“Somewhere I Belong” by Linkin Park (2003)

My Definitive Song of the Summer of 2003

It was weeks or days to go before summer vacation. People wondered what to do or where to go after the school year ends. (I later learned that the classmate who introduced me to Linkin Park took a summer job, a former crush got pregnant out of wedlock, and another crush had a crush on a guy in another town.) Me? I was stuck in my village because I had no options. I just stayed at home and waited for a new song to come out.

I thought the last days of my junior year at secondary school would be boring. I was wrong. Thanks to Linkin Park.

Returning home after a heartbreaking day at school, the scene of my brother placing his ear near the radio greeted me. What caught his attention, I asked myself mentally. He told me Linkin Park just released a new song. I arrived home late that time, so I was only able to listen to the last lines, but man, it sounded great to me, especially the rapping parts.

A few days later, I got the chance to listen to “Somewhere I Belong” in full. My assessment was right: it was a great song. It helped me get through the gloomy summer of 2003. I got no places to go and no friends to hang out with (because they went places). I stayed in good mental health, thanks to this song, plus hits from Evanescence and .t.A.T.u.

Making (Failed) Plans for the Future

Linkin Park’s “Somewhere I Belong” inspired me to consider a music or performing arts course in college, a dream that was never materialized. Back then, I had in mind to pursue computer or teaching, but when the song came out, BOOM! I immediately changed my college plans. I wanted to be like Mike Shinoda. I want to be like Chester Bennington. I wanted to play turntables.

In other words, I wanted to become famous and tour the whole world. However, things did not turn out well for me.

It took years for me to realize I was never cut out for music and performing arts. I had to admit I can’t sing, I can’t rap, and I can’t play instruments no matter how hard I tried. I took guitar lessons and music classes and even tried to learn the keyboards and bass guitar, but I never got anywhere, despite help from a few friends.

I auditioned for school plays in order to boost my confidence before the crowds but I was never chosen for parts (I was only ordered to make accessories for the plays, which I did begrudgingly). I felt hurt and envious at the attention, praise, and rewards the lucky ones received.

Because I found no luck in performing arts, I tried sports but I was not lucky too.

Where do I belong anyway?

Moving Forward as a Linkin Park Street Soldier

I can’t sulk throughout my school years. I had to move on and adjust my life’s plans. I believe I could do my part for music listeners in some ways so that my love for music would not become insignificant in my growth as a person.

By listening to Linkin Park, I was able to release my fury and frustrations in life. I found strength in their lyrics, in their melodies, and in their performances. I realized I could contribute to music even without performing it.

I need to stay alive not just to preserve the memories of music but also to live to the music.
May the late Chester Bennington consider my contribution and my sacrifice pleasing to his ears. Thank you very much for keeping hope alive in my life. One day I will go to “Somewhere I Belong”.

Viva Chester Bennington!

Long live Linkin Park!

#RIPChesterBennington

"Faint" by Linkin Park (2003)

Memories of Chester Bennington (1976-2017)

Even after two days, the death (possible suicide) of Chester Bennington still shocked me. I feel #Numb up to this day. Of all the people to die that day, why him? Why not the terrorists, pedophile clergymen, corrupt politicians, slave traders, cheating merchants? Why him, of all people?

Chester Bennington came into my life 15 years ago, when I played "Papercut" and "In The End" on the player. Two years later, he cemented into my life at the release of Linkin Park's second album Meteora. (Bennington, if what I read is right, is an Orthodox Christian and the album title happens to be the name of a monastery somewhere in Greece. Fellow Orthodox Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Audioslave, is a close friend of his and a godfather to Bennington's daughter. Cornell also committed suicide earlier this year.)

Image from Wikipedia

Being a newbie to the nu metal sound, I was blasted right away by Bennington's vocals in "Somewhere I Belong", "From The Inside", and "Faint", which for me is the best and the most powerful song on the record - and also the most aggressive of all Linkin Park and all nu metal songs. This is a nu metal anthem in the year 2003, the peak year of the genre. "Faint" is one of the best and most memorable songs of 2003. Linkin Park helped defined the 2000s. This song help define nu metal.

Bennington was a dreamer before he was a nu metal icon. He would visualized himself as one of the members of the English electronic band Depeche Mode. The dreamer would later send his demo to what would become the biggest nu metal acts of all times and demo-ed over the phone. Iconic, that's what I call it.

The dreamer would later become a music icon who would define the sound of my generation. Meteora defined my existence in 2003. “Faint” defined the person I was 14 years ago. I wanted to be like him. I wanted to get into music, but the heavens got other plans for me: rather than perform music, I preserve the memory of music (good music, I mean).

“Faint” helped me get through the rough year 2003 was. Onwards, it made me recall a dream I used to dream, an aspiration I held onto until college graduation. I wanted to be like Chester Bennington. Now I want to preserve his memory.

Thank you very much, Chester Bennington! You will live forever in my life. Consider me worthy in the task to preserve your memory.

Image from Alchetron

Viva Chester Bennington!

#RIPChesterBennington