The key to success in the music industry is to earn yourself a big hit and then follow up with another hit and another. “Heathens” may be an attempt to follow up their massively successful hit single “Stressed Out” from ‘Blurryfaces’ album. The song peaked at number 2 on Billboard Hot 100 chart and currently at 21st rank after 38 weeks on the same chart. The major breakthrough Twenty One Pilots had it to be followed with the latest release/leak, “Heathens.”
Twenty One Pilots themselves have not mentioned about the release, hence the speculation that it might be a leak. However, take a listen to “Heathens” below.
And the best part is “Heathens” is supposed to feature on the soundtrack of Suicide Squad movie. Above is not an official music video, but it’s pretty awesome ’cause Harley Quinn AKA Margot Robbie.
Unlike “Stressed Out”, the new “Heathens” is a darker and haunting track. However, their unique style is still present in the song.
Lyrics Review of “Heathens” by Twenty One Pilots
Chorus
‘Heathens’ are defined as a set of people who don’t belong to a specific religion or group or category. Basically, they are outsiders. They are not bound by any popular cultural norms.
In “Heathens” track by Twenty One Pilots, ‘friends’ is a reference to their fans. The song is meant to be addressing the large inflow of new fans due to the newfound popularity by the band.
The singers are saying that their fans are like no other fans out there. They are unique and not bound by idol-ism. Twenty One Pilots have their own style of music. They are not following anyone. Maybe their fans are the same.
Verse 1
The band is welcoming the new fans to the ‘room’ meaning their fan-base. Their fans have other artists whom they love. That’s not an issue though. The singer is speaking in past tense when he says the above. Could he be meaning that once the fans enter the Twenty One Pilot fan base, they tend to leave other ‘rooms’?
There’s no violence inside this fan base. ‘No guns allowed’ inside this room. But that really can’t stop a destructive mind. But we should all try to dock them away.
Watch “Stressed Out” Music Video
There are a variety of people joining the fan base. You never know who they are until they really unmask themselves. Rest in peace Christina Grimmie 🙁
Twenty One Pilots rocketed into fame with their latest album. It was a surprise to us all, but they have made a name for themselves in music now. So now we wonder how they got to sit beside other big stars. They could tell the story, of how they were made, but you have to keep it all in mind.
Verse 2
So the room full of fans became “we” now. I don’t know if they can be called heathen at this point. Because they are in a closely knit group of people with common interests. Well, whichever the case may be, they do not get along with other fans very well-this is not about violence-but more about not sharing the same tastes.
Re-iterating on the same subject of the first verse, TOP is saying that you could never know the real true-self of a person until they decide to show it out.
The outro of “Heathens” has a clear message to the fans;
Twenty One Pilots is questioning the fans, why’d you come into this room? They should have known that this room consists of outcasts-people who don’t belong anywhere.
Blasphemy means “the action or offence of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things..”
The singers warned the fans not to come in the room, but they are here, and they are ready to bust in. And if that is the case, they might as well be of the same inclinations.
When “Heathens” is finished, I wonder if the title of the song has contrasted with what the song actually means. I mean, a group of people not belonging to any ‘group’ has now got together?
However, heathens could be filtered to mean a group of people with no specific religious belief. In that sense (if Twenty One Pilots are pagans) the song makes perfect sense.
What is your two cents on “Heathens” by Twenty One Pilots? Leave your comment below.
I think this song was made for money for the sole use in the movie suicide squad. This isn’t the top I loved to listen to and it doesn’t feel the same anymore. I wonder how many off album money grabbing songs they will continue to make from here.
Well, it could have been made for money. But I do appreciate the effort they have put into give some meaning to the lyrics. Hip hop has gone to hell, and it’s good to see artist at least make an effort.