Destination Jam: Top 5 Chester Bennington hits from Linkin Park that celebrate his legacy and message of hope
Chester Bennington was, and remains, a legend. His most prominent work was as the lead vocalist for Linkin Park, but he was also known for fronting the bands Grey Daze, Dead by Sunrise, and, intermittently, Stone Temple Pilots. The singer/songwriter and musician has been frequently named as one of the greatest rock vocalists of his generation, owing largely to his unique vocal style that blended his tenor range with belted screams that helped seal him as the voice of a generation filled with anguish and in desperate need of catharsis.
Bennington first came to the attention of rock fans worldwide in 2000 with the release of Linkin Park's debut album 'Hybrid Theory', which, in 2005, was certified Diamond and became the best-selling debut album of the decade. The album was followed up with 2003's 'Meteora' and the band's success continued all the way up until their final album, 2017's 'One More Light'. The latter dropped only months before Bennington's untimely demise and was, despite its commercial success, marred by mixed reviews from critics as well as heavy criticism against the band for what many perceived as them "selling out".
The singer was severely impacted by these reviews, and would later lash out at them in an interview with Music Week, suggesting those accusing the band of selling out to "stab [themselves] in the face" and "move the f**k on" from the band's past music and sound. In another interview with Kerrang, he stated, "If you're gonna be the person who says like 'they made a marketing decision to make this kind of record to make money' you can f**king meet me outside and I will punch you in your f**king mouth."
Bennington also said that the accusations were personal for him, stating, "when you make it personal, like a personal attack against who we are as people, like, dude, shut up. That means that I can actually have feelings about it and most of the time my feelings are 'I want to kill you'." Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor would later share in an interview with the radio show 'Schmonty In The Morning' that he fully sympathized with Bennington's statements, but advised him to "be fortunate for what you have," something Bennington took to heart, eventually apologizing for his comments in a series of tweets in May 2017, and stating it was "Time to recalibrate my perspective."
On July 20, 2017, Bennington would be found dead in his California home, which authorities would later rule as a suicide. Several publications soon reiterated that he was, and would remain, one of the greatest metal vocalists of all time, with others highlighting that his impact, which led to nu-metal becoming mainstream, could not be overstated. In honor of Bennington's legacy, here are five songs from the singer during his time with Linkin Park that reveals his brilliance as both a singer and a songwriter.
'One More Light'
Off their final album, this track's bittersweet lyrics include lines like, "Who cares if one more light goes out? Well, I do." Bennington may have battled his own demons, but his music was always a source of inspiration and healing for many. Despite what he endured in his personal life, the singer's music always reminded listeners that they were not alone, often even making sure they knew he was there for them, and would always be there to tell their stories. The song, along with equally gut-wrenching tracks like 'Nobody Can Save Me' off the same album, would go on to have an even larger impact following Bennington's death, owing largely to their hopeful message that seemed to imply Bennington was not giving up, neither on his fans nor himself.
'Leave Out All The Rest'
This track featured on Linkin Park's 2007 album, 'Minutes to Midnight', and had Bennington share his hope that whenever his "time comes", people would be willing to forgive him for his wrongs and instead, hold on to only the good memories. Much like their other music from that era, this track was a beautifully constructed catharsis that spoke to listeners on a much deeper level. Paired with the track 'Shadow of the Day' off the same album, which revolves around a person who is near-death and the ones they leave behind coming to terms with the loss, makes for a truly bittersweet way to remember one of the greatest artistes and albums of all time.
'Somewhere I Belong'
The song that many Linkin Park fans cite as the one that picks them up when they're down, 'Somewhere I Belong' featured on the band's 2003 album, 'Meteora', and was built on themes of isolation, anger, frustration and beyond. These were emotions listeners instantly connected with, but when paired with Bennington's vocals, they really seemed to strike an entirely different chord and made fans feel heard and like they finally belonged somewhere. The song, along with the rest of the 'Meteora' album, would seal Linkin Park as one of the greatest writers of their genre, with the ability to connect with fans on a level most artistes could only dream of.
'Roads Untraveled'
Linkin Park's 2012 album, 'Living Things', wasn't necessarily their most popular album. The more the band experimented with their sound, the more they ran into accusations of "selling out", which, oddly enough, simply fueled their desire to experiment even more. 'Roads Untraveled' is one such track, that blended an almost haunting set of instrumentals with some gorgeous vocals and harmonies from Bennington and bandmate Mike Shinoda.
One of their softest songs, 'Roads Untraveled' has the band telling their listeners to not weep for "what could have been" because this is the surest way to cause your own misery. This is, ultimately, a song about letting go and moving on, and while it was a perfect response to those hating on the band's musical direction, it also serves as a great reminder of what Bennington and Linkin Park truly stood for.
'Breaking The Habit'
Another track off 'Meteora', 'Breaking The Habit' is arguably one of the band's most popular songs ever. Musically and lyrically stunning, this song also came accompanied by an animated music video that was way ahead of its time. The track was penned by Shinoda based on his friend's experiences with drug addiction, but it struck an even deeper chord with Bennington who couldn't shake the parallels he saw between the song and his own struggles, which made it difficult for him to perform the song live. 'Breaking The Habit' would go on to become a fight song of sorts for anyone battling personal demons, owing to its message of breaking free from the patterns that consume us and starting anew.
Destination Jam is a daily list of songs that will keep you entertained and grooving up top in lieu of feeling drained and losing the plot. Look out for a fresh selection of great tunes from MEAWW to refresh your mood every day!