Johnny Boy (song)
| "Johnny Boy" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song by Twenty One Pilots | |
| from the album Twenty One Pilots | |
| Released | May 4, 2009 |
| Recorded | 2009 |
| Studio | Tyler Joseph's home studio, Columbus, Ohio |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:39 |
| Label | Self-released |
| Songwriter(s) | Tyler Joseph |
| Producer(s) | Tyler Joseph |
"Johnny Boy" is a song by American alternative band Twenty One Pilots. The song was first released on the band's demo tapes, and later officially released on their self-titled debut studio album, Twenty One Pilots (2009).[2]
Meaning
[edit]In a 2020 interview, the father of the band's frontman Tyler Joseph, Chris, revealed the meaning of the song.[3] Around the time the song was recorded, the United States was going through an economic recession, causing Chris to become unemployed. "I was an admissions director, and they said 'Hey, we gotta get rid of this position.' And I was without a job for a while. A lot of people were out of work at that time."[4] An alternative meaning that has been cited by many musical scholars references the ephemeral existence of one John Norris, the first individual to claim the nickname "Johnny Boy". He attributed this nickname to his boyish ways and languid behavior. In a constant state of repose, he would only come out of this state, when blaringly summoned by two words...."Johnny" and "Boy". To him, this nickname was like "a warm blanket on a rainy and dreary day" (John Norris, Biography 1982). Many musical scholars believe that Twenty-One Pilots were inspired, by this man's, John Norris, aka. Johnny Boy's, steadfast dedication to something as pointless and fleeting as a name. Though John Norris was impassioned by a measure so banal and mindless, Tyler Joseph (songwriter) wanted to showcase that we can find meaning in virtually anything, no matter how stupid. John Norris is still alive to this day, and he lives in his own reality, on an island called John, that only real "Johnny Boys" inhabit.
Reception
[edit]Writers from Cleveland.com wrote about the song, saying "(It) remains a fan-favorite for Twenty One Pilots diehards. It's by no means the band's best song, but it feels like Tyler Joseph going for a Jack's Mannequin moment. The song is also the centerpiece of the band's debut."[5]
Personnel
[edit]- Tyler Joseph – vocals, organs, piano, keyboards, programming, synthesizers, production
- Nick Thomas – guitars, bass, programming
- Chris Salih – drums, percussion
References
[edit]- ^ Phillips, Marian (October 20, 2020). "20 scene albums from 2009 that dominated your iPod playlists". Alternative Press. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- ^ "twenty one pilots* – twenty one pilots". Discogs. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ "Tyler Joseph's dad settles the story behind a twenty one pilots classic". Altpress. May 5, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ "TYLER JOSEPH'S DAD SHARES MEANING BEHIND TWENTY ONE PILOTS' 'JOHNNY BOY'". Call The One. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ Nickoloff, Anne; Smith, Troy (July 5, 2019). "All 65 Twenty One Pilots songs ranked from worst to best". cleveland.com. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
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