Legend has it that a band named Skillet once released accomplished albums like Collide and Comatose in the mid-200s. Before they tried to court specifically a mainstream rock audience, this was a band that was regularly releasing songs that preached to the misfits and those struggling with mental health problems and addiction. Then in 2009, Skillet clearly saw dollar signs in their eyes and released a cover of Three Days Grace’s “Animal I Have Become”. It was a big hit for them. Wait, you’re telling me it wasn’t a cover?
Now that the band is fully hopped on the MAGA train (or at least band leader John Cooper, who’s extremely vocal about things like “global elites” and such), they’ve decided to pursue a vision as an independent artist. All politics and controversies non-withstanding, it does make a lot of sense from a financial perspective. After all, they’re one of the most popular Christian rock bands of the last 20+ years, and the stats and accolades bear it out too. Multiple Gold and Platinum singles // albums as well as hundreds of millions of streams are hard to argue with.
You’d think the beauty of independence (G-Unit literally wrote an EP about this) would inspire Skillet to perhaps write something with a bit more substance like back in 2006, the last time this happened on Comatose. No such luck. The band’s new single, “Unpopular”, is as abysmal as the song title somewhat implies.
Even amongst long-time fans of the band, the responses have been almost completely negative across the board. Even judging by the lyrics, it’s not surprising to figure out why. The lyrical quality makes albums like Collide and Comatose seem light years away instead of around two decades.
There’s also the irony of a popular band complaining their opinions are unpopular, which interestingly is a similar card that Ronnie Radke of Falling In Reverse likes to do. It makes very little sense when you think about it. This is a band that has multiple Gold and Platinum singles and albums. Despite the downturn in quality of their music as well as the recent controversies surrounding John Cooper, they still enjoy sold out shows and tours.
Unlike bands like Creed and Nickelback that embrace and even play along with some of the negative feedback they get, it’s interesting that Skillet doesn’t seem to be playing along. Given that they still have plenty of fans despite this criticism, it seems like a wasted opportunity.
Or perhaps the manufactured outrage is taking place because it’s profitable. After all, even the negative engagement from people still keeps them relevant, because at least for now, they’ll still be able to hold on to their core fan base. Still, some of those fans continued to walk away from Skillet in droves – someone wonders how long their current popularity will last. Any way you slice it, it’s been a long fall from the quality that some of their music once had. Or as some might say about the new single, weak and wimpy.
