Dan reynolds on mormonism

[smac97]

Here:

Quote

Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds joins Hanuman Welch on the latest episode of ALT CTRL Radio on Apple Music 1 to discuss the group’s new song 'Wrecked' from their forthcoming album ‘Mercury - Act 1’ He talks about working with Rick Rubin, what bands from Las Vegas with Mormon roots have in common, the personal losses that have inspired the bands new album, and more.

Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds On Why Forthcoming Album ‘Mercury - Act 1’ Is About "The Finality Of Life"…

Life is here and it's gone. And that's what primarily this record is about, is just the finality of life. I lost four people that I was really close to. My best friend of my youth passed. My sister-in-law passed from cancer. My business manager died of cancer. My ex-girlfriend died of cancer. It just was like the finality of life was just so shoved in my face. So when I was writing, it was like that's all, I couldn't help but write about anything but that because I was needing that, I was needing the cathartic writing process.I don't know how the fans are going to feel when the whole record comes out or how anybody's going to feel to be honest. But I can tell you that for me, this process was if I wasn't in a band and Imagine Dragons had never happened, I was always writing since I was 12. It was my journal. I would have written the same. I needed to write this for me. I needed to write this record selfishly just for me.
...
There's like three bands out of Vegas that all got big. Panic! at the Disco, Imagine Dragons and The Killers. All three front men were raised Mormon for all of their youth. But for myself, culturally you cannot get away from Mormonism if you were raised with it, especially if you served a Mormon mission which I did. It's part of my entity, it's part of who I am, it's my culture, it's my family. I have eight siblings that are all Mormon. I have, there's 40 plus grandkids in the Reynolds family that are all Mormon. I'm not raising my kids in any religiousness if that means anything. I'm more spiritual based and religion hasn't really been my cup of tea. But anyway, what I was going to get at is I feel like all of these Mormons, like why? Why is the Mormon thing work with music? And I'm feeling like I'm going to invent this new genre that's called emo but it's for Mormons. Ex-Mormon, emo. It's like these sad Mormon dudes conflicted about faith and like conflicted about drugs and religiosity like what is life. This is the whole thing for another day. But I was telling my wife about this the other day. I'm like, there's something that happens with these Mormon kids that if there's so much angst there, it's like don't have sex, don't do anything, don't. And it's like I have to make music. I must make music. And it breeds these bands. I guess it's not emo because I guess it's not. Brandon Flowers isn't ex-Mormon, I wouldn't even call myself ex-Mormon. But it's something about these emotional Mormons that's like obviously there's emo, I know emo, but I'm just saying it's like there's some like emomo.

Not a model of clarity, this.  

From the Wikipedia article on the album:

Quote

Standard edition^[6]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
3.	"Wrecked"	Ben McKee Dan Reynolds Daniel Platzman Wayne Sermon	Imagine Dragons	4:04
10.	"Follow You"	McKee Reynolds Platzman Elley Duhé Fran Hall Joel Little Sermon	Little	2:55
11.	"Cutthroat"	McKee Reynolds Platzman Sermon	Imagine Dragons Rick Rubin	2:49

Lyrics to "Wrecked."  This one was apparently written as catharsis at the passing of Reynolds' sister-in-law.  A sampling:

Quote

These days I'm becoming everything that I hate
Wishing you were around but now it's too late
My mind is a place that I can't escape your ghost

Sometimes I wish that I could wish it all away
One more rainy day without you
Sometimes I wish that I could see you one more day
One more rainy day

Oh, I'm a wreck without you here
Yeah, I'm a wreck since you've been gone
I've tried to put this all behind me
I think I was wrecked all along
Yeah, I'm a wreck
...
These days when I'm on the brink of the edge
I remember the words that you said
Remember the life you led

You'd say, "Oh, suck it all up, don't get stuck in the mud
Thinkin' of things that you should have done
I'll see you again, my loved one"

I'll see you again, my loved one
Yeah, I'm a wreck
I'll see you again, my loved one

I can see the "Mormon" influence ("I'll see you again, my loved one").  But that's from the perspective of his deceased sister-in-law.  In his own voice, he's a "wreck."

Lyrics to "Follow you."

"Lyrics to "Cutthroat."

I wish him well, and hope he eventually returns to the Restored Gospel.

Thanks,

-Smac

[Amulek]

Quote

But anyway, what I was going to get at is I feel like all of these Mormons, like why? Why is the Mormon thing work with music? And I'm feeling like I'm going to invent this new genre that's called emo but it's for Mormons. Ex-Mormon, emo. It's like these sad Mormon dudes conflicted about faith and like conflicted about drugs and religiosity like what is life. This is the whole thing for another day. But I was telling my wife about this the other day. I'm like, there's something that happens with these Mormon kids that if there's so much angst there, it's like don't have sex, don't do anything, don't. And it's like I have to make music. I must make music. And it breeds these bands. I guess it's not emo because I guess it's not.

I hate to point out the obvious, but I wouldn't consider Tal Bachman or Jewel to be emo by any stretch of the imagination.

And Alice Cooper - who I'm proudly claiming as an ex-Mormon, though by way of the Bickertonites - isn't real angsy either. He puts on a good show but in real life he is actually a pretty down to earth, easy going guy.

 

[Scott Lloyd]

On 7/14/2021 at 3:33 PM, smac97 said:

Here:

Not a model of clarity, this.  

From the Wikipedia article on the album:

Lyrics to "Wrecked."  This one was apparently written as catharsis at the passing of Reynolds' sister-in-law.  A sampling:

I can see the "Mormon" influence ("I'll see you again, my loved one").  But that's from the perspective of his deceased sister-in-law.  In his own voice, he's a "wreck."

Lyrics to "Follow you."

"Lyrics to "Cutthroat."

I wish him well, and hope he eventually returns to the Restored Gospel.

Thanks,

-Smac

I hope he doesn’t lead too many people astray in the meantime. 

Edited July 16, 2021 by Scott Lloyd

[JustAnAustralian]

51 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

I hope he doesn’t lead too many people astray in the process. 

If I was outside of the bloggernaccle, and didn't read utah news, I probably wouldn't have known that Reynolds was a member in the first place. Heck, I think this is the first time I heard that the Panic at the Disco guy was a member.

Whether he leads others out of the church is really going to depend on the individuals.  I think we can all name multiple sports starts/singers/actors/etc who identified as church members and over time drifted away until they were publicly behaving very non-memberish or even anti-memberish. I can't recall seeing people leaving the church because their favourite celebrity did, but I guess if people are only in the church because a certain celebrity is, then they could leave based on Reynolds' comments.

Edited July 15, 2021 by JustAnAustralian

[Scott Lloyd]

3 hours ago, JustAnAustralian said:

If I was outside of the bloggernaccle, and didn't read utah news, I probably wouldn't have known that Reynolds was a member in the first place. Heck, I think this is the first time I heard that the Panic at the Disco guy was a member.

Whether he leads others out of the church is really going to depend on the individuals.  I think we can all name multiple sports starts/singers/actors/etc who identified as church members and over time drifted away until they were publicly behaving very non-memberish or even anti-memberish. I can't recall seeing people leaving the church because their favourite celebrity did, but I guess if people are only in the church because a certain celebrity is, then they could leave based on Reynolds' comments.

I hope you’re right. I just know he’s had some nasty things to say about the Church over gay issues in recent years. This was after the Church endorsed his “Love Loud” festival the first time. It’s not just a matter of drifting away. 

Edited July 15, 2021 by Scott Lloyd

[JustAnAustralian]

I know Tyler Glenn went pretty out there with his comments, but I haven't seen Dan Reynolds do anything beyond the level of "I can see this guy leaving the church".

I do wonder though, how much these things had to do with his temporary separation from his wife.

[Kenngo1969]

5 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

I hope you’re right. I just know he’s had some nasty things to say about the Church over gay issues in recent years. This was after the Church endorsed his “Love Loud” festival the first time. It’s not just a matter of drifting away. 

Perhaps one shouldn't bite the hand that feeds one?

[smac97]

5 hours ago, JustAnAustralian said:

I know Tyler Glenn went pretty out there with his comments, but I haven't seen Dan Reynolds do anything beyond the level of "I can see this guy leaving the church".

I do wonder though, how much these things had to do with his temporary separation from his wife.

I agree that, compared to Tyler Glenn, Dan Reynolds has been pretty moderate in his public criticisms of the Church.  I do remember this:

Quote

Another news item on Dan Reynolds:

Quote

The Mormon frontman of the Imagine Dragons rock band hopes the Sundance Film Festival documentary that follows his journey to becoming an advocate for LGBT Mormon youth triggers real change by his religion's leaders and puts an end to what he calls "shaming" of gay and lesbian kids in the religion.

Quote

"These kids are being told their most innate sense of being is sinful," said Reynolds, a Mormon from Las Vegas. "Shaming is so destructive."

Quote

Reynolds, 30, said in an interview this week that "platitudes" from church officials about love for LGBT Mormons and telling them "there's a place for them" isn't enough.

He has talked with church leaders about the issue and hopes to continue doing so but said the church's "platitudes are empty words" until and unless it changes its doctrine to accommodate gay marriage and homosexual sex.

 

Thanks,

-Smac

[Fair Dinkum]

5 hours ago, JustAnAustralian said:

I know Tyler Glenn went pretty out there with his comments, but I haven't seen Dan Reynolds do anything beyond the level of "I can see this guy leaving the church".

I do wonder though, how much these things had to do with his temporary separation from his wife.

Dan Reynolds band mate Wayne Sherman did an interview on Mormon Stories which was quite interesting.  Also the band sponsors the annual Love Loud Concert in support of the LGBTQ community.  Ironically he was able to get the church to donate funds to this effort as well

[smac97]

7 minutes ago, Fair Dinkum said:

Dan Reynolds band mate Wayne Sherman did an interview on Mormon Stories which was quite interesting.  Also the band sponsors the annual Love Loud Concert in support of the LGBTQ community.  Ironically he was able to get the church to donate funds to this effort as well

How is the Church donating funds "ironic?"

Thanks,

-Smac

[Fair Dinkum]

30 minutes ago, smac97 said:

How is the Church donating funds "ironic?"

Thanks,

-Smac

I stand corrected they donated to suicide prevention and not the concert directly

 

https://www.deseret.com/2018/7/18/20649299/lds-church-comments-as-dan-reynolds-seeks-to-raise-1-million-at-second-loveloud-music-fest

[pogi]

The documentary is available to watch on Amazon Prime:

 

[smac97]

1 hour ago, Fair Dinkum said:

I stand corrected they donated to suicide prevention and not the concert directly

 

https://www.deseret.com/2018/7/18/20649299/lds-church-comments-as-dan-reynolds-seeks-to-raise-1-million-at-second-loveloud-music-fest

I still don't understand how it's "ironic."

Thanks,

-Smac

[Tacenda]

2 hours ago, pogi said:

The documentary is available to watch on Amazon Prime:

 

Thanks! I wasn't a regular/huge fan until I attended his Love Loud concert. 

[Judd]

7 hours ago, smac97 said:

I still don't understand how it's "ironic."

Thanks,

-Smac

It’s like 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife. 

[smac97]

The video for "Wrecked" just dropped:

Yeah, pretty mopey / angsty.  Not really my cuppa.

Thanks,

-Smac

[Tacenda]

8 minutes ago, smac97 said:

The video for "Wrecked" just dropped:

Yeah, pretty mopey / angsty.  Not really my cuppa.

Thanks,

-Smac

I like it!

[Bernard Gui]

I’ve never understood what particular competencies active, inactive, or ex-LDS rock stars, celebrities, athletes, actors, etc., possess that would lead one to pay much attention to their circumstances. Can someone explain?

[Amulek]

9 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

I’ve never understood what particular competencies active, inactive, or ex-LDS rock stars, celebrities, athletes, actors, etc., possess that would lead one to pay much attention to their circumstances. Can someone explain?

I don't know either, but I'm glad some people pay attention - otherwise I never would have seen Reynold's attempting to coin a phrase for a new musical genre: emomo.

Oh man, I laughed at that one. Hard.

 

[smac97]

12 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

I’ve never understood what particular competencies active, inactive, or ex-LDS rock stars, celebrities, athletes, actors, etc., possess that would lead one to pay much attention to their circumstances. Can someone explain?

Notoriety.  If they have a loud enough megaphone, a big enough soapbox, then their opinions will garner disproportionate attention and will, by some, be given undue credence.

For me, I have a fairly low opinion of Dan Reynolds' opinions.  

Thanks,

-Smac

EDIT TO ADD: My comment about "Dan Reynolds' opinions" pertain to this.

Edited July 16, 2021 by smac97

[pogi]

13 hours ago, smac97 said:

The video for "Wrecked" just dropped:

Yeah, pretty mopey / angsty.  Not really my cuppa.

Thanks,

-Smac

The man is grieving over the death of his sister in law and grappling with his loss of faith which used to bring comfort.  Perhaps some grace instead of criticism, in an hour of darkness, is in order. 

Quote

 

Written by frontman Dan Reynolds, the deeply personal song was inspired by his sister-in-law Alisha Durtschi Reynolds, who lost her battle with cancer in 2019.

“She was the brightest light. A beacon of joy and strength for everyone she met. Her sudden passing has shaken me in ways that I still am unable to express,”

“I was with her and my brother when she passed, and it was the first time in my life that I had witnessed death in this way,” he continued. “It sealed into my mind the fragility of life and finality of this all. I’ve watched my brother face something that no one should have to. But I’ve also seen his faith bring him hope in a future with her. I can only hope for the same. This song was my way of dealing with it all, as music has always been my refuge.  No longer being a man of fervent faith, I can only hope that she hears it somewhere in a place where she is healed and no longer in pain. This song is my wish for an eternity with those that I love.”

 

Some of the greatest songs ever written are full of grief, loss, angst, and sadness...

Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton

Fire and Rain - James Taylor 

Hurt - Nine Inch Nails/Johnny Cash

Whiskey Lullaby - Brad Paisley/Alison Kraus

Time to Say Goodbye - Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman 

I personally appreciate when an artist taps into those deep emotions and makes themselves vulnerable in music.  What is wrong with being real?  It is responsible for the greatest art and music in history. 

[Scott Lloyd]

17 minutes ago, pogi said:

The man is grieving over the death of his sister in law and grappling with his loss of faith which used to bring comfort.  Perhaps some grace instead of criticism, in an hour of darkness, is in order. 

Some of the greatest songs ever written are full of grief, loss, angst, and sadness...

Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton

Fire and Rain - James Taylor 

Hurt - Nine Inch Nails/Johnny Cash

Whiskey Lullaby - Brad Paisley/Alison Kraus

Time to Say Goodbye - Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman 

I personally appreciate when an artist taps into those deep emotions and makes themselves vulnerable in music.  What is wrong with being real?  It is responsible for the greatest art and music in history. 

From what I can see, Smac is not saying there’s anything “wrong” with it per se, just that it doesn’t suit his preference. Nothing wrong with that either. 

[pogi]

19 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

From what I can see, Smac is not saying there’s anything “wrong” with it per se, just that it doesn’t suit his preference. Nothing wrong with that either. 

It just felt a little stony and dismissive to say "yeah, pretty mopey/angsty".  Who says that about another in grief?  I find it hard to believe that he doesn't like some of the songs I listed which express similar grief.  This whole thread just comes off as a personal dislike for Dan.   It just feels like smac really wants to highlight that Dan is a "wreck", and not in the ways that Dan intended to mean. 

Edited July 16, 2021 by pogi

[ksfisher]

34 minutes ago, pogi said:

The man is grieving over the death of his sister in law and grappling with his loss of faith which used to bring comfort.  Perhaps some grace instead of criticism, in an hour of darkness, is in order. 

Some of the greatest songs ever written are full of grief, loss, angst, and sadness...

Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton

Fire and Rain - James Taylor 

Hurt - Nine Inch Nails/Johnny Cash

Whiskey Lullaby - Brad Paisley/Alison Kraus

Time to Say Goodbye - Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman 

I personally appreciate when an artist taps into those deep emotions and makes themselves vulnerable in music.  What is wrong with being real?  It is responsible for the greatest art and music in history. 

Bell Bottom Blues - Derek and the Dominoes

Tracks of My Tears - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

Box of Rain - Grateful Deal

Powderfinger - Neil Young

When the Tigers Broke Free - Pink Floyd

Sea and Sand - The Who

 

[smac97]

3 hours ago, pogi said:

Quote

The video for "Wrecked" just dropped:

Yeah, pretty mopey / angsty.  Not really my cuppa.

The man is grieving over the death of his sister in law and grappling with his loss of faith which used to bring comfort. 

Yes, I know.

3 hours ago, pogi said:

Perhaps some grace instead of criticism, in an hour of darkness, is in order. 

Huh?  He himself characterized the music as reflecting "angst."  I was agreeing with his characterization of his music.

Broadly speaking, angsty "emo" music is not something I find worthwhile.  It seems to revel in and perpetuate dark, negative themes.  Angst.  Self-harm.  Depression.  Futility.  Even suicide.  See here:

Quote

Stereotypes

Emo has been associated with a stereotype of emotion, sensitivity, shyness, introversion or angst.^{[11][273][274]} Other stereotypes include depression, self-harm and suicide.^[258][275] Some people explained the difference between emos and goths by saying that "emos hate themselves, while goths hate everyone."^[276]

Suicide and self harm

Main article: Suicide in music subcultures

Emo music was blamed for the suicide by hanging of teenager Hannah Bond by the coroner at her inquest and her mother, Heather Bond, with emo music reportedly glamorizing suicide; Hannah's apparent obsession with My Chemical Romance was said to be linked to her death. It was said at the inquest that she was part of an Internet "emo cult", and an image of an emo girl with bloody wrists was on her Bebo page.^[277] Hannah reportedly told her parents that her self-harm was an "emo initiation ceremony".^[277] Heather Bond criticised emo culture: "There are 'emo' websites that show pink teddies hanging themselves."^[277] After the coroner's verdict was reported in NME, fans of emo music contacted the magazine to deny that it promoted self-harm and suicide.^[278] My Chemical Romance reacted online to the suicide of Hannah Bond: "We have recently learned of the suicide and tragic loss of Hannah Bond. We'd like to send our condolences to her family during this time of mourning. Our hearts and thoughts are with them".^[279] The band also posted that they "are and always have been vocally anti-violence and anti-suicide".^[279]

"If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."  (AoF 1:13.)  Broadly speaking, Emo music doesn't fit the bill.

3 hours ago, pogi said:

Some of the greatest songs ever written are full of grief, loss, angst, and sadness...

Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton

A beautiful song.  And it was written following the tragic loss of Clapton's young son.

The last verse is particularly poignant:

Quote

Beyond the door, there's peace, I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in heaven

I'd like to think that Clapton caught a glimpse of the truth we all profess to believe.

But Tears in Heaven is not Emo.

3 hours ago, pogi said:

Hurt - Nine Inch Nails/Johnny Cash

Another moving one, particularly performed by Cash.  Reznick was right when he said "that song isn't mine anymore."

3 hours ago, pogi said:

I personally appreciate when an artist taps into those deep emotions and makes themselves vulnerable in music. 

So do I.

That said, I am not particularly appreciative of music that dwells on, that steeps and mires itself in, depression, despondency, and similarly dark themes.  

3 hours ago, pogi said:

What is wrong with being real? 

I said, of Reynolds' song: "Not really my cuppa."  That's hardly a denunciation of "being real."

3 hours ago, pogi said:

It is responsible for the greatest art and music in history. 

Strawman.

I can appreciate music that acknowledges and addresses pain and grief and loss.

The epilogue of the video, shown over photographs of Dan's deceased sister-in-law and her family is poignant: "When trials come, things that are important become really clear."

So I've watched it a few more times.  I must admit it's growing on me.

Just saw this:

Quote

As Reynolds previously revealed, “Wrecked” was inspired by the singer’s late sister-in-law Alisha Durtschi Reynolds, who died following a cancer battle; a tribute to Alisha is shown at the  end of the Matt Eastin-directed video.

“She was the brightest light. A beacon of joy and strength for everyone she met. Her sudden passing has shaken me in ways that I still am unable to express,” Reynolds had said in a statement. “I was with her and my brother when she passed, and it was the first time in my life that I had witnessed death in this way. It sealed into my mind the fragility of life and finality of this all. I’ve watched my brother face something that no one should have to. But I’ve also seen his faith bring him hope in a future with her. I can only hope for the same.”

Reynolds continued. “This song was my way of dealing with it all, as music has always been my refuge. No longer being a man of fervent faith, I can only hope that she hears it somewhere in a place where she is healed and no longer in pain. This song is my wish for an eternity with those that I love.”

It seems like Dan has positioned himself as being on the outside looking in.  Regarding his brother (Alisha's widower), Dan states, from an externalize point of view: "I’ve also seen his faith bring him hope in a future with her. I can only hope for the same."  I also characterizes himself as "no longer ... a man of fervent faith," and that the song is "my wish for an eternity with those that I love."

In a sense, the song isn't as "emo" as I initially thought.  

Thanks,

-Smac

Edited July 16, 2021 by smac97