Trigger Warning: mental illness, suicide, anxiety, eating disorders, depression
Music has always been a medium of expression, but it has also always somewhat been censored or modified to fit the tastes of the public, which is generally a love song or a lighthearted fun song. Fortunately, artists have been more open and confident these days about writing songs about social issues, personal stories, and mental illnesses. This is good news because it has reached out to those who go through the same experiences, as well as also educating and spreading awareness to the rest of the public. Here are some amazing artists who sing about mental illnesses:
1. With Confidence
With Confidence is a four-man Australian band signed to Hopeless Records. The pop punk band is composed of Jayden Seeley, Inigo Del Carmen, Luke Rockets, and Joshua Brozzesi. With their first album entitled “Better Weather”, the band hoped to reach out to their fans who are in a tough spot and tell them that things do get better. They achieved this through lyrical masterpieces like “We’ll Be Okay”, “Keeper”, and “Voldemort.” Lead singer, Jayden Seeley, has said that “Voldemort” was his own interpretation of mental illness and a metaphor for the fact that mental illnesses need to be talked about more often. Other tracks, like “Godzilla” and “Understand” from their EP’s, may also be interpreted as experiences with mental issues.
2. Green Day
With a spirit that never seems to die, Green Day has been around since 1986 and has been labeled as legends to the minds and ears of music lovers. The band was formed by vocalist Billie Joel Armstrong, who has always been open about his struggles with insomnia, addiction, anxiety, and panic disorder. Armstrong even admitted that at one point, he thought he was going crazy. Since their first album in 1990, Green Day has released songs such as “Don’t Leave Me”, “Basket Case”, “Brain Stew”, “Jaded”, and “Bang Bang.” Their new album, Revolution Radio, is no short of relatable hits that will most definitely tug on people’s heartstrings.
3. Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato has always been one to both speak her mind and speak out about her past and current struggles with eating disorders and bipolar disorder. Since then, the singer has served as a role model to teenagers and adults everywhere, saying that it’s okay to admit you need help. Lovato has written songs like “Trainwreck”, “Skyscraper”, “Warrior”, and “Old Ways.” However, Demi has said that she does not want her mental illness to define her as a person or an artist. She wants people to think about her music instead.
4. La Dispute
Commonly known for its gloomy tone, La Dispute is a band whose music falls in between spoken word poetry and emotional screaming of short fiction stories. The band consists of Jordan Dreyer, Brad Vander Lugt, Chad Morgan-Sterenberg, and Adam Vass. La Dispute touches on subjects like shootings, deaths, suicide, and mental illnesses with tracks such as “Bury Your Flames”, “The Last Lost Continent”, “A Departure”, “A Letter”, and “A Broken Jar.”
5. Lady Gaga
Since her rise to fame in 2008, Lady Gaga has since taken a break from her career after releasing her pop album, “Artpop.” The singer admitted to battling depression and anxiety. She continues to take medication today, saying that she felt like she was dying when her career took off. Lady Gaga believes that there is nothing to be ashamed of about having mental illness and that we should all just “fess up to it”. She has spread her message through her tracks “Born This Way”, which was every one’s anthem at one point, “Bad Kids”, and “Till It Happens To You.”
6. Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy has always been known for their lyrical metaphors and amazing depth and meaning behind their lyrics, but they’ve also been known for the pasts of Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump. In the early stages of his career, Pete Wentz admitted to self-medicating to battle, what he would later find out to be, his bipolar disorder. He had also talked about his depression and his failed suicide attempt, in which he tried to overdose on anxiety pills. Patrick Stump has also talked about his depression following his solo career. He had spent most of his money on his solo record and tour, which Fall Out Boy fans rejected. Fall Out Boy has released hits like “7 Minutes In Heaven”, “The (After) Life Of The Party”, and “What A Catch, Donnie.”
More songs involving mental health:
“I Wanna Get Better” by Bleachers
“Paralyzed” by Against The Current
“Alive” by Marianas Trench
“A-Team” by Ed Sheeran
“Figure.09” by Linkin Park
Mental illness is a subject that isn’t talked about enough, often even being regarded as if it wasn’t an issue at all. Most people aren’t aware of the depth of these mental disorders and what they could lead to. It’s important for everyone to be aware that these disorders are serious and should not be taken as “acting out”, nor should they be used against the victims. “It’s not really about keeping your head above water, it’s about feeling alright and feeling safe in your own skin.” -Pete Wentz
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