Written by: Ashley Lillig
After having great success on their third studio album, Youngblood, back in June 2018 – the Australian pop-rock band is slowly making a comeback with their fourth studio album. On February 5th, the band revealed the release date and name for their forthcoming album, Calm, which will be arriving March 27th. Shortly after making their fans anything but calm, they released their new single and music video, No Shame.
Overall, this song really focuses on issues within our society today. So many people build their life around the concept of ‘attention’ and would do anything to gain it through social media, even if it hurts them or their loved ones. In the first verse, Luke Hemmings, sings about a girl holding a gun in her hand – which is used as a metaphor for a phone. It’s hinted that she’s recording or photographing him, solely because she needs to share it in some way, to give her the continuous center of attention feeling.
In the pre-chorus, Luke tells the girl to light him up, meaning that whatever she’s choosing to do will ultimately end his life. He feels so connected and in love with her, while she is obsessed with social media fame. This highlights the fact that we live in a world where possible ‘fame’ through social media is valued more than the people right in front of you.
Transitioning into the chorus, Luke switches into a toxic mindset with social media and false fame. He sings about this person only being alive for flashing cameras and would do anything for that attention. In the music video for No Shame, the band makes sure to emphasize this through the good, the bad, and the ugly. From the ‘American Dream’ lifestyle to possibly fatal situations only for views, and lastly changing your body or look just because it’s a trend.
In the second verse of the song, 5SOS sings about how the fame-obsessed will end countless relationships only because they can no longer feed off others for viral media. Day after day this issue only continues to grow. 5 Seconds of Summer spent most of their teenage years blinded in the spotlight, so hearing this from them really brought a unique perspective on standards within society and how damaging the media can be.
The most amazing thing about this song to me, is how much of an illusion it is and how well the band did it. No Shame feels so lighthearted and fun on its surface, yet really shines an important light on a dark part of society. This song truly represents how well they’re redefining the pop sound, keeping their roots in rock, and creating songs that speak passion from every bandmember.
Check out the music video for “No Shame” below!
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