Mochii's Music Diaries: Twenty One Pilots "Vignette"

Vignette by Twenty One Pilots

Greetings cuties! 

I love music and the power it holds to tell a story, so I wanted to start a song review blog. This is my first blog, and it's been a while since I've written anything, so please excuse any spelling, grammar, or other mistakes.

I also wanna state that these are just personal opinions and interpretations of songs.

No, not me, it's for a friend

 No-no, not me, it's for a friend

No, not me, it's for a friend

No-no, not me, it's for a friend, denial

Vignette is the 6th song featured on Twenty One Pilots latest album Clancy.

When Clancy came out I couldn’t even fathom the relatability I felt. I usually can’t say I “relate” to albums or songs but Clancy hit hard. Vignette speaks about the struggles of addiction and its impact.

“Not sure where it started

Peeling from his bones

Piece it back together all alone”

In the first verse Tyler's lyrics are about addiction and feeling lost. He says he doesn't know when it began, and he feels like his identity is disappearing. The line "peeling from his bones, piece it back together all alone" shows how much he's losing himself, and he's all alone trying to get himself back together. He also mentions his wife with the line

 “Hope it held together long enough for he, 

To pitch the greener grasses and hope that she would agree”

Stating that he needs to hold himself together long enough hoping she will stay by his side through his hardships.

“Fresh off a binger in the woods 

Flesh covered in bites 

Testing what is real, what is good 

Man, it's been a long night”

He feels isolated, “flesh covered in bites” may be meaning skin marks and bruises from the addiction. “Testing what is real, what is good” this seems to come from a verse in the bible

“Do not be conformed to this world, 

but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, 

that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, 

what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2).”

Tyler is trying to understand his situation better so he can make positive changes. He's working on changing his thinking and how he'll face these challenges, and also trying to find the root of the problems.

“It's a tribute to zombies of which I've become 

Where do I go from here?

 Where do I go from here?”

Tyler saying he feels like a zombie can indicate the symptoms of addiction. People who are addicted can sometimes feel as if they are a “zombie”, feeling emotionless and numb. The repetition of "Where do I go from here? Where do I go from here?" emphasizes his trapped and lost feeling”.

“Clinging to promisеs 

Fighting off the vignette 

Tunnеls cave, visions fade 

Swallowed by the vignette”

Tyler's imagery of "clinging to promises" and "fighting off the vignette" really shows the heartbreaking cycle of addiction. He promises to quit, but the "vignette," may be symbolizing that the withdrawals keep pulling him back. His description of "tunnels cave, visions fade, swallowed by the vignette," shows how overwhelming this struggle is.

“He's thinking, "There's no way I'm headed there" 

Always sure-footed, educated, and was never scared”

The second verse dives into the stigma that addiction is easily avoidable. Statements like "I could never do drugs, I'm educated, not mentally ill" implying addiction is a moral failing. In reality, anyone can become addicted to anything, whether it's harmless like listening to music all day as serious as hard drugs. Although not all addictions are equal, the term "addict" is often used to shame and discriminate against people.

“Now he can't hold out his hand without it shaking 

Hounded by a bunch of dead when the search party found him”

The verse ends with irony. People who think they're safe from addiction sometimes end up falling victim. The line "Hounded by a bunch of dead when the search party found him" could mean drug induced hallucinations before his discovery. (Although this line could be more about the lore)

“No, not me, it's for a friend

 No-no, not me, it's for a friend

No, not me, it's for a friend

No-no, not me, it's for a friend, denial”

The song ends with Tyler repeating, "No-no, not me, it's for a friend, denial." This repetition reveals his denial about his own drug or alcohol use. He's not being honest with himself, pretending it's for someone else while knowing it's for him. This denial, often from shame and fear, can be a major obstacle on the road to recovery for some addicts.

My Honest Opinion

I think "Vignette" does an amazing job of describing the feelings and emotions associated with addiction. Twenty One Pilots has several songs that address addiction, but this one really resonates with me. I personally struggle with dependence, not on hard drugs, but on marijuana. While it helps manage my anxiety and improve my social skills, and generally enhances my life, I don't want to be dependent on it. I'd prefer to use it for relaxation, rather than relying on it as a coping mechanism. I've made progress in reducing my usage, but I still have a long way to go.

If you've read this far, thank you! If you have any song suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Maybe I'll even write some reviews about them. I love discovering new music, so please send your recommendations my way!

Bye for now! XOXO