| "Stressed Out" | ||||
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| Single by Twenty One Pilots | ||||
| from the album Blurryface | ||||
| Released | April 28, 2015 | |||
| Recorded | 2014 | |||
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:22 | |||
| Label | Fueled by Ramen | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Tyler Joseph | |||
| Producer(s) | Mike Elizondo | |||
| Twenty One Pilots singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Stressed Out" on YouTube | ||||
"Stressed Out" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. Produced by Mike Elizondo and recorded at studios in Los Angeles and London, it was released as a promotional single from their fourth studio album, Blurryface (2015), on April 28, 2015, through Fueled by Ramen. The song later impacted US contemporary hit radio as the album's fourth official single on November 10. Elizondo initially took issue with the nature of the song's lyrical content, but relaxed after lead vocalist and songwriter Tyler Joseph explained the larger album concept.
"Stressed Out" is a midtempo alternative hip hop, alternative rock and rap rock song with elements of psychedelic music. The track is built from synths and a Caribbean-style keyboard line alongside rapping vocals by Joseph. Lyrically, it addresses the end of adolescence, touching on insecurities and millennial angst while also discussing life challenges. Throughout the song, Joseph personifies the album's titular character, Blurryface, whose self-deprecating lyrics express self-doubt and anxiety, stressing over personal issues ranging from his music to the idea of becoming an adult.
Upon its release, "Stressed Out" received favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. The song was a sleeper hit, peaking at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, giving the duo their first top ten hit in the US. The song topped the US Billboard Hot Rock Songs for a record 23 weeks. It also peaked at number one on the Billboard Adult Top 40, Rock Airplay, and Mainstream Top 40. It also led Twenty One Pilots to become the first rock act to have a song reach a billion streams on Spotify. "Stressed Out" was certified 13x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over thirteen million copies. The song reached the top five on charts in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, and Switzerland.
An accompanying music video was directed by Eshleman and primarily filmed at drummer Josh Dun's home in Columbus, Ohio. It features a mixture of surreal visuals and existential scenes while portraying the duo riding tricycles for a playdate and attempting to relive their childhood. In the video, black paint can be seen on the neck and hands of Joseph, referencing the character Blurryface. At the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, "Stressed Out" was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, winning the latter.