Escape Through Music: Panic! At The Disco (Part 2)

Ever since our last Escape Through Music: Panic! At The Disco back in January of 2017, not much has changed. Except the fact that the band now consists of Brendon Urie, Kenneth Harris, Dan Pawlovich, and Nicole Row, Brendon got to star in a Broadway musical, and that Panic! At The Disco’s music is still absolutely slaying the music game with brand new songs like “Say Amen (It’s Saturday Night” and “Fuck A (Silver Lining).”

Oh, and we forgot to mention all the love that is STILL in this new Panic! era. After all, the musical that Brendon was in (Kinky Boots) was all about love and acceptance. Don’t believe us? In honor of Panic!’s new music, the band did a few pop up shows for fans at a low price at small venues. Up close and personal shows at a low price? Um, count us in! That alone shows just how much love this band has for their fans.

With songs like “Say Amen (It’s Saturday Night” and “Fuck A (Silver Lining)” being ones to jam to and not care about what anyone else is thinking, we’re excited to see what the rest of the album will sound like! Listening to lyrics like, “If every night I go to sleep knowing / That I gave everything that I had to give / Then it's all I could've asked for / I've been standing up beside everything I've ever said, but / Oh, it's Saturday night,” from “Say Amen (It’s Saturday Night,” we have the confidence to go out, try our hardest, and enjoy life.

After years of Panic! At The Disco, the fans continue to love and support the band's music, and our submissions for this article prove that. We had over 700 submissions come in from Panic! fans all over the world.

We took the time to speak to some Panic! At The Disco fans from around the world, and this is what they had to say. (Any photos belong to the person's name directly above it.)

Serena Marròn | 15 | California - "Hi my names Serena Marròn. I am 15 and have been a fan of P!ATD since the age of 13. I’ve gone through so much emotionally with this band. Brendon helped me keep my head up everyday in the darkest of times, when I was suicidal, when I was anorexic and when I lost someone. From my worst time to my best. Panic has influenced me to be who I am. I really mean it when I say that I wouldn’t be here without Panic. Brendon and Sarah have changed me for the better. Mrs. Urie is sweet and kind and deserves the world, which is Brendon."

"I still go through tough times and sometimes I just want to through everything away. But I remember the little things that Brendon will say. For example, in a live on Instagram he responded to comment that said, “What should I do instead of cutting?” He said something that always echos in my head. He said, “Distract yourself, do something you like, something that makes you happy, just do it and don’t stop doing it.” So that’s what I do. I do what makes me happy, I play and write music. I’ve gone through so much as a kid. Living in hotels, separated from my family and parents a lot of the time, divorced parents, bullies. But Brendon Boyd Urie taught me things I would’ve never learned. To say f*ck it, f*ck you, f*ck them. I’m so grateful, my first tattoo will be his face over my scars on my left forearm where he has Sinatra, because where he has his hero, I’ll have mine."

​Shaun Blakeney | 47 | Mississippi - "I love P!ATD because they saved my daughter's life.  She is the biggest fan of P!ATD and I don't know if she would be here if she had not found them at her lowest low.  She was in high school, was bullied a lot. Was left out of lots of things and was even "taken" to the fair with all the popular girls only to be left there all alone. Things like this happened a lot to her.  She resorted to music, which has always been a constant in our home. She fell in love with Brendon Urie and he has been a constant. At the time she didn't know that she had loved him a very long time."

"I used to play lots of his early stuff when she was little. My daughter fell into a deep depression in High School due to serious mean girls and their issues with her. She got decent grades and worked jobs and graduated. And got away from all that drama. She sank further into P!ATD. The first time she got to go see them I drove her. It was all she had ever dreamed of, me and my special needs son got in as well and Laken was absolutely the happiest I had ever seen her in her whole life. Mean girls didn't matter."

"It was all she could talk about. The second she was old enough she got a tattoo with lyrics from her favorite song. The one that totally saved her. It's a beautiful tribute to P!ATD. It has the lyrics "let me save you , hold this rope while I pull you in." Those lyrics changed her life. She got to see them again on her birthday January 1st. She waited in the rain just to see his smiling face. He makes her the happiest. She says that was by far the best birthday ever. 
She went to college as a theater major and she was having a pretty decent time and got another chance to go see P!ATD again."

"This time was the most special of all. She took a sign that said "YOU SAVED MY LIFE" and Brendon sent her a heart made out of his hands and that was it. She was the most happiest girl I because the whole world and the "mean girls" didn't matter again. She is the most loving person I have ever met (yea I know I am biased) but she would give everything she has to anyone. In our home we don't have hate, only love and acceptance for Everyone. No matter what. So you see this band is extremely special to us. They have not only saved my child's life but in turn saved mine because with out her I have no life. So thank you so much. We will ALWAYS be your Number 1 and number 2 fans. Forever."

Jenna | 19 | NJ - "Panic! saved my life. At a time when my whole world was falling apart and no one was there for me, Panic! was. They still are. They're the only thing that puts a smile on my face anymore. They give me a reason to keep going. I owe everything to them."

Hannah Simpson | 17 | Florida - "Panic! and Brendon Urie especially will always be very dear to my heart. Their music changed my life from the time I was as young as eight years old and I heard them for the first time I remembered. Here is this band that says it's okay to be who you are and to like who you like and not to be ashamed of anything that you feel is different from other people's opinions. Here is this person who is so crazy and fun and energetic that is telling me that it's okay for me to have ADHD it's okay for me to have anxiety it's okay for me to feel these things and that I really do feel them and no one can tell me that those things are not valid no one can tell me that my opinion does not matter because of his opinion matters, my opinion matters. Brendon Urie is such an uplifting and incredible person and even though I'll never meet him he has changed my life I lived my whole life being told that even though I was diagnosed with ADHD and Asperger's and anxiety that I don't have an excuse to act differently than other people and I should just deal with it."

"But he shares his experiences with those things and tells us that those are actual valid things that we deal with. Brendon Urie, his wife, and all the members of Panic! at the Disco from the past are all just such as accepting and kind people. Their passion for music and their passion for people is just amazing. I was bullied all through Elementary and Middle School relentlessly to the point of tears and nearing suicide, but because of music which I found by playing flute in 8th grade and by listening to Panic! at the Disco, I never went through with it because I felt like there were things I had not experienced in life. Music kept me going. The thought of missing all of Brendon's music that he had not yet produced made me change my mind."

Simone Greenspan | 14 | New York - "There are so many reasons why I love Panic! at The Disco. The biggest reason is how supportive they are of all of their fans. Brendon is very supportive towards all people: any sexuality, any race, any gender. He is truly inspirational. He always talks about how you can always be yourself and it’s your life. Panic! At the disco has a song about accepting yourself and the LGBT community, "Girls/Girls/Boys." His band has changed the lives of so many people including mine. Brendon shares his stories about his anxiety and how he dealt with it, why being yourself is important and he even told a fan why they shouldn’t commit suicide. Brendon holds up LGBT flags at concerts and his speeches about being yourself is life changing. I can’t imagine my life without this band and they have helped me in so many ways."

Holly | 20 | Australia - "I can barely put into words how much I appreciate this band. I love Panic! At The Disco because their music is nothing like I have heard before. They're so unique from other artists and everything they release always surprises me."

"Not only do I love their music, but it has been a huge comfort for me through the years. It helps to calm me down when my anxiety gets bad. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and while I was going through treatment, I always put on their music to cheer myself up. To be honest one of the things that kept me going and gave me the strength to fight was that I had purchased Panic! concert tickets for the following year, and I refused to miss out on that. I'm happy to say that it was my first concert and it was such an amazing experience."

"Brendon is such an inspiring person to me. He's talented, always kind towards his fans and teaches them to always stand up for what they believe in. He is proof that you can do anything that you put your mind to. I'm really thankful that I discovered this band all those years ago and now I can't imagine a world without them. I cannot thank them enough for what they've done for me."

Ella Borstein | 15 | Israel - "I heard about Panic! when Too Weird To Live Too Rare To die came out, and that was the time I fell in love with these amazing band. For me, Panic! Is not just a band, it’s a band that has saved my life, as literally as it could get. I had (and still recovering) depression, and got bullied in school for many years. There were many times I’ve wanted to give up, but I always has Panic! on my side. It was the lyrics that spoke to my heart, or the fact that Brendon is such a caring person and someone to look up to, I felt like there was someone that got what I’m feeling. I survived because of Panic!, as crazy as it sounds, and I own them my life."

"Moreover, I was really shy about my voice before I met Panic!, and now I’m much more confident and looking forward for future in the music industry, because singing is the thing I love doing the most. Very sadly for me, I don’t have the money to afford ticked to fly to the US, and Brendon has never came to Israel, but I’m filled with hope that one day, I will get to see live the band that I admire and love most . Soon I’m getting a “BU” tattoo on my wrist, which represents the biggest life lesson Brendon has taught me, always stay true to yourself and be yourself (B U - be you). And after thinking about that, I noticed that it’s also Brendon Urie, (BU), which is daily thank for the man who made me accept myself and stay alive, everyday.
If somehow this gets to Brendon, I love you, thanks for everything."

Joey | 13 | New Jersey - "I have struggled with self harm and anxiety for about a year or so. I saw Brendon talk about it a few times on a live stream and it really helped me to stop. To here something like that from someone you love and look up to can help tremendously. All of Panic! At The Disco’s songs are truly remarkable. They deserve every ounce of fame, money, and every other benefit that comes with a career like this. I don’t know where I would be without them. Not only the amazing help they provide with my anxiety and other issues, but their music is so amazing I’m having trouble finding the right words to say. Words cannot describe how much they’ve helped me and how much I love Panic! At The Disco. I am going to their concert July 27, and I can’t wait. xoxo"

Chanelle | 19 | France - "I discovered Panic! At The Disco almost two years ago and their music inspires me in multiple ways. I don't know much about the other band members, but Brendon seems to be the nicest guy in the world and I owe him a lot. He might be the greatest singer I've ever known and I admire him as the modest singer I am."

"Panic! At The Disco's music helped me more than ever recently as I've been struggling with cancer. They were already helping me a lot in my everyday life, of course, but this time... It was about living or dying, more than ever. Brendon's joyful personality and lyrics gave me reasons to keep smiling, and to believe in the future. I am doing better today and I will keep going just the way I did during cancer treatment. Words will never be enough but I hope I'll have the chance to tell them how grateful I am for everything they did, for how much they helped me. For saving my life."

Sophia | 13 | Canada - "I love Panic! At The Disco for infinite reasons. When I’m sad or happy there’s always a song that i cant listen to. It’s like medicine. I’ll be so upset or angry and then turn on some Panic! and it’ll all just go away. This year I got the opportunity to have a panic show in the perfect location, right on the day of my birthday. I’ve been dreaming about this for so long and it’s finally coming true. Brendon himself has helped me through a lot of things and he is part of the reason i’m still here today. The lyrics in all the songs just get me and it makes me feel like I've got someone. Because of Panic!, I've gotten into a lot of other bands (Fall Out Boy, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me, The Young Veins) and some of the band members solo work (heavily advise you to checking out Kenny’s solo stuff, it’s amazing)."

"They’re also part of the reason why I’d like to learn to play bass guitar and play in a band one day, and also write my own songs. For the Panic! show I'm going to, I got the chance to participate in #PATDhearts, which is a project s where fans print, cut, and hand out thousands of coloured hearts to be held up during the song "Girls/Girls/Boys." It’s going to go great and really make this experience amazing. The Panic! fandom to me is mostly made up of nice, devoted fans who all share the same passion as me, music."

Amber | 19 | California - "When I was young my brother was the first person to fall in love with Panic! At the Disco, if it wasn’t for him, I would not have discovered this amazing band. Now I’ll be honest, it wasn’t until 2012 that I fully immersed myself into their music, but here is the reason why I have an immense love for Panic! At The Disco. At a young age I’ve never had the “picture perfect” family. I always found myself in a position where I felt inner conflict and pain. As a child and as a young adult, I found myself struggling with both stress and anxiety. I was always the quiet girl in class, the weird girl, the girl who was strange just because I was introverted. Listening to Panic! Changed a lot of that."

"I would blast all of their albums through my earphones and lose myself into their melodies, each musical note would hang into the air as I would milk every last bit of that unique tune. Whenever I felt like I was hanging on a thread, about to breakdown crying, I would blast on music from Panic! and hear Brendon’s voice fill my ears and automatically I knew that everything was going to be alright. Little by little I found myself falling more in love with this band. Soon I started to share my love for it with everyone I knew. Every time I spoke about this band with others, I would find myself smiling and lose myself to laughter. I can hardly believe this myself, but it’s thanks to this band that I have met so many incredible people. I found myself becoming less shy and more extroverted. I started communicating with other people who loved the band just as much as I did and it’s been honestly such a honor. Sometimes I forget that I feel pain when I listen to their music and for just a second, I lose myself in Panic’s euphoria. If I could meet Brendon one day and tell him how thankful I am towards him, I would be happiest person in the world."

"Brendon is a heartwarming, loving, and caring person. You can see and feel the light he radiates from his personality into the world and He translates that into his music. Panic! At the Disco is the reason why I am able to push myself throughout the day And the reason why I aspire to be myself in the most rawest shape and form. Thank you Panic! At the Disco, for making me feel like being different is okay and thank you Brendon, for being raw with your fans and showing us the beauty of being unique."

Kelli | 18 | Nevada - "Panic! At The Disco has been the biggest impact of my life. Back in 2006 when I was 6 years old growing up in Vegas, the people around me considered them a local band as A Fever You Can't Sweat Out was just barely released. Everything changed when I first came across them performing their new songs on MTV. At the time Brent Wilson was around and Brendon was super sick during the performance. The people around me thought they were terrible, but I thought they had potential. By the time the music video for "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" came out, I instantly fell in love. Since that day up until now, I've grown with them. I watched everything happen, members come and go, everything. I always and still have the biggest soft spot for Brendon, he's the reason I'm still here today. At this point I've given up on trying to meet him since it's been 13 years, it's just not bound to happen but I still wish every single day to meet him."

"My mother wasn't too fond of him on the other hand and refrained me of seeing Panic! live up until I was 16 during the summer tour where I finally saw him with my own 2 eyes in 2016 in Chula Vista, CA. That was 10 whole years ripped away from me, and was just so overwhelmed that I was crying the whole time. Him and this band has been a big impact in my life. My first band, my first crush, my first obsession, everything. I thought it would be the only time I would ever get to see him, but Brendon came around for a hometown show during the Death Of A Bachelor Tour and was so ecstatic but yet again, I wasn't refrained from going until I secretly bought tickets last minute and it was the best risk I've ever taken. The show was so amazing and beautiful just as I expected. Now for absolutely sure, I thought I would never see him again."

"As if I thought it can't get any better, Panic! announced their Pray For The Wicked Tour and Vegas was there again! I had the privilege to get front row seats, and to this day I still don't believe that I've gotten them. I went 13 years of getting nowhere near or even interacting with Brendon and now I'm lucky enough to be front and center of him. Never would I have thought I would ever get this opportunity and I'm just so so so grateful. Even the tiniest interaction would just make my world. I have so much love and support for Brendon and this band, and always will."

Lone | 14 | Norway - "What got me into Panic! At The Disco was the music. I heard to songs and was already convinced I’d found a new favourite band. Brendon writes his lyrics in such a beautiful way, and even in the bands “party”-songs, I sometimes start crying because the lyrics are so good and I relate so much. The melodies are also so incredibly great. Almost every single one of their songs can be danced to. And Brendon’s voice.. where do I start? His ability to hit both super high and low notes is unbelievable! He truly is one of the greatest singers of all time."

"Like I said, what got me into Panic! was the music, but after getting to know the band a bit better, Brendon and the earlier members are the biggest reason why they men so much to me. Brendon is just such an amazing soul. He truly appreciates every single one of his fans, and keeps repeating it over and over, which for some reason is a bit rare in the music industry. Despite him expressing his love for us, as often as he does, we also have a lot of inside jokes in the fandom and with him. He jokes with us and on our behalf, but he makes sure to never drag it too far. He is so respectful when he talks about other people, and never has the intention to hurt anyone. If I lost interest in their music, I know for a fact that I’d still stay in the fandom because of the bond I have with Brendon."

"I found Panic! At The Disco when i was in a very bad mental state. I was losing friends and spending every single day inside my room. I was also struggling with my identity and coming to terms with my sexuality. Finding something that I was so passionate about and that made me forget everything that was happening around me, felt freeing and sort of satisfying. It was like a puzzle piece that was missing from my life. Brendon’s lyrics, especially in “Golden Days” and “House Of Memories”, we’re very relatable to how I was feeling at that point. I’ve spent countless nights crying over how perfectly the lyrics to those two songs fit my situation."

"Brendon has made me more comfortable with my sexuality and my identity. Panic!’s music has been my “escape” from school and drama. They helped me make some amazing friends and they are the reason I got into Fall Out Boy, Twenty One Pilots, My Chemical Romance, and Paramore who are my other favourite bands after Panic! At The Disco. The one thing at the top of my wish list is to meet Brendon and be able to thank him in person, for what he’s down to me. He truly has changed my life for the better and I will never be a able to put into words just how much he means to me. I love that man."

Caitlin | 15 | Manchester - "I love Panic! because not only have they helped me but they’ve helped millions of people worldwide. They touch you to express yourself as a person and through what you love. They encourage you to follow your dreams because ‘one day you’ll change the world’. They’re accepting of all fans no matter the sexuality, sexual orientation, skin colour, size etc. And they’re such loving people individually, you too Zack. The lyrics they write are so amazing, despite the whacky titles that I’ll never remember, and they help people through such hard times. They live and laugh with all fans/sinners. They give the best advice and they’re here for each and every one of us. The interaction they have with fans is so cool and amazing. They’re such big supporters of the LGBTQ community. Brendon openly talks about his mental health and how it’s affected him, which helps many people learn from. Every night they put on a show they make sure it was just as good as the last. The room is electrifying, from what I’ve seen on the videos, and I hope one day I’ll be able to see them live! I also hope to meet them one day, that’d be mint! (Remind me to not bring my dad to a show, Brendon takes his shirt of and my dad is embarrassing oops.)"

They continue to produce amazing music/shows/merch consistently not to mention them and everyone involved with Panic! continues to work their asses of every day. I can’t wait for Pray For The Wicked, out June 22nd. Pre-order your copy now! Wow I should be on promotional sales. Just kidding. Anyway I’m gonna stop this. I could go on and on and I’ll probably think of something great to say after this and be annoyed with myself lol! I love all of Panic! and I thank them for helping save my life. PS, Nicole (their new bass player) is doing amazing like OMG she’s sick."

Zara Salman | 16 |  Pakistan - "I love Panic! At The Disco because it was a way for me to get away from the world in a time where everything seemed to be awful. Over the past year, some of my best friends didn't remain my best friends anymore. Someone who mattered to me so so much wasn't so close to me anymore. My class changed and I had to separate from many friends. It was a really tough year when I discovered Panic! and slowly, it felt as if I had a place to escape, a place to be happy and a place where I always belonged. Panic! changed my life in so many ways for the better and I love how the lyrics speak to me. Panic! At The Disco will forevermore have an essential place in my heart."

Elizabeth | 16 | Texas - "I have depression and anxiety and I have felt that Panic! At The Disco has made me feel not so alone. I'm don't have much friends and I've never had a boyfriend and sometimes I don't feel loved or cared about. Sometimes I think that no one would miss me if I was gone. I would have suicidal thoughts and feel like I was all alone in the world but then I listened to Panic! and Brendon Urie. He and his music have changed my life. He's gotten me through some awful times. He's the only person who can make me when I'm sad. I love how he cares about his fans. He made me feel like I was loved and that someone cared about me. He gave me the courage to change for the better. He's given me the courage to stand up for myself, not care what anyone thinks, and to just be me."

"Brendon Urie literally saved my life. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be here right now. His voice is the only voice that can always make me smile and laugh. I love the passion that he has for his music. It's amazing. He is such a kind, sweet, funny, charismatic, handsome, lovable goofball. I wish with all my heart that I could meet him in person and tell him what he's done for me. Brendon Urie and his music give me hope. He's the one who made me stop cutting and love myself. He made me feel like I was good enough and that it's okay because he was there. I love Brendon Urie and his music."

Always remember that there’s someone who loves you, and if you need an extra person, we love you. - Strife Magazine

Has Panic! At The Disco helped or inspired you in any way? Feel free to let us know in the comments below. If you would love a Escape Through Music: Panic! At The Disco (Part 3), also feel free let us know in the comments below.

Check out Part 1 of Escape Through Music: Panic! At The Disco HERE: https://www.strifethemagazine.com/etmp/escape-through-music-panic-at-the-disco

Written by Melanie Gomez