Twenty One Pilots: What Makes This Duo the Best?
I’ve heard countless times four words that play around in my head on a daily basis, but still this phrase doesn’t mean anything to me. All of the time I will be told “They’re just a band.” To me this is nonsense, this band spoke words that thousands of other people and I have thought countless times. They lyrically took a step into people’s minds and helped them through some of the toughest times that life could set upon them. That’s the power that “just a band” has. That could easily be the top and only reason why Twenty Øne Piløts is the best band, but I will take this a step further and give you multiple reasons. Sit back, relax, and journey into a world of a band that started with a play.
Columbus, Ohio, 2009, Tyler Joseph is in or going into his Sophomore year of college. At this time Tyler is studying a play, All My Sons by Arthur Miller, about a man who must decide what is best for his family knowingly sending out faulty airplane parts for the good of his business and causing the death of twenty one pilots during World War II. Tyler then decides to make a band as a lead vocalist with two of his friend Chris Salih, and Nick Thomas. Tyler comes up with the band name, now known as Twenty One Pilots. Tyler has said that the story’s theme of moral dilemma and choosing between the easy and the right decision inspired the name and the formation of the band.
In the first three years, the band released two independent records, Twenty One Pilots (2009) and Regional at Best (2011). In between the two releases of the album Chris Salih (the drummer) worked with a fan of the band, Joshua Dun, and gave him a mixtape with four songs. Josh went to a sold out show at Newport Hall in Columbus. Josh and lead vocalist Tyler Joseph hung out at the concert and had an instant connection and began to talk about playing music with each other. In 2011, just as they finished recording Regional at Best, Chris Salih (Drummer) and Nick Thomas (bass, piano, back vocals) had left the band. Joshua Dun had joined the band and now plays the drums, synthesizer (on a Macbook) and the trumpet for the band while Tyler is lead vocals, piano, ukulele, bass, and tambourine.
In 2012 the band signed for the record label Fueled by Ramen, who has also signed Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, etc. During their time at Fueled by Ramen they released two studio albums; Vessel (2013) and Blurryface (2015). The band has went on to tour multiple times since 2012, starting with “The Mostly November Tour.” They have consecutively been touring since then, and are now on “The Emotional Roadshow” tour to finish off their latest album Blurryface’s era. At the peak of their career (2015-present) they have become the first alternative group to have two concurrent top ten singles in the U.S. (Stressed Out and Ride). The band has been nominated for multiple awards including 5 Grammy nominations. At the Grammy’s they took home one award out of the five for “Best pop duo/group performance.”
During an interview Tyler has stated that the logo for the band has a personal meaning he never will tell, but wants the fans to interpret the logo for their own personal reason. The logo also goes along with a song on their second album Regional at Best, Kitchen Sink. Tyler says the logo represents finding purpose and to make people think and encourage them to find join in themselves and life.
Most of the songs you hear on the radio is now mostly perceived as “bad music”, but even with Twenty One Pilots being a now mainstream band they are still amazing and keep themselves grounded, not only in their music but themselves as individuals. I believe this band became mainstream not only because of two wonderful songs, but because they have lyrically beautiful songs, one that pops into my mind? Forest from their second album Regional at Best. Words that consist of lyrics like “I don’t want to be heard, I want to be Listened to’ and “Something happened to my imagination, this situation’s becoming dire.” If those aren’t beautiful, what is? If having beautiful lyrics are not enough, their songs are complex and meaningful. There isn’t one song ever written by the band that doesn’t have some time of deep, personal meaning that reaches out to the fans in some type of way.
Josh and Tyler have become so dedicated to their music and their fans and made what they do their life. They have so much love for the music, fans and mixing those two together by playing live. Every show they perform they play their music and interact with the fans like it’s their first time performing or the last time they ever will. The honesty, soul, heart, and dedication that they put into performing is completely astonishing and being a person that went to two different shows at two totally different venues they performed at, I am proud to say they are the best live performance in the music industry. At both shows I looked upon the crowd and saw crying and smiles and just pure joy and love for the same band. During the show i was next to a girl and she told me everything in detail how much this band has impacted her. I related to her on a very personal level. This band, they bring so many different people together that have one thing in common: the music.
Twenty One Pilots; The band that has saved thousands of lives. The band to have so much meaning in their music and all around their band. They gave me the will to keep going whenever I wanted to give up. They bring so many people together, it doesn’t matter the color of your skin, sexual orientation, or gender. They show that we all have something in common. Their songs are lyrically beautiful and meaningful. They put everything into their music, live performances, and making sure their fans are okay and keeping them alive. For these reasons, Twenty One Pilots is the best band in this millennium.