Blurryface (2015)

Twenty One Pilots will always have a special place in my heart. This band was absolutely central to my early adolescent emo phase, and I think it's safe to say that I had an obsession. I've seen them in concert 4 times, and I even camped out overnight to save my spot in line so that I could be in the front row. Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun are incredible performers, and they have made 4 amazing studio albums together. Blurryface is their third album, and it is chalk-full of doppelganger symbolism. "Blurryface" isn't simply the title of the album, it also represents the lead singer's insecure alter-ego, and it is present throughout all 14 songs in the album.

Heavydirtysoul
Heavydirtysoul is the introduction to the theme of Blurryface. The first line of the song, "There's an infestation in my mind's imagination", is the first allusion to Joseph's alter ego. Blurryface plagues Joseph's mind and hinders his creativity by planting insecurities in his head. However, he is able to battle his insecurity through his music -- "this is not rap, this is not hiphop, just another attempt to make the voices stop". He seems unconcerned with the genre of his music, and blends together many different styles in hope to fight against Blurryface. Throughout the song, Joseph calls out for help in his battle against his evil side, Blurryface, which is the embodiment of all of his negative thoughts and emotions -- "Can you save my heavy dirty soul?"

Stressed Out
Stressed Out is a sort of origin story for Blurryface. This song is about Joseph feeling nostalgic for his childhood when things weren't complicated -- "Wish we could turn back time to the good old days". Blurryface didn't exist in Joseph's childhood, because he was carefree as a child and had nothing to worry about. However, Blurryface began to appear as Joseph entered adulthood because the stress and anxiety associated with growing up created insecurity in him. Joseph explains "now I'm insecure, and I care what people think/My name's Blurryface and I care what you think". This shows that Blurryface appeared in Joseph's adult life because the adult world corrupted the sense of security he felt in his childhood.

Ride
Ride is one of the more positive, upbeat songs on the album. It seems to be about embracing the craziness of life, and the dark parts that go along with it. Joseph sings, "I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride", which seems to suggest that he acknowledges that he is living with demons, but is able to enjoy life in spite of them. However, if he starts to think about things too much, the dark feelings associated with Blurryface begin to take over again -- "I've been thinking too much, help me".

Fairly Local
In contrast to Ride, Fairly Local is much more dark and heavy. It is one of the darkest songs on the album, and it seems to be a fight between Joseph and Blurryface. The first verse of the song is from the point of view of Blurryface, "I'm evil to the core, what I shouldn't do I will." However, later in the song, Joseph seems to converse with Blurryface, "I'm not evil to the core, what I shouldn't do I will fight". This song is representative of Joseph's struggle with his identity, and he is fighting with Blurryface's influence over him.

Tear in My Heart
Tear in My Heart is by far the most positive song on the album. This song is about Joseph's relationship with his wife, Jenna. There are no references to Blurryface in this song, which shows that loving someone and being loved by someone is the only way to defeat Blurryface.

Lane Boy
Lane Boy is a critique on modern music. Joseph states that "all these songs I'm hearing are so heartless". This is reflective of the theme of Joseph's music as escapism and meaningful art in contrast to some of the pop songs that lack substance in today's world. While he views his art as meaningful and important, Blurryface still seems to convince him that he should feel insecure about what he creates. "Honest, there's a few songs on this record that feel common" -- Joseph is anxious about how the public will receive his art because Blurryface makes him feel overly self-conscious.

The Judge
In The Judge, Joseph questions his relationship to Blurryface and to God. He recognizes that as much as he wishes to be separated from him, Blurryface is a part of him and he has to take responsibility for the sins that Blurryface has caused him to commit. Joseph admits that "I'm a pro at imperfections and I'm best friends with my doubt", showing that he has questioned his faith in God and has strayed from God's expectations of him. He pleads with God, "I know my soul's freezing, hell's hot for good reason, so please, take me." He is begging God to see him for Tyler Joseph rather than for Blurryface, and to forgive his sins and allow him to go to heaven despite all of his wrongdoings. At the end of the song, Joseph is battling with his identity -- "I don't know if this one is about me or the devil" -- meaning that he isn't sure if his true identity is himself or the devil (Blurryface).

Doubt
Doubt is another song about Joseph struggling with his religion because he feels like he is too corrupted by Blurryface to be accepted by God. He first lists all of the insecurities that Blurryface makes him feel -- "Scared of my own image, scared of my own immaturity, scared of my own ceiling, scared I'll die of uncertainty". Although he is plagued by uncertainties and flaws, he still longs for a relationship with God -- "Even when I doubt you, I'm no good without you". He wants God to forgive him even when Blurryface is in control and causes him to have dark thoughts.

Polarize
Polarize is about Joseph wanting to polarize, or separate, his two identities -- himself and Blurryface. Joseph is asking for help in separating the good and evil parts of himself. He states "I wanted to be a better brother, better son, wanted to be a better adversary to the evil I have done". He believes that if he could separate himself from the evilness of Blurryface, he could have been a better person.

We Don't Believe What's on TV
We Don't Believe What's on TV is another song which highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with loved ones in order to fight the darkness inside of yourself. He sings "I need to know, that when I fail you'll still be here", meaning that he needs the support of his family, wife, or friends when he "fails", or allows Blurryface to take over. This song is presumably about his wife, because he states "I used to say I want to die before I'm old but because of you I might think twice". He feels like love is the most important thing in his life and will allow him to fight against Blurryface.

Message Man
Message Man suggests that Joseph is simply the "messenger" and that Blurryface is really the one in control -- "A loser hides behind a mask of my disguise"-- Joseph berates himself by calling himself a "loser", showing just how insecure Blurryface has made him feel; he feels like the personality he shows to the outside world is nothing but a "mask" and his true self is controlled by Blurryface. "You don't know what I've done, I'm wanted and on the run" -- this is Joseph admitting to the sins that he has committed when Blurryface had him under control.

Hometown
Hometown's first verse says "A shadow tilts its head at me, spirits in the dark are waiting". The dark sides of Joseph are questioning why he's still fighting this battle against Blurryface and are waiting for him to give into the temptation of evil. Hometown's lyrics suggest that Joseph feels as though he was born with a corrupt nature and must seek out the light -- "Where we're from, there's no sun, our hometown's in the dark".

Not Today
Not Today is a triumphant song where Joseph finally starts to feel like he's winning against Blurryface. "You are out of my mind, oh. You aren't seeing my side, oh. You waste all this time trying to get to me" -- Joseph is defying Blurryface and telling him that he is wasting his time because he is winning the fight.

Goner
Goner is the final song in the album and represents Joseph's final push to kill Blurryface once and for all. After the triumph of Not Today, Blurryface is back for one last fight. "I'm a goner, somebody catch my breath" -- Joseph feels beaten down by Blurryface and can't catch his breath anymore. "Though I'm weak and beaten down, I'll slip away into the sound. The ghost of you is close to me". Although Joseph feels like he can't battle Blurryface anymore, he finds refuge in his music and can see Blurryface beginning to disappear, or turn into a ghost. "I've got two faces, Blurry's the one I'm not". Blurryface is everything that Joseph hates about himself, and he sees the potential to rid himself of everything that he hates about himself.