January 14th, 2015 
James Shotwell 
We’re essentially halfway into the first month of 2015 at this point, and I think it’s fair to say there have not been many game-changing singles or albums released just yet. Not that we should expect such, of course, but aside from Kanye surprising everyone while they were busy celebrating the new year not a lot of recently released music has been given much hype. Maybe it’s because everyone has been too busy getting back into the flow of work and school to pay much attention to the music being shared, or maybe – just maybe – the world has simply been waiting for the first hook no one could deny. The kind of song that raises the already high standards of the artist that created it, but also challenges the world of music overall to work a little harder moving forward. A song even your mom would sing along to, if you will.
Well, my internet friends and potential future internet enemies, a four-piece rock band from Chicago that every emo and pop punk fan loves to complain about online have just delivered that very song. It’s called “Fourth Of July,” and it was made available for streaming earlier this week:
Go ahead and take a few breaths to help settle your racing heart. Actually, listen again and then do that. I know you want to, and if you think about it while reading the rest of this you won’t really be paying attention. My thoughts can wait.
Disclaimer: Summer is not in season; the warmth you’re currently experiencing is the feeling of pure joy surging through your veins. The sun may be in the sky, but right now the evolution of Fall Out Boy’s sound and the endlessly impressive songwriting talent of Pete Wentz are the only ones responsible for your sudden desire to quit work, drive fast, and grasp at whatever fleeting sensation of youth you still remember for one last wild ride.
Before you start writing your comments, yes, I know this doesn’t sound like whatever My Heart Will Always Be the B-Side to My Tongue track you believe to be the pinnacle of the band’s career. EVERYONE KNOWS. Unless someone reading this now recently woke from a coma they entered in the summer of 2005 I sincerely doubt there is anyone with even the slightest passing interest in Fall Out Boy who has not heard–or at the very least heard about–the band’s evolution over the last decade. Not many bands from that time sound the same today as they did then, if they’re even around at all. Agreed? Okay. Let’s continue.
This isn’t about American Beauty/American Psycho. You can believe the rest the album is the biggest waste of hard drive space in the history of digital recording for all I care. It’s not, and I’ll probably write about that some other time, but you can feel however you want about the rest of the record. You cannot, however, deny the immense songwriting talent, top notch production (courtesy of Jake Sinclair), wonderful Son Lux sample, or the dance-inducing nature of the music found in this song for a single moment. The opening seconds tease something akin to “Immortals,” but as soon as Patrick Stump’s voice starts to fade in, your pulse begins to rise. This isn’t a Big Hero 6 soundtrack leftover, it’s the catchiest ode to unrequited love as told through a language only Wentz can pen ever to see the light of day.
Pick a line, any damn line, and you’re bound to stumble onto something that gives you reason to pause. Wentz, the clever bastard that he is, gives you enough angst, heartache, and metaphor to send any mind spinning. “You were my Versaille at night,” for example, is something you will be singing to yourself even when the song isn’t playing for months to come. Don’t try using it on your ladies though, because if anyone knows Pete’s way with words it’s any girl you could possibly hope to swoon using Fall Out Boy’s lyrics. Plus, I don’t know exactly what it means. It could be beautiful, sad, or (most likely) a combination of the two. It doesn’t matter. It’s catchy and every time it happens in the song I sing along as loud as possible.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: A quick Google search tells anyone with an internet connection that “Versailles At Night” is an incredibly beautiful sight.)
It’s not just about the lyrics. Thousands of great songs have been written with great lyrics and underwhelming or otherwise average accompaniment, including a few in Fall Out Boy’s own discography. The music in “Fourth Of July” is just as memorable as every word passing between Stump’s lips, with drummer Andy Hurley standing out as the backbone of the entire effort. His work lays the foundation for every infectious moment that follows. The contemporary sounds the band has been toying with off and on for years have finally been infused with pop punk and pop rock in such a way that something wholly undeniable and unique has been created.
I’ll take this a step further. After at least three dozen spins I’m convinced “Fourth Of July” is one of the best songs Fall Out Boy have ever written. I’ll put it top 5 without question, and I think you could argue that it may be worthy of top 3 contention depending on your emotional attachment to TTTYG/FUCT deep cuts. I’ve listened to this song alone at home through speakers and headphones, during workouts, while with my lady and our cat when the day is coming to a close, within five minutes of waking up, while driving through Boston and the surrounding area, while grocery shopping, and – by the time you read this – probably while doing laundry as well. It’s an addiction, and it’s one I have no intention of breaking any time soon. My biggest fear at this point is losing complete touch with reality and breaking out into a musical-like dance number in a crowded public area. The same may happen to you too, but it’s a risk I wholeheartedly urge you to take.
Fall Out Boy have gone pop. Go and scream it from every rooftop if you must, but if you do, please add – “And they’re kicking ass.”
Written by James Shotwell Follow @utgjames
For an opposing view, read UTG Editor Brian Lion’s thoughts here.
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“You were my Versailles at night” is a great lyric?
God, such an horrible songs ! They only took all the base of Son Lux and did this noisy angry thing… i’m just wondering if they liked the original song :/
This goes way beyond sampling. Headline should read “Here’s why Son Lux’s Song, Lost it to Trying, Remixed by Fall Out Boy, is the First Great Song of 2015”.
I sure hope so. They took the privilege of using his work way too far.
It’s no more than a shitty mashup. They took an amazing Son Lux song and absolutely ruined it.
This is the worst kind od theft in the world… To have the nerves to take someone’s else work and use it as your own. Scumbags. I hope they will have to pay a lot to Son Lux for this plagiarism.
BTW – CONGRATULATIONS James Shotwell FOR NOT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT MUSIC INDUSTRY AND STILL WRITTING ARTICLES ABOUT IT!
Real cool to throw shade at me when you’re not man/woman enough to use your real identity.
If you think FOB did not clear this sample, you’re crazy. Son Lux got paid.
What a shame, Fall Ou Boy. They only “asked for permission” for Son Lux to use their samples. Without the samples, this “fourth of july” song sucks. FOB should have paid for this.
i like 4th of july
Was massively confused when I heard this song. Had to check I didn’t have another tab open which was playing Son Lux…… This is way beyond sampling…