, as the sixth and final single from their third album, Vessel (2013).

The song is notable for containing no chorus and no hook.

Background

The song was inspired by an event which had happened to frontman Tyler Joseph during college. In an interview with Rock Sound, he explained that one day he arrived to class late and forgot to lock his car's door. After class, he returned to discover that someone had broken into his car and stolen everything inside, including the radio, GPS and his CDs. At the time, Joseph didn't have the finances necessary to afford to replace what was lost. The subsequent experience of going on without his car radio made him realize "music can act as a distraction and can get in the way of where your mind wants to go."

Composition

According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing, "Car Radio" is written in the time signature of common time, with a slow tempo of 65 beats per minute. "Car Radio" is composed in the key of A minor, while Tyler Joseph's vocal range spans one octave, from a low of C4 to a high of C5. The song has a basic sequence of F–G–Am–G during the verses and interludes and follows Fmaj7–G6–Am–G6 at the refrain as its chord progression. One of the band's more streamlined numbers, "Car Radio" starts off as a brooding alt-pop and rap rock anthem before exploding into existential rave-hop and electronic rock at its euphoric climax.

Music video

The music video was uploaded to YouTube on April 19, 2013, and was directed by Mark C. Eshleman of Reel Bear Media. It was shot at a concert. Tyler Joseph sits in a bathroom singing the song, he then shaves off all of his hair, puts on a ski mask, and heads out to the stage where Josh Dun is seen playing drums. Joseph walks into the crowd which is standing still, and once Joseph jumps, the crowd jumps with him. Joseph surfs the crowd to the platform and performs the rest of the song on stage with Dun. As the song ends, Joseph is seen by himself on the stage and the crowd is gone. He takes off his mask, revealing his face once again (as well as his full head of hair, as if it were never shaven). Joseph then sings the final lyrics to the...

Fairly Local

"Fairly Local" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released as the lead single from their fourth studio album Blurryface (2015) on March 17, 2015, with its music video having been released the previous day.

The song was their first to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 84, and has since been certified platinum in the United States.

Background

"Fairly Local" served as the lead single of Blurryface, and was an introductory track to the titular character. Its two verses are written to contradict each other almost word for word, creating a duality in Joseph's personality between himself and the alter ego "Blurryface", represented in the second refrain through the use of a vocoder, a reprise of the original refrain with deepened pitch.

Composition

"Fairly Local" is an electronic rock and drumstep song that runs for three minutes and twenty-seven seconds, featuring hip hop and pop rap influences. The song alters between sparse verse instrumentation, electronic breakdowns in the choruses, and an ambient instrumental bridge. This gives "Fairly Local" a distinct sound described as intense and eerie. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music, it is written in the time signature of common time at a tempo of 115 beats per minute. "Fairly Local" is composed in the key of F♯ minor, while Joseph's vocal range spans two octaves, from a low C♯3 to a high of C♯5.

Music video

The music video for "Fairly Local" was uploaded on YouTube without prior notice one day before the song's release as a single, and was directed by Mark C. Eshleman of Reel Bear Media. The video is shot in a dark, snow filled and presumably abandoned building, with Dun playing the drums in a large room and Joseph singing in various rooms of the building throughout the video. "Fairly Local" introduces the black paint on Joseph's hands and neck, which symbolise the presence of Blurryface. As the video progresses, Joseph's movements become increasingly more frantic and erratic, while Dun's drums fly into the air and disappear, one by one.

Holding on to You

"Holding On to You" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots from their second studio album Regional at Best (2011). It was re-recorded for their third studio album and major-label debut, Vessel (2013) and released as their debut single.

"Holding On to You" features upbeat rhythms and bouncy suspended chords over which Tyler Joseph delivers scattershot raps with down-to-earth sentiments and sings grandiose, euphoric choruses. The track's indie-inspired synth-pop transforms from a sensitive ballad to a hip-hop number with rapped verses and codas.

Background

The origin of "Holding On to You" was revealed by lead vocalist Tyler Joseph during a special SiriusXM event on January 17, 2019. With only a piano, Joseph played an intimate, career-spanning set list of stripped-down songs before one-hundred fans of Twenty One Pilots. The performances were part of SiriusXM's Town Hall special with the duo on Alt Nation, accompanied by story-telling and followed by a Q&A session featuring both Joseph and bandmate Josh Dun, which was hosted by SiriusXM's Jeff Regan. Before performing the song, Joseph shared how he had been looking in his journal to prepare for the special and remembered where his mindspace was. A journal entry from 2010 detailed how he was uncertain of the band's direction at the time and...

Recording

"Holding On to You" was produced by Greg Wells and recorded at Rocket Carousel Studio in Los Angeles, California. It is one of five songs reclaimed from the band's sophomore release, Regional at Best (2011). The track's record production received polishing by Wells for inclusion on Vessel (2013). Twenty One Pilots saw a progression from rough demo versions on self-released recordings of Regional at Best to glossy, radio-friendly production on Vessel, handled by Wells. In an interview with HuffPost, the duo described what their progression from creating an EP into doing a full-length album was like. According to Tyler Joseph, "Regional At Best really is just a glorified mix-tape that we used as a background to solidifying fans, and it's...

Composition

"Holding On to You" is a hip-pop song that runs for a duration of four minutes and twenty-three seconds. The musical composition features indie-inspired synth-pop and transforms from a sensitive ballad to a hip-hop number with rapped verses. It is an energetic track that spans a range of genres while the band manages to compact several sounds into it. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by EMI Music Publishing, it is written in the time signature of common time, with a moderate tempo of 90 beats per minute. "Holding On to You" is composed in the key of B Major, while Tyler Joseph's vocal range spans one octave and four notes from a low F♯3 to a high of B4. The song has a basic sequence of Bsus2/G♯–Bsus2/F♯–B/E–Bsus2 in...

Release and promotion

"Holding On to You" was released by Twenty One Pilots as their debut single. It was released as the lead single of their third studio album Vessel. The track originally appeared on "Regional at Best" before becoming the first single from "Vessel". "Holding On to You" was released as the first single from Vessel in the iTunes Store worldwide on September 11, 2012 but was first released on Twenty One Pilots's PureVolume account on September 7, 2012. The song impacted alternative radio on December 4, 2012, and released to mainstream radio on June 11, 2013.

Lane Boy

"Lane Boy" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, for their fourth studio album, Blurryface. "Lane Boy" was released on YouTube worldwide on May 4, 2015, being released as a single on Google Play Store on the same day.

The music video was released on July 20, 2015.

Background

The direction of Blurryface elaborated on the lyrical theme Twenty One Pilots had honed by the arrival of their third album Vessel, where primary discussion topics were feelings of self-doubt and insecurity as well as how to overcome them. They continued addressing these topics with their fourth studio album, but projected them onto the pressure to release a second consecutive hit album, including on single "Lane Boy." It both musically and lyrically scorns at the notion of staying in one's lane. With the song, the fourth wall is broken as Twenty One Pilots explores what it's like working in the modern music industry.

Recording

"Lane Boy" was produced by Ricky Reed and recorded at Serenity West Recording in Hollywood, California. The track was then mixed at The Casita in Hollywood, California and mastered at Sterling Sound in New York City. Compared to tracks from Blurryface that were produced by Mike Elizondo, "Lane Boy" is influenced by Reed's more pop production and contains chattery programming. One new musical left-turn which stood out on their fourth studio album was the reggae brimming throughout, with songs such as "Lane Boy" taking inspired dub detours. The song has a chorus where Joseph sings what can be perceived as an explanation of their approach, a music genre mashup they'd called "Schizoid-Pop." According to Dun, while navigating pop and other...

Composition

"Lane Boy" is an alternative hip hop song that runs four minutes and thirteen seconds. The genre-bending track is infused with reggae and has textures that feature a hybrid of musical styles, including jungle, dubstep, hip-hop, electropop-inspired rock, dancehall and ska rock. The musical composition consists of Tyler Joseph singing and rapping over a computerized instrumental, accompanied by a light drum line. The song's breezy instrumentation maintains a distinctive Caribbean groove, which is underscored by a plucked melody and Josh Dun's drumming. Joseph delivers his lyrics in a hard, staccato style of rapping over a kaleidoscopic mixture of reggae rhythms, electronic beats, bouncy reggae rock and urgent, full-bore EDM. According to the...

Critical reception

Billboard's Garrett Kamps compared "Lane Boy" to the work of Jamaican sound engineer King Tubby while labeling the single "especially schizoid." Stereogum's Chris DeVille said, "And the DnB/reggae/rap rave-up “Lane Boy” musically and lyrically scoffs at the notion of staying in your lane. Given where they've been and where they're going, it appears they don't have to." Alternative Press commented, "'Don't trust a perfect person and don't trust a song that's flawless,' warns on the furious reggae/jungle/dubstep hybrid 'Lane Boy.' And he's absolutely right; great art is rarely made by normal people." Citing it as the album's "big push-back moment," Jason Pettigrew, from the same publication, mused, "Although he wouldn't publicly use this...

Morph

"Morph" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots from their fifth studio album, Trench (2018). It was released as a promotional single the same day as the album's release.

It was produced by Joseph, with co-production from Paul Meany of Mutemath, and recorded at United Recording Studios in Hollywood, California.

Background and writing

Like all of the songs from Trench, "Morph" was written by Tyler Joseph in a studio in his basement. In an interview with Music Feeds, Joseph explained his approach to writing their fifth studio album. According to Joseph, "It was written down in my studio, in my basement, so it was all at home. It was very close to the chest and I think that was important for us in following up." "Morph" features the use of bass guitar which is played by Joseph. During the interview, Joseph elaborated that he was quite inclined to reach for the instrument while writing the song and every other on Trench, saying how just like when he taught himself how to play the piano, he discovered a sense of inspiration and excitement in the bass guitar. During an AMA,...

Recording

"Morph" was produced by Joseph, while co-produced by record producer Paul Meany of the band Mutemath, and recorded at United Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. The track was mixed by Adam Hawkins and mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound Studios in New York City. Twenty One Pilots recorded songs for Trench at United Recording Studios and chose to collaborate with record producer and audio engineer Darrell Thorp. As always, Twenty One Pilots experimented with a rotation of music genres, translating funky, Californian R&B into "Morph." It was bolstered by sleek, wide-ranging record production assisted by Meany.

Composition

"Morph" is a lounge jazz song that runs for a duration of four minutes and nineteen seconds. It is a blissful number that boasts falsetto R&B hooks with summery soul. The song features horn sections and electric piano, with showers of falsettos from Joseph being injected into washes of funky R&B. The ambient track has a slick atmosphere and utilizes rapid, funky breakbeats as well as jolting left turns, while demonstrating both restraint and Dun's virtuosic percussion. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc, it is composed in the key of C♯ minor and set in the time signature of common time, with a tempo of 90 beats per minute.

Critical reception

Regarding it among the "fresh tricks" found on Trench, AllMusic's Neil Z. Yeung complimented Joseph's "surprise" use of falsetto on the track. Mark Kennedy of USA Today characterized "Morph" as being "blissed-out and terrific." NME writer Gary Ryan considered the song an example of how, "As ever, they play spin the bottle with genre... This is buoyed by sleek, widescreen production." Citing it as an album highlight, Billboard's Chris Payne stated the track "deploys rapid-fire breakbeats and jarring left turns that recall the Prodigy and DJ Shadow, suggesting what a virtuoso percussionist Dun has become." Chris Willman for Variety advised, "take my recommendation and forget about the most deeply conceptual parts of this concept album —...

Ode to Sleep

"Ode to Sleep" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. Originally recorded and self-released for their second studio album, Regional at Best (2011), the song was later re-recorded for their third album, Vessel (2013) as a promotional single.

Background

Regarding the creation of the song, Joseph states that he did not know "exactly how it happened" or "what he was thinking about", but was satisfied with the final result. One of his favorite songs to bring on stage, he defines Ode to Sleep "a puzzle because of its particular structure and how it accidentally manages to be together".

Production

The song was written by Tyler Joseph and produced by Twenty One Pilots for Regional at Best.

Release

"Ode to Sleep" originally appears on the Twenty One Pilots album Regional at Best. Next it makes an appearance on Twenty One Pilots' Three Songs EP alongside Regional at Best song "Guns for Hands" and "Migraine". In 2017, all three tracks were certified gold by the RIAA and over 500,000 copies were sold individually.

Critical reception

Dan LeRoy of Alternative Press deems the song Twenty One Pilots' best, stating that "If one single track best incorporates all the elements that have made Twenty One Pilots beloved, 'Ode to Sleep' would be it. A manic, tempo-shifting mashup of hip-hop swagger and indie-rock doubt, with a heart-stopping pop chorus designed to drive demons away."

The Outside

"The Outside" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released through Fueled by Ramen on November 24, 2021, as the fourth and final single from their sixth studio album, Scaled and Icy (2021).

The song was written and produced by the duo's frontman, Tyler Joseph. A music video for the song was released on March 18, 2022.

Music video

The music video for "The Outside" was directed by Andrew Donoho and was released on March 18, 2022. It is a continuation of the video for "Saturday", and draws much of its plot from the lore established in Twenty One Pilots' preceding album, Trench (2018).

We Don't Believe What's on TV

"We Don't Believe What's on TV" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. The song was recorded by the band for their fourth studio album, Blurryface, and was also released as a promotional single.

The song appears on the soundtrack of the film Power Rangers (2017). It was written by Twenty One Pilots frontman Tyler Joseph.

Composition

"We Don't Believe What's on TV" is an indie rock song that lasts for a duration of two minutes and fifty-seven seconds. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc, it is composed in the key of A Major and set in the time signature of common time, with a tempo of 120 beats per minute.

Fake You Out

"Fake You Out" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots from their third studio album, Vessel (2013). The song was written by Tyler Joseph, who co-produced it alongside Greg Wells.

"Fake You Out" is a quirky techno-pop track composed of momentary injections of synth-pop and rapping, alongside record scratching and screams. Lyrically, it discusses the difficulty of telling people the truth about ourselves, while also referencing suicidal temptations.

Recording

"Fake You Out" was produced by Greg Wells and recorded at Rocket Carousel Studio in Los Angeles, California. The track was then mixed at Rocket Carousel Studio and mastered at Howie Weinberg Mastering in Los Angeles, California. During an interview with Rock Sound, Tyler Joseph provided insight into each track on the band's forthcoming album Vessel. He elaborated about how he played the key tar for "Fake You Out."

Composition

"Fake You Out" is a techno-pop song that lasts three minutes and fifty-one seconds. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc, it is composed in the key of F-sharp major (F♯) and written in the time signature of common time, with a tempo of 115 beats per minute. The quirky track is composed of a hook, momentary injections of synth-pop and sharp rapping, alongside light showers of record scratching and screams. The musical arrangement has a pulsing beat at the bridge, and flirts with immediacy.

Release and promotion

In January 2013, Twenty One Pilots released third studio album Vessel as their major-label debut under Fueled By Ramen, including the single "Fake You Out." In the United Kingdom, the song was featured downloadable for free as the Single of the Week on iTunes. The free download offer was provided through the same platform in Netherlands in the week of October 13, 2013.

Critical reception

"Fake You Out" received generally favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. AllMusic's Fred Thomas highlighted "Fake You Out" as an album track pick. He stated, "banging tunes like 'Fake You Out' leaning closer to Coldplay or Fun. than they do to MGMT, but with an eye toward both sides of the coin." Maria Sherman of Fuse remarked, "'Fake You Out" feels like a Killers tune with a purposeful-youth tinge; there's that pulsing beat on the bridge, and the immediacy they flirt with on other releases but comes full circle on Vessel."

Guns for Hands

"Guns for Hands" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, recorded in Japan, and released worldwide.. It was originally recorded for their second studio album, Regional at Best (2011), and was later re-recorded for their third album Vessel (2013), their 2012 extended play Three Songs, and their 2013 extended play Migraine.

The song's accompanying music video was directed by Mark C. Eshleman.

Background

In an interview with Rock Sound, Tyler Joseph explained that "Guns for Hands" came about following a meeting after a show with young fans of the band who discussed "what it was they were going through and a lot of what they were going through had to do with suicide", and added that "thank goodness it had a lot to do with them overcoming it and using music and songs, in particular his songs, to help them get over that." Joseph was consequently inspired to write a track "about taking that negative energy and aiming it at something else, not aiming it at yourself."

Music video

The music video for "Guns for Hands" is shot in a large, empty white room, set aside for the performers and their instruments. The beginning of the video also shows the song's title in Japanese, as well as some subtitles. Joseph wears a blue shirt, and Dun wears a red shirt, representing the band's early logo. The video opens with Joseph putting on a ski mask and then offering another mask to a withdrawn Dun, whispering "They won't know it's you." The two launch into an energetic performance, with Joseph regularly bringing attention to the fact that his microphone is not actually recording his voice by swinging it around and rubbing it against his forehead. As well as that, Joseph would often shake and twitch throughout the video. Prior to...

House of Gold

"House of Gold" is a song written and recorded by American alternative duo Twenty One Pilots from their third studio album, Vessel (2013). It is an alternative folk song driven by ukulele that is built on an aching melody and stomping drums.

Tyler Joseph wrote and dedicated the song to his mother, Kelly Joseph.

Background

After expanding their audience with a series of videos directed by their friend Mark Eshleman, Twenty One Pilots grew and captured the attention of the major record labels. In 2012, once they signed to the Atlantic subsidiary label Fueled by Ramen, the band released their Three Songs EP and began working with record producer Greg Wells on their debut studio album, Vessel. "House of Gold" was released as the fourth song on the track-listing of their major-label debut album. A mixture of songs from their previous EPs in addition to new tracks, Vessel was released in January 2013 and featured "House of Gold" as one of its singles.

Composition

"House of Gold" is an alternative folk song that lasts for a duration of two minutes and forty-three seconds. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc, the song is written in the time signature of common time, with a moderate tempo of 116 beats per minute. "House of Gold" is composed in the key of C Major while Tyler Joseph's vocal range spans one octave and five notes, from a low of F3 to a high of C5. The song has a basic sequence of C–F–Am–G–C–F–C–G/B–C during its chorus and verses and follows F–A/E–Dm–B♭m/D♭–F/C–C–F–C/E at the bridge. The musical composition features a folky, ukulele-driven atmosphere that delves into a traditional form of Americana. As one of their slower numbers, "House...

Release and promotion

"House of Gold" originally appeared as a free download on the band's website in 2011, along with an official music video directed by Reel Bear Media. In addition to several songs from the band's sophomore album Regional at Best (2011), the song was augmented, included and re-released in 2013 on the track-listing of their major-label debut studio album Vessel on the record label Fueled by Ramen. "House of Gold" was released as a single from the duo's major-label debut album, impacting radio on August 6, 2013.

Critical reception

"House of Gold" received generally favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. Rock Sound Magazine deemed "House of Gold" as the band's "latest banger." Graham Clark from The Yorkshire Times remarked, "Things really get into gear with House of Gold, if you like the group Train, then this track will make sense. It has a nagging melody that sticks in your head all day. They will be playing this track in years to come at the bigger venues they are surely destined to play." Comparing Joseph's vocal stylings to that of the band Bright Eyes, AllMusic's Fred Thomas described "House of Gold" as "uncharacteristically folky." Sejal Popat of The Cut stated, "'House of Gold' offers a sweet acoustic respite from the emotionally raw tracks...

Level of Concern

"Level of Concern" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released as a standalone single on April 9, 2020, through Fueled by Ramen, and was later included on a reissue of their sixth studio album, Scaled and Icy (2021).

Background and recording

At the beginning of March 2020, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States stood at 70, but by the following month it had grown by hundreds of thousands with an increasing death rate, resulting in the closure of schools and the banning of large gatherings. Social distancing measures, such as staying home as much as possible, had been widely recommended, and gatherings of over 10 people had been discouraged. Twenty One Pilots wrote and recorded "Level of Concern", their first new release since their fifth studio album Trench (2018), in self-isolation. Lead singer Tyler Joseph's mother and wife, in part, influenced his decision to write a song about the pandemic.

Composition

"Level of Concern" is defined as a dance-pop, pop rock and dance-rock song with elements of funk, pop and soft rock that runs for a duration of three minutes and forty seconds. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music, it is written in the time signature of common time, with a moderately fast tempo of 122 beats per minute. "Level of Concern" is composed in the key of E minor, while Tyler Joseph's vocal range spans two octaves, from the low-note of D3 to the high-note of D5. The song has a basic sequence of Cmaj7–Bm7–Am7 in the introduction and verses, alternates between the chords of Cmaj7 and Am7 during the pre-chorus, and follows Em–C–Am–G–D at the refrain, bridge and outro as its chord progression.

Critical reception

Chris Payne of Billboard described "Level of Concern" as a "bop" with a "nimble" chorus, while Caryn Ganz called it "a delicious bit of '80s pop-funk that revels in its simplicity" in her assessment for The New York Times. Variety's Chris Willman found that, rather than being a "quick novelty knock-off" about quarantining, the track sounded "fully produced". Jason Lipshutz, also of Billboard, claimed that the track is "the first true anthem of the coronavirus age", and speculated that it could become a commercial success due to it having a more radio-friendly style than Trench, as well as "words that anyone could relate to at this moment". Similarly, Entertainment Weekly's Omar Sanchez dubbed it "the first quarantine anthem".

Music video

The music video for "Level of Concern" was shared upon the song's release on April 9, 2020, and was directed by frequent collaborator Mark Eshleman of Reel Bear Media. It features additional appearances from Joseph's wife Jenna, their daughter Rosie, and Dun's wife Debby Ryan. It loosely documents the creation of the song and video as Joseph and Dun individually record and film their parts, uploading the audio and video onto a USB flash drive and sending it via snail-mail (although it is revealed that the two are living next door to each other at the end of the video). This is cut between clips of Joseph and Dun spending time with their respective partners and decorating their houses with flashing lights and fluorescent stars.

Lovely

"Lovely" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was originally recorded for their second studio album, Regional at Best (2011), and was later re-recorded as a bonus track for their third album, Vessel (2013).

Releases

It was originally featured on their self-released album Regional at Best, but was re-recorded for Vessel and included as a Japanese bonus track for the album. "Lovely" was released as a promotional single for the band's trip to Japan, being released on Warner Japan on April 17. The song thus peaked at number 67 on the Japan Hot 100 chart, finding moderate success in the country.

Neon Gravestones

"Neon Gravestones" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It is the seventh track from their fifth studio album, Trench (2018).

Tyler Joseph, the frontman of the band, wrote the song and produced it with Paul Meany. It is a hip hop piano ballad which confronts the glorification of suicide by media.

Background

The song was written and recorded by Tyler Joseph in his basement and produced alongside Paul Meany of alternative rock band Mutemath. Apart from the band's drummer Josh Dun, Joseph, and Meany, no other person, including friends and family members, was allowed to be present during the songwriting process; this was to not influence the song's direction. Some publications, including Billboard, have interpreted the "neon", which is often used for advertising, as a fake light, attracting someone towards death. Several music journalists have described the ending as directly linked to Trench's penultimate track, "Legend", which pays homage to Joseph's late grandfather, Robert, who appeared on the cover of the band's first major-label album,...

Composition and lyrics

"Neon Gravestones" is a forlorn, slow-burning hip hop piano ballad that runs for a duration of four minutes. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing, it is written in the time signature of 34, with a fast tempo of 150 beats per minute. "Neon Gravestones" is composed in the key of B minor. The song has a basic sequence of Bm–F♯m7–A6–Esus2–Gmaj13–G6–Gmaj7 during the introduction, changes to Bm–F♯5–Asus2–EG–G6–G–G6 in the verses and chorus and follows A–Bm–Em6/G–D at the bridge, interludes and coda as its chord progression. The musical composition is built on swirling piano and jittery calibrated drums. A somber 68 piano riff runs throughout atop electronic percussion, steadily picking up pace over time....

Critical reception

The song was met with positive reviews from music critics, though most noted that it may attract some controversy for its unconventional take on suicide. Billboard journalist Paige Williams wrote that the song may redeem the band from those who saw them as glamorizing depression in the past. Christopher R. Weingarten of Rolling Stone said the song "is the most intense look at fame... moody and reflective". NME's Gary Ryan called the song a highlight of the album, an "elegiac, touching broadside against the fetishization of the 27 Club". Stereogum's Chris DeVille called the song "an unusual message in modern pop music, but unsurprising for a group that put their grandfathers on the cover of their major-label debut." Joshua Copperman,...

Paladin Strait

"Paladin Strait" is a song by the American musical duo Twenty One Pilots from their 2024 album Clancy. It is the last song on the album, and is the longest song the duo has recorded thus far.

Composition and lyrics

"Paladin Strait" consists of synths and a ukulele that has been described by Wall of Sound as feeling "like a voyage, a grand adventure in which its soft plucking and gentle strums usher you forward on a glorious but daunting journey". The song itself is followed by a break of silence before an acoustic outro.

Reception

Paste magazine stated during a review of Clancy that "the music sounds joyful but the lyrics are anything but" commenting that Joseph was "ultimately losing the battle he began both at the start of this record and at the start of the duo’s entire saga nine years ago."

Music video

The music video for the song premiered on June 21, 2024, and was the last music video to be released for the album and closes the lore of the album. The video was directed by Jensen Noen. It shows an army of "Banditos" led by the title character Clancy, played by Tyler Joseph, and Josh Dun in battle with the Glorious Gones. Clancy climbs the tower where the nine Bishops, who are the leaders of Dema, reside. He is confronted by Nico (also known as Blurryface), the leader of the Bishops. The music video was not finished by the time the album was released, so a placeholder video of Joseph playing a ukulele in front of an ocean was released before then. The cliffhanger ending of the video would be continued in the music video for "The...

Routines In The Night

"Routines in the Night" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, released on May 24, 2024, as the fifth track on their seventh studio album, Clancy. It was sent to Alternative Airplay as a promotional single in late 2024.

The song was written by Tyler Joseph, Paul Meany and Jake Torrey.

Background

Initially, frontman Tyler Joseph didn't want to include "Routines in the Night" on Clancy. Drummer Josh Dun championed for the song's inclusion due to it being one of his favorites.

Music video

A music video for "Routines in the Night", directed by the band's creative director Mark C. Eshleman, was uploaded to YouTube on the day of Clancy's release.

Shy Away

"Shy Away" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released through Fueled by Ramen on April 7, 2021, as the lead single of their sixth studio album, Scaled and Icy (2021).

A music video was released alongside the single, directed by Miles Cable and AJ Favicchio.

Background

Tyler Joseph, the frontman of the duo, wrote "Shy Away" for his younger brother, Jay Joseph, as a tutorial on how to operate a recording studio. During the recording, Joseph's daughter made a cooing noise which Joseph decided to keep in the song.

Composition

"Shy Away" is a "propulsive" synth-pop, alternative rock, indie rock, pop rock, and new wave song that runs for a duration of two minutes and fifty-five seconds. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music, it is written in the time signature of common time at a tempo of 196 beats per minute. "Shy Away" is composed in the key of C major, while Joseph's vocal range spans one octave and four notes, from a low E3 to a high of A4.

Music video

The music video for the song, directed by Miles Cable and AJ Favicchio, was released concurrently with the song. The video showcases the duo's new "era", and a new color scheme which changes during each album cycle. The video features the new colors prominently: vibrant shades of light blue, pink and occasional yellow. In the video, a few background musicians portrayed by Joseph and Dun wear torn and burnt ski masks, a reference to the stylings of their earlier albums, Vessel and Blurryface. As of December 2025, the video has surpassed 59 million views on YouTube.

Tear in My Heart

"Tear in My Heart" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, for their fourth studio album Blurryface (2015). The song was released as a single on April 6, 2015 and was released to radio on April 14 of the same year.

Background

"Tear in My Heart" is an ode dedicated to a loved one, with Tyler Joseph's wife Jenna being the inspiration behind the song. As an unabashed love song, "Tear in My Heart" finds Joseph in a romantic prose as he writes for his wife Jenna. In particular, its bridge was based on Joseph's personal experience driving long hours back to Columbus, Ohio from a family vacation trip as his future-wife Jenna slept, which left him to deal with all the traffic. "Tear in My Heart" is about how Joseph's wife shocked him out of stasis. By talking about falling in love, it acts as a break from morbidity of which prevailed much of Blurryface.

Composition

"Tear in My Heart" is an uptempo pop song that runs for a duration of three minutes and eight seconds. The track has exuberant, summery sounds which delve into indie pop that are driven by shining, piano-based rock instrumentation. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music, it is written in the time signature of common time, with a moderately fast tempo of 120 beats per minute. "Tear in My Heart" is composed in the key of D major, while Tyler Joseph's vocal range spans one octave and six notes, from a low of F3 to a high of D5. The song has a basic sequence of D–F♯–G in the introduction and verses, alternates between the chords of A7 and A during its pre-chorus, follows G(add9)–A–Bm–A/C♯–D–A at the refrain,...

Critical reception

Brian Kraus for Alternative Press labeled "Tear in My Heart" an "exuberant pop number." Dan Leroy from the same publication praised it as an "uplifting love song harnessed to an equally buoyant chorus" and claimed it depicted a more playful side of Twenty One Pilots. Slate's Carl Wilson considered the song's bridge, "a goofily touching moment, but it also evokes the absence of infrastructure, of a social contract that is failing to care and protect." Anne Nickoloff and Troy Smith from The Plain Dealer opined, "The lyrics are, at times, heartwarming... and occasionally cheesy." Going further, Smith called the song "catchy" and said "has a David Bowie meets Death Cab for Cutie vibe to it." Jo Ferraro from New Haven Register remarked, "the...

Music video

The music video for "Tear in My Heart" was directed by Marc Klasfeld and filmed in Chinatown, Los Angeles. Alongside both band members, lead singer Tyler Joseph's wife Jenna Black, whom he married the previous month, also appears in the music video. Tyler and Jenna practiced a fight scene together for the "Tear in My Heart" video. Klasfeld gave the couple a thirty-second video clip of choreography for the fight scene and had them re-enact it. In an Alternative Press interview, Jenna recalled, "It was really late at night when we got it. I'm sure the people around our hotel were like, 'What are they doing in there?'" During the actual shoot, Tyler told Jenna not to worry and just go for it. She imparted, "The very first time I had to...

The Craving

"The Craving" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, released on May 22, 2024, through Fueled by Ramen as the fourth and final single from their seventh studio album, Clancy. Two different versions of the song were released by the band with differing arrangements and production, with one released as a promotional single and the other, subtitled "Jenna's Version", being released on the album itself.

Background

On May 9, 2024, the duo debuted "The Craving" to a live audience at an intimate show in London. The song would eventually be released in two versions, both differing in production and in instrumental arrangement. The "(Single Version)" is up-beat with more instruments and additional production by Spencer Stewart; the album cut "(Jenna's Version)" is an acoustic and stripped-back version of the song.

Composition

"The Craving" was written by lead singer Tyler Joseph as a dedication to his wife, Jenna Joseph. Since 2015, every Twenty One Pilots album has had a love ballad to Jenna, with "The Craving" being the fourth following "Tear in My Heart", "Smithereens", and "Formidable".