Post by woolebull on Jul 21, 2017 10:17:16 GMT -5
I'm sure many of us are now aware of the passing of Chester Bennington, front man for Linkin Park. When Linkin Park first hit big with "In The End" in early '02 (eventually holding down the number one spot on AT 40 for six weeks), I thought it was a good song in a genre, (Nu Metal) that I wasn't particularly fond of. So over the years I just essentially ignored Linkin Park. It wasn't until this year when "Heavy" came out (#15 on AT 40 earlier this year) that I went back to reexamine why Linkin Park was still relevant 15 years later. What I found fascinated me. I was genuinely shocked how Linkin Park, and particularly Bennington, was respected through all genres of music, particularly hip hop (much more than just the "Collision Course" collaboration with Jay Z). They were innovators who loved to invent, no matter if the music was loved or hated. But what intrigued me the most was how their lyrics seemed to have resonated with the youth of the first decade of the 00's much in the same way the lyrics of Nirvana and Pearl Jam resonated with many youth of the 90's. Go and read the outpouring of comments and condolences for Bennington and you will see how much the music of Linkin Park truly means to those in their 20's and 30's, and you will begin to understand how tragic this loss is for many.
Also, if you get a chance check out Linkin Park, Jay Z, and Paul McCartney at the 2006 Grammys. Watching that video, and seeing how Jay Z, Chester, and Paul made "Numb" "Encore" and "Yesterday" mesh together gave me a true respect for the talents of Chester. I should have realized then if Paul was a part of Bennington's career, he must have had more going on for him than I ever knew or gave credit for. He collaborated, and was friends, with some of the biggest icons in rock and pop history. I never gave credit at the time, but I do now. Well done, Chester.
So today, even though I wasn't a fan when it mattered, I pay tribute to a voice of a generation in Chester Bennington. To paraphrase the chorus to, "In The End", you tried so hard, and got so far. And in the end, it mattered more than you ever thought it would.
Also, if you get a chance check out Linkin Park, Jay Z, and Paul McCartney at the 2006 Grammys. Watching that video, and seeing how Jay Z, Chester, and Paul made "Numb" "Encore" and "Yesterday" mesh together gave me a true respect for the talents of Chester. I should have realized then if Paul was a part of Bennington's career, he must have had more going on for him than I ever knew or gave credit for. He collaborated, and was friends, with some of the biggest icons in rock and pop history. I never gave credit at the time, but I do now. Well done, Chester.
So today, even though I wasn't a fan when it mattered, I pay tribute to a voice of a generation in Chester Bennington. To paraphrase the chorus to, "In The End", you tried so hard, and got so far. And in the end, it mattered more than you ever thought it would.