Lyric Of The Week 73: Save Yourself, I'll Hold Them Back

"You're the broken glass in the morning light, be a burning star if it takes all night."

My Chemical Romance - Save Yourself, I'll Hold Them Back, from the album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

Song: My Chemical Romance - The Foundations of Decay [2022]

The return of legendary emo rock band My Chemical Romance was not something I expected or was prepared for in 2022, but they returned with a surprising six-minute epic, reminiscent of their old sound but with a few new touches.

Compared to some of their best hits, this song is arguably calmer, mostly in the verses. They take on a softer soundscape familiar to Disenchanted and I Don't Love You, whereas the chorus has their usual anthemic energy. The use of synths and warbly effects at the start is definitely something new to them, but I appreciate how they're building an atmosphere distinct from their previous works. The vocals being slightly drenched in reverb is a cool texture to have, and I just have to say that Gerard's vocals are still as perfect as ever.

The chorus has their usual open, powerful sound, although it is quite a different sound from their usual choruses. It strays from their more energetic pop punk-esque choruses of Welcome to the Black Parade and I'm Not Okay (I Promise), and takes on a more dramatic texture with constant bass drums and echoey vocals. The second verse and chorus don't feature too much variation, but I do enjoy the lyrical heaviness throughout.

What I didn't expect to see in a My Chemical Romance song is a breakdown. Sure, it's not that heavy compared to just about all of modern metal, but it's still a breakdown nonetheless. It's definitely unique whether you like it or not, and I personally like it so that's a bonus for me. Gerard is doing screams too, which is something that's been largely missing from their discography since their first two albums (save for his one insane vocal feature on an Ibaraki track).

It may not be the strongest cut from them compared to the rest of their critically acclaimed discography, but it is a super strong return to mainstream attention, with a refurbished sound that fits adjacent to the post-punk revival movement. Like many other notable bands in this scene, it's wild for me to see them release music in current day, so I could not be more happy about this. Whether they're back in full force and planning to release a new record is still completely up in the air, but one good song is better than nothing.

Rating: 3.5/5

Song: My Chemical Romance - The Light Behind Your Eyes [Number Three, 2012]

The Light Behind Your Eyes is my favourite deep cut track from the emo legends My Chemical Romance. Coming off of their Conventional Weapons EP Series, which was a generally overlooked collection of tracks, I think it's one of their more unique songs, albeit mostly because of how different of a flavour it is compared to their usual catalogue. It's become one of my favourite soft emo songs of all time, like a gem in the rubble.

This song is quite different for them and you can immediately tell the moment the song starts. Symphonic elements lead the start of the song and overlook the entire track, half the song is on an acoustic guitar and without drums. His voice is soft but firm, not loud but equally emotive. The atmosphere of hopefulness that they paint with such simple but strong musical elements is at the very core of this song, even as they transition to a more powerful anthemic sound later on.

I love how the rest of the band comes in for the second chorus, just in time to amp up the energy and let Gerard sing louder. I love the little guitar licks going on in the background, and the soulful guitar solo wailing in the background of the bridge. The drum pattern isn't complex but it does the job, holding the fort down so that the song as a whole can sound more powerful.

The sentiment of the song is strongest in the lyrics, and as much as I love the passion and genuine emotion in Gerard Way's voice, I fell in love with this song for its words, its meaning. It's equal parts comforting and motivating, never trying to hide the ugly truth of life but standing steadfast in his declaration of belief in the listener to stay strong. It's such a cathartic experience to listen to this song, especially for people who felt like giving up. This song still gives me goosebumps every now and then, for what it meant to me then and what it means to me now.

Compared to the punkier party-esque sound of Danger Days, the iconic emo sound of The Black Parade and the rougher emo/screamo sound of Three Cheers and I Gave You My Bullets, it's hard to say that The Light Behind Your Eyes is anywhere near one of their best sounds. In fact, it's quite barebones for a song in essence. I guess that's the beauty of personal sentiment, both being able to acknowledge that it's nowhere near their best works but at the same time being able to proudly say that it is one of my favourites.

Rating: 5/5

Lyric Of The Week 02: The Kids From Yesterday

 "You only live forever in the lights you make."

My Chemical Romance - The Kids From Yesterday, from the album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys