Chester Bennington, the screeching lead singer of the beloved rock band Linkin Park, boasted one of the best vocal screams of the 2000s. He also provided an example to many young music fans about how to turn your inner turmoil into art—to make something beautiful and great from the difficult and even depressing.
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Sadly, the Phoenix-born Bennington passed away in 2017 at the age of 41. But today, his music lives on—including the songs listed below, which the artist wrote for the everlasting Linkin Park. So, let’s dive into the tunes many fans likely didn’t know he helped write for the two-time Grammy Award-winning group.
[RELATED: The 20 Best Chester Bennington Quotes: “As An Artist I Want a Reaction”]
“Lost”
Written by Rob Bourdon, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Dave Farrell, Chester Bennington
During the writing and recording sessions for Linkin Park’s 2003 album Meteora, the nu-metal group came up with this song, “Lost.” On it, Bennington sings of feeling out of place, dealing with pain, and depressive feelings. Like so many great vocalists, Bennington boasts two types of singing voices: the crystal-clear, melodic one and the one that sounds like breaking glass under a heavy boot. Both are displayed on this song, the latter during the shattering chorus. Bennington sings,
Just a scar somewhere down inside of me
Something I can not repair
Even though it will always be
I pretend it isn’t there (this is how I feel)
I’m trapped in yesterday (just a memory)
Where the pain is all I know (this is all I know)
And I’ll never break away (can’t break free)
‘Cause when I’m alone
I’m lost in these memories
Living behind my own illusion
Lost all my dignity
Living inside my own confusion
“Heavy”
Written by Rob Bourdon, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Dave Farrell, Chester Bennington, Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels
This song was the first released on the band’s 2017 album, One More Light, which dropped just two months before Bennington died on July 20. The song, which features the lilting guest vocals from singer Kiiara, was released ahead of the LP in February. It marks the final single released with Bennington the lead vocalist. On it, the emotive Bennington sings about narcissism and an inability to remove himself from “panic,”
I don’t like my mind right now
Stacking up problems that are so unnecessary
Wish that I could slow things down
I wanna let go, but there’s comfort in the panic
And I drive myself crazy
Thinking everything’s about me
Yeah, I drive myself crazy
‘Cause I can’t escape the gravity
“Runaway”
Written by Rob Bourdon, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Dave Farrell, Chester Bennington, Mark Wakefield
Released on the band’s debut LP Hybrid Theory, this song was originally co-written by the band’s first lead vocalist Mark Wakefield. But on Hybrid Theory, Bennington, who co-wrote the final track with the band, sings its lyrics. Pained and strained, Bennington sings about wanting to leave, to get away and find life’s truth and answers, but there is a sense he never will. On the track, he growls,
Graffiti decorations
Under the sky of dust
A constant wave of tension
On top of broken trust
The lessons that you taught me
I learned were never true
Now I find myself in question
They point the finger at me again
Guilty by association
You point the finger at me again
“One Step Closer”
Written by Rob Bourdon, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Chester Bennington
This song marked the first single ever shared from Linkin Park. The electric guitar-driven track, which was all over mainstream radio upon its release, also came from Hybrid Theory. Bridging rap, rock and metal, Bennington’s shrieking voice rages on like a torch through a field of dry leaves. On the hit, he sings,
I cannot take this anymore
Saying everything I’ve said before
All these words, they make no sense
I find bliss in ignorance
Less I hear, the less you say
You’ll find that out anyway
Just like before
Everything you say to me
(Takes me one step closer to the edge)
(And I’m about to break)
I need a little room to breathe
(‘Cause I’m one step closer to the edge)
(I’m about to break)
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Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
