PALAYE ROYALE - SAD GENERATION
When I first listened to Sad Generation, I noticed how upbeat the music feels even though the lyrics are heavy. The rhythm is fun and catchy, but the message is about depression, numbness, and the pressure to look perfect online. I like how that contrast makes the song stand out. It feels bright on the surface, but the words hit in a real and uncomfortable way. It reminds me of how people often smile through pain in everyday life.
The directness of the lyrics caught my attention right away. Hearing lines like “Should I just kill myself?” and “There's a million different ways to do a suicide” made me pause. They show how serious these feelings are, and how common it has become for young people to joke about death or say they are struggling. It does not feel like the band is trying to romanticize it. It feels honest and a little shocking, which I think is the point. It made me think about how often we brush these topics off instead of addressing them.
The music video fits the song perfectly. I like how it shows the way social media can take over our lives through constant scrolling, comparison, and pressure to be perfect. There are scenes that look almost glamorous, but underneath it you can see emptiness and frustration. I found myself relating to that balance of trying to stay online and present, while also feeling drained by it. It made the whole concept of the song feel even more real to me.
What I appreciate most is how Palaye Royale approaches the topic. They are not trying to give a solution. They are simply showing what it feels like to grow up right now. It is messy, confusing, and sometimes dark. When the chorus repeats “Welcome to the sad generation,” it feels less like judgment and more like a shared experience. It feels like the band is saying, “We feel it too.”
Sad Generation is emotional, catchy, and painfully relatable. It is a song I know I will come back to, not just for the sound, but for how it makes me reflect on my own habits and mental health. It brings attention to real struggles that many of us face, and it does so in a way that feels current and honest.