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* [[Rock music|rock]]
* [[Rock music|rock]]
* [[Pop music|pop]]
* [[Pop music|pop]]
* [[Soul music|soul]]
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| length = 3:54
| length = 3:54
| label = [[Fueled by Ramen]]
| label = [[Fueled by Ramen]]
| writer = [[Tyler Joseph]]
| writer = [[Tyler Joseph]]
| producer = [[Ricky Reed]]
⚫
| producer = [[Ricky Reed]]<ref name="BlurryfaceBooklet">{{Cite AV media notes |title=Blurryface |others=[[Twenty One Pilots]] |year=2015 |type=Booklet |publisher=Fueled by Ramen |id=7567-86692-2}}</ref>
| prev_title = [[Heathens (song)|Heathens]]
| prev_title = [[Heathens (song)|Heathens]]
| prev_year = 2016
| prev_year = 2016
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"'''Heavydirtysoul'''" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo [[Twenty One Pilots]]. The song was released as the sixth and final single from their fourth studio album ''[[Blurryface]]'' on December 9, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://headlineplanet.com/home/2016/12/13/twenty-one-pilots-heavydirtysoul-earns-added-honor-alternative-radio/ |title=Heavydirtysoul Earns Most Added |date=December 14, 2016 |access-date=December 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2016/12/12/liner-notes-bullet-news-december-12th |title=Heavydirtysoul released by Warner Music Canada |date=December 12, 2016 |access-date=December 12, 2016}}</ref> Some of the song's lyrics are directly taken from lead singer Tyler Joseph's "Street Poetry", published on ''[[Rock Sound]]''<nowiki/>'s official YouTube channel on August 27, 2013.<ref>{{Citation |title=Street Poetry With Twenty One Pilots' Tyler Joseph |date=August 27, 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6R5KQ8b4lQ |access-date=October 28, 2018}}</ref>
"'''Heavydirtysoul'''" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo [[Twenty One Pilots]]. The song was released as the sixth and final single from their fourth studio album ''[[Blurryface]]'' on December 9, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://headlineplanet.com/home/2016/12/13/twenty-one-pilots-heavydirtysoul-earns-added-honor-alternative-radio/ |title=Heavydirtysoul Earns Most Added |date=December 14, 2016 |access-date=December 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2016/12/12/liner-notes-bullet-news-december-12th |title=Heavydirtysoul released by Warner Music Canada |date=December 12, 2016 |access-date=December 12, 2016}}</ref> Some of the song's lyrics are directly taken from lead singer Tyler Joseph's "Street Poetry", published on ''[[Rock Sound]]''<nowiki/>'s official YouTube channel on August 27, 2013.<ref>{{Citation |title=Street Poetry With Twenty One Pilots' Tyler Joseph |date=August 27, 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6R5KQ8b4lQ |access-date=October 28, 2018}}</ref>

==Background==
In 2013, Twenty One Pilots were the monthly cover stars for British magazine ''[[Rock Sound]]'' and Tyler Joseph was filmed performing [[street poetry]] in London, England. Some of the lyrics he recited were from the song "HeavyDirtySoul," which was released on band's fourth studio album ''[[Blurryface]]''.<ref name="Biddulph">{{cite web|author=Biddulph, Andy |title=#TBT: This Is Where Twenty One Pilots' 'Heavydirtysoul' Came From |url=http://www.rocksound.tv/features/read/tbt-this-is-where-twenty-one-pilots-heavydirtysoul-came-from|work=[[Rock Sound]] |publisher=Patrick Napier |date=March 2, 2017 |accessdate=}}</ref> In addition to his music career as a songwriter, Joseph is also a poet and had written and released two poems: “What’s Your Story?” and “Street Poetry.”<ref name="Moore">{{cite web|author=Moore, Camille|title=10 Things You Didn't Know about Tyler Joseph|url=https://www.tvovermind.com/tyler-joseph/|work=[[TVOvermind]] |publisher=BC Media Group|date=September 4, 2020 |accessdate=}}</ref> For "Heavydirtysoul," Twenty One Pilots used part of the lyrics taken from "Street Poetry," which had been published by Tyler Joseph three years earlier.<ref name="Kristy11">{{cite web|author=Stromská, Kristýna |title=Americké Fenomenální Duo Twenty One Pilots: 10 Let Na Hudební Scéně|url=http://www.informuji.cz/clanky/6018-americke-fenomenalni-duo-twenty-one-pilots-10-let-na-hudebni-scene/|work=Informuji.cz |publisher= |date=Januaruy 25, 2019|access-date=}}</ref>

''Blurryface'' had served to transcend the realm of music to become a cathartic vessel for Tyler Joseph with its titular character, and a key factor in musically grasping the album was comprehending the [[psyche]] of the "Blurryface" [[alter ego]].<ref name="Sputnik"/> One other main character on ''Blurryface'' had been the music itself; with seven of the fourteen songs appearing to address the music directly, beginning with the first verse of "Heavydirtysoul."<ref name="Poffenberger">{{cite web|author=Poffenberger, Robby|title=Twenty One Pilots|url=https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/twenty-one-pilots/Content?oid=2995000|work=[[Salt Lake City Weekly]] |publisher=John Saltas|date=September 23, 2015|accessdate=}}</ref> The album leapt between various [[music genre]] boundaries as Tyler Joseph alternates between [[rapping]], singing, and [[Screaming (music)|screaming]], even alluding to the notion with opening track "Heavydirtysoul." In spite of the schizophrenic nature of the music, it remains true to the Blurryface persona.<ref name="Sputnik"/>

==Recording==
"Heavydirtysoul" was produced by [[Ricky Reed]] and recorded at [[Serenity West Recording]] in Hollywood, California. The track was then [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixed]] at The Casita in Hollywood, California and [[Mastering (audio)|mastered]] at [[Sterling Sound Studios|Sterling Sound]] in New York City.<ref name=BlurryfaceBooklet/> Most of the song’s lyrics are derived from “Street Poetry,” a short poem Tyler Joseph wrote some time ago.<ref name="Biddulph"/><ref name="Moore"/> Joseph reworked his poem into "Heavydirtysoul," an aggressively fast-talking opening track which nonetheless boasts an unexpectedly [[Melody|melodic]] chorus.<ref name="Biddulph"/><ref name="Ager">{{cite web|author=Ager, James |title=Twenty One Pilots at Shepherd’s Bush Empire |url=http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2015/11/08/twenty-one-pilots-at-shepherds-bush-empire-live-review/ |work=The Upcoming |publisher=|date=November 8, 2015 |accessdate=}}</ref> 

Being an introductory track, "Heavydirtysoul" serves to outline the venturous fourth studio album.<ref name="Curcic"/> Similar to their previous album ''[[Vessel (Twenty One Pilots album)|Vessel]],'' the fourth album was diverse and reflected Joseph and Dun's wide-ranging musical tastes. "Heavydirtysoul" in particular exemplifies the manner in which the duo mix and move between multiple genres, not merely across the album, but within the same track.<ref name="Sculley 2">{{cite web |author=Sculley, Allan|url=http://www.thesunchronicle.com/go/twenty-one-pilots-soar-their-own-way/article_f48352cd-4e78-5279-a70d-25b6ac727047.html |title=Twenty One Pilots Soar their Own Way|work=[[The Sun Chronicle]]|publisher=Triboro Massachusetts News Media|date=January 12, 2017|accessdate=February 5, 2017}}</ref> As the first track on ''Blurryface'', "Heavydirtysoul" encapsulates all musical elements expected of the band’s release. The song contains rap verses with [[self-referential]] lyrics, anthemic lines and dramatic, [[piano]]-led choruses.<ref name="Darus"/>


==Composition==
==Composition==
"Heavydirtysoul" is [[alternative hip hop]] song that runs for a duration of three minutes and fifty-four seconds.<ref>{{Cite web|last=s.r.l|first=Rockol com|title=√ Recensioni {{!}} Dischi {{!}} Twenty One Pilots - BLURRYFACE su Rockol|url=https://www.rockol.it/recensioni-musicali/album/6423/twenty-one-pilots-blurryface|access-date=2020-08-01|website=Rockol|language=it}}</ref><ref name="Joseph" /> Throughout its track, the duo mix multiple genres, including [[funk]]-tinged [[Rock music|rock]], [[Hip hop music|hip hop]], epic [[Pop music|pop]] and [[R&B]] hooks while experimenting with [[Electronic dance music|electronic dance]] beats.<ref name="SunChronicle">{{cite web |author=Sculley, Allan|url=http://www.thesunchronicle.com/go/twenty-one-pilots-soar-their-own-way/article_f48352cd-4e78-5279-a70d-25b6ac727047.html |title=Twenty One Pilots Soar their Own Way|work=[[The Sun Chronicle]]|publisher=Triboro Massachusetts News Media|date=January 12, 2017|access-date=February 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Willman"/><ref name="am">{{Cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/blurryface-mw0002837924 |title=Blurryface – Twenty One Pilots |last=Yeung |first=Neil Z. |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=October 18, 2016}}</ref> According to the [[sheet music]] published at Musicnotes.com by [[Alfred Music]], the song is written in the [[time signature]] of [[Time signature#Frequently used time signatures|common time]], with a moderately fast [[tempo]] of 130 [[Tempo#Beats per minute|beats per minute]].<ref name="Joseph">{{Cite web |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0171006 |title=Twenty One Pilots 'Heavydirtysoul' Sheet Music in D Minor – Download & Print |publisher=Musicnotes.com |access-date=April 23, 2016}}</ref> "Heavydirtysoul" is composed in the [[Key (music)|key]] of [[D minor]], while Tyler Joseph's [[vocal range]] spans one [[octave]] and seven [[Note (music)|notes]], from a low of [[E (musical note)|D<sub>4</sub>]] to a high of [[C (musical note)|C<sub>6</sub>]].<ref name="Joseph" /> The song is restricted to a [[Drone (music)|droning]] chord of Dm throughout its verses and [[Song structure#Pre-chorus|pre-chorus]], changes to a basic sequence of B{{music|flat}}–Gm–Dm–C at the refrain and follows B{{music|flat}}–G{{music|flat}}m–D{{music|flat}}m–C/E during the [[Bridge (music)|bridge]] as its [[chord progression]].<ref name="Joseph" />
"Heavydirtysoul" is an [[alternative hip hop]] song that runs for a duration of three minutes and fifty-four seconds.<ref>{{Cite web|last=s.r.l|first=Rockol com|title=√ Recensioni {{!}} Dischi {{!}} Twenty One Pilots - BLURRYFACE su Rockol|url=https://www.rockol.it/recensioni-musicali/album/6423/twenty-one-pilots-blurryface|access-date=2020-08-01|website=Rockol|language=it}}</ref><ref name="Joseph" /> Within its track, the duo mix multiple genres, moving between [[funk]]-tinged [[Rock music|rock]], [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]], grandeur [[Pop music|pop]] and [[Soul music|soul]] while flaunting [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] [[Musical hook|hook]]s and experimenting with [[Electronic dance music|electronic dance]] beats.<ref name="Sculley 2"/><ref name="Law"/><ref name="Willman"/><ref name="am">{{Cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/blurryface-mw0002837924 |title=Blurryface – Twenty One Pilots |last=Yeung |first=Neil Z. |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=October 18, 2016}}</ref> "Heavydirtysoul" features Joseph’s most intense vocals and complex, high-speed rapping.<ref name="Yim"/><ref name="Blumenfeld">{{Cite web |url=http://gapersblock.com/transmission/2015/12/04/twenty_one_pilots_makes_young-person_angstecstatic/ |title=Twenty One Pilots Makes Young-Person Angst...Ecstatic?! |last=Blumenfeld |first=Zac |work=[[Gapers Block]]|publisher=|date=December 4, 2015 |accessdate=}}</ref> Joseph's rapid rapping is supplemented by Dun's soulful drumming, generating its [[Groove (music)|groove]].<ref name="Desler"/><ref name="Yim">{{cite web |last=Yim |first=Sandra |url=https://www.theurbanwire.com/2015/07/twenty-one-pilots-blurryface-tour/ |title=Twenty One Pilots: A Head Banging Good Time |website=The UrbanWire |date=June 24, 2015}}</ref><ref name="LeRoy" /> Though aggressively fast-talking, the opening track nevertheless struts an unexpectedly [[Melody|melodic]] chorus.<ref name="Ager"/> According to the [[sheet music]] published at Musicnotes.com by [[Alfred Music]], the song is written in the [[time signature]] of [[Time signature#Most frequent time signatures|common time]], with a moderately fast [[tempo]] of 130 [[Tempo#Beats per minute|beats per minute]].<ref name="Joseph">{{Cite web |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0171006 |title=Twenty One Pilots 'Heavydirtysoul' Sheet Music in D Minor – Download & Print |publisher=Musicnotes.com |access-date=April 23, 2016}}</ref> "Heavydirtysoul" is composed in the [[Key (music)|key]] of [[D minor]], while Tyler Joseph's [[vocal range]] spans one [[octave]] and six [[Note (music)|notes]], from a low of [[E (musical note)|D<sub>4</sub>]] to a high of [[C (musical note)|C<sub>6</sub>]].<ref name="Joseph" /> The song is restricted to a [[Drone (music)|droning]] chord of Dm throughout its verses and [[Song structure#Pre-chorus|pre-chorus]], changes to a basic sequence of B{{music|flat}}–Gm–Dm–C at the refrain and follows B{{music|flat}}–G{{music|flat}}m–D{{music|flat}}m–C/E during the [[Bridge (music)|bridge]] as its [[chord progression]].<ref name="All Things Loud" /><ref name="Joseph" /> 


The musical arrangement begins with its [[Introduction (music)|introduction]], opening with an ambient [[Drone (music)|drone]] before quickly morphing into a hooky, memorable [[2 step garage|two-step]] drumbeat and Tyler Joseph's rapped vocals.<ref name="All Things Loud" /><ref name="Beard"/> 
The musical arrangement begins with its [[Introduction (music)|introduction]], opening with an ambient [[Drone (music)|drone]] before quickly morphing into a [[2 step garage|two-step]] drumbeat.<ref name="All Things Loud" /> "Heavydirtysoul" features Joseph's most high-speed rapping and intense vocals.<ref name="Yim"/> They are supplemented by Dun's drumming, generating a soulful [[Groove (music)|groove]].<ref name="Yim">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theurbanwire.com/2015/07/twenty-one-pilots-blurryface-tour/ |title=Twenty One Pilots: A Head Banging Good Time |last=Yim |first=Sandra |date=June 24, 2015 |website=The UrbanWire}}</ref><ref name="LeRoy" /> Following its intro, Joseph's starts [[rapping]] over the fast, pulsating rhythm as the song bounds into catchy [[Break (music)|breaks]] and cascading [[Noise (music)|noise]].<ref name="All Things Loud" /><ref name="Curcic"/><ref name="Klein">{{cite web|author=Nixon, Kylie Klein|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/90840554/21-pilots-astound-with-feats-of-magic-and-acrobatics-at-first-show-on-new-zealandaustralia-tour|title=Twenty One Pilots astound with magic and acrobatics at first show on New Zealand/Australia tour|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|date=March 25, 2017|access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref> The beat-laden number then shifts into a dramatic, piano-driven [[prechorus]].<ref name="Desler" /><ref name="LeRoy"/> His voice slows down and the [[tempo]] decreases at its catchy, [[Gospel music|gospel]]-inspired chorus.<ref name="All Things Loud" /><ref name="Klein"/> The disjointed track retains a vibrant soundscape that effortlessly shifts from [[drum and bass]] fills to arena-sized choruses and lengthy bass [[riff]]s before reaching a heavy rock climax.<ref name="Curcic"/><ref name="All Things Loud">{{Cite web |url=https://www.allthingsloud.com/twenty-one-pilots-blurryface-album-review/ |title=Album Review: Twenty One Pilots - Blurryface |last=Parker |first=Jack |date=May 29, 2015 |website=All Things Loud |access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref><ref name="DeVille"/>
Following its intro, the rousing song launches into a storm of [[Industrial music|industrial]] drumming beneath Joseph speedy's rapping over fast, pulsating rhythm.<ref name="Waterman"/><ref name="Mervis"/><ref name="Curcic"/> The song bounds into catchy [[Break (music)|breaks]] and cascading [[Noise (music)|noise]] before a throbbing unease arises during its [[pre-chorus]].<ref name="Curcic"/><ref name="Klein"/><ref name="Waterman"/> The beat-laden musical arrangement then shifts into a dramatic, [[piano]]-driven prechorus.<ref name="Desler" /><ref name="LeRoy"/> For the song's [[Gospel music|gospel]]-inspired chorus, Joseph sings atop an undercurrent of surging energy and scattered [[percussion]].<ref name="Klein"/><ref name="Waterman"/> The song's [[tempo]] decreases as he starts breaking into a catchy chorus of [[neo-soul]].<ref name="All Things Loud" /><ref name="Mervis"/> Joseph invokes [[Screaming (music)|screaming]] in ''[[falsetto]]'' vocals at the refrain, insisting, "Can you save my heavy dirty soul, for me?"<ref name="Sputnik"/><ref name="Willman"/><ref name="All Things Loud"/> Throughout the disjointed track, a vibrant soundscape effortlessly darts from [[drum and bass]] [[Fill (music)|fills]] to arena-sized choruses and lengthy bass [[riff]]s before reaching a heavy rock climax.<ref name="Curcic"/><ref name="All Things Loud">{{Cite web |url=https://www.allthingsloud.com/twenty-one-pilots-blurryface-album-review/ |title=Album Review: Twenty One Pilots - Blurryface |last=Parker |first=Jack |date=May 29, 2015 |website=All Things Loud |access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref><ref name="DeVille"/>


Lyrically, "Heavydirtysoul" is about asking for help defeating inner demons in order to become something greater.<ref name="Darus"/> It features an anthemic theme pertaining to [[self-discovery]] through being vulnerable.<ref name="Darus"/> The song's lyrics reveal that deep down, even despite knowledge of one's greatness, aid is necessary to bring that out or else risk getting lost in thoughts.<ref name="Darus">{{Cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/features/list/twenty-one-pilots-zodiac-signs/|title=Find out which Twenty One Pilots song matches your zodiac sign|last=Darus|first=Alex|date=July 27, 2018|website=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc|language=en-US|access-date=February 8, 2019}}</ref> "Heavydirtysoul" contains frantic rap verses laced with fast-paced lyrics and complex rhymes schemes.<ref name="Desler" /><ref name="Nickoloff 2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2016/06/highlights_from_the_twenty_one.html|title=Highlights from last night's Twenty One Pilots show at Cleveland's Wolstein Center (photos) |last=Nickoloff |first=Anne |date=June 9, 2016 |website=[[The Plain Dealer]] |publisher=[[Advance Publications]] |access-date=April 22, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Blumenfeld">{{Cite web |url=http://gapersblock.com/transmission/2015/12/04/twenty_one_pilots_makes_young-person_angstecstatic/ |title=Twenty One Pilots Makes Young-Person Angst...Ecstatic?! |last=Blumenfeld |first=Zac |work=[[Gapers Block]]|date=December 4, 2015 }}</ref> The song's opening verse expresses a [[self-referential]] remark.<ref name="LeRoy" /> Joseph alternates from rapping and singing, even alluding to the concept by contending, "This is not rap, this is not hip-hop / just another attempt to make the voices stop."<ref name="Sputnik">{{Cite web |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/67156/Twenty-One-Pilots-Blurryface/ |title=Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface |date=May 20, 2015 |work=[[Sputnikmusic]] |access-date=May 20, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Law"/> He invokes [[Screaming (music)|screaming]] in ''[[falsetto]]'' vocals at the refrain, insisting, "Can you save my heavy dirty soul, for me?"<ref name="Sputnik"/><ref name="Willman"/><ref name="All Things Loud"/> Towards the end, the song's bridge incorporates an anthemic [[tag line]].<ref name="Klein"/><ref name="LeRoy" /> Joseph's metaphoric lyrics are haunted by mortality as he sings, "Death inspires me like a dog inspires a rabbit."<ref name="Klein"/><ref name="DeVille"/>
Lyrically, "Heavydirtysoul" is about asking for help defeating inner demons in order to become something greater.<ref name="Darus"/> It features an anthemic theme pertaining to [[self-discovery]] through being vulnerable.<ref name="Darus"/> The song's lyrics reveal that deep down, even despite knowledge of one's greatness, help is necessary in bringing it out or else risk getting lost in thoughts.<ref name="Darus">{{Cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/features/list/twenty-one-pilots-zodiac-signs/|title=Find Out which Twenty One Pilots Song Matches Your Zodiac Sign|last=Darus|first=Alex|date=July 27, 2018|website=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc|language=en-US|access-date=February 8, 2019}}</ref> "Heavydirtysoul" contains frantic rap verses where Joseph delivers fast-paced lyrics with quick-tempered rapping.<ref name="Klein"/><ref name="Nickoloff 2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2016/06/highlights_from_the_twenty_one.html|title=Highlights from last night's Twenty One Pilots show at Cleveland's Wolstein Center (photos) |last=Nickoloff |first=Anne |date=June 9, 2016 |website=[[The Plain Dealer]] |publisher=[[Advance Publications]] |access-date=April 22, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Waterman"/> The song's opening verse expresses a [[self-referential]] remark.<ref name="LeRoy" /> Joseph alternates from rapping and [[singing]], even alluding to the concept by contending, "This is not rap, this is not hip-hop / just another attempt to make the voices stop."<ref name="Sputnik">{{Cite web |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/67156/Twenty-One-Pilots-Blurryface/ |title=Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface |date=May 20, 2015 |work=[[Sputnikmusic]] |access-date=May 20, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Law"/> For the chorus, Joseph sings a desperate plea for someone to save his heavy, dirty soul.<ref name="Waterman"/> Towards the end, the song's anthemic [[Bridge (music)|bridge]] incorporates a [[tag line]].<ref name="Klein"/><ref name="LeRoy" /> Joseph's metaphoric lyrics are haunted by mortality as he sings, "Death inspires me like a dog inspires a rabbit."<ref name="Klein"/><ref name="DeVille"/>


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
Chris Willman of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' regarded "Heavydirtysoul" as the best track from ''Blurryface''.<ref name="Willman">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/twenty-one-pilots-trench-album-review-1202971674/|title=Album Review: Twenty One Pilots - Trench|last=Willman|first=Chris|date=October 7, 2018|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=October 15, 2018}}</ref> [[AllMusic]]'s Neil Z. Yeung cites the song as one of the album's highlights.<ref name="am" /> Calling the tagline one of Joseph's cleverest turns of phrase, ''[[Stereogum]]''{{'}}s Chris DeVille cites the opening track as an instance of how Twenty One Pilots had a way of making counterintuitive, hyperactive musical shifts seem natural. He claimed the song "morphs from some kind of late-'90s [[trip-hop]]/[[Big Beat]] thing to a [[Fitz and the Tantrums]] song to a monolithic heavy-rock climax without ever inducing whiplash."<ref name="DeVille">{{cite web|author=DeVille, Chris|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1803515/the-week-in-pop-meet-twenty-one-pilots-the-biggest-band-youve-never-heard-of/franchises/the-week-in-pop/|title=The Week in Pop: Meet Twenty One Pilots, The Biggest Band You've Never Heard Of|work=[[Stereogum]]|date=May 28, 2015|access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref> André Curcic from ''[[Renowned for Sound]]'' stated, "The introductory track 'Heavydirtysoul' defines the album which seeks to venture beyond definition. The track is incredibly disjointed that is what makes the track one of the best on the album. It begins with a fast, pulsating rhythm and jumps into catchy song breaks that come together to create something wonderful."<ref name="Curcic">{{cite web|last=Curcic|first=André |title= Album Review: Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface |date=June 5, 2015 |publisher=[[Renowned for Sound]] |url=http://renownedforsound.com/index.php/album-review-twenty-one-pilots-blurryface/ |access-date=July 11, 2015}}</ref> Comparing its grooves to the mid-1990s works of [[The Prodigy|Prodigy]], Jason Pettigrew for ''[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]'' claimed, "The first track on the band's 2015 release ''Blurryface'' successfully encapsulates all the elements fans have come to expect... 'Heavydirtysoul' is guaranteed to have crowds [[pogo (dance)|pogo]]ing from [[Bunbury Music Festival|Bunbury]] to [[Bonnaroo]]."<ref name="LeRoy">{{Cite web |url=http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/the_top_10_twenty_one_pilots_songs_of_all_time1 |title=The 10 best twenty one pilots songs |last=LeRoy |first=Dan |date=September 2, 2015 |website=Alternative Press |access-date=March 10, 2017}}</ref> He continued saying, "Anxious and frightened, yet trippy and badassed, the duo's blend of fearful and fierce here is stellar."<ref name="Pettigrew">{{Cite news |last=Pettigrew |first=Jason |url=https://www.altpress.com/features/twenty-one-pilots-songs-ranked/ |title=Twenty One Pilots Songs Ranked in All Of Their Pop Majesty |date=September 26, 2019 |work=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |access-date=October 3, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930235509/https://www.altpress.com/features/twenty-one-pilots-songs-ranked/ |archive-date=September 30, 2019}}</ref> Sharing similar sentiments, Anne Nickoloff and Troy Smith from ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'' remarked, "The opener "Heavydirtysoul" sounds like The Prodigy is about to rip through your speakers, as drummer Josh Dun goes absolutely ballistic."<ref name="Nickoloff">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cleveland.com/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/07/12598c2f641421/all-65-twenty-one-pilots-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html |title=All 65 Twenty One Pilots songs ranked from worst to best |last=Nickoloff |first=Anne |last2=Smith |first2=Troy |date=July 5, 2019 |website=[[The Plain Dealer]] |publisher=[[Advance Publications|Advance Local Media LLC]] |access-date=April 22, 2020}}</ref> Madison Desler of ''[[Orange County Register]]'' called the track "a beat-heavy banger that features some of Joseph's most rapid-fire rapping."<ref name="Desler">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/02/16/twenty-one-pilots-at-honda-center-a-spectacle-with-two-stages-and-a-giant-hamster-ball/ |title=Twenty One Pilots at Honda Center a spectacle with two stages and a giant hamster ball |last=Desler |first=Madison |date=February 16, 2017 |website=[[Orange County Register]] |publisher=Ron Hasse}}</ref> ''[[Loudwire]]''{{'}}s Chad Childers described "Heavydirtysoul" as a "pulse-pushing opener."<ref name="Childers">{{cite web|author=Childers, Chad|title=The 66 Best Rock Albums of the Decade|url=https://loudwire.com/best-rock-albums-decade-2010-2019/|work=[[Loudwire]] |date=November 14, 2019}}</ref> Sam Law from ''[[Kerrang!]]'' said the song "...spectacularly walks the line between fearfulness and ferocity... Featuring one of the vocalist's most assured performances, to the contrary, 'Heavydirtysoul' is a masterclass in both, with heaps of classic pop grandeur and that titular soul loaded on for good measure.<ref name="Law"/>
Describing it as a "rousing number," Cole Waterman from ''[[Spectrum Culture]]'' considers "Heavydirtysoul" one of the album's four best songs.<ref name="Waterman">{{cite web|author= Waterman, Cole|title=Twenty One Pilots: Blurryface - Review|url=https://spectrumculture.com/2015/05/31/twenty-one-pilots-blurryface/|work=[[Spectrum Culture]] |date=May 31, 2015|accessdate=2020-12-16}}</ref> Chris Willman of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' regarded "Heavydirtysoul" as the best track from ''Blurryface''.<ref name="Willman">{{cite web|author=Willman, Chris |url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/twenty-one-pilots-trench-album-review-1202971674/|title=Album Review: Twenty One Pilots - Trench |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=October 7, 2018 |access-date=October 15, 2018}}</ref> [[AllMusic]]'s Neil Z. Yeung cites the song as one of the album's highlights.<ref name="am" /> Calling the tagline one of Joseph's cleverest turns of phrase, ''[[Stereogum]]''{{'}}s Chris DeVille cites the opening track as an instance of how Twenty One Pilots had a way of making counterintuitive, hyperactive musical shifts seem natural. He claimed the song "morphs from some kind of late-'90s [[trip-hop]]/[[Big Beat]] thing to a [[Fitz and the Tantrums]] song to a monolithic heavy-rock climax without ever inducing whiplash."<ref name="DeVille">{{cite web|author=DeVille, Chris|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1803515/the-week-in-pop-meet-twenty-one-pilots-the-biggest-band-youve-never-heard-of/franchises/the-week-in-pop/|title=The Week in Pop: Meet Twenty One Pilots, The Biggest Band You've Never Heard Of|work=[[Stereogum]]|date=May 28, 2015|access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref> André Curcic from ''[[Renowned for Sound]]'' claimed, "The introductory track 'Heavydirtysoul' defines the album which seeks to venture beyond definition. The track is incredibly disjointed that is what makes the track one of the best on the album. It begins with a fast, pulsating rhythm and jumps into catchy song [[Break (music)|breaks]] that come together to create something wonderful."<ref name="Curcic">{{cite web|last=Curcic|first=André |title= Album Review: Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface |date=June 5, 2015 |publisher=[[Renowned for Sound]] |url=http://renownedforsound.com/index.php/album-review-twenty-one-pilots-blurryface/ |accessdate=July 11, 2015}}</ref> Comparing its grooves to the mid-1990s works of [[The Prodigy|Prodigy]], Jason Pettigrew for ''[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]'' claimed, "The first track on the band's 2015 release ''Blurryface'' successfully encapsulates all the elements fans have come to expect... 'Heavydirtysoul' is guaranteed to have crowds [[pogo (dance)|pogo]]ing from [[Bunbury Music Festival|Bunbury]] to [[Bonnaroo]]."<ref name="LeRoy">{{Cite web |url=http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/the_top_10_twenty_one_pilots_songs_of_all_time1 |title=The 10 best twenty one pilots songs |last=LeRoy |first=Dan |date=September 2, 2015 |website=Alternative Press |access-date=March 10, 2017}}</ref> He continued saying, "Anxious and frightened, yet trippy and badassed, the duo's blend of fearful and fierce here is stellar."<ref name="Pettigrew">{{Cite news |last=Pettigrew |first=Jason |url=https://www.altpress.com/features/twenty-one-pilots-songs-ranked/ |title=Twenty One Pilots Songs Ranked in All Of Their Pop Majesty |date=September 26, 2019 |work=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |access-date=October 3, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930235509/https://www.altpress.com/features/twenty-one-pilots-songs-ranked/ |archive-date=September 30, 2019}}</ref> Sharing similar sentiments, Anne Nickoloff and Troy Smith from ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'' remarked, "The opener "Heavydirtysoul" sounds like The Prodigy is about to rip through your speakers, as drummer Josh Dun goes absolutely ballistic."<ref name="Cleveland">{{cite web |url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/05/twenty_one_pilots_blurryface_l.html|title=Twenty One Pilots' 'Blurryface' Leaves a Haze of Disappointment (Album Review) |first=Troy L.|last=Smith|work=[[Cleveland.com]] |date=May 18, 2015 |accessdate=January 5, 2016}}</ref> Emily Jayne Beard from ''[[PopBuzz]]'' cites "Heavydirtysoul" as one of the songs from the album that "hook you in with [its] instantly memorable beats.<ref name="Beard">{{cite web|author=Beard, Emily Jayne|title=PopBuzz's 20 Best Albums of the Year|url=https://www.popbuzz.com/music/features/albums-end-of-year-2015|work=[[PopBuzz]] |publisher=[[Global (company)|Global]] |date=December 9, 2015|accessdate=}}</ref>

''[[Loudwire]]''{{'}}s Chad Childers described "Heavydirtysoul" as a "pulse-pushing opener."<ref name="Childers">{{cite web|author=Childers, Chad|title=The 66 Best Rock Albums of the Decade|url=https://loudwire.com/best-rock-albums-decade-2010-2019/|work=[[Loudwire]] |publisher= |date=November 14, 2019|accessdate=}}</ref> Scott Mervis for ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'' described the song as "a banger that launches with a drum rush and speed rap before breaking into a chorus of lovely [[neo-soul]]."<ref name="Mervis">{{cite web|author=Mervis, Scott|title=Twenty One Pilots Are a High-Flying Thrill at PPG Paints Arena|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2017/01/28/Twenty-One-Pilots-fly-high-at-PPG-Paints-Arena-Pittsburgh/stories/201701280105|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |publisher=John Robinson Block|date=January 28, 2017 |accessdate=}}</ref> Likewise, Madison Desler of ''[[Orange County Register]]'' deemed the track "a beat-heavy banger that features some of Joseph's most rapid-fire rapping."<ref name="Desler">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/02/16/twenty-one-pilots-at-honda-center-a-spectacle-with-two-stages-and-a-giant-hamster-ball/ |title=Twenty One Pilots at Honda Center a Spectacle with Two Stages and a Giant Hamster Ball |last=Desler |first=Madison |date=February 16, 2017 |website=[[Orange County Register]] |publisher=Ron Hasse}}</ref> ''[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]''{{'}}s Kylie Klein Nixon called the song, "a glorious street parade of cascading [[Noise (music)|noise]]. ... It's not the lyrics they're hiding up their sleeves either. 'Heavy Dirty Soul' includes the viscerally poetic metaphor: "death inspires me like a dog inspires a rabbit," and that's the kind of wordsmithery that buys a lot of good will.”<ref name="Klein">{{cite web|author=Nixon, Kylie Klein|title=Twenty One Pilots Astound With Magic and Acrobatics at First Show on New Zealand/Australia tour|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/90840554/21-pilots-astound-with-feats-of-magic-and-acrobatics-at-first-show-on-new-zealandaustralia-tour |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |publisher=[[Fairfax New Zealand]] |date=March 25, 2017 |accessdate=}}</ref> ''[[Kerrang!]]'' ranked the song’s [[tag line]] as one of the band’s ten best lyrics.<ref name="Kerrang">{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrang.com/features/the-10-best-twenty-one-pilots-lyrics-so-far/ |title=The 10 Best twenty one pilots Lyrics So Far |work=[[Kerrang!]] |publisher=Wasted Talent Ltd |date=July 23, 2018 |access-date=February 8, 2019}}</ref><ref name="LeRoy" /> Sam Law, from the same publication, said the song "... spectacularly walks the line between fearfulness and ferocity ... Featuring one of the vocalist’s most assured performances, to the contrary, 'Heavydirtysoul' is a masterclass in both, with heaps of classic [[Pop music|pop]] grandeur and that titular [[Soul music|soul]] loaded on for good measure.<ref name="Law"/> Writing for the same publication, Emily Carter characterized "Heavydirtysoul" as being a "genre-smashing single."<ref name="Carter 2">{{cite web|author=Carter, Emily|url=http://www.kerrang.com/features/twenty-one-pilots-every-album-ranked-from-worst-to-best/|title=twenty one pilots: Every Album Ranked From Worst To Best|work=[[Kerrang!]]|publisher=Wasted Talent Ltd |date=August 7, 2020|accessdate=August 9, 2020}}</ref> She commented, "Opener 'Heavydirtysoul' hears the frontman rapping, ‘This is not rap / This is not hip-hop / Just another attempt to make the voices stop’ ... All heavy words, but ones that have helped thousands of fans worldwide – myself included – tackle important issues and emotions going on in their head."<ref name="Carter">{{cite web|author=Carter, Emily|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/how-twenty-one-pilots-changed-my-life/|title=How twenty one pilots Changed My Life...|work=[[Kerrang!]]|date=November 23, 2016|accessdate=April 25, 2020}}</ref>

===Accolades===
Twenty One Pilots received a nomination for the [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video|Best Rock]] award with "Heavydirtysoul" at the [[2017 MTV Video Music Awards|34th annual MTV Video Music Awards]].<ref name="Hill, Libby"/> Fans were able to vote online for nominees in the eight VMA categories, with the winner being awarded during the telecast that aired from [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|The Forum]] in Inglewood, California on August 27, 2017.<ref name="Hill, Libby">{{cite web|author=Hill, Libby|title=Kendrick Lamar, Katy Perry and the Weeknd lead MTV Video Music Awards nominations|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-july-2017-htmlstory.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |publisher=[[Davan Maharaj]] |date=July 25, 2017|accessdate=July 26, 2017}}</ref>


==Commercial performance==
==Commercial performance==
Line 48: Line 65:


==Music video==
==Music video==
The accompanying music video for "Heavydirtysoul" was directed by Andrew Donoho. The video features Tyler Joseph sitting in the passenger seat of an out-of-control vehicle playing [[Chicken (game)|chicken]] with Josh Dun and his flaming [[drum kit]].<ref name="Law">{{cite web|author=Law, Sam|url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/the-20-greatest-twenty-one-pilots-songs-ranked/|title=The 20 Greatest twenty one pilots Songs – Ranked|work=[[Kerrang!]]|date=April 24, 2020|access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref>
The accompanying music video for "Heavydirtysoul" was directed by Andrew Donoho and filmed outside the band's hometown, [[Columbus, Ohio]].<ref name="Law"/><ref name="Dickman 2">{{cite web|author=Dickman, Maggie|title=Twenty One Pilots give us a peek at the making of the “Heavydirtysoul” music video—watch|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/twenty_one_pilots_give_us_a_peek_at_the_making_of_the_heavydirtysoul_music/|work=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc |date=February 9, 2017|accessdate=}}</ref> The video features Tyler Joseph sitting in the passenger seat of an out-of-control vehicle playing [[Chicken (game)|chicken]] with Josh Dun and his flaming [[drum kit]].<ref name="Law">{{cite web|author=Law, Sam|url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/the-20-greatest-twenty-one-pilots-songs-ranked/|title=The 20 Greatest twenty one pilots Songs — Ranked |work=[[Kerrang!]]|date=April 24, 2020|accessdate=April 25, 2020}}</ref>

The music video for "Heavydirtysoul" was released on February 3, 2017. It was directed by Andrew Donoho and shot in the band's hometown, [[Columbus, Ohio]].<ref>{{Citation |title=twenty one pilots: Heavydirtysoul (Beyond the Video) |date=February 8, 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtR2y4ho5Xw&t=61s |access-date=October 21, 2018}}</ref> It begins with frontman [[Tyler Joseph]] sitting in the backseat of a vehicle which is driving erratically along a highway. [[Josh Dun]] is seen playing drums in the middle of the highway, and his drum kit suddenly catches fire, but he continues playing anyway. The vehicle that Joseph is in is heading towards Dun, and loses one of its wheels just before swerving to miss a head-on collision with him. It's shown briefly that the driver of the vehicle is an unknown figure wearing a black [[hoodie]]. The sequence of Joseph driving past Dun is repeated as the car continues to spark from its missing tire. The vehicle continues to fall apart due to Dun's drumming, and when the vehicle loses its roof and its doors, Joseph climbs on top of it and then jumps off near Dun as it explodes further in the distance. The duo perform the remainder of the song on the highway during the night, surrounded by the car's flames. The ending of the video shows the sun rising, and Joseph, along with the vehicle, back to their original state. The car that's used in the video is a grey [[Cadillac de Ville]] sedan.


Twenty One Pilots provided fans with the opportunity to view how they made their music video.<ref name="Beyond">{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/watch-the-making-of-twenty-one-pilots-heavydirtysoul-video/|title=Watch The Making Of twenty one pilots’ Heavydirtysoul Video|work=[[Kerrang!]]|date=February 9, 2017|access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref> Following the debut of the video for "Heavydirtysoul", the duo released a "Beyond the video' behind-the-scenes experience. It portrays Tyler and Josh getting up at dawn in freezing temperatures to make the video.<ref name="Beyond"/>
The music video for "Heavydirtysoul" was released by Twenty One Pilots on February 3, 2017.<ref name="Dickman">{{cite web|author=Dickman, Maggie|title=Twenty One Pilots release new music video for “Heavydirtysoul”|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/twenty_one_pilots_release_new_video_for_heavydirtysoulwatch/|work=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc |date=February 3, 2017|accessdate=}}</ref> The duo provided fans with the opportunity to view how they made their video.<ref name="Beyond">{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/watch-the-making-of-twenty-one-pilots-heavydirtysoul-video/|title=Watch The Making Of twenty one pilots’ Heavydirtysoul Video|work=[[Kerrang!]]|date=February 9, 2017|access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref> Following the debut of the music video for "Heavydirtysoul", the duo released a "Beyond the video' behind-the-scenes experience. It portrays Tyler and Josh getting up at dawn in freezing temperatures to make the video.<ref name="Beyond"/>


===Reception===
===Reception===
Writing for ''[[Kerrang!]]'', Sam Law regarded the music video as "yet another unforgettable stand-out."<ref name="Law"/>
''[[Kerrang!]]''{{'}}s Sam Law regarded the music video as "yet another unforgettable stand-out."<ref name="Law"/> Jason Pettigrew of ''[[Alternative Press]]'' complimented the music video, remarking, "Anxious and frightened, yet trippy and badassed, the duo’s blend of fearful and fierce here is stellar. We’re just glad Joseph can take limousines and not the crappy [[Uber]] driving him in this video."<ref name="Pettigrew"/>


==Live performance==
==Live performance==
Line 88: Line 103:


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
⚫
Credits adapted from ''Blurryface'' album liner notes.<ref name="BlurryfaceBooklet">{{Cite AV media notes |title=[[Blurryface]] |others=[[Twenty One Pilots]] |date=2015|url= |first=|last=|page= |type=booklet|publisher=[[Fueled by Ramen]]|id=7567-86692-2|location=New York City, New York, United States}}</ref>
'''Twenty One Pilots'''
{{col-begin}}
* [[Tyler Joseph]] – vocals, synthesizers, guitar, piano, bass guitar, tambourine, programming
{{col-2}}
* [[Josh Dun]] – drums, percussion
* [[Tyler Joseph]] –  songwriter, programming, piano
'''Additional personnel'''
* [[Ricky Reed]] – programming
* [[Josh Dun]] – drums
* [[Ricky Reed]] – producer, programming, additional vocals 
* Drew Kapner – audio engineer
{{col-2}}
* Michael Peterson – assistant audio engineer
* Neal Avron –  audio mixer 
* Scott Skrzynski –  audio mixing assistant
* Chris Gheringer – mastering 
{{col-end}}


==Charts==
==Charts==
Line 151: Line 174:


==External links==
==External links==

*{{YouTube|r_9Kf0D5BTs|"Heavydirtysoul" Music video}}
*{{YouTube|r_9Kf0D5BTs|"Heavydirtysoul" Music video}}
*{{YouTube|EtR2y4ho5Xw|"Heavydirtysoul" (Beyond the Video)}}
*{{YouTube|EtR2y4ho5Xw|"Heavydirtysoul" (Beyond the Video)}}
*{{YouTube|0KEwQEBEvIU|"Heavydirtysoul" (TOPxMM) Official video}}
*{{MetroLyrics song|twenty-one-pilots|heavy-dirty-soul}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
*{{MetroLyrics song|twenty-one-pilots|heavy-dirty-soul}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
*{{YouTube|J6R5KQ8b4lQ|"Street Poetry" With Twenty One Pilots' Tyler Joseph}}


{{Twenty One Pilots}}
{{Twenty One Pilots}}

Revision as of 02:37, 17 March 2021

For the Gotham episode, see Heavydirtysoul (Gotham).

"Heavydirtysoul"
Single by Twenty One Pilots
from the album Blurryface
ReleasedDecember 9, 2016 (2016-12-09)
Recorded2015
Genre
Length3:54
LabelFueled by Ramen
Songwriter(s)Tyler Joseph
Producer(s)Ricky Reed
Twenty One Pilots singles chronology
"Heathens"
(2016) 		"Heavydirtysoul"
(2016) 		"Jumpsuit"
(2018)
Audio sample
Music video
"Heavydirtysoul" on YouTube

"Heavydirtysoul" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. The song was released as the sixth and final single from their fourth studio album Blurryface on December 9, 2016.[1][2] Some of the song's lyrics are directly taken from lead singer Tyler Joseph's "Street Poetry", published on Rock Sound's official YouTube channel on August 27, 2013.[3]

Background

In 2013, Twenty One Pilots were the monthly cover stars for British magazine Rock Sound and Tyler Joseph was filmed performing street poetry in London, England. Some of the lyrics he recited were from the song "HeavyDirtySoul," which was released on band's fourth studio album Blurryface.[4] In addition to his music career as a songwriter, Joseph is also a poet and had written and released two poems: “What’s Your Story?” and “Street Poetry.”[5] For "Heavydirtysoul," Twenty One Pilots used part of the lyrics taken from "Street Poetry," which had been published by Tyler Joseph three years earlier.[6]

Blurryface had served to transcend the realm of music to become a cathartic vessel for Tyler Joseph with its titular character, and a key factor in musically grasping the album was comprehending the psyche of the "Blurryface" alter ego.[7] One other main character on Blurryface had been the music itself; with seven of the fourteen songs appearing to address the music directly, beginning with the first verse of "Heavydirtysoul."[8] The album leapt between various music genre boundaries as Tyler Joseph alternates between rapping, singing, and screaming, even alluding to the notion with opening track "Heavydirtysoul." In spite of the schizophrenic nature of the music, it remains true to the Blurryface persona.[7]

Recording

"Heavydirtysoul" was produced by Ricky Reed and recorded at Serenity West Recording in Hollywood, California. The track was then mixed at The Casita in Hollywood, California and mastered at Sterling Sound in New York City.[9] Most of the song’s lyrics are derived from “Street Poetry,” a short poem Tyler Joseph wrote some time ago.[4][5] Joseph reworked his poem into "Heavydirtysoul," an aggressively fast-talking opening track which nonetheless boasts an unexpectedly melodic chorus.[4][10] 

Being an introductory track, "Heavydirtysoul" serves to outline the venturous fourth studio album.[11] Similar to their previous album Vessel, the fourth album was diverse and reflected Joseph and Dun's wide-ranging musical tastes. "Heavydirtysoul" in particular exemplifies the manner in which the duo mix and move between multiple genres, not merely across the album, but within the same track.[12] As the first track on Blurryface, "Heavydirtysoul" encapsulates all musical elements expected of the band’s release. The song contains rap verses with self-referential lyrics, anthemic lines and dramatic, piano-led choruses.[13]

Composition

"Heavydirtysoul" is an alternative hip hop song that runs for a duration of three minutes and fifty-four seconds.[14][15] Within its track, the duo mix multiple genres, moving between funk-tinged rock, hip-hop, grandeur pop and soul while flaunting R&B hooks and experimenting with electronic dance beats.[12][16][17][18] "Heavydirtysoul" features Joseph’s most intense vocals and complex, high-speed rapping.[19][20] Joseph's rapid rapping is supplemented by Dun's soulful drumming, generating its groove.[21][19][22] Though aggressively fast-talking, the opening track nevertheless struts an unexpectedly melodic chorus.[10] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music, the song is written in the time signature of common time, with a moderately fast tempo of 130 beats per minute.[15] "Heavydirtysoul" is composed in the key of D minor, while Tyler Joseph's vocal range spans one octave and six notes, from a low of D4 to a high of C6.[15] The song is restricted to a droning chord of Dm throughout its verses and pre-chorus, changes to a basic sequence of B♭–Gm–Dm–C at the refrain and follows B♭–G♭m–D♭m–C/E during the bridge as its chord progression.[23][15] 

The musical arrangement begins with its introduction, opening with an ambient drone before quickly morphing into a hooky, memorable two-step drumbeat and Tyler Joseph's rapped vocals.[23][24]  Following its intro, the rousing song launches into a storm of industrial drumming beneath Joseph speedy's rapping over fast, pulsating rhythm.[25][26][11] The song bounds into catchy breaks and cascading noise before a throbbing unease arises during its pre-chorus.[11][27][25] The beat-laden musical arrangement then shifts into a dramatic, piano-driven prechorus.[21][22] For the song's gospel-inspired chorus, Joseph sings atop an undercurrent of surging energy and scattered percussion.[27][25] The song's tempo decreases as he starts breaking into a catchy chorus of neo-soul.[23][26] Joseph invokes screaming in falsetto vocals at the refrain, insisting, "Can you save my heavy dirty soul, for me?"[7][17][23] Throughout the disjointed track, a vibrant soundscape effortlessly darts from drum and bass fills to arena-sized choruses and lengthy bass riffs before reaching a heavy rock climax.[11][23][28]

Lyrically, "Heavydirtysoul" is about asking for help defeating inner demons in order to become something greater.[13] It features an anthemic theme pertaining to self-discovery through being vulnerable.[13] The song's lyrics reveal that deep down, even despite knowledge of one's greatness, help is necessary in bringing it out or else risk getting lost in thoughts.[13] "Heavydirtysoul" contains frantic rap verses where Joseph delivers fast-paced lyrics with quick-tempered rapping.[27][29][25] The song's opening verse expresses a self-referential remark.[22] Joseph alternates from rapping and singing, even alluding to the concept by contending, "This is not rap, this is not hip-hop / just another attempt to make the voices stop."[7][16] For the chorus, Joseph sings a desperate plea for someone to save his heavy, dirty soul.[25] Towards the end, the song's anthemic bridge incorporates a tag line.[27][22] Joseph's metaphoric lyrics are haunted by mortality as he sings, "Death inspires me like a dog inspires a rabbit."[27][28]

Critical reception

Describing it as a "rousing number," Cole Waterman from Spectrum Culture considers "Heavydirtysoul" one of the album's four best songs.[25] Chris Willman of Variety regarded "Heavydirtysoul" as the best track from Blurryface.[17] AllMusic's Neil Z. Yeung cites the song as one of the album's highlights.[18] Calling the tagline one of Joseph's cleverest turns of phrase, Stereogum's Chris DeVille cites the opening track as an instance of how Twenty One Pilots had a way of making counterintuitive, hyperactive musical shifts seem natural. He claimed the song "morphs from some kind of late-'90s trip-hop/Big Beat thing to a Fitz and the Tantrums song to a monolithic heavy-rock climax without ever inducing whiplash."[28] André Curcic from Renowned for Sound claimed, "The introductory track 'Heavydirtysoul' defines the album which seeks to venture beyond definition. The track is incredibly disjointed that is what makes the track one of the best on the album. It begins with a fast, pulsating rhythm and jumps into catchy song breaks that come together to create something wonderful."[11] Comparing its grooves to the mid-1990s works of Prodigy, Jason Pettigrew for Alternative Press claimed, "The first track on the band's 2015 release Blurryface successfully encapsulates all the elements fans have come to expect... 'Heavydirtysoul' is guaranteed to have crowds pogoing from Bunbury to Bonnaroo."[22] He continued saying, "Anxious and frightened, yet trippy and badassed, the duo's blend of fearful and fierce here is stellar."[30] Sharing similar sentiments, Anne Nickoloff and Troy Smith from The Plain Dealer remarked, "The opener "Heavydirtysoul" sounds like The Prodigy is about to rip through your speakers, as drummer Josh Dun goes absolutely ballistic."[31] Emily Jayne Beard from PopBuzz cites "Heavydirtysoul" as one of the songs from the album that "hook you in with [its] instantly memorable beats.[24]

Loudwire's Chad Childers described "Heavydirtysoul" as a "pulse-pushing opener."[32] Scott Mervis for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette described the song as "a banger that launches with a drum rush and speed rap before breaking into a chorus of lovely neo-soul."[26] Likewise, Madison Desler of Orange County Register deemed the track "a beat-heavy banger that features some of Joseph's most rapid-fire rapping."[21] Stuff's Kylie Klein Nixon called the song, "a glorious street parade of cascading noise. ... It's not the lyrics they're hiding up their sleeves either. 'Heavy Dirty Soul' includes the viscerally poetic metaphor: "death inspires me like a dog inspires a rabbit," and that's the kind of wordsmithery that buys a lot of good will.”[27] Kerrang! ranked the song’s tag line as one of the band’s ten best lyrics.[33][22] Sam Law, from the same publication, said the song "... spectacularly walks the line between fearfulness and ferocity ... Featuring one of the vocalist’s most assured performances, to the contrary, 'Heavydirtysoul' is a masterclass in both, with heaps of classic pop grandeur and that titular soul loaded on for good measure.[16] Writing for the same publication, Emily Carter characterized "Heavydirtysoul" as being a "genre-smashing single."[34] She commented, "Opener 'Heavydirtysoul' hears the frontman rapping, ‘This is not rap / This is not hip-hop / Just another attempt to make the voices stop’ ... All heavy words, but ones that have helped thousands of fans worldwide – myself included – tackle important issues and emotions going on in their head."[35]

Accolades

Twenty One Pilots received a nomination for the Best Rock award with "Heavydirtysoul" at the 34th annual MTV Video Music Awards.[36] Fans were able to vote online for nominees in the eight VMA categories, with the winner being awarded during the telecast that aired from The Forum in Inglewood, California on August 27, 2017.[36]

Commercial performance

"Heavydirtysoul" peaked at No. 8 on the Hot Rock Songs chart, No. 2 on the Alternative Songs chart, No. 22 on the Mainstream Rock chart, and No. 25 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in the US.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Heavydirtysoul" was directed by Andrew Donoho and filmed outside the band's hometown, Columbus, Ohio.[16][37] The video features Tyler Joseph sitting in the passenger seat of an out-of-control vehicle playing chicken with Josh Dun and his flaming drum kit.[16]

The music video for "Heavydirtysoul" was released by Twenty One Pilots on February 3, 2017.[38] The duo provided fans with the opportunity to view how they made their video.[39] Following the debut of the music video for "Heavydirtysoul", the duo released a "Beyond the video' behind-the-scenes experience. It portrays Tyler and Josh getting up at dawn in freezing temperatures to make the video.[39]

Reception

Kerrang!'s Sam Law regarded the music video as "yet another unforgettable stand-out."[16] Jason Pettigrew of Alternative Press complimented the music video, remarking, "Anxious and frightened, yet trippy and badassed, the duo’s blend of fearful and fierce here is stellar. We’re just glad Joseph can take limousines and not the crappy Uber driving him in this video."[30]

Live performance

Twenty One Pilots performed "Heavydirtysoul" as the opener of a concert held at Comerica Theatre on in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona October 14, 2015. Once the duo began, a vast majority of the audience started to sing along closely to the song's lyrics.[40] Twenty One Pilots provided a live rendition of "Heavydirtysoul" as their opening performance during a concert at UNSW Roundhouse in Sydney, Australia on April 20, 2016.[41] With the lower half of their faces half-covered in balaclava, Joseph wielded a tambourine and Dun played drums throughout the track before slowing down and segueing into a performance of "Stressed Out."[41]

Usage in media

The song appears on the soundtracks for the video games WWE 2K16 and Madden NFL 16.[42][43]

Track listing

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Heavydirtysoul"3:54
CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Heavydirtysoul"3:54
2."Heavydirtysoul" (instrumental)3:54
3."Heavydirtysoul" (radio edit)3:19
4."Heavydirtysoul" (TV track)3:54
5."Heavydirtysoul" (a cappella)3:54

Personnel

Credits adapted from Blurryface album liner notes.[9]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[53] Platinum 80,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[54] Gold 25,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[55] Platinum 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[57] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Heavydirtysoul Earns Most Added". December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  2. ^ "Heavydirtysoul released by Warner Music Canada". December 12, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  3. ^ Street Poetry With Twenty One Pilots' Tyler Joseph, August 27, 2013, retrieved October 28, 2018
  4. ^ a b c Biddulph, Andy (March 2, 2017). "#TBT: This Is Where Twenty One Pilots' 'Heavydirtysoul' Came From". Rock Sound. Patrick Napier.
  5. ^ a b Moore, Camille (September 4, 2020). "10 Things You Didn't Know about Tyler Joseph". TVOvermind. BC Media Group.
  6. ^ Stromská, Kristýna (Januaruy 25, 2019). "Americké Fenomenální Duo Twenty One Pilots: 10 Let Na Hudební Scéně". Informuji.cz. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); no-break space character in |author= at position 10 (help)
  7. ^ a b c d "Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface". Sputnikmusic. May 20, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  8. ^ Poffenberger, Robby (September 23, 2015). "Twenty One Pilots". Salt Lake City Weekly. John Saltas.
  9. ^ a b Blurryface (booklet). Twenty One Pilots. New York City, New York, United States: Fueled by Ramen. 2015. 7567-86692-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ a b Ager, James (November 8, 2015). "Twenty One Pilots at Shepherd's Bush Empire". The Upcoming. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |work= at position 4 (help)
  11. ^ a b c d e Curcic, André (June 5, 2015). "Album Review: Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  12. ^ a b Sculley, Allan (January 12, 2017). "Twenty One Pilots Soar their Own Way". The Sun Chronicle. Triboro Massachusetts News Media. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  13. ^ a b c d Darus, Alex (July 27, 2018). "Find Out which Twenty One Pilots Song Matches Your Zodiac Sign". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Retrieved February 8, 2019. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 5 (help)
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  15. ^ a b c d "Twenty One Pilots 'Heavydirtysoul' Sheet Music in D Minor – Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Law, Sam (April 24, 2020). "The 20 Greatest twenty one pilots Songs — Ranked". Kerrang!. Retrieved April 25, 2020. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 4 (help)
  17. ^ a b c Willman, Chris (October 7, 2018). "Album Review: Twenty One Pilots - Trench". Variety. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
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  19. ^ a b Yim, Sandra (June 24, 2015). "Twenty One Pilots: A Head Banging Good Time". The UrbanWire.
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  21. ^ a b c Desler, Madison (February 16, 2017). "Twenty One Pilots at Honda Center a Spectacle with Two Stages and a Giant Hamster Ball". Orange County Register. Ron Hasse.
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  23. ^ a b c d e Parker, Jack (May 29, 2015). "Album Review: Twenty One Pilots - Blurryface". All Things Loud. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  24. ^ a b Beard, Emily Jayne (December 9, 2015). "PopBuzz's 20 Best Albums of the Year". PopBuzz. Global. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |author= at position 7 (help)
  25. ^ a b c d e f Waterman, Cole (May 31, 2015). "Twenty One Pilots: Blurryface - Review". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  26. ^ a b c Mervis, Scott (January 28, 2017). "Twenty One Pilots Are a High-Flying Thrill at PPG Paints Arena". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. John Robinson Block.
  27. ^ a b c d e f Nixon, Kylie Klein (March 25, 2017). "Twenty One Pilots Astound With Magic and Acrobatics at First Show on New Zealand/Australia tour". Stuff. Fairfax New Zealand. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |work= at position 8 (help)
  28. ^ a b c DeVille, Chris (May 28, 2015). "The Week in Pop: Meet Twenty One Pilots, The Biggest Band You've Never Heard Of". Stereogum. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  29. ^ Nickoloff, Anne (June 9, 2016). "Highlights from last night's Twenty One Pilots show at Cleveland's Wolstein Center (photos)". The Plain Dealer. Advance Publications. Retrieved April 22, 2020. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 11 (help)
  30. ^ a b Pettigrew, Jason (September 26, 2019). "Twenty One Pilots Songs Ranked in All Of Their Pop Majesty". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on September 30, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  31. ^ Smith, Troy L. (May 18, 2015). "Twenty One Pilots' 'Blurryface' Leaves a Haze of Disappointment (Album Review)". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 5, 2016. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 7 (help)
  32. ^ Childers, Chad (November 14, 2019). "The 66 Best Rock Albums of the Decade". Loudwire.
  33. ^ "The 10 Best twenty one pilots Lyrics So Far". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent Ltd. July 23, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2019. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 4 (help)
  34. ^ Carter, Emily (August 7, 2020). "twenty one pilots: Every Album Ranked From Worst To Best". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent Ltd. Retrieved August 9, 2020. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 7 (help)
  35. ^ Carter, Emily (November 23, 2016). "How twenty one pilots Changed My Life..." Kerrang!. Retrieved April 25, 2020. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 4 (help)
  36. ^ a b Hill, Libby (July 25, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar, Katy Perry and the Weeknd lead MTV Video Music Awards nominations". Los Angeles Times. Davan Maharaj. Retrieved July 26, 2017. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |author= at position 6 (help)
  37. ^ Dickman, Maggie (February 9, 2017). "Twenty One Pilots give us a peek at the making of the "Heavydirtysoul" music video—watch". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |author= at position 9 (help)
  38. ^ Dickman, Maggie (February 3, 2017). "Twenty One Pilots release new music video for "Heavydirtysoul"". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |author= at position 9 (help); no-break space character in |work= at position 43 (help)
  39. ^ a b "Watch The Making Of twenty one pilots' Heavydirtysoul Video". Kerrang!. February 9, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  40. ^ Hillman, Mitchell (October 14, 2015). "Twenty One Pilots Fans Are Truly Fanatical". Phoenix New Times. Kurtis Barton.
  41. ^ a b Deeley, Chelsea (April 21, 2016). "Twenty One Pilots – The Roundhouse UNSW, Sydney 20/04/16". Music Feeds. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  42. ^ "wwe 2k16 soundtrack". WWE. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  43. ^ "twenty one pilots join madden". team rock. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  44. ^ "Twenty One Pilots – Heavydirtysoul" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  45. ^ "Twenty One Pilots – Heavydirtysoul" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  46. ^ "Official Russia Top 100 Airplay Chart (week 24)" (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  47. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  48. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  49. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  50. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  51. ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  52. ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  53. ^ "Canadian single certifications – twenty one pilots – Heavydirtysoul". Music Canada. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  54. ^ "Italian single certifications – twenty one pilots – Italy" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Italy" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  55. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2020 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  56. ^ "British single certifications – twenty one pilots – Heavydirtysoul". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Heavydirtysoul in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  57. ^ "American single certifications – twenty one pilots – Heavydirtysoul". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

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