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Level of Concern

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"Level of Concern"
Single by Twenty One Pilots
ReleasedApril 10, 2020 (2020-04-10)
Recorded2020
GenreDance-pop
Length3:40
LabelFueled by Ramen
Songwriter(s)Tyler Joseph
Producer(s)
Twenty One Pilots singles chronology
"The Hype"
(2019) 		"Level of Concern"
(2020)
Music video
"Level of Concern" on YouTube

"Level of Concern" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released as a standalone single on April 9, 2020 through Fueled by Ramen. It is a dance-pop song produced by lead singer Tyler Joseph alongside Paul Meany of alternative rock band Mutemath, and its lyrics revolve around the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic during which it was written and recorded, and encourages hope during challenging times. A portion of the song's proceeds will be donated to the charity Crew Nation, a global relief fund for touring and venue personnel made redundant due to the pandemic.

Background and recording

See also: 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States

At the beginning of March 2020, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States stood at 70, but by the following month it had grown by thousands with an increasing death rate, resulting in the closure of schools and the banning of large gatherings. Social distancing measures, such as staying home as much as possible, have been widely recommended, and gatherings of over 10 people have been discouraged.[1][2] Twenty One Pilots wrote and recorded "Level of Concern", their first new music released since their album Trench (2018), in self-isolation during the pandemic.[3] On April 6, lead singer Tyler Joseph disclosed on Twitter that it was the first song he had written on an electric guitar, although he needed "a few days to finish it up." He added that he would send his bandmate Josh Dun the files for the song.[4] The song was released as a standalone single three days later.[5][6] A portion of the revenue generated by the single is to be donated to the charity Crew Nation, a global relief fund for touring and venue personnel made redundant due to the pandemic.[7]

Composition

"Level of Concern" was written by Joseph, who also produced it alongside Paul Meany of alternative rock band Mutemath. The two had previously collaborated in this capacity on the band's previous album Trench,[8] but the song is a departure from the conceptual nature of that record as well as its predecessor Blurryface (2015).[6] It is a dance-pop song with an "upbeat groove" built around a "shimmering disco-esque guitar" before a beat played by Dun is added.[9][7] Entertainment Weekly's Omar Sanchez compared its groove to the band's single "Ride",[10] while Billboard journalist Chris Payne opined that the beat had "strong "Walking on a Dream" vibes," and also dubbed the single a "hashtag-2020 song" due its frequent references to the coronavirus pandemic.[11] The lyrics focus on finding hope and optimism in difficult times, with Joseph describing it as "simple but hopeful," but are "still earnest and honest about the chaos everywhere."[5][7] Chris Willman of Variety considered that the upbeat instrumental assuages the "anxiety" found in the lyrics, which also discuss "finding the right bunker-mate" with lines such as "would you be my little quarantine".[9][5]

Critical reception

Payne described "Level of Concern" as a "bop" with a "nimble" chorus,[11] while Willman claimed that, rather than being a "quick novelty knock-off" about quarantining, the track sounded "fully produced."[9]

Music video

The music video for "Level of Concern" was shared upon the song's release on April 9, 2020 and was directed by frequent collaborator Reel Bear Media.[9] It loosely documents the creation of the song and video as Joseph and Dun individually record and film their parts, uploading the audio and video onto a USB flash drive and sending it via snail-mail (although it is revealed that the two are living next door to each other at the end of the video). This is cut between clips of the two spending time with their partners and decorating their houses with flashing lights and fluorescent stars.[7][9][12][13][14]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.

References

  1. ^ "Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  2. ^ Renken, Elena; Wood, Daniel. "Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Coronavirus In The U.S." NPR. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  3. ^ Young, Alex (April 9, 2020). "Twenty One Pilots Reveal New Single "Level of Concern": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  4. ^ Moore, Sam (April 6, 2020). "Twenty One Pilots have a new song on the way, according to Tyler Joseph". NME. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Reilly, Nick (April 9, 2020). "Listen to Twenty One Pilots encourage hope on new track 'Level of Concern'". NME. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "twenty one pilots Have Dropped a Brand-New Song, Level of Concern". Kerrang!. April 9, 2020. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d Blistein, Jon (April 9, 2020). "Twenty One Pilots Dance Toward Hope on 'Level of Concern'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  8. ^ "Credits / Level of Concern / twenty one pilots". Tidal. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e Willman, Chris (April 9, 2020). "Twenty One Pilots Offer a Danceable Quarantine Anthem with 'Level of Concern' (Watch)". Variety. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  10. ^ Sanchez, Omar (April 9, 2020). "Twenty One Pilots release the first quarantine anthem 'Level of Concern'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  11. ^ a b Payne, Chris (April 9, 2020). "Twenty One Pilots Take on the Quarantine Blues With 'Level of Concern': Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  12. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Share Video for 'Level of Concern'". Spin. April 9, 2020. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  13. ^ Rogers, Jack (April 9, 2020). "LISTEN: Twenty One Pilots' New Song 'Level of Concern'". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  14. ^ "twenty one pilots - Level of Concern (Official Video)". YouTube. April 9, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
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