Stay Awake

Album: Not Included on an Album (2007)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • MCR frontman Gerard Way married LynZ of Mindless Self Indulgence on September 3, 2007 after the final date of Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour in Colorado, and the low key ceremony was performed backstage with the help of a member of Live Nation's touring staff, who was also an ordained minister. Tying the knot has influenced Way's songwriting and he told the NME January 19 2008 how this tune, which was premiered a couple of months later on MCR's November 2007 UK tour, reflected a more optimistic view on life. Said Way: "It's one of those songs that just spills out of you and you're very inspired. It's nice because it's a return to punk rock music. It feels like a rock song."

    He added: "It's letting somebody know something and it's knowing that yourself, and it's a great thing to know. It's a completely different direction, thematically, than what we're used to. We have stuff with a lot of hope in it but not like that. It's written from a different kind of place. It's not written from a place of skepticism at all."

    Way continued that this new outlook was a consequence of his marriage to Lyn-Z: "It's a direct result of learning something; learning something really amazing. That's what's supposed to happen to you as an artist and that's what supposed to happen in your life. It's one of the benefits of being a songwriter, you can show all your colors as they come out. It's really a special song to me."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."

Movie Stars In Music Videos

Movie Stars In Music VideosSong Writing

Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and John Malkovich are just a few of the film stars who have moonlighted in music videos.

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.

Joan Armatrading

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-Outs

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-OutsSong Writing

The 10 biggest "retirement tours" that didn't take.