ONE HIT WONDERLAND: "Face Down" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

(Go to audible.com/toddintheshadows to get a limited time offer, Amazon Prime Members can save 53% on 4 months of Audible!) The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus took pop-punk into serious territory with their one hit "Face Down," but where they wound up may surprise you!
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[@DiamondAxeStudiosMusic]

"Do you feel like a man when she falls to the ground" is one of the most scathingly effective lines I've ever heard in a pop song.

[@Arowrath]

Oh hey, two of my favorite music KZbinrs interacting, that's fun

[@countof3everybodyOD]

You know when this song first came out, I always wished the lyrics would’ve taken a huge turn, wherein she or someone beat the abuser’s ass. I guess that these lyrics are incredibly realistic, though, and there isn’t always a movielike hero or action scene. But, there is the glimmer of hope that things can get better

[@ConvincingPeople]

It's genuinely a little shocking to hear a line that blunt about something that real and horrible in that style of music. It's incredibly compelling.

[@yriafehtivan]

And it's so easily understandable, except apparently if you're TITS.

[@Tookish_By_Nature]

When this song came out I was a teen stuck alone with a physically abusive Father. Listening to this song over and over in secret was one of the little rebellions that kept me going, I had no idea they were a christian group until now.

[@ohnoitsthenoooo]

I’m so confused about how Todd thought that the lyrics were “do you feel like holding on”. It’s by far the most intelligible part of the song lol

[@Rystefn]

Yeah, I'm right there with you. I can't figure out how anyone hears anything else other than "do you feel like a man" when they hear it.

[@dudeegg274]

Im with you there, I can't hear anything but man even if he does pronounce it odd.

[@amityislandchum]

I kept replying that part, trying to force myself to hear "holding on," but.... no. Not in a million years does it sound like that.

[@lyndjo]

Right? Of all misunderstood lyrics, that was not one of them.

[@quenepacrossing4675]

Very confused. English is my second language and i have a hard time with lyrics but i always heard the right one for this song.

[@JillLulamoon]

"Do you feel like a man when you push her around, do you feel better now, as she falls to the ground" is some really, really effective writing. The utter disgust and fury.

[@chuckbatman5]

It's not just condemning, it's belittling. Really directed at the abuser and making them squirm

[@hannahb2306]

Right! Like it’s got this level of like righteous fury that a lot of pop punk didn’t have and tbh good for you Ronnie

[@butHomeisNowhere___]

100% agree. I'm glad I got to watch this video because, like Todd said, it's one of those songs that I just haven't ever forgotten about. Like, I don't necessarily think about it ever but when it comes on... I know I'm going to like it. And the sincerity is what sells it for me. I'm glad these guys got that moment in the spotlight and they used it the way they did.

[@OnewBiased]

That was my favorite part all the time. It was released during my first year at college and my sister was 14 and we shared similar taste in music. Whenever we sing this part together it feels very cathartic

[@ThatWeirdFinn]

My voice usually cracks when I sing with this song...

[@liimlsan3]

> "Why do they say "Ma-un" with two syllables?" > Band is from Jacksonville, Florida Mystery solved

[@alexseradj3003]

Also being labeled pop punk. Tom Delonge over pronounces the hell out of certain words.

[@AeroDOTwav]

We do not know how to speak

[@danimoorehead]

It sounds like one syllable to me but I’m from Florida so maybe I just can’t tell.

[@WayStedYou]

I don't even notice it being two syllables and I'm from Australia. I always knew the lyric was do you feel like a man

[@defeatstatistics7413]

@@alexseradj3003 and oim sow saurree

[@matthewlister3755]

"Cut out the Screamo, now you're Mainstreamo" is quite possibly the best line I've ever heard in a music commentary video.

[@BigEOT3]

Screamo Mainstreamo, the illfated reboot of Teamo Supremeo

[@philly_sports1558]

That was a great line. “Miss Murder” by AFI also was a pretty big hit with screamo vocals, by the way. Both that song and “Face Down” peaked at #24.

[@matthewroberts3125]

@@philly_sports1558 That should be the next Song vs. Song podcast episode: Miss Murder vs. Face Down

[@casteanpreswyn7528]

@@matthewroberts3125 "Miss Murder" takes it by a landslide.

[@KainGerc]

I don't know, 'Linkin Park' were pretty much both.

[@Lee-dm7xm]

In terms of the whole “being angry on the woman’s behalf” bit there’s a way to do that wrong. There’s this country song “Read Me My Rights” going around on TikTok right now about some woman getting beat up, so the singer and his friends are gonna go down and kick his ass. And this awful thing that happened to this poor woman just becomes a display for how cool and tough these guys are gonna be when they beat the guy up and get arrested for it. Really gross, makes me appreciate this song a whole lot more.

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

The legal answer is to let the police handle it, but I wouldn't think wrong of any man who decides he's going to beat the shit out of a woman's abuser SO LONG AS his reason for it isn't to look cool and "get the girl". The idea of an abuser getting their ass handed to them just delights me too much, even if it's wrong, but of course that could rrally backfire if there isn't a good safety net in place for the woman to relocate to out of the relationship. And taking her back to your place just sets off a new set of alarms to me. So, even if they're often horribly useless in many of these cases...again, just call the police.

[@Seth9809]

Shouldn't such a song focus on how angry they are, and how violent the retaliation is, and how disgusted they are? Why is it how cool and tough they are?

[@Diana-mu7pc]

@@Seth9809 because it gives off the impression that they hate domestic abusers more than they care about domestic abuse victims. Hurting an abuser isn't the same as healing a victim. It's not truly justice, it's retribution for the offender. "A man hitting a woman is wrong" is a good-but-unsophisticated take that still puts the spotlight on the man. (People of all genders can be victims or perpetrators of abuse but I'm using men and women like this because that's how these sorts of songs are framed). The woman is a passive part of the sentence. It doesn't really address her humanity so much as seemingly defending her honor. And you can defend the honor of a literal object. You can defend the honor of a toilet. It tells you nothing about the woman, she plays no role. The woman doesn't have any autonomy in this framing: she sits around and gets abused by a man until she sits around and gets defended by another man. There are worse framings, of course. But it does seem cool and tough because it's still ultimately about conflict between men. Righteous strong men vs. fucked up woman-hitting man. You know, what about the woman?

[@boliver30]

@@Diana-mu7pc I don't see why there can't be space in the conversation for both perspectives. Of course allowing a victim to heal is important, but so is making sure the abuser doesn't repeat

[@Diana-mu7pc]

@@boliver30 Yeah, no, I agree. Both sides are needed. But often these narratives don't have a balanced emphasis. Therefore it does seem kind of patriarchal/mighty protector and the victim is a voiceless damsel in distress. Also, just being beaten up by some guys doesn't make an abuser not repeat. It doesn't teach them what they did was wrong (I think most physically abusive people in this day and age KNOW what they do is wrong). It just teaches them that they should be better at hiding their actions so they don't face consequences. Punishment doesn't always discourage repeated behavior. How many people are finally released from prison only to reoffend? Rehabilitation and retribution are different things. To be honest I don't think I know how to "fix" domestic abusers and make them capable of healthy relationships, but just having your ass kicked doesn't necessarily change you very much as a person.

[@morganqorishchi8181]

There's always been a lot of denial in Evangelical Christianity about how much abuse goes on within Christian communities and I really respect this band for calling out abusers with as much rage and disgust as imaginable. If this song helped people leave their abusers - and from what I can tell even from this comments section, it has - then this band has done God's work. This is what Christian rock should be.

[@BrianS1981]

It's not so much denial as the unwillingness to speak their tenets out loud. US evangelism holds very dearly to the bits of the bible that explicitly state that women are chattel slaves of first their fathers and subsequently their rapists/husbands.

[@scattau41]

Good take

[@witchflowers6942]

agreed. There’s so much potential there- but unfortunately so many christian bands seem to be scared of making something to upsetting or confronting.

[@nerfer1091]

@@witchflowers6942 I think they are scared of upsetting anyone. Christian music fans are a conservative bunch and the reason they're seeking out specifically Christian rock is mainly to avoid secular stuff they find offensive. The bands know their audience.

[@TheoRae8289]

Best possible take of this song

[@PS1CloudStrife]

Hey now, Your Guardian Angel was a hit too if you count middle school couples’ PhotoBucket slideshows on MySpace as streams.

[@aldenkaiser248]

i-maed-u-a-cookie-but-i-eated-it core

[@TheXxDaRkRoSeXx]

I have both on my playlist. Lol and yes I did use it on photobucket as a kid.

[@pigfish99]

holy shit, photobucket. that takes me back. That and Imageshack were the two hugest image sites back then.

[@JebusMatoi]

No one ever wanted to be in my top 8 ;___;

[@Vendice]

RIP photobucket

[@dalfin9286]

Despite all their many flaws, at least Simple Plan blessed us with the bop that is the "What's New, Scooby-Doo?" theme song

[@DestinyKiller]

THANK YOU

[@AndrewBehm]

I always forget that’s them because it’s so much better than their other stuff

[@Xmasta420]

One of those bands I loved as a kid and cannot tolerate as an adult.

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

It's the best song they ever wrote.

[@Demiglitch]

I did not know they did that. That makes total sense now.

[@thelab8799]

My name is Greg Dawson. I toured as RJAs lighting guy for about 2 years- beginning right before they released their second album. I assure you they WERE NOT a Christian band (back then, at least). No bibles on the bus, no prayer, no quoting scripture, none of that stuff. Ronnie certainly loved GOD, and we may have been on the same bill as a Christian band once or twice, but otherwise, RJA back then was the typical touring party band. Lots of drinking and having fun breaking stuff. True. 😁.. The whole band and crew are Christians. We all pray and thank the Lord for our blessings. What Im trying to say, is that Ronnie wasnt preaching in his music, the way Christian bands do. He was simply creating art, Songs about life. Some songs about God. But RJA was never a vessel to impose our beliefs on anyone. It was music for musics sake. Thats all. I twas music for everyone, not just Christians. Why is that so hard to understand? Prince thanked God on his albums and even wrote a song called GOD. but you wouldnt consider Prince And The Revolution a Christian band, now would you? .P.S. the band has been sober for years since those days:)

[@Annafyz]

Thanks for this insight, Greg! Fascinating

[@gracehetfield5331]

This makes far more sense

[@SeanStrife]

Thank you for confirming our suspicions.

[@uglyaniimals]

wait if that's the case then where did your guardian angel come from ?

[@thelab8799]

@@uglyaniimalsIts a song about his first wife, Staci. Its also a spiritual song. Ronnie loves God. My point is that RJA is not a "Christian" band in the traditional sense. You can sing about God without being a Christian band, believe it or not....jeeezz you guys.

[@zydratehore]

As someone who was in abusive relationship in high school, this song saved my life. When I first heard it I started crying and I would listen to full blast in the car with my abusive ex. Safe to say he hated this song, but I loved it because I felt seen and heard. Although, it took a while for me to leave him I did, this band will always hold a special place in my heart, and for that Todd they did deserve better.

[@minirock000]

"in an" fixed in a non-confrontational manner. If the next word sounds like or is a vowel the prior word shall be "AN".

[@morganqorishchi8181]

@@minirock000 The fact that you care more about grammar than abuse is truly awful. I will pray for you.

[@standarsh8056]

@@morganqorishchi8181 she probs deserved it

[@minirock000]

@@morganqorishchi8181 Go ahead and pray, prayer has been sown not to do anything. My wife and I have temporarily housed female friends when their ole man got a little punchy. I think I care more about the abused than discussing the topic with a bunch of kids on the interwebs. My claim still stands, hard to be a one hit wonder if it wasn't popular.

[@enough2715]

@@minirock000 Look in a mirror, and reflect.

[@auroramcbride1688]

When Face Down came out I was living in a home full of domestic violence and it really hit home. I was pretty much only listening to punk or pop punk at the time and it came on the radio with my shitty little MP3 player that my mom got from Walgreens cause that's all we could afford. I remember sitting in my room and just wishing my parents would get a divorce even though I was 14 and I'd probably end up in foster care. Anything was better than the screaming. Thank fuck that's over

[@skeptiwolf5654]

No one is more talented at hearing lyrics wrong than you.

[@PatheticApathetic]

Hearing them wrong, and taking them literally

[@TheHeroOfTomorrow]

…you ever heard of this guy named the Nostalgia Critic?

[@casperchristiansen2458]

Lady Mondegreen want to see you.

[@chasereynolds1899]

@@PatheticApathetic seriously, this dude needs to take an English 100 class in college

[@frankenchrist6]

Pfft they’re all amateurs. Try not knowing the lyrics even when listening to a song several times (like me)

[@khalxeesi]

about the ma-un, there’s actually some interesting discussion about the pop punk accent i’ve seen, where the trade between british and american punk bands being inspired by each other eventually created an accent specific to the genre! there’s some articles from linguistics floating around if you wanna do more research!

[@alisonjane7068]

i was thinking about this! it was a common affectation in the genre.

[@genno3714]

Yeah I read a really interesting article about that, in maybe the Atlantic? The California cadence also had a big influence

[@ulture]

@@genno3714 can't think of a better publication to write about an accent that mixes US and UK English

[@danieltravis5082]

I play classic metal now but cut my teeth in many pop punk bands. I still have the accent when i sing. It's completely out of my control

[@musyarofah1]

a.k.a. the Tom DeLonge accent.

[@josephjarosch8739]

This song legitimately made waves in some Evangelical circles. Several abuse scandals from within the Church hit *right* after this started getting popular, and at least a few of the women involved cited this song. There were persistent rumors in some circles that the song was about this or that specific person of note in the Evangelical subculture, and that they were secretly an abuser, but nothing has been explicitly confirmed.

[@minirock000]

Please define then explain your use of "legitimate". Thank you. I do realise you are an extreme Xtian, is one reason I put you to task. Also define how "explicitly confirmed" is more powerful than just confirmed. Thank you so much for the evidence I require for maintaining my evidenced biases about how ignorant extreme xtians are.

[@morganqorishchi8181]

@@minirock000 The fact that you're throwing a hissy fit about two adjectives you don't like and have not once in this comment section even pretended to focus on or care about the topic of abuse is genuinely cringe-inducing. I hope you get better someday.

[@Aleph3575]

@@morganqorishchi8181 This dude seems to be a troll, he's going around and saying shit like this on almost every comment that uses emotionally charged language.

[@Ashannon888]

@@Aleph3575 Yeah, he seems to be some idiot who thinks he's a lot more clever than he is. Like the OP isn't even saying they are, as doofus says, "extreme xtians"

[@TheoRae8289]

​@@minirock000 thank you for confirming you're either an abuser yourself or protect several in your friend circle

[@ashleystrawn3411]

You know you're getting old when Todd starts doing One Hit Wonderlands that happened during your childhood.

[@JebusMatoi]

I thought it came out around 2009, not 2004. Damn, i'm old.

[@LittleDogTobi]

@@JebusMatoi i think it was getting airplay in 2006 tho. 8th grade for me . . .

[@Advent3546]

If he does Shake It by Metro Station soon I'll lose my mind

[@credenzamostro]

@@Advent3546 if he does Sweet Disposition i think i might cry, that song Is 11 years old now

[@JebusMatoi]

@@LittleDogTobi Google said 2004 so I went with that, but yeah, I was 15 in '06 so Sophomore year for me.

[@YourCrazyOverlord]

This is one of those OHWs where i come out respecting the artist way more than before. They basically did what christian rock should have been all along: actively helping rather than promoting blind cult devotion.

[@Demiglitch]

They didn't help in the musical department. They took back the goodwill from Jars of Clay.

[@morganqorishchi8181]

@@Demiglitch If they got even one woman out of an abusive relationship, it's worth it.

[@ScreamsGeo]

They made their 15 minutes of fame count.

[@witchflowers6942]

thats what i love about this show. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve regaled with the storied history of the Baja Men.

[@originalsyphonX]

Some of my earliest memories are of telling my mother nursery rhymes and cleaning her cuts in her face after my father would beat her. From the moment I heard this song the lyrics and anger spoke to me in a way no other song ever really had. Still one of my favorite songs and most cathartic.

[@Best_Stressed]

"Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's got to end As your lies crumble down, a new life she has found" is one of those lines that doesn't sound super Christian if you're not looking for it and don't know Christian metaphor, but sounds super, super Christian if you are and you do.

[@shawnfields2369]

Wait, is "As your lies crumble down, a new life she has found", really the line that follows him saying, "Well, I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's going to end"? Because if so, that's some pretty good writing. First time I heard this song was probably like most people's, during the end credits of a very small, and underrated game series called, Saint's Row 2. It's literally on the game's radio stations, and literally the first song that plays when the game ends. At first I didn't like it that much, or think I'd end up loving and relating to the song that much, but when I found out what the song was about, and heard it a few times, I personally knew this was a really good song, that's relatable, because I also grew up in an abusive household with parents that were also warring against each other, but it was mainly my dad who was the abusive one, and me and my Mom were both scared at the time, but this song came out about a decade after we'd left my Dad's house. But in recent years, my Dad actually turned his life around and lost weight, quit smoking and gambling, and actually is doing better, and me and my Mom, found a new life too, because we'd been through at least 3 abusive relationships throughout my life. First was my Dad for most of my life, then, my aunt and cousin, and then, my Mom's ex, who tried to kill her. Scary stuff. Both my dad and her ex tried to kill her, but luckily, both of them failed. But we did have to move away from that place. But; songs like "Face Down", definitely help, and have great lyrics. And sure, it doesn't sound like a Christian song, but even if it were one specifically, it'd still be worth listening to.

[@Tazzie1312]

Fair!!

[@ProjectXA3]

...*hunh*. Well lookit that

[@chippydippy1530]

Honestly even in that context its a bit of a stretch. I can understand how you could read it like her finding strength through God or whatever, but it could also be starting to rebuild her life after her abuser fucked her up for years.

[@cha0sniper]

​@@chippydippy1530that's the power of these kinds of metaphors, they can be interpreted in multiple ways. Sometimes all of them are valid simultaneously.

[@RettMikhal]

This is the ultimate song you hear the title, the band name, the genre, the year, the actors from the video, the movies and trailers it was in and think "Huh? What song?" Then you hear the chorus and instantly those memories get re-energized. It's so bizarre.

[@heavysystemsinc.]

I'm glad it did something for you....all those bands in that era just bled together for me. Hell, I had forgotten there was a band called Hawthorn Heights and I do remember hearing them, but even that clip in this video hit my memory with a quiet, carpety thud.

[@halkitchen1838]

I’ve always thought of Flagpole Sitta as the definitive one of those.

[@TheEtherny]

Speak for yourself, I've kept this song on my playlists ever since I first heard it

[@arturo182]

Oh totally, I was was like "never heard of the song or the band" then I hear it and bam, I'm in 2004 again

[@RettMikhal]

@@halkitchen1838 Flagpole Sitta is an example of song title making no sense. Everyone knows it as the "I'm not sick but I'm not well" song or "Paranoia Paranoia" song. Also not helping it is Sitta is basically two songs in one. It completely switches at the Paranoia part.

[@eatdoritoyum]

I rewound like 20 times trying to hear what Todd heard when he sings "Do you feel like a man", I couldn't do it.

[@Shadowplay4Cats]

Yeah i tried to but i heard it right the first time and I don’t know what todd is talking about. And english is not even my first language

[@Huss_D]

Same here.

[@freyav.5500]

Yeah, I’m not a native speaker and I’m terrible at making out song lyrics but I still got the real lyrics first try.

[@brian4522]

I too hear it as "Do you feel like a man". Can't hear what Todd hears.

[@jaykoerner]

Yeah i dont even hear the second syllable in man, just sounds like maan to not the ma-an he says, no clue how hes hearing this one

[@joeye1772]

The first time I heard this song I knew immediately it was written by someone whose dad beat their mum. This kind of rage is not just personal, but comes from a place of helplessness, like a kid who can’t do anything to protect their mum.

[@ladygrey4113]

They recently redid the song with the same lead actress showing her as someone who still deals with the trauma of abuse (the song literally pauses while her character briefly experiences a panic attack and various calming techniques before she gathers herself and the song starts again) but has a fulfilling life with her family and career.

[@DestinyKiller]

Yes, it's such a great video

[@ATBPRODUCTlONS]

Hearing Todd talk smack about Treat You Better again made me smile. God, that song still blows.

[@m1k3l1f3]

So does Stitches

[@alexjohnson1650]

BETTADANECAN!!!

[@mrsmaggiekoch]

BETTA DAN YECAHN

[@robjgolde3221]

DADA CANDYGRAM!

[@shawnfields2369]

@@m1k3l1f3 So does everything Shawn Mendes does. I'm almost ashamed to share a first name with the guy. He looks like the 4th Jonas Brother, or a lower quality Nick Jonas wannabe.

[@DPadGamer]

I had no idea that Red Jumpsuit Apparatus was a Christian band, wouldn't have picked it up from what I've heard. Either way, I've always enjoyed their music. I still relisten often cause their songs pack a lot of energy and emotion... and my tastes are eternally anchored to my emotional teenage years.

[@JaredtheRabbit]

Same here

[@aperfecttool257]

@@JaredtheRabbit really, it was pretty obvious. I remember knowing about that. But maybe because I saw it on SteelRoots.

[@RisingRevengeance]

Yeah same I'd like to think music was better then but it's almost definitely just nostalgia

[@aperfecttool257]

@@RisingRevengeance depends. I still think Sum 41 has more talent than most of today's pop punk bands. Seriously, they were far more unique than people have them credit for.

[@RisingRevengeance]

@@aperfecttool257 Sum 41 is probably my favorite pop punk band, saw them live 2 times years ago. I'm really not a fan of Screaming Bloody Murder and onwards tho. I agree they're probably better than most of todays pop punk but it's also an almost dead genre.

[@digitaltourbus]

Loved your take on the hit and the band. This was definitely one of those tracks that had super heavy lyrical content. We've interviewed them many times and they're a good group of guys.

[@wespapes2054]

Didn't expect to see y'all here

[@ryano.5149]

I feel like this song is "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" embodied. Sure, the musical structure is simple, but HOLY CRAP is it ever effective! Gives me chills every time the chorus and the bridge roll around!

[@jonosborn6558]

"Cut out the screamo and now you're main streamo." That's quality snark.

[@ashessakura7518]

When you said about the third single “Your guardian angel” I was like “Never heard of it” then he struck that one chord and I instantly remembered EVERY word of that song from my teen years XD

[@KaijaSchmauss]

Same lmao. My romantic emo ass immediately sang along too.

[@SoupwithSeafood]

my jaw hit the ground the second the music started, I had fully erased that one from my memory

[@ofanichan]

Cat and Mouse was so much better 😩

[@eiriankt]

Just coming here to say that, lol! I'm bad at song titles most of the time anyway, so not recognizing the name doesn't mean much for me. But as _soon_ as the first notes played, I went "Oh I KNOW THIS SONG!" Way more than Face Down actually, which seems vaguely familiar, but only in that "Oh yeah, I think maybe I heard this on the radio for a while?" kind of way.

[@rosalindgatto9630]

I feel this way about Red Jumpsuit Apparatus as a whole. "Never heard of them" until Todd played their singles and now I'm having vivid flashbacks to 12 year old me watching badly made amvs with all of those songs

[@jasminelav.332]

I would say they're groundbreaking in pop/punk. Domestic violence is one of the few topics that the American public still doesn't like to talk about, largely because it's complicated and has no easy answers. I can only think of one other song (Eve's "Love is Blind") dedicated to the subject, and rock is supposed to be THE genre for talking about this kinda stuff.

[@starmanda88]

That eve song is one of my all time favorites. Incredibly presentation and just crushingly real.

[@juliamavroidi8601]

Love the Way You Lie by Eminem

[@KrisRN23935]

Only other song I can think of is Voices Carry by Til Tuesday, and that's New Wave.

[@godofmediocrity7582]

Not punk or pop, but I do hear Harvester of Sorrow on the radio occasionally, also about domestic violence

[@nsb144]

Behind the Wall by Tracy Chapman

[@sbel6626]

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus sounds like the name of a Big Bang Theory episode

[@PowerPackers90]

now the line about "one day this world's going to end" makes sense. It's them wanting the abuser to repent.

[@bunwithgun1587]

Fr, idk how Todd missed that.

[@joshbittner]

I mean, it could also be interpreted as “this world” where the abuser thinks his victim will always be there and never leave, only to be shocked when the victim gets away. I know my Christian lyric in the mainstream plausible deniability, lol

[@PowerPackers90]

@@joshbittner I also thought it was that, but now it could of been litteral

[@RectPropagation]

@@joshbittner As someone who isn't Christian, that's also what I would have thought.

[@darkstar4494]

Look out, the big daddy in the sky is going to blow everything up!!

[@Snarl_Marx]

Like he said, the fact that this wasn't a romance song is what really sold me on it.

[@periflores1002]

Why i like Linkin Park so much

[@chuckbatman5]

I like that, as far as I can tell, there's not even a hint of that being an option, seeing as the narrative perspective doesn't seem to be that of another man, but that of a completely outside figure, perhaps even, since they are a Christian band, God himself condemning the abuser

[@ironmaster6496]

Same, Im just so sick of those nice guy songs which are just self insert fantasies disguised as anti abuse song, THIS was legit

[@HollyAnneThePaganChaosWitch]

@@chuckbatman5 Now that is a really interesting take that I never thought about but it makes sense in the context of the band!

[@hopekeeley2122]

The first lines could be construed as a bit of a crush, but that’s so not the focus it can be completely forgotten

[@cleargreen123456789]

I do not hear the extra syllable Todd hears during "do you feel like a man." I've never heard (of) this song before, but the line was pretty clear to me.

[@trinityj1]

I was going to say. I understood it perfectly, his enunciation sounds fine to me.

[@IWasCaptainPanda]

Same. If anything, his old interpretation made me go "Huh? How did you hear that many syllables in the first place?"

[@jinxed7915]

"man" sounds stretched out and like the a becomes an o as he's pronouncing it, so I see how Todd is hearing that. It probably doesn't help that production for punk in the 2000s kinda muddled everything together sound wise, so words aren't going to be very crisp or intelligible, especially if you're listening to a music video uploaded on KZbin with less than great quality, of if you're hearing the song over the radio, where the analog signal and less than good quality speakers will muddle the sound even further

[@TheoRae8289]

"Man" gets stretched to fit an extra note, mostly likely to try to keep the rhythm

[@WolfHreda]

It's almost like the opposite of a diphthong. It's only one letter, but he stretches it into just about two syllables.

[@gowiththeflowandgrowrengib8553]

This song really helped me get out of my abusive marriage and see how I was being treated. I still cry when I hear it now because it is powerful.

[@zicyzacbonanza]

To answer your question about how Christian Punk is even a thing it actually makes perfect sense. Punk is subversive to the culture it's in and Christian Punk is subversive to a conservative, western, bible-belt style of Christianity. The best bands are basically yelling, "This culture is kind of crap and we're supposed to focus on Jesus and loving each other." Which is probably why I listened to so much of Christian Punk and Christian Metal when I spent time sorting out how it's possible for me to call myself a Christian and love God but hate all the usual churchy conservative stuff.

[@OsKarMike1306]

I was under the impression that Christian Punk's whole point was that the idea of religious morality was skewed to fit higher narratives and, as an agnostic, I can honestly get behind that. You can be Christian and hate bigotry, Jesus said "Love Thy Neighbour" not "Unless they're gay or communists"

[@MattKellyPodcasts]

This is what I was gonna say. Five Iron Frenzy may be a Christian Ska band (with two atheist members) but they've written plenty of subversive anti-conservative values songs. Hell their last album is basically 12 tracks of Fuck Trump and every extreme right wing asshole.

[@xenos_n.]

Same here.

[@xenos_n.]

@@MattKellyPodcasts shit dude, I haven't listened to Five Iron Frenzy since Upbeats And Beatdowns 😂 ... Used to love em back then, even saw them in concert as a kid.

[@MattKellyPodcasts]

@@xenos_n. Dude check out the last two albums they kick started. Zen and the Art of Xenophobia and While Supplies Last are both some of the most pissed off political songs they've ever written.

[@aledandrian]

I'm absolutely living for this belated reevaluation of 2000s pop punk

[@becauseimafan]

Hell yeah, same! 🤘

[@heavysystemsinc.]

I'm not sure that's a good genre name for the style. I don't know what I would replace it with but even if I did, pop punk isn't getting replaced anyway...it's like metroidvania to me, the genre has little to do with either. I will say the pop part in pop punk is a little more accurate. Maybe, now that I am thinking about it, Tude Pop. Yeah, I'll go with that until something better comes along.

[@xdearlifex]

Nooooooooooo!

[@unit-0123]

As a zoomer I wasn’t there when it was popular so I’ve been introduced to it by millennials who love it and I think it’s trash.

[@aperfecttool257]

Pls no. Mgk needs to leave.

[@GlucoseGuardian]

that guitar screech after "she will tell you that she had enough" just hit so hard

[@me45116]

Yay to the comeback of Shawn Mendes "BETTERTHANHECAN"

[@joeywalker2061]

He sucks.

[@TheImperiusv]

BAD DOMINICAN

[@bench5236]

Bruh, this is just the nice guy on steroids anthem. BETTERTHANHECAN that is.

[@Matter-Dark]

BETONAPECAN!

[@ktownshutdown21]

BET ON DAN EGAN

[@Vohalika]

Oh, this song is well-remembered. If you were into anti-shipping AMVs in 2007.

[@eebu4053]

GOD ⚡ JESUS

[@Ganmorg]

I looked up AMVs for this song out of curiosity and there was one of the Enies Lobby arc of One Piece, which is about a woman getting taken away by the government to be used as a tool after they killed her people in cold blood, and then her friends have to save her and make her learn that life is worth living. Actually kinda fits

[@V2ULTRAKill]

@jbiehlable no Low effort amvs are cringey You do NOT get to say things like Blend W, A Piece of Toast, or Anime's Got Talent are anything short of art

[@blowswanson]

@@V2ULTRAKill how is blend w art? Its a shitpost meme

[@V2ULTRAKill]

@@blowswanson because it is quite possibly the worlds highest effort shitpost

[@lilren2021]

I’m so confused as to why anyone would hear anything other “Do you feel like a man when you push her around?”

[@shawnfields2369]

Yeah, same here. I like Todd, and this video, and the song in this video, but how does anyone not hear him ask: "do you feel like a man, when you push her around?" And, am I nuts or did this song not play in the credits of Saint's Row 2?

[@MiniMackeroni]

@@shawnfields2369 Don't know if it played on the credits, but it was on one of the radio stations.

[@shawnfields2369]

@@MiniMackeroni Thanks for the confirmation, dude. I think if the song played on a radio station in-game, it played during the credits. I remember hearing it first during the credits or at least during the credits, but since it plays in-game(from what I remember), it definitely was on radio. But thanks again for confirming it. Because this is a good song. Definitely a good fit for Saint's Row 2.

[@DariusMakesContent]

@@shawnfields2369 it played on the ultor fm radio station in game along with misery business by Paramore, Bat Country by Avenged Sevenfold, MakeDamnSure by Taking Back Sunday, and many other emo punk songs.

[@shawnfields2369]

@@DariusMakesContent Thanks, good to know, I wasn't just imagining things.

[@StormDragonZ]

A small list of future songs I await: - "There She Goes" by The La's - "I Try" by Macy Grey - "No Rain" by Blind Melon - "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles

[@noway718]

I'm convinced you made up at least one of those.

[@ashkitt7719]

Milkshake by Kelis is one I want to see as well.

[@PasCorrect]

It's wild that none of these have been done before!

[@NatalieValentina6]

@@noway718 Nope, they're all very real, & very 90's😋...

[@ZanraiKid]

It’s wild how, growing up, Macy Gray was only famous for “I Try” when I now recognize her more for “Demons” and “Love Life” off Fatboy Slim’s Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars album. When Todd eventually does get to her, the answer will be, “Absolutely 100% Macy Gray deserved better.”

[@siriarchived]

As someone who fell in love with the Don't You Fake It album in 9th grade, nothing could've shocked me more than learning 'In Fate's Hands' was once called 'Ass Shaker'

[@ohhellobethany]

That “One Bad Pig” clip you showed really surprised me because my dad was actually their drummer! The Pig (as my dad calls them) was a huge driving force for Christian rock music at the time because the Evangelical church loved to push the narrative that rock music was inherently “demonic”. The Pig (plus many other bands) rebelled against this by rocking out despite what they were being told. Their albums were even banned from a lot of Christian stores! So there IS more to the Christian punk scene of that time than just kids wanting their music to be more fun. It was their way of staying true to their faith while simultaneously sticking it to the man, or more accurately, the pastor.

[@Shadamyfan-rs8xc]

Cool

[@jackdanks1916]

Pog

[@mydadshowering2978]

Never thought I'd find a fact about a Christian rock band cool...

[@zombiedodge1426]

Tell your dad their cover of “Man in Black,” featuring Johnny Cash himself, is amazing.

[@ohhellobethany]

@@zombiedodge1426 Will do! How they managed to get THE Johnny Cash is another story... Also, pro tip, if you’re gonna listen to OBP at all, skip their 2016 album (it’s not good). The older stuff is much better.

[@SamWinters]

I love how even when Todd is trying to sound "sincere" during the audible opening, he still sounds vaguely sarcastic

[@vinnm4516]

I'll happily admit to being one of those kids who got through a real bad time with abuse thanks to Face Down. I still go back and listen to it when I'm having a rough day, just for that reminder that you CAN get out of things. I'm nowhere near Christian, but honestly I'm glad they're still out there making music, and I'm even more glad that he put his foot down and made the right choice with Face Down as the single. He was right, it really was the most important thing they might ever make.

[@punkrckr6889]

Another reason this song doesn’t sound “Christian” is because a hallmark of most Christian music is a complete lack of sincerity. The vast majority of Christian [insert genre here] bands embrace that brand because they know they’ll have a built-in audience who will love whatever they put out whether or not it’s meaningful or heartfelt as long as their lyrics say “Jesus” enough times. Face Down was just too genuine.

[@cunardaspud]

I don’t think that’s correct. Not to be rude or anything; but most of the Christian underground rock and metal scene, a scene I have grown up around, don’t Bible bash in an insincere way. It’s simply the “Christian” music that garners mainstream popularity; due to a lot of close minded Christians. Listen to the fantastic Christian bands like Blindside or Phinehas, and most of the songs aren’t even directly related to their faith, and the ones that are come across as heartfelt and deeply honest. Not here to start an argument; just saw a bit of generalization I wanted to point out.

[@MiniM69]

You’ve clearly never heard gospel music! You should say CCM

[@CraftsmanOfAwsomenes]

@@MiniM69 Most church music (in my experience) is just adaptations of folk music from the 1700s-1800s. Though some tunes from that time period were good enough to start religious and turn mainstream. Like how “Say Brothers” became “John Brown’s Body” became “Battle Hymn of the Republic”.

[@yveltalsea]

not sure if you realize that POD, Flyleaf, and Skillet are Christian bands LOL... never once in their songs do they say 'jesus' straight up. skillet probably the least out of all of them lol, with them constantly referencing jesus through many unique names lmao, but seriously, they have lots of different topics. especially POD's youth of the nation. (i know its also a one hit but they also have other good songs)

[@SeanWinters]

As stated before, listen to skillet, thousand foot crutch, Red, flyleaf, Barlow girl, POD etc. Plenty of great explicitly Christian stuff.

[@TwoMarshmallows1]

I am genuinely grateful that this song got made and gained a wider audience. Learning it's even helped people is so affirming. Whatever else this band has done, they did some real good here. Edit: By 'whatever else', I was talking about their music and career.

[@chrislawuk]

I know right? I mean if you can inspire even one person to leave an abusive relationship behind through music that’s an awesome, awesome thing in my view. AND the band more recently spoke out against discrimination against LGBT in the church? It’s not really my type of music but I now know: Red Jumpsuit Apparatus are great people

[@AlcoholicBoredom]

Kind of scraping the bottom of the barrel here. I never had heard of these guys, so I searched, and this video _posted today_ was the third result.

[@AlcoholicBoredom]

@L Train45 well, that does seem true. I must’ve must’ve missed it somehow.

[@TwoMarshmallows1]

@@chrislawuk Yes, exactly! I didn't really know this song before this review and the rage Todd talks about is so visceral and real. But the band's anger isn't frightening, it's supportive and uplifting. There are a lot of progressive Christians out there and I'm glad this band is using their voice to help others. I believe that the lead singer of Jars of Clay also stands with the LGBT community. I'll always support artists for being good people, even if it's not my kind of music.

[@xDarkTrinityx]

@@AlcoholicBoredom May depend on your age group though... I'm 30 and I listened to that entire album that Face Down was on. My bf even knew it and his main genres at the time were rap & hip hop

[@vintagearisen]

Damn, hearing the front man say that he grew up watching domestic abuse actually brought tears to my eyes, the song hits much harder now knowing that it came from such a real place for him.

[@deniseb.4656]

"hits much harder now" scr

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

@@deniseb.4656 I was going to point it out if you hadn't, lol.

[@yltraviole]

Even before Todd mentioned it, the sincerity made me wonder if one of the band members had some experiences in his past with domestic violence. Sadly, yes :/

[@heiress.]

I can’t wait until you tackle ‘Shake it’ Metro Station. That’s the day I will officially feel old.

[@lemonworm]

i remember giggling incessantly about how overtly sexual that song was juxtaposed to the immense airplay it got at middle school events

[@heiress.]

@@lemonworm “Shake it” and “Don’t Trust a Hoe” we’re middle school classics.

[@ScarlettDaleWoodall]

I feel like the industry is scared of emotional realness. This song is so real and present. It's raw. It's what artists poured out of themselves. But as a label,you don't know how to control that.

[@evanbarlow5534]

Can we have a “Cut out the Screamo, now you’re mainstream-o” t-shirt?

[@jdh21403]

As someone who’s HUGE into like pop punk and emo, the album with Face Down, Don’t You Fake It, was their best album by a WIDE margin

[@patricklauer4452]

^

[@saulomarruizgarcia2408]

Yeah, Cat and Mouse is also a banger

[@Pugiron]

That's literally picking the best turd in the dog park

[@ronjames4151]

It is a great album

[@jdh21403]

@@Pugiron their independent stuff is solid too even if it’s more Christian

[@austinhubbard96]

one of their guitarists was a family friend, red jumpsuit would practice in our garage sometimes, from what i remember they were super nice guys.

[@-datrandomdude-6979]

Oh god 2006.... can't wait to see the day when he'll do one hit wonder to stuff like Shake It by Metro Station or Let it Rock by Kevin Rudolf lmao

[@lorraineschmucker3230]

Todd casually mentioning Boys Like Girls is so oddly satisfying.

[@camillaquelladegliaggettiv4303]

Ah yes, cobra starship lite /j

[@johnrogan8284]

Same thing happened to me when he mentioned Captain Beefheart

[@RoboZombie777]

Ngl the whole post Boys Like Girls pre-Man Overboard era of pop punk sucked total ass. In retrospect Real Talk is a schmaltzy ass album but the fact that it was "badass" compared to crap like BLG and Cash Cash shows how terrible that whole neon pop punk think got.

[@RoboZombie777]

@Call Me, BLEGH Me, If You Wanna Reach Me I mean the whole "Defend Pop Punk" cohert (The Wonder Years, Story So Far, Neck Deep, Title Fight, Citizen, Major League, Real Friends, Transit, early Trophy Eyes, Knuckle Puck etc.) were huge from 2011-2014. Sure they weren't getting Top 40 radio airplay but that's hardly "not mainstream." Hell if you ask me pop punk was way stronger five years back during that period than it is now.

[@madison_hailstorm]

I wonder if he’s heard The Night Game

[@lovenotegestapo]

All I know is, whenever I do this song at karaoke every single woman at the bar loses her shit. There's something incredibly powerful about a room full of women screaming along together about not taking abuse anymore. The amount of women who have thanked me for singing this song because it means so much to them (and a heartbreakingly large part of them say it with tears in the corners of their eyes) is always surprising to me. It's been 15 years, and people are still finding comfort, catharsis, and encouragement from this OHW. That's admirable

[@securitysoundssss]

and singing along to the singer who abused his ex.. pretty sociopathic

[@lovenotegestapo]

@@securitysoundssss proof, please Normally I wouldn't bother, but they've made it clear that they grew up around abuse. It's kinda why they wrote this song

[@TheoRae8289]

​@@securitysoundssss coming from what source?

[@IMVADER2]

This was one of my "awakening" songs, where I went from just listening to music without anything specific behind it, to saying "I like how this sounds and I want to find more like this". I was probably 11 or 12 when I first heard it? And even back then, when I never paid attention to what lyrics meant, I understood what the message was... which, growing up in a non-abusive christian home, was just a huge eye-opener to the world for me. Funnily enough it was my non-christian friends that shared this song with me, rather than my youth group at church who would share things like Pillar or Skillet, so finding out this was ChristianRock today definitely blew my mind

[@honoratagold]

Saw these guys in concert with MCR and Rise Against in 2006 and that makes up three of the maybe four bands I was into in that era whose mid-2000s output hasn't aged like absolute milk to me.

[@AndrewBehm]

Used to (still do) love Rise Against & MCR. So good

[@t4nkychannel921]

Ok, hanging out with Rise Against always gives you cool points in my book.

[@Ballin4Vengeance]

To be honest, The Black Parade is a timeless album.

[@Ballin4Vengeance]

To be honest, The Black Parade is a timeless album.

[@Misadventures_85]

The Sufferer & the Witness is an excellent album

[@aztektheultimatewoman]

Goddammit Todd you can’t just bring up Treat You Better without warning me first.

[@roippi3985]

SEND A CANDYGRAM

[@pigfish99]

@@roippi3985 BUTTER MANDY GRAND

[@IsaacMayerCreativeWorks]

BAND DOMINICAN

[@Samael1113]

PUTTER IN THE SAND!

[@ActuallyAnanya]

BITTER MAN EGAD

[@x_8643]

I like Todd’s sponors. He doesn’t lie to us about actually loving the product. He doesn’t have it interrupt content. He just gets it out of the way and gets in with it

[@AlcoholicBoredom]

You’re talking as if specific contractual obligations weren’t hashed out ahead of time. I mean, did you sub to Audible? Did the very brief amount of adlibs they allowed him to have really change your mind about anything? Note that I have no problem with Todd having a sponsor. It’s just that _every single fucking time_ someone makes this exact same post in a video. Why must having a sponsor be defended? He’s given a script and a preagreed amount of stuff to be said. Would your head literally explode if it was Raid or something?

[@Seth9809]

@@AlcoholicBoredom My head would explode if he said Raid was amazing and he loved it.

[@vinceeager8553]

@Joshua EdwinRoehl What did anybody in the comment section do to deserve that?!

[@moodylittleowl]

@@Seth9809 Raid as in the anti mosquito spray?

[@thischannelisnolongeractive.]

@@AlcoholicBoredom 100% facts

[@squigg7107]

I’m absolutely gonna use the word “mainstreamo”. That’s brilliant.

[@richmcgee434]

"No blood for oil, W!" Man, I haven't heard that in years. I was playing in a Vampire the Masquerade game back when that phrase was a thing and it inspired the guy running the campaign to do a whole story arc where some Camarilla elder was using his control of Mideast oil fields to get US oil companies to covertly kidnap and deliver victims for him to feed on. When the player characters finally figured out what was going on and confronted the sleazy-but-mortal executives about it, most of them thought they were "just" aiding and abetting sex trafficking to some Arabian sheik in exchange for cheap oil. They rest were all ghouls who'd been promised the Embrace if they played along and were in it for the immortality. So, yeah, oil for blood, literally. IIRC we wound up selling out the elder involved to a coterie of his political rivals and convinced a bunch of werewolves to help murder all the oil company execs after we found out some of the victims over the years were kinfolk of theirs. Fun times. Off topic maunderings over with. I don't recall this song or this band at all.

[@rgs8970]

Every word of this comment unlocked a fresh memory I had repressed

[@badinterneter9510]

Oh my God, that sounds amazing. Do you still play?

[@TheoRae8289]

I gotta applaud your GM at the time for that.

[@onbearfeet]

Honestly, my respect for this band went way up when you said they were Christian--entirely because a lot of Christian culture forbids talking about domestic violence AT ALL. It's either a thing only non-Christians do and therefore not to be discussed, or it's the victim's fault and therefore not to be discussed. So knowing that a scream of rage on behalf of an abused woman came from people who were raised in that culture, and they deliberately chose that song to be what they were remembered for... I mean, DAMN, that's pretty fucking PUNK ROCK. In their context, that's up there with "London Calling" for ballsy rebellion. (Also, I was in an abusive situation when this song came out, and being gaslit by a Christian community about it, so hearing someone on the radio scream that my abuser was a piece of shit and I'd survive this was indescribably therapeutic. I was never a fan of the band or anything, but it was the right scream in the right place for me. Thanks for covering it.)

[@nickrustyson8124]

Not only that even in the music industry in general they don't touch on domestic violence, it's actually kinda rare for any band to touch a topic darker than a high school breakup

[@TheoRae8289]

​@@nickrustyson8124 or they will but it's gotta be so muddied up in metaphors most listeners won't pick up on it

[@DiamondAxeStudiosMusic]

I'm honestly thrilled that pop punk is making a comeback. I like laid back vibe music as much as the next guy, but the pop scene today could REALLY use a charge of energy and youthful excitement. Granted, I did not expect that a charge like that would be coming from Machine Gun Kelly, Blackbear and the Drivers License girl, but hey, I'll take it.

[@alex_flamer267]

It's only a light revitalization. Labels still need to lose the Blackbear feature, the trap beats, and the minimal production.

[@gabingston3430]

@@royalninja2823 I think he's most known for being dissed by Eminem so badly that he dropped out of Hip Hop to make Pop Punk.

[@gabingston3430]

Honestly, "chill" or "laid back" often seems like a synonym for "boring" and "dull" to me.

[@wolfie1234100]

@@gabingston3430 I'm waiting for mgk's country out put because in the pop punk and emo groups he is not taken that serious.

[@TheoRae8289]

​@@gabingston3430 thank you for explaining why I have to hear MGK again. Em clearly didn't humiliate him enough.

[@jackulstrom9150]

Would LOVE to see a One Hit Wonderland on "Miss Murder" by AFI. Phenomenal band with a storied history full of hard left-field turns who went platinum on by *far* their worst song.

[@returnedtomonkey8886]

Are AFI one hit Wonders though?

[@kittykittybangbang9367]

@@returnedtomonkey8886 I thought they had a devoted fan base?

[@alexanon8345]

@@returnedtomonkey8886 Girl's Not Grey was a pretty big hit and I think Beautiful Thieves and Medicate did okay but their newer albums are just continually getting better and getting relatively little attention (I don't think Bodies has a single song on it less than 8/10) IMO. But they're not one hit wonders by any means.

[@kodyeldridge5847]

@@returnedtomonkey8886 Absolutely not XD

[@Replicaate]

I don't think AFI are really ONE-hitters? Like I think half the singles on 'Sing the Sorrow' were almost if not as successful as 'Miss Murder' was, there just wasn't quite the level of media saturation in 2003 as there was in 2006. After that though AFI kinda stopped being a household name on the same level as the likes of MCR or Fall Out Boy. I don't think they ever really wanted to be that kinda famous anyways, and seem content with their cult fanbase of which I'm a proud member of. Which is a shame - I will easily put 2013's 'Burials' in my top 5 albums of theirs, always.

[@JadeCryptOfWonders]

I found this song on a compilation CD called Teenage Dirtbags, which serves as a fossilised record of pop punk detritus from back in the day as well as an indicator of one hit wonders which might end up on this show in due time.

[@vintagearisen]

I don't care if Guardian Angel is corny as hell, I still love it

[@biznichin13]

I'm super excited to see Motion City Soundtrack mentioned while simultaneously offended that they're relegated to "any other warped tour band"

[@kylehegedus5498]

I love them!!!!

[@jessiegal5451]

i appreciate that All Time Low got a little nod at the beginning of the video, they're one of those bands that people think of as existing solely in that 2007-2009 era of neon style pop punk and "emo" with their somewhat of a break through hit "Dear Maria, Count Me In." But they've actually been going strong ever since in their own little sphere thats just been expanding consistently to the point where they can sell out whole arena tours and it's nice to see them get back into the mainstream sphere with Monsters

[@natemo82]

To be fair the word “ass” is mentioned in the Bible a few times. I remember having some Beavis and Butthead moments in Sunday school.

[@VinchVolt]

Fun fact: part of the inspiration for Beavis and Butt-Head came from Mike Judge overhearing two students giggle when the priest said "eat this" during communion at his Catholic high school's graduation.

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

Also, the lyrics to "Ass Shaker" are much tamer than the title. It's a joke, like many 2000's Emo/Pop Punk song titles.

[@littleterr0r]

Isn't it the animal kind? That's domesticated donkey abuse!

[@Empyre18]

*insert the Black Jesus “yo mama’s ass” joke from Family Guy here*

[@videodude7777]

The fact that I was a hard core atheist 13 year old whose favorite band was The Red Jumpsuit Aparatus is in retrospect very funny

[@Samael1113]

Ehhh... Evanescence was a thing about the same time. Skillet too. And Flyleaf got quite a bit of mainstream play. Plenty of less Christian people fell in to the trap.

[@ConvincingPeople]

To be fair, they seem like the more chill sort of vocal Christians who actually care about doing right by other people, which is a hell of a lot more than you can say of Scott Stapp or the dude from As I Lay Dying or something.

[@nickrustyson8124]

@@ConvincingPeople Plus there sound sounds so similar to other bands that edgy 13 year olds in the mid 2000s ate up

[@Khenfu_Cake]

@@Samael1113 In Evanescence's defense they did ask not to be labelled as a Christian band. I believe there were even public statements by their record label about it. Although as far as I know they were originally signed to a Christian record label in their pre-Fallen days. So, I don't really blame the Christian radio stations and record stores for mistaking them as a self labelled Christian act.

[@HarryBuddhaPalm]

I'm an atheist and I listen to Christian bands, Muslim bands, Buddhist bands and whatever else bands. If all I listened to was music made by people that I agreed with 100%, then I wouldn't have much to listen to.

[@dwashbur]

"Christian punk" began in 1983 with the release of Steve Taylor's "Mini LP" (today we call it EP) "I Want To Be A Clone." I was working in a Christian bookstore at the time and watched it happen. The label had no use for it but Steve's dad was pastor of a major church in Denver and twisted a few arms. They wouldn't commit to a full album though, so both the record and the cassette had the same six songs on both sides. When our store featured it on our wall, Steve was so grateful he came down and washed our windows.

[@alphabettical1]

Here's the thing: it's not just choosing something to be righteously angry about, it's being angry at your Christian Dad who hits your Mom and then preaches the next morning. Like, I think there's that extra element on top of the usual 'desperate to hear good music but you're not allowed so you take what you get' - you believe in what they taught you so hard that the hypocrisy breaks you. Edit: ah I got to that part in the vid now. Abuse is definitely a big part of US/Can Christian culture that people don't get the extent of, because the abusers can be so sincere about thinking it's the Christian thing to do. At least, my parents were.

[@rerega3177]

There are plenty of hypocritical Christians out there like if I had to take a guess around 35-40% are because real story this one lady got caught cheating on her husband so some other people at the church called her out for it while in reality half of them were doing the exact same thing. So we stopped going to church and as a Christian myself the only relationship that matters is between you and God ,Right.so at what point does an imperfect person get the right to judge you especially if they are doing the same thing themselves.

[@floatingdisembodiedhead8975]

I didn't know this, yet these staunch "Christian" conservatives likes to point out abuses done by other people, how hypocritical.

[@esbenm6544]

@@rerega3177 Double that number.

[@AppleStrawberryLove]

Absolutely. I grew up in a very conservative Christian household with an abusive father. When I told my story once in a forum about abuse and why it seems to happen a lot in religion, I had a woman screaming at me that 1) abuse never happened in churches, 2) if it did happen then we weren't real Christians, 3) my family members deserved it, and a litany of other things. She even stalked me to a different thread to keep going with her tirade. I feel like they have to deny it because otherwise they have to acknowledge that they are failing big time in lots of biblical teachings. It's a deflection to avoid seeing the rot within them.

[@mc-ps-playa5569]

@@rerega3177 That’s a conservative estimate if I’ve ever heard one

[@SomeDumbKid1]

If Todd's doing 00s one hit wonders we need "Handlebars" by Flowbots

[@ddjsoyenby]

yes.

[@johnrogan8284]

Hell break his back if he tries to ride a bike w/ no handlebars

[@neminem233]

It’s one of my all time favorite songs so I hope he likes it, and does it

[@jacobarcher1097]

Definitely

[@philly_sports1558]

That song is amazing. It’s such a weird combination of hip hop, indie, jazz, and hard rock but it works so well. I think it’s a classic.

[@laserrlife]

Oh Todd is covering BANGERS this time around

[@luizpdrnogueira]

I rocked to this song so hard when I discovered it. Literally jumped to see the video.

[@TheRealMirCat]

It's like when your parents start singing along to the music playing in the grocery store.

[@ulture]

On the thing about Christianity and obedience, I'd just like to say that Christian anarchism and Christian communism have existed for well over a century now, basing their arguments partly on on verses like James 5:1-6 (Jesus' warning to rich people who exploit the workers), the Sermon on the Mount, and the descriptions in Acts of how the early Church held all their property in common for the common good. Christian punk is still a little surprising, but I can see how it might've come out of the radical left-wing tradition of punk.

[@tafua_a]

Christianity began as a subversive act after all, so it makes more sense than one would think at first

[@trinityj1]

Christ's actual teachings remain very counter-cultural and very radical. There's a lot of lip service to pseudo-Christian ethics in western culture, but living up to the actual ethical standard taught by Jesus and the apostles is something people still get assassinated for suggesting.

[@theoneandonlymichaelmccormick]

It’s a hard sell for punk rock, though, you’ve gotta admit.

[@amandalopes3048]

Notice that when Todd examplify emo's shallow lyrics he never used MCR as an example, and yes i'm happy because of that

[@Dracinard]

Nor Panic! I'm going to take this as tacit validation and not poke at it, just in case.

[@vita1ogy.]

Well, MCR were also grown men when they hit big

[@awookieandagerman]

Todd's been at this game far too long to poke that beehive, whether or not he actually believes any of MCR's lyrics are shallow. (to be fair, I don't know how you would possibly read most of MCR's output as anything close to shallow, they're always trying to cut deep). He wouldn't poke the FOB, Panic, or Paramore fans either. But Simple Plan, that's fair game.

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

@@awookieandagerman Simple Plan were barely Emo, they were an unusually whiny pop punk band. While I'm not a huge fan of "Third Wave Emo" in general (I'm too much of a Rockist for it, 90's and 2010's DIY Emo for me), at least MCR et al. were actually good writers who were inspired by good writers and wanted to make interesting music - as opposed to whatever the hell mainstream Pop Punk at that point was. Calling Simple Plan Emo is an offense to every good band in Emo history.

[@awookieandagerman]

@@noesunyoutuber7680 Sure, but I wasn't trying to call Simple Plan emo. I was just pointing out Todd knows what bands he can dump on and which ones to shut up about if he doesn't want his comment sections flooded with angry stans.

[@ninjabluefyre3815]

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus sounds like an Evangelion reference.

[@shawnfields2369]

Good point. But I also think it could be something from the Venture Bros. too, like what Todd was saying earlier.

[@repulser93]

I could see it working as an anti Shinji/Asuka song. Of course, as a Shinji/Asuka shipper, I think it works better in regards to Shinji and/or Rei finally telling Gendo to stuff it.

[@shawnfields2369]

@@repulser93 Cool.

[@andrewdunn5568]

You do (not) feel better now

[@SaltpeterTaffy]

Get in the jumpsuit, Shinji.

[@rgs8970]

i remember telling my friends that they were definitely a christian band, based solely on the lyrics from "Face Down" and no one was having it. there's a particular white evangelical way of talking around things that i recognized-- "one day this world's going to end" is definitely a threat. i really respect RJA for writing with passion and for calling out problems in the church, including how christian fundamentalism encourages women to stay in abusive relationships bc they believe "dIvOrcE iS a sIn"-- way more subversive than the misogynistic takes of mid-00s pop punk (I say as a huge fan of mid-00s pop punk)

[@HikariTheGardevoir]

wait... so it's basically "just you wait buddy, when the rapture comes you're fucked"? 😂

[@TheoRae8289]

​@@HikariTheGardevoir depending on the Christian circles you're in, oh yeah

[@hithedragon7842]

I'm surprised he didn't mention that line. It feels very christian to me, knowing that this was supposed to be a christian rock band. I basically heard it as "just like everyone else, one day you'll be at the mercy of a higher power, and your actions here will not have been forgotten"

[@Mimikinn]

Oh my god, I had pushed that Guardian Angel song back into the farthest part of my memories, and now it’s all flooding back thanks to those opening chords.

[@BrightesteFaeri]

Thank you for reminding me that False Pretense exists, I loved that song. I can’t tell you how it got weirdly popular or if it got any major radio play, but I remember it being the soundtrack to a LOT of AMVs in the 2000s, which is how I found it. Same with Your Guardian Angel.

[@samanteater]

This was the first time I ever had a "wait, they're a one hit wonder?" moment watching this show, because I remember False Pretense being just as big as Face Down on rock radio at the time. I dunno, maybe my city is just weird.

[@zone0ftruth]

as a kid completely unattached to religion I somehow ended up with a bunch of christian rock bands as my favorite shit thanks to like, Yu-Gi-Oh amvs. ah, youth

[@JebusMatoi]

How did you get "Do you feel like holding on" out of "Do you feel like a man"? It's not like Patrick Stump is singing.

[@candice_ecidnac]

🤣 Or Sia

[@DoNotPassGO]

@@candice_ecidnac Or Sting

[@kaitlynmarie5545]

When this song was super popular I was a teenager in an abusive relationship. I don't really think this song helped me leave that situation or anything, but it's always stayed fresh in my memory for sure. Also they did an album anniversary tour a few years ago and it was a really good show.

[@shattercross]

I went to the same high school as some of their members. One of their former guitarists was in my english class junior year. Nice dude.

[@jacksonreinhardt2848]

You can't have the word "Apparatus" in your band name and NOT be a one hit wonder.

[@casteanpreswyn7528]

The most perfect take here.

[@oohwow2787]

I could scream I saw the thumbnail and rocketed back to when this dropped and every emo preteen-teenager I knew, me included, thought we were the deepest people ever

[@biguglyalex]

I always considered bands like this to not be 'Christian bands" but 'Bands with christian members". I'm sure a lot of bands are made up of Christians, like Paramore for example. But unless Christianity is a big focus in their music, I just consider them a normal ass band. Obviously this doesn't really apply to Red Jumpsuit Apparatus anymore since they do make mostly christian music now but I don't ever listen to that shit anyway

[@kittymarie397]

I feel pretty similarly about Relient K, like their members are openly Christian but they don't make overt Christian Music

[@Fusso]

Or, you could be Dio and make songs that are clearly about Christianity but you are so damn metal that not a single headbanger care.

[@berke2336]

These guys, Anberlin, August Burns Red, and Devil Wears Prada were NOT one hit wonders at my private christian high school in 2010... they were royalty because your parents were cool with you blasting it and going to shows or warped tour to see them

[@benallmon5613]

Same with NF. He isn't a Christian rapper. He is a rapper who is Christian. I don't mind religion sprinkled into music. I just prefer it not be the focus.

[@ericb9252]

@@benallmon5613 Why not?

[@DawnOfTheOzz]

This song could have fit right at home on a Burnout soundtrack since those games tend to feature songs that either the developers or publisher completely misses the point of but just include anyway.

[@321gofast7]

Forza Horizon games (at least the first one, since I know that soundtrack really well) also do that

[@nickrustyson8124]

Saints Row 2 had it for it's Gen X station, it also kinda fit a character in game

[@TheInsaniacGuy]

Todd, you're literally the *only* person I've heard to get that chorus mixed up 😅 I thought it was pretty obvious what was being said 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@toddpacker4683]

I’ve always thought it was so you feel like coming on. I don’t hear man at all

[@DbN-dftba]

@@toddpacker4683 apparently all Todds have trouble hearing that line, lol. Conspiracy unlocked

[@Nullsparta2]

@@DbN-dftba always heard "holding on" and no my name isn't Todd lol

[@DbN-dftba]

@@Nullsparta2 Damn. Conspiracy unraveled. Back to the drawing board.

[@Lint6]

This era was full of "stealth" Christian bands. I bought Underoath's CD based off "Reinventing Your Exit", and it turned out most of the album was really Christian

[@mdstevens0612]

Most of them also ended up secularizing after some years at it. Kind of the two truths, a metalcore band when big enough will change to stadium rock and a Christian metal core band won't stay Christian given a long enough time frame. I think Caleb Shomo and Austin Carlisle were the only two, and... The less said about Carlisle, the better.

[@pja36]

Christians? Later.

[@devinup3981]

Faith Plus One is still the best though. ;)

[@qty1315]

The band is literally called Underoath.

[@aerithxx]

This was me with Flyleaf.

[@kardmaster77]

Another song In this genre that came out much after face down was Massachusetts by silverstein, the first half of a two song story about a girl who wants more than anything to leave an abusive relationship.

[@zdoggzero6595]

I honestly prefer Massachusetts to Face Down, Shane Told’s vocals absolutely sell it

[@mgreyscarf]

'False Pretense' was also great; I still listen to it when I need a pick-me-up.

[@wespapes2054]

Hell yes. More Todd pop punk One Hit Wonderlands please. This is my wheelhouse.

[@ianpavelko3827]

The next one in that genre could potentially be "Boys of Summer" by the Ataris.

[@wespapes2054]

@@ianpavelko3827 I hope so. That's such a good cover, kinda makes the record. So Long Astoria is the best Ataris record, you can't change my mind.

[@TheLowBrassDude]

Does AFI count?

[@wespapes2054]

@@TheLowBrassDude I think AFI is more so a straight up punk band

[@pickles224]

I’ve been waiting for Metro Station’s Shake It and American Hi-Fi’s Flavor of the Week.

[@LilDeuceDeuce]

I just know the one RJA song that was on the Madden 07 soundtrack. I think this might be one of the only One Hit Wonderlands where I've never heard the song before, which I guess shows either I'm old and out of touch, or by mid-2000s the monoculture was breaking down and the definition of a hit song had changed

[@diegoizaguirre3452]

Never though he’d be watching Todd

[@KariIzumi1]

Naw, i hadn’t heard of this song either and I wasn’t out of high school that long when it was trending

[@LilDeuceDeuce]

@@diegoizaguirre3452 I've been watching since the blip.tv days; us Todds gotta stick together

[@MichaelSmith-fq6hz]

I don't remember it either. I vaguely remember the chorus, maybe? It's definitely not something that I heard a lot in 06 like MCR or whatever.

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

Todd also brought up Newfound Glory not having a hit, but I heard of them as well from Madden. I think the song is called "This Disaster"? I have it on one of my ancient playlists, I think...like, on my Zune :)

[@hatethegame82]

I will always defend this song. I have experienced domestic violence and it helped me a lot. It has been a constant reminder when I hear it to always stand up for myself and the people I love

[@robertbrauer6718]

If Todd is reading "The Dirt" for research, I can only guess we are getting a Trainwreckords video about Generation Swine at some point in the near future.

[@satisacro]

Yes, he did

[@Thraim.]

I mean, if their Christian influence is not all in your face that's a good thing, right? One of the reasons why Christian [insert genre here] is so disliked is a total lack of subtlety, right?

[@mileshill7196]

More like a lack of sincerity.

[@logicn.reasoning9744]

Lack of reality.

[@ryano.5149]

Lack of any musical taste whatsoever.

[@xanferra]

Excited for this episode. Funny thing about this song is that they recorded it at least three times. Once was the version that charted, once was a version that included metal screaming, and once was an acoustic version.

[@stevethepocket]

Acoustic and soft-rock alternate versions were (are?) another staple of the Christian rock scene; the idea was that they wanted to get airplay on stations where a heavier sound would be out of place. "Everything About You" by Sanctus Real, "Be My Escape" by Relient K...

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

Yes, and same with Your Guardian Angel, lol! There's two versions of it. On a playlist, I have a blended version of the two main releases of Face Down as I liked the ending of one better than the other, but due to the totally different genres of Your Guardian Angel, I couldn't do that with that song. I like the acoustic version overall the most but its ending to me isn't as good as the regular rock one.

[@shawnfields2369]

@@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley Really? Cool. I first heard "Face Down" during the credits of Saint's Row 2. It took me a few listens of the song to actually admit I liked it though. But, it's relatable to me. Because I also grew up with an abusive dad, and my parents would scream at each other too. Imagine being a 9-10 year old kid, hearing your parents screaming insults at each other, especially since my parent's room was directly across from my own room. Sometimes, I'd cry listening to them arguing. It was tough. My dad even threatened to kill my mom before too, but when he tried to, his hands starting boiling, and he instead asked her to call an ambulance. It was tough for a kid to see something like that. My aunt, and cousin also used to be abusive to me, and my mom when we all lived in her house, 20 years ago. Imagine living with Angelica and her mom from The Rugrats, and that's what living with my aunt and cousin was like. But, while it was tough, luckily, none of them are like that anymore. My dad stopped being abusive, turned his life around, and is now living in Delaware, where he just recently got his teeth fixed, and it was paid for by other vets. And although my uncle passed away a few years ago, my aunt also turned her life around too. And my cousin is now an actress. So, they're all doing well now. But also, dude, it's nice to see you again! How have you been since the last time I saw you? You been ok? I made a new friend last year myself. Hope you're doing ok, dude.

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

@@shawnfields2369 I don't like attaching my real life to songs as I feel that ruins them. For example, I don't want love songs to ever apply to anyone I'm dating, or even breakup songs. I just want to enjoy the music as-is and think of them applying to hypothetical situations, lol. I'm truly sorry to hear you had a pretty awful damn childhood, especially with the constant fights from your parents. Been there, the crying in my room as the adults fight. Except I was in my early 20's, still living at home and making too little to move away on my own. One awful fight, I heard things being thrown around and then the internet was cut out. Smart phones and data plans were just getting started and I didn't have one so without internet and MSN Messenger, I was cut off from speaking to my friends. Shamefully, I just cried, I'd never heard them fight so aggressively. My mom came into my room and informed she was going to stay in a hotel. She informed I could stay at the house (her boyfriend's home), but I wanted to be anywhere she was. We moved out from him for a year, then they tried things again but in just a year, it fell apart again. I was thrilled to see the U-Haul one day after work so that at last, we could be officially done with that man. And going further back, my father was also abusive, though I don't remember that myself as my mom divorced him when I was about four or five. My mom informed he was arrested for money laundering (she used the term "robbing a bank" but her description fits more to laundering, not a full-scale stick-up) and she used that opportunity to leave him. Like your family though, he too is a changed man...at least, I hope. He seemed chill when I met him at 18, but he made it clear he did not want us back in his life. So be it, though he didn't have to be such a dick about it, such as ignoring me at times. Anyways, that's all in the past. I don't think I've ever spoken to you before (though your name looks a tinge familiar...), but hope you're doing alright and do take care of yourself :) P.S., I'm a woman, lol. I know people see the picture and the name and think I'm a guy, and then they say "dude", and I never know if they mean it colloquially or as a substitute for man and it makes me feel like an ass for correcting them, like I'm jumping down their throat for "assuming my gender" 😂. Not my intention, but after 15 years of KZbin and this exact same name and picture and repeated instances of it...I think it's time I give myself a makeover on here, lol!

[@shawnfields2369]

@@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley Fair enough. Thanks anyways though, and good luck to you anyways. Hope that works out for you. I also had to give my account and username a makeover myself. I used to go by "Gina Molina"(my mom's name), Shawn Fields(but with a green profile picture). That's ok if you don't remember talking to me. I won't judge you or get mad at you for that. That's ok. I'm not all that memorable of a person anyway... also, sorry I mistook you for a dude. But thanks again, and I hope things are working out well for you. But I didn't really find out about what the song's about and apply it to my life or anything; I'm only saying, it's pretty similar to how events in my own life went as a kid, that's all. But it does make me like the song a bit more. It's a solid 4/5 for me. Thanks again, and I don't think it's shameful to admit you cried, even in your 20's. I'm 28, and if I heard what my parents said to each other again when I was a kid, I would've cried too. I'm a sensitive guy, I'm not afraid to admit that. It's too bad you don't really remember talking to me, but oh well, I figured that would happen. I think I talked to you somewhere else about Kingdom Hearts or something? It's alright though, it's not like I was expecting you to immediately remember who I am. I mean, it's been awhile since the last time I saw a new comment from you, anyways. But, again, take care, and sorry about calling you a dude. I still think you're a nice person anyway, so don't worry. But if you ever,(for some strangely insane reason), do want to know more about me, all you need to do is ask. I'm Chinese/Filipino on my mom's side, and I'm White on my dad's side of the family. Sorry about your parents too. It sucks to hear that you went through that too. I think it's ok to cry, and never a shameful thing; for men or women, honestly. If you feel like you need to cry, it's ok to. There's no shame in it. It's ok that you don't recognize me. There's nothing wrong with that either. It's ok. I recognize you though. I just hope you're doing ok, that's what's important. Hope to see you again, sometime, ma'am!