July 20th 2017, marked a hard day for anyone who is a fan of Linkin Park and Chester Bennington, their lead singer.. When I found out he had passed away, I was in tears. His music saved me through most of my high school life, and now, as an adult, his music hits differently. His music screamed, “Help me, I’m not okay.” That he was struggling with depression, anxiety, and the next thing you knew, he was gone.
I listen to Linkin Park constantly, but now, the music is awful; the band kept the name, but the feel of it just feels way too different. I honestly think they should have changed the name. Let the name die with Chester. When I thought I connected to his songs emotionally, that became more apparent in the years that he’s been gone.
The song “Somewhere I Belong” feels like the song was made for me, especially in high school, where bullies make you feel like nothing, and your friends feel fake. “What I’ve Done” is about forgiveness and self-acceptance. This hits even harder after he’s gone because of how he died, and it just fits like he’s trying to get him to forgive him, his fans, his wife, and kids, and everyone who loved him.
Then there is “Burn it down,” which is about the government ruining everything, and my favorite quote is “When the rich wage war, it’s the poor that die. He would hate the world we live in now, with criminals running the country. “Bleed it out” probably has a deeper meaning, about making yourself feel alive and hope that someone will care.
All of these songs hit so different, not that he is gone from our lives, and I would hope that true fans stay true, listening to the original Linkin Park because for now and forever I will never stop listening and they will always be my favorite band and I think I am even more a fan of the music because of his passing, like I am honoring him in someway and I hope he knows his fans still love him.
