TYLER from TWENTY ONE PILOTS - NEON GRAVESTONES - LIVE LOUNGE | REACTION 

I knew you hadn’t seen this live version … and it’s so powerful, just Tyler in an empty theater with a grand piano. It makes the “Moonlight Sonata-esque” beginning even more impactful. This song was really important to Tyler, in fact, he had to fight with the label to put it on the album. He has tackled suicidal awareness a number of ways, but I believe this was in response to what he perceived as the glorification of suicide following high-profile celebrity deaths which then leads to a resurgence of “popularity” of their work - instead of valuing their art and giving them the support they needed while they were alive. Tyler acknowledges that he is still battling those demons and if he “loses to himself” he doesn’t want others to spiral downward. But I like how he ends with a determination to fight and a hopeful message.

The neon gravestones are the graves of famous people who have taken their own lives and how we glorify the famous person when they unalive themselves. And the "if I lose to myself, you won't mourn a day and move onto someone else" is to his fans. He doesn't want us to celebrate him and bring light to what he did and glorify it further. This song makes me cry every time.

This song is definitely talking about people glorifying or romanticizing the taking their own lives. Tyler's lyrics talk about how "it" would "boost up" his reputation. He would "go out with a bang." But he also says while that thought could be appealing, he also says "they won't get them." He repeats that line over and over -- as if convincing himself as well. The words are emotional, and he sings it with a vocal fry which adds to the emotion. "If I lose to myself" is a heartbreaking lyric, but he says to not mourn him if he does. He doesn't want to glorify it. He feels his music as he performs, and so do the fans. His final lines are brilliant -- to find your grandparents or someone of age, for us to look at how they embraced living, and "that should be celebrated."

These BBC1 session songs are so chill and awesome. Also, I believe this is their most significant song in terms of message. It's the middle song of Trench because it's central to the theme and concept of Dema, but Tyler had to really fight to keep it on the album.

The way he is both delicate and powerful in this performance..its always been one of my favorites. Plus I love his piano playing in this one

the song is about how we glorify suicide (especially with celebrities) so that when they die they're more famous than ever and everyone shows them so much love - he doesn't want that to be confused with glorifying the act of suicide so yeah when he's saying "if i love to myself, move on to someone else" - he wouldn't want his suicide to influence younger people to do the same thing very heavy song but so well written

The genuineness in his voice is stunning. Like he’s having one of those ‘midnight conversations’, we all know the ones, those we have when we are being real. The ones we have when we’re talking in a car whilst driving at night, but no one takes their eyes from the dimmed headlights of the car in front, because it would break the spell.

I agree many have used that "quiver" for whatever reason I mean it evokes emotion if nothing else however with Tyler in everything I've seen there's no need to evoke something that isn't real. Him and Josh whether performing or in fan interactions or even interviews they come across as very real heart on their sleeves, there's multiple videos of Tyler breaking down mid song in concerts so I have to believe it's all very real I know this was written around the time Mac Miller and a few others died a lot of accidental deaths of great artists happened and I could be wrong but I always felt it was their way of saying yes its tragic its horrible but we have to be careful to not glorify those deaths much like his line of if I lose to myself I always took it as I'm jus as human as all of you so if it happens and I can't go on don't get stuck on that push forward. as someone that's struggled it meant the world to me because at the end of the day none of us are any better than another we are all human and we need to celebrate and pay homage to those that are here, we need to appreciate those that are living because all of us for different reasons have sacrificed and overcome so much just to be here today.

Chester Bennington was a huge twenty one pilots fan and he wrote this after he passed, I can’t help but think they’re connected

A great performance from the man who runs all over, climbs tall things, hurdles pianos, stands on the crowd, livestreams football games during his shows, and has 1001 tales of how he and Josh met! This is that same guy?!

I think Tyler wrote the song around at the time when Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) ended his life. Hence "Won't cry for a king". Not sure, but that's my take anyway. (Also you can see the neon gravestones for example in some background animations in the live show records of the Bandito tour, I think they are also in some music videos.) Talking about the "rockstar" life, it's hard work and sometimes Tyler & Josh include their families or have them nearby when they tour.

and I agree with your assessment as someone who grew up in the industry there is a payment but at the end of the day those neon gravestones don't matter much at the end of the day we are all human

Love watching you and how much you love music. Music heals a lot. Keep up the good work.~Leslie

Love this song and this version.. always enjoy hearing your side of things because you have the experience to back up what your talking about. Keep up the good work!!! Also, tell your buddy who reacted to heathens/stranger things to do more TØP, not sure he’s done one since lol. Anyway, have a great weekend

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