Released November 10, 2015 Recorded 2014–15 Length 3:22 | Format CD
digital download Genre Rap rock Label Fueled by Ramen | |
"Stressed Out" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, for their fourth studio album, Blurryface. Written by Tyler Joseph and produced by Mike Elizondo, the lyrics discuss the harsh end of adolescence and the transition to adulthood. The song was released as a promotional single on April 28, 2015 on the Google Play Store and Amazon, and was issued to top 40 radio stations as the albums fourth official single on November 10.
Contents
- Background and composition
- Music video
- Commercial performance
- Live performances
- Usage in media
- Personnel
- Certifications
- References
"Stressed Out" reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number one on Hot Rock Songs and Mainstream Top 40. It is tied with "Heathens" as the duo's highest ranking single to date. "Stressed Out" received two Grammy Awards nominations: Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, winning the latter. Billboard ranked "Stressed Out" at number 62 on their "Billboard's 100 Best Pop Songs of 2016" list. As of December 2016, it has sold over 2.4 million copies in the US.
Background and composition
The song focuses on nostalgia for childhood, the pressure of adulthood, and family relationships, it speaks from the point of view of "Blurryface", the album's titular character. The line, "My name's Blurryface, and I care what you think" is heard in the pre-chorus, alluding to marketing the duo did for the album.
"Stressed Out" is a rap rock song, it is played in the key of A♯Minor, the vocals in the song span from E♯3 to A♯4.
Music video
The music video for "Stressed Out" was uploaded to YouTube on April 27, 2015, and was directed by Mark C. Eshleman of Reel Bear Media. In the video, the duo rides big-wheel tricycles to each other's houses to record the song. They filmed most of the "Stressed Out" video at Josh Dun's childhood home in Ohio. Many members of Dun's and Tyler Joseph's family appear in the video. "Stressed Out" was nominated for Best Music Video at the 2016 Alternative Press Music Awards. The video, with over 900 million views and over 5.4 million likes as of March 23, 2017, is in the list of most liked YouTube videos and the list of most viewed YouTube videos.
Commercial performance
In the United States, "Stressed Out" climbed from number 13 to number 9 for the chart dated January 16, 2016, becoming the group's first top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track topped Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart for a second week, led the Alternative Songs Airplay chart for a ninth week, also crossing over to mainstream audiences, rising from number 14 to number 13 on the Mainstream Top 40, and bulleting at number 20 on Adult Top 40.
For the chart issue dated January 30, 2016, the song ascended from number 5 to number 4 on the Hot 100. The single entered the top 10 on both Radio Songs and Streaming Songs. A commissioned house remix by Dave Winnel helped the single reach number nine on Dance/Mix Show Airplay in its February 13, 2016 issue.
The song reached number 2 in its 21st week on the Hot 100, behind "Love Yourself" by Justin Bieber. The single, which led Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart for an eighth week, is the first single that has also appeared on Hot Rock Songs to rank in the Hot 100's top two in more than a year, since Hozier's "Take Me to Church" spent its third and final week at its number 2 peak on the January 3, 2015, Hot 100.
"Stressed Out" is the first former Alternative Songs number one to top Mainstream Top 40 in more than two-and-a-half-years, since Lorde's "Royals" in 2013. It was the first by a duo or group to do so in nearly four years, since Fun's "We Are Young" (featuring Janelle Monáe) in 2012.
In the United Kingdom, "Stressed Out" became the duo's first single to chart on the UK Singles Chart, debuting at number 34 and peaking at number 12.
Live performances
Twenty One Pilots performed "Stressed Out" on Late Night with Seth Meyers on September 14, 2015. The song was part of their set list at Lollapalooza 2015. Twenty One Pilots performed "Stressed Out" on their 2016 Emotional Roadshow World Tour in Ohio, Tyler Joseph, the lead singer of the band changed the lyrics of the first verse. In the changed lyrics, he talked about how fans of the band thought the song was overplayed, and the success of the song.
Usage in media
The song is used in an episode of the television show Supergirl.
Personnel
Additional musicians
Certifications
Since May 2013, RIAA certifications for digital singles include on-demand audio and/or video song streams in addition to downloads.