Besides their tunes, one of the things that metalcore group Of Virtue is known for is their mental health advocacy. Recognizing that May is traditionally Mental Health Awareness Month, the group released their single, "What's It Like to Be Happy?" on May 22 to coincide with the push for awareness. This song is more than just a personal journey; the themes explore questions that many of us have quietly asked ourselves in our darkest moments.
"What's It Like To Be Happy?" is easily one of those songs that you turn on when you're already in the worst mood and on the verge of breaking down. This song provides the comfort of screaming along to questions that you've been mentally asking yourself anyway, while feeling a little less alone.
From the title alone, the universal theme of searching for happiness (though it looks different for everyone) connects with all of us at some point. Of Virtue's vocalist, Tyler Ennis admits that even he is "still searching within every moment in my life to find out what happiness looks like for me. I’m not saying I haven’t smiled or laughed, but that one question still haunts me to this day."
The track highlights the emotional struggle that many of us deal with privately. While the music and instruments drive the song forward with traditional ease, the lyrics are the real star. Through lyrics like "I'm so sad at myself // Mad at myself // Sick of myself," every emotion is highlighted, making the track hit deeper as the singer verbally recognizes this. The repetitive questions, "what's wrong with me?", "what's it like to be happy?," and "why am I so secure in insecurity?" drive the point as the singer is searching for answers. These lyrics are the questions that will linger in your mind long after the song is finished. I believe that the push for these answers is the essence of the song, but more importantly, of fighting the longer battle.
This song is more than just a song; it reminds us that we are not alone when we feel the most isolated. This song is what we mean when we say that "music saves us."
