Legendary rock band Linkin Park is back with new music along with one of the biggest e-sports events in the world. Linkin Park premiered the new song “Heavy Is the Crown” as the official anthem for League of Legends Worlds, the annual championship tournament for the video game.
Linkin Park is back with “Heavy Is the Crown” following their comeback single “The Emptiness Machine” featuring their brand new vocalist Emily Armstrong. Both songs are part of the band’s upcoming album ‘From Zero.’
The League of Legends Worlds championship is a major gaming event every year. The 2024 edition is played by 20 teams from around the world and boasts a total prize pool of $2.2 million. The overall theme of the song is wound with the championship tournament to crown the best LOL players on the planet.
Listen to “Heavy Is The Crown” by Linkin Park
Linkin Park “Heavy Is The Crown” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review
In the two verses of the song, Mike Shinoda talks about the psychological war in games as well as a championship tournament. With playing grounds set to equal, it comes down to the psyche of the players and their determination to conquer the world of e-sports.
You can’t win if your white flag’s out when the war begins
In computer game tournaments, the mental strength of the competitors matter a whole lot. Often the ones who can handle the highest level of pressure go on to become winners. The appetite to become the best is the driver that gets you there. You will not become a champion with a timid attitude.
Once you become the champion and wear that shiny crown, you’re on top of the world. However, the war is not over. Next year another challenger appears. Every year a younger and stronger contender appears for that crown.
This is what you asked for, heavy is the crown
This lyric is derived from the popular idiom ‘heavy is the head that wears the crown’ alluding that people who bear significant responsibility carry a lot of burden–mostly psychological.
The lyric can also be compared to the situation Linkin Park is in right now. The legendary band came together to the top of the music world on the shoulders of Mike Shinoda and their late lead vocalist Chester Bennington. With the passing of Chester, the band went into a hiatus and has reappeared now with a new vocalist Emily Armstrong. She has massive shoes to fill and the fans are already out for her throat. However, so far, Emily has stepped up to the task of her own accord.
Wavin’ that sword when the pen won’t miss
The above lyric is also derived from the expression ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’ entailing that using words/education/literacy/rules is better than resorting to violence as a means of social and political change.
Let us hear what you think about the song in the comments below. Read the complete lyrics to the song on Genius.