- Panic! At The Disco songs are made of genres that include pop-rock, pop, baroque pop, electropop, alternative rock, and pop-punk
- From 2004 to 2015, the band created songs with 5 members, and from 2015, it contains only one member, Brendon Urie
- Panic! At The Disco songs have garnered Grammy Awards nominations and won some Billboard music awards among others
Panic! at the Disco is one of the solo projects that is bound to remain that way. The band started off as a friendship pop-rock lineup with most of its ideas coming from Brendon Urie, its frontman. However, the release of their albums and songs made the band sought-after among many music lovers.
It started while they were in High school before rising to become a successful band. The band has more than 5 albums and many top-charting songs like I Write Sin Not Tragedy to its name yet, it has gone through different lineups.
What is the story behind Panic! at the Disco songs and members of the band? Let’s dig in to find out more details about them.
How Panic! At The Disco Songs Became Successful
Panic! at the Disco was formed in 2004 in Summerlin, Las Vegas. The pop-rock band came about through the effort of childhood friends, Brendon Urie, Ryan Ross, Brent Wilson, and Spencer Smith.
Like most boy bands, they attended separate high schools and then later released their first demo while still students at High School.
For an unsigned band, their turning point came after Pete Wentz, the bassist for the Fall Out Boy listened to their demo via a LiveJournal account. They made an impression and he decided to visit the boys in Los Angeles. Their interaction with him led to them signing a contract with him without doing a live performance.
They were the first to be signed by Decaydance as a result of Wentz’s influence.
The band’s smash hit single I Write Sins Not Tragedies announced the arrival of the band as an alternative rock band. By the time they released their first album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat in 2005, the band had become a best seller with a record of selling 1.8 million copies.
Panic! as many fans of the band refer to it retained its success trail for the next decade despite all the changes it went through.
The Truth About Members of Panic! At The Disco
View this post on Instagram
Panic’s success is always closely linked to the effort and consistency of Brendon Urie who is currently the band’s frontman. However, there were others that helped the band reach the level of the top-charting band it is now enjoying.
Many of its original members have left leaving only Brendon who was joined at different stages by some. Let’s take a look at all the members of the band.
Former Members
- Brent Wilson: He was a founding member and original bassist of the band before they kicked him out. According to the band’s lead vocalist, Urie, Brent was not serious about the band nor ready to improve on his singing. However, Wilson said they sacked him via a phone call. He had a clash with the law when he was charged with drugs and gun possession.
- Ryan Ross: he left the band in 2009 following a change in the band’s creative work and sound.
- Jon Walker: the former instrumentalist and backup vocalist replaced Wilson in the band. He left the band about the same time with Ross.
Former Touring Members
- Spencer Smith
- Dallon Weekes
- Bartran Nason
- EricRonick
- Ian Crawford
- Kenneth Harris
Current Members
- Brendon Urie: Over the years, Brendan has consistently remained in the band and is still the only member of the original lineup. He is the lead vocal aside from other instruments he plays like the guitar, keyboard, percussion, and drums.
Current Touring Members of the band:
- Dean Pawlovich
- Chris Bautista
- Erm Navarro
- Jesse Molloy
- Nicole Row
- Kiara Ana Perico
- Leah Metzler
- Desiree Hazley
- Mike Neran
Panic! at the Disco Albums and Best Songs
The band has more than albums to its name and these are:
- A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out (2005)
- Pretty. Odd (2008)
- Vices & Virtues (2011)
- Too Weird To Live, Too Rare to Die (2013)
- Death of a Bachelor(2016)
- Pray for the Wicked(2018)
Panic! at the Disco best songs:
1. I Write Sins Not Tragedy
- Album: A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out
- Producer: Matt Squire
- Songwriters: Ryan Ross, Brendon Urie, Spencer Smith
- Release Date: 2005
- Award/Nomination: Won MTV Video Music Award Video of the Year(2006), TMF Award for Best Video International(2006)
Lyrics:
Oh, well imagine
As I’m pacing the pews in a church corridor
And I can’t help but to hear
No, I can’t help but to hear an exchanging of words
This song is the first single from the band’s first album. It holds a special spot on this list because it introduced Panic! to many fans and followers.
2. High Hopes
- Album: Pray for the Wicked
- Producer: Jake Sinclair, Jonas Jeberg, Jonny Coffer
- Songwriter: Brendon Urie, Jenny Owen Youngs, Lauren Pritchard, Sam Hollander, Ilsey Juber, Jonas Jeberg, Jake Sinclair
- Release Date: 2018
- Award/Nomination: Billboard Award for Top Rock Song(2019), iHeart Radio Music Award Alternative Rock Song of the Year Award(2019), MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video(2019)
Lyrics:
Had to have high, high hopes for a living
Shooting for the stars when I couldn’t make a killing
Didn’t have a dime but I always had a vision
Ever felt so low despite having big dreams, High hopes is an inspiration to push on no matter the obstacles.
3. Nine in the Afternoon
- Album: Pretty. Odd
- Producer: Rob Mathes
- Songwriter: Ryan Ross, Jon Walker, Brendon Urie, Spencer smith
- Release Date: 200
- Genre: Pop rock
- Award/Nomination:
Lyrics:
Back to the street where we began
Feeling as good as lovers can, you know
Yeah, we’re feeling so good
For many fans of the band’s first album, this song among others on its second album is different.
They wrote a song that everyone can just listen to. It is a fun song that everyone should have on their playlist.
4. Hey Look Ma I Made It
- Album: Pray for the Wicked
- Producers: Jake Sinclair, Dillon Francis, Morgan Kibby, and Michael Angelakos
- Songwriter: Brendon Urie
- Release Date: 2018
- Genre: Dance Pop
- Award/Nomination: Won Teen Choice Award for Best Rock Song, Won Billboard Award for Top Rock Song(2020)
Lyrics:
All my life, been hustling
And tonight is my appraisal
‘Cause I’m a hooker sellin’ songs
This song is a reflection of Brendon’s journey in music. It is a celebration of the high points and lows of his musical career.
5. Hallelujah
- Album: Death of a Bachelor
- Producer: Imad Royal, Jake Sinclaire
- Songwriters: Brendon Urie, Aron Wright-Roy El-Amine, Morgan Kibby, Robert Lamm, Jake Sinclaire
- Release Date: 2016
- Award/Nomination: Won Alternative Press Music Awards for Song of the Year(2016)
Lyrics:
Oh
A moment you’ll never remember
And a night you’ll never forget
Hallelujah is a reflection of Urie’s religious background.
6. Lying is the Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off
- Album: A Fever You Can’t Sweat
- Producer: Matt Squire
- Songwriter: Spencer smith, Ryan Ross Brendon Urie
- Release Date: 2005
Lyrics:
Is it still me that makes you sweat?
Am I who you think about in bed?
When the lights are dim and your hands are shaking as you’re sliding off your dress?
Relationships can get so complex but here is a song that deals with cheating in relationships.
7. Death of A Bachelor
- Album: Death of Bachelor
- Producer: Jake Sinclaire, Lauren Pritchard
- Songwriter: Brendon Urie
- Release Date: 2016
Lyrics:
Do I look lonely?
I see the shadows on my face
People have told me I don’t look the same
This song is a reflection of the end of an era despite the bittersweet memories it holds. It is one of the Panic! at the Disco Songs to add to their fame.
8. House of Memories
- Album: Death of the Bachelor
- Producer: Jake Sinclair
- Release Date: 2016
Lyrics:
If you’re a lover, you should know
The lonely moments just get lonelier
The longer you’re in love
This song is about the memories that linger long after a relationship ends.
9. Emperors New Clothes
- Album: Death of a Bachelor
- Producer: Jake Sinclair
- Songwriter: Brendon Urie, Jake Sinclair, Lauren Pritchard, Sam Hollander, Dan Wilson
- Release Date: 2016
- Award/Nomination: Won Rock Sound Readers Poll for Video of the Year(2015), Alternative Press Music Awards for Best Music Video(2016)
Lyrics:
Double, double, double down
Finders keepers, losers weepers
Double, double, double down
While one of these Panic! at the Disco Songs is adapted from Hans Christian Anderson’s story from a book of the same name, the song lays bare the conscious choices made. In this case, it talks about Urie’s life as a songwriter, producer, and leader that chooses to take back his crown.
10. This is Gospel
- Album: Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die
- Release Date: 2013
This is Gospel is about Spencer’s drug addiction and an encouragement to others going through the challenge. It is a favorite especially if you are going through a tough time.
Other Fascinating Facts About The band
1. Panic! at the Disco was first named Pet Salamander
The childhood friends, Ross and Smith started singing in the Ninth Grade at St Gorman High School. After they invited another friend, Wilson from Palo Verde High school, they sang as a cover band known as Pet Salamander. and then Summerleague Rock.
They later changed the name to Panic! at the Disco after Brendon Urie joined them. Although it is generally believed that the name comes from one of Smith’s songs, it may have come from the lyrics of a name song, Panic, “panic at the disco, sat back and took it so slow”.
Whatever the case, the band took the name and dropped the exclamation while working on their third album. Ever since they retained the name Panic at the Disco.
2. Urie Replaced Ryan Ross as The Original Lead Singer of the Band
View this post on Instagram
When Wilson invited Urie to join their band, it was to play the guitar. At the time Ross was the lead singer but after hearing Urie’s backup vocals, they all decided that he should become the band’s lead singer.
The same voice landed him the role of Charlie Price in the Broadway musical Kinky Boots.
3. Panic! bandmembers Dropped Out Of School
When they started, they were all in High school except for Ross who was already in college. They made the decision to drop out of school to concentrate on music.
The price of such a drastic measure for a group of students was the comfort of home. Ross’s relationship with his father soon soured when his father discovered that he dropped out of college.
Urie’s parents also kicked him out of the house.
4. Brendon Urie Worked to Support The band
The frontman of Panic! at the Disco, Urie put in a lot of work for the band to succeed.
More than any other person, Brendon took up a job at the Tropical Smoothie Cafe to get money for the band’s practice space. They had been practicing in the living room of Smith’s grandmother.
See Also: Color Me Badd: Where Are The Members? – 5 Hot Facts About The Group
5. The Band wrote Their second Album Twice
Following the success of the first album and single, there was much expectation about their second album. Though it was a departure from the sounds of the first, the album came out great.
The band had to write the album twice just to get it right. They went to the mountains to get their focus right but had to return to L.A within a short time due to the pressure from the Label.
While still unable to finish the work, they moved to Las Vegas and then London.
6. Urie Made A successful run of the Band’s Fifth Album
Brendon is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who also likes doing collaboration work with other artists. He collaborated with Taylor Swift on the song Me.
After some of the original lineups of the band left, he pushed for the success of their next set of work.
He did most of the work on the band’s fifth album after the last founding member had left. While many taught the band will die, the fifth album, Death of the Bachelor came out amidst positive reviews of its single, Halleluyah. Halleluyah remains the band’s second highest-charting single after it debuted at No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Most of the material he writes is inspired by his experiences, The End of All Things is actually his wedding vows to Sarah Orzechowski.
7. Panic! at the DiscoSongs Achievements
View this post on Instagram
Since their breakout in 2004, they took the stage by storm and proved themselves different from Other metal bands in Las Vegas.
Their works have gone far and wide looking at the awards they grabbed over the years. These are some of their awards;
Billboard Award
- Pray for the Wicked-Top Rock Album(2019)
- High Hopes-Top Rock Song(2018)
- Panic! at the Disco– Top Rock Artist(2020)
- Hey Look Ma, I Made It– Top Rock Song(2020)
GLSEN Annual Respect Awards
- Brendon Urie-Inspiration Award
MTV Video Music Award
- I Write Sins Not Tragedy-Video of the Year(2006)
- High Hopes-Best Rock Video(2019)
- Me-Best Visual Effects(2019)
