About Stressed Out

"Stressed Out" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots from their fourth studio album, Blurryface (2015). The track was produced by Mike Elizondo and recorded in Los Angeles, California and London, England. "Stressed Out" was first released as a promotional single through Fueled by Ramen on April 28, 2015. The song later impacted Contemporary hit radio stations as the album's fourth official single on November 10, 2015. Elizondo initially took issue with the nature of the song's lyrical content. However, he relaxed after lead vocalist and songwriter Tyler Joseph explained the larger album concept. "Stressed Out" is a midtempo alternative hip hop and rap rock song that contains a throwback to rock music and psychedelic pop with clear pop sensibilities. The track is built from synths and a Caribbean-style keyboard line alongside rapping vocals by Joseph. Lyrically, "Stressed Out" is about the harsh end of adolescence. The song is an ode that harbors a downbeat atmosphere and lyrics speaking on transitioning from adolescence to adulthood and nostalgia for the innocence of childhood. They touch on insecurities and address millennial angst while discussing life challenges. Throughout the song, Joseph personifies the album's titular character, "Blurryface." His self-deprecating lyrics express self-doubt and anxiety, stressing over personal issues ranging from his music to the idea of growing older becoming an adult.

With the single, Twenty One Pilots became the very first rock act to have a song reach a billion streams on Spotify. 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 group their first top-10 hit in the United States. The song topped the US Billboard Hot Rock Songs for a record 23 weeks. It also peaked at number one on the Billboard airplay charts: Adult Top 40, Rock Airplay, and Mainstream Top 40. "Stressed Out" was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for sales of over 10,000,000 copies. The song peaked within the top five of record charts in Russia, Mexico, Australia, Austria, the Belgium Flanders chart, Canada, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Slovakia, and Switzerland. An accompanying music video for the single was directed by Eshleman and mostly filmed at drummer Josh Dun's home in Columbus, Ohio. It features a mixture of surrealistic visuals and existential scenes while portraying the duo riding three-wheelers for a playdate and attempting to relive their childhood. In the music video, black paint can be seen on the neck and hands of Tyler 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. The duo performed the song on their 2016 Emotional Roadshow World Tour and for the Late Night with Seth Meyers.