Genre: Indie Rock
Recorded: 2012
Song Writers: James Urie, Andre Mastoff
Producers: James Urie, Peter Katis
Following track #5, which was the slow, relaxing and quite captivating "Won't Be Sleeping Alone" the next track taken off of the Recovery moves up onto the listener. Track #6, which is entitled "Where We Should Be". James Urie hooks up with his frequent collaborator in Peter Katis and writer Andre Mastoff to put together a track that pits Urie, talking to his listeners. This is evident when the song begins and the lyrics are heard. Urie has always expressed on the album that he wanted his listeners to feel like he is telling them a story, or speaking them directly from the record, and mentioned there's one track in particular to speaks directly to his listeners. Recorded in late 2012, the next track off of The Recovery is "Where We Should Be".
Right away, as the song begins to play, opening percussion slam their way onto the track already proclaiming the listener. These relentless drum loops continue, and out of no where comes six light and relaxing electric guitar riffs, that come over the percussion sounds, that do not stop. After the guitar riffs, James voices is heard. He sounds empowered, and brave. He begins singing over the instruments, as pick up quicker, this time adding in a bass instrument. The drums move a bit faster, with each loop being heard and followed by soft cymbals. Urie sings: No, there’s no one truth to rule my life| And no one can say what I should hide| There aren't more reasons for disguise. Urie is very dramatic with his vocals, sounding strong but also vulnerable at the same time. After he sings those three lines, his voice becomes darker, and the instruments slow a bit as he sings the next lines of the song. Urie sings: No, this time I won't be the one to cry| A fighter has taken the place of my heart
Life has never been so bright|; Following those lines - James's voice becomes any slower as he sings out "I’m exactly where I should be" with the instruments slowly tattering behind him.
James is getting the point across that in his current state, of a fighter taking place and life being so bright, he is exactly where he should be. As soon as he finishes that last line, the beat picks up once more, with the electric guitar strings, and never ending blaring percussion's and sensitive cymbals behind him. Urie begins to questions certain things in the next verse of this song. His voice gets bigger as he begins singing; Why should we waste our life on finding reasons?| Why can’t you just accept what does not have answer?|Why can’t we just be free and eradicate the suffer|The beauty you’re searching for is inside your mind
|It'll only make you tougher. Urie, who is sounding as if he is having a conversation with the listener, questions the actions of others. Why not just live your life and destroy the suffrage, instead of finding the answers to things that do NOT have an answer. Urie continues singing, as the beats begin to get slower again, and his voice darker; You who don’t think before you talk|You who don’t wear any shoes to walk| You who survived the ups and downs; The instruments become even slower, just like the beginning of the song he then belts out |You’re exactly where you should be;| Urie takes the negative of every day life, and even something that's abnormal ("You who don't wear any shoes to walk") and makes tells the listener, they are actually where they should be. They should just live their life, stop trying to make changes or fit into being someone that they are not. Embrace yourself for who you are. Whether you don't wear any shoes, or you survived the ups and downs. You are exactly where you should be.
The instruments then pick up once more, as Urie begins singing once more. Why should we waste our life on finding reasons?| Why can’t you just accept what does not have answer?|Why can’t we just be free and eradicate the suffer| The beauty you’re searching for is inside your mind|. He repeats the lines that he previously sung out over the drums, cymbals, and backing bass instruments. The instruments then slow down once more like the previous break downs on this track as Urie continues his awakening words to his listeners, as she sings out with the instruments slowed down, only the electric guitar riffs present.: Is there someone who can show what’s wrong?| Someone who must know what’s right to be done|The fact is that no one can except us. Urie slowly sings out, getting across that there is no one who can tell us what's wrong except for ourselves, and although you might seek for help, the only person that can help you, or know what's right to be done, is yourself at the end of the day. After that line is sung, the instruments pick up once more this, this time bigger and more haunting then before. Urie's voice also sounds the most dramatic then it ever sounded on this track as he close to belts out each of the rest of the lines of the song. The drums, bass, cymbal and electric guitar concoction grow bigger and make for an amazing sound together as Urie sings. Why should we waste our life on finding reasons?| Why can’t you just accept what does not have answer?|Why can’t we just be free and eradicate the suffer| The beauty you’re searching for is inside your mind;| Following the last lines of the song, Urie stops singing as the electric guitar strums from the beginning of the song [done by Urie] strum for about 6 seconds after the last line is sung until the song ends.
No, there’s no one truth to rule my life
And no one can say what I should hide
There aren't more reasons for disguise
No, this time I won't be the one to cry
A fighter has taken the place of my heart
Life has never been so bright
I’m exactly where I should beWhy should we waste our life on finding reasons?
Why can’t you just accept what does not have an answer?
Why can’t we just be free and eradicate the suffer
The beauty you’re searching for is inside your mind
It'll only make you tougherYou who don’t think before you talk
You who don’t wear any shoes to walk
You who survived the ups and downs
You’re exactly where you should beWhy should we waste our life on finding reasons?
Why can’t you just accept what does not have answer?
Why can’t we just be free and eradicate the suffer
The beauty you’re searching for is inside your mindIs there someone who can show what’s wrong?
Someone who must know what’s right to be done
The fact is that no one can except us
We’re exactly where we should beWhy should we waste our life on finding reasons?
Why can’t you just accept what does not have answer?
Why can’t we just be free and eradicate the suffer
The beauty you’re searching for is inside your mindSounds like
Quote:You know, I love this song for many reasons. I think it's not the typical song, but an honest conversation I am having with the listener. I ask my listeners, why should we waste our life on finding reasons? The only way we can eradicate the suffer is by searching for ourselves. I think it's a technical song, and you have to put thought into what I am saying when you listen to it because it's not the typical record or written in the matter of being a typical record. It doesn't have the catchy choruses or anything like that, because I wanted to take the less is more approach. I think this song has a lot of meaning, and will have a lot of meaning for my listeners to hear it. It's truthful, it's coming from my personal beliefs and I think the sound if very moving, sometimes relaxing and empowering. It's the ultimate empowering record that'll make someone feel like superman, but it's a record that gets you thinking, thinking about your past and future experiences, and realizing that's actually where you should be, because that's the person you are. That's what the track is about. I love this one here, I hope everyone feels the same.
__________
Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative Rock, Post Punk Revival
Recorded: 2012
Song Writers: James Urie
Producers: James Urie, Justin Warfield
Following the intellectual "Where We Should Be", the next track on "The Recovery", track #6, is a familiar one. "Bulletproof". This single was taken off of the album, that came after the leading single "Farewell". Bulletproof was also a success, peaking within the Top 3 on the Digital Downloads charts, and the top 10 on airplay. James Urie teams up with produer Justin Warfield to get the actual feel of Bulletproof, which seems to be one of the angrier tracks on the album from Urie.
"Bulletproof" starts off with an eerie backing beat that moves along the opening eeriness of the song, followed by a few short keyboard notes that are present for the opening of the song. Although this lasts for just the first 12 seconds of the song, it may leave the listener already eager for me. Right as these seconds pasts, drums unleash onto the track that makes the initial sound of the track become more catchy. The drums play along for a few seconds in a repetitive manner for about 6 seconds and the bass guitar finds it way right behind the drums making a beautiful mixture of sounds followed by those quite deep keyboard sounds that were heard in the beginning of the song and finally the guitar strums are hard making this final opening piece quite ace. These instruments make a enjoyable introduction and start to the track, but what we are also waiting for is the prowess of a voice that Urie possesses, and sometimes having the listener wait for the actual vocal is the right idea.
As this concoction of instruments continue, Urie's voice breaks out onto the track finally. His signature, strong, powerful but at the same time hallow and possessed like voice is heard. He sounds quite angry as these instruments compliment his voice well in this Indie/post punk-revival like sound that screams 80's as Urie opens up. "Why is it that no one speaks |About my time before |The days where I stood there |And stared off at the road|I even knew myself|My heart was hardly adorned And all you did was choose to judge me |No one even alarmed" - behind this pound beat Urie opens up about his time "before" once again recalling the days where he was seriously oppressed, almost feeling as if he didn't have a heart.. but at the same Urie is speaking some one(s) or something with much anger as this person seemed to judge him when he was at his lowest. The instruments and backing beat is still pretty light but when the hook comes about, the guitars get stronger and the percussion stay at the same pace as well as the drums as Urie begins singing> "I admit I had a few screws unloose |But that doesn't mean it's justifiable |For you too continue to shoot |And if roles reversed|You'd feel the same way I now do too"> Urie admits that he did have screws unloose mentally but at the same time he is explaining that whoever was hurting him even more is wrong and that if they were in his place, they'd feel the same anger he does today. The backing instruments and beats become stronger as Urie belts out the chorus. The guitar bursts behind Urie's voice as the song picks up a few notches.
"So you can take that gun and aim it to your head|Or test your luck and aim it to my chest |Pull the trigger| You want to watch me wither|But when I stand together |It really makes you quiver |I'm so bulletproof |I bet your wonderin' too |Yeah I've pulled it together |Your bullets nothing to sever|I'm so bulletproof|Bullet proof, I'm so bullet, bullet proof" > Urie yells out this catchy chorus with so much emotion explaining that he's now bulletproof and that these bullets that are shot at him is nothing to sever obviously speaking symbolically about something or someone that once hurt him that he holds this anger to, no longer has anything to inflict on him as well as getting a point across that this person is hating the fact that he is succeeding. The instruments and beat that we heard at the beginning of the song find it's place bringing the first chorus to the second verse as this track continues. In this verse, Urie seems to open up more about this being or person that hurt him. His vocals, sounding strong yet emotionally fueled with anger croons through the next verse.
He sings: "Before this all ; When you shot out your words |They pierced through my skin |Nothing ever felt worse |I'm surprised that I even survived |And you continued to thrive |But look who's dying out now?|I'd like you to sit down and think about how"> By now the listener is obviously wondering, who exactly is this person that at one point or another would break Urie down, but at this point now..is dying out?" He continues to sing "Your pulse is now falling way behind mine |If it was some years ago |I'd be where you are now|But look at you, all slow and withering|Still shooting toward me, for the sake killing me"<As Urie continues to give more clues in this complex track. The being is now all slow and withering yet still trying to get to James for the sake of getting rid of him and automatically the guitars get stronger and the percussion stay at the same pace as well as the drums as Urie begins singing the hook of the track "I admit I had a few screws unloose |But that doesn't mean it's justifiable |For you too continue to shoot |And if roles reversed|You'd feel the same way I now do too" followed by the guitars logging up with the drums and backing beat and unleashing the chorus of the track.
Urie belts out once again the catchy lyrics of this Indie rock/alternative/punk revival track. Following the chorus, the openings beats and instruments once again take over for a few seconds bringing us to the bridge of the song where the track breaks down with no guitar, just the percussion, drums and bass as Urie sings in a whispery manner: "Oh this is the life, the one that I imagined |Oh this is the life, the one from my dreams|Oh this is the life, where I get to watch you turn to steam"| > As he calmly sings about life, and watching this being or person disappear and turn to steam. After this is said, the beat picks up once more and the chorus unleashes one last time, with Urie belting out the final chorus of the track with all the instruments coming together. > "So you can take that gun and aim it to your head|Or test your luck and aim it to my chest|Pull the trigger|You want to watch me wither|But when I stand together |It really makes you quiver |I'm so bulletproof|I bet your wonderin' too|Yeah I've pulled it together
Your bullets nothing to sever |I'm so bulletproof|I'm so bullet, bullet proof , bullet proof|< As the track has a big and triumphant/angry ending as it comes to an halting stop.
Why is it that no one speaks
About my time before
The days where I stood there
And stared off at the road
I even knew myself
My heart was hardly adorned
And all you did was choose to judge me
No one even alarmed
I admit I had a few screws unloose
But that doesn't mean it's justifiable
For you too continue to shoot
And if roles reversed
You'd feel the same way I now do too
So you can take that gun and aim it to your head
Or test your luck and aim it to my chest
Pull the trigger
You want to watch me wither
But when I stand together
It really makes you quiver
I'm so bulletproof
I bet your wonderin' too
Yeah I've pulled it together
Your bullets nothing to sever
I'm so bulletproof
Bullet proof, I'm so bullet, bullet proofBefore this all
When you shot out your words
They pierced through my skin
Nothing ever felt worse
I'm surprised that I even survived
And you continued to thrive
But look who's dying out now?
I'd like you to sit down and think about how
Your pulse is now falling way behind mine
If it was some years ago
I'd be where you are now
But look at you, all slow and withering
Still shooting toward me, for the sake killing me
I admit I had a few screws unloose
But that doesn't mean it's justifiable
For you too continue to shoot
And if roles reversed
You'd feel the same way I now do
So you can take that gun and aim it to your head
Or test your luck and aim it to my chest
Pull the trigger
You want to watch me wither
But when I stand together
It really makes you quiver
I'm so bulletproof
I bet your wonderin' too
Yeah I've pulled it together
Your bullets nothing to sever
I'm so bulletproof
Bulletproof
I'm so bulletproof , bulletproofOh this is the life, the one that I imagined
Oh this is the life, the one from my dreams
Oh this is the life, where I get to watch you turn to steam
[4x]
I admit I had a few screws unloose
But that doesn't mean it's justifiable
For you too continue to shoot
And if roles reversed
You'd feel the same way I now do
So you can take that gun and aim it to your head
Or test your luck and aim it to my chest
Pull the trigger
You want to watch me wither
But when I stand together
It really makes you quiver
I'm so bulletproof
I bet your wonderin' too
Yeah I've pulled it together
Your bullets nothing to sever
I'm so bulletproof
I'm so bullet, bullet proof , bullet proofSounds Like
Quote:When writing, and especially recording Bulletproof, I really got alot off of my chest. I think I come across as angry in this track and, I believe I do too. But I think the record really played therapeutic for me because once I sang this track, along with a few others...I've felt so much better about myself and how I felt. I think this track speaks for me, and how I've become a stronger person and I've become a bulletproof force, that nothing can no longer bring me down like so many things did in the past. I make use of mentioning the future in this track, and having it in contrast to present day. I know they're people who want to watch me wither in pain again, and I'm letting it be known in this record that I pulled it together, and nothing with hurt me like it did in the past. And I love this record because it's brave, I didn't care who I angered in this record. I shouldn't have to restrain myself because it is my music. Maybe some people felt like it was directed to them, and I don't mean for it to come across that way but when I write.. it's on true feelings and I've felt anger toward certain people, so it's going to come across like that in certain records like Bulletproof, but when If I didn't have this record on the album, then I wouldn't feel as if this album is complete. The record has a strong 80's influence on it which is another reason why I've fallen in love with this record. It's enjoyable, it's brash, It's Bulletproof.
