Fans of My Chemical Romance may be surprised to discover a movie soundtrack the band nearly contributed to. While the punk icons have made waves in the film industry before—with their rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Desolation Row”prominently featured in the Watchmen soundtrack—their potential involvement in another project has remained largely under the radar. This notable inclusion undoubtedly helped the band reach new listeners.
My Chemical Romance’s music is inherently cinematic, characterized by its emotional depth and rich storytelling. Their celebrated album, The Black Parade, epitomizes this concept, successfully blending aesthetic elements with profound themes, creating an almost film-like experience. Given this backdrop, it’s surprising that the band hasn’t partnered more often with filmmakers; however, a significant opportunity came their way with the film adaptation of Twilight: New Moon.
How My Chemical Romance Was Linked to Twilight
MCR Was Central to Twilight’s Creative Process
The connection between My Chemical Romance and the Twilight franchise runs deeper than mere coincidence. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, author Stephanie Meyer revealed that MCR’s music profoundly influenced her writing, particularly for the character Jacob, portrayed by Taylor Lautner. Meyer expressed how listening to MCR shaped her understanding of Jacob’s raw emotions—as illustrated in her comments:
This band is so in touch for me with Jacob’s character. This really raw, uncontrolled emotion — where it’s not about some person who’s grown up and callused over and learned how to control things. It’s someone who’s feeling it for the first time and just wants to go out and blow things up. The song ‘Famous Last Words’ is a really romantic version of Jacob saying, ‘Okay, I’m putting myself out there, and you’re probably going to break me, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m still going to make the offer.’
Considering that MCR directly inspired the novels, it seemed fitting for them to be approached for the movie’s soundtrack. Ultimately, however, the band declined, and Muse—another band that resonated with Meyer during her writing—was selected instead. The soundtrack also featured a plethora of other notable artists, including Radiohead, Grizzly Bear, The Killers, Bon Iver, and more.
Reasons Behind MCR’s Decision to Decline Twilight
A Shift in Aesthetic and Interests
At the height of their popularity, My Chemical Romance embraced a dark, gothic aesthetic, reminiscent of gothic literature. Their 2004 album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, highlighted by the track “I’m Not Okay (I Promise),”resonated deeply with audiences. Subsequent works, including The Black Parade, solidified their place in the music scene with staples like “Helena”and “Welcome to the Black Parade.”However, by the time Twilight: New Moon was in the works, MCR was transitioning into a new phase.
2010 saw the band on the brink of releasing Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, marking a departure from their previous image. The new album introduced a lighter sound, incorporating elements of power pop and psychedelic rock, while their aesthetic shifted towards a post-apocalyptic theme. As Gerard Way explained in an interview with Q Magazine:
With things like Twilight, the idea of anything gothic like vampires wasn’t scary anymore; they were sexy or contemplative. To me, vampires are the new Jonas Brothers. So we’ve gone the opposite way.
MCR Sidestepped a Potential “Sell-Out”Scenario
Hayley Williams’ Perspective
For those questioning My Chemical Romance’s decision to pass on a lucrative project associated with a $700 million blockbuster, look no further than Hayley Williams’ reflections on her own band’s experience. Paramore’s song “Decode”from the previous Twilight film launched them to new heights, going double platinum. Yet, Williams shared with Rolling Stone that success came with its drawbacks:
There was part of me that read the books; I loved them, they were easy reads and they were fun. It was: holy s***, we have a song in a movie – that was crazy. And then the resentment set in like, ‘oh my god, we’re the Twilight band’. It took a long time to get over that part of myself that wanted to be like ‘you’re a poser’.
Williams articulated a common concern among musicians: becoming typecast in a specific role. The band worried about losing their punk identity by being labeled as the “Twilight band.”MCR faced similar fears about being perceived as conforming to mainstream needs.
This mindset resonated with their song “Vampire Money”from Danger Days, which satirizes bands eager to capitalize on lucrative opportunities. The phrase “vampire money”stems from the attention MCR received following the success of their debut single, “Vampires Will Never Hurt You.”Rejecting the opportunity to contribute to Twilight turned out to be a protective measure for My Chemical Romance, allowing them to remain true to their roots.
Source: Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone
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