A Boost in Confidence

By: Alexis Carreno

Being nominated for MTV Best Rock Music Video award, “Victorious” was a good hit from Panic! at the Disco’s newest album released in 2015. The video features Brendon Urie, lead vocalist, going through different scenarios where he becomes the victor. Despite the montage of exaggerated scenes, they make the theme of the music video and song clear which is boosting confidence.

The video starts with the Brandon in a boxing ring getting ready to fight another boxer who looks stronger and more intimidating. Despite the difference in body strength, Brandon knocks him out and is given a championship belt followed by confetti falling from the sky and girls with champagne approaching him. Here semiotics, a sign that represent another meaning other than itself, is used because those are signs of celebration; when someone receives a title belt it is because they are a champion while confetti and champagne are items associated with parties (Danesi 2004). On the next scene, Brandon receives a note that his girlfriend is breaking up with him which leads him to crying and sobbing. He then gets a call from her and as much as he would like to answer the phone he does not. Can you guess what happens next? The repetition of the confetti and girls with champagne bottles occurs signifying he is the victorious for staying strong. The montage continues with the same sequence, having a task to do, accomplishing it then and over exaggerating celebration occurs.

An important part of the music video is that instead of being one single scene it is like a montage of many scenes that range in difficulty; from surviving a break up to helping a lady cross the street before the light turns red. This allows the theme of the video to reach a larger audience because more people can relate with the simpler tasks. Furthermore, the simple but exaggerated scenes give the viewers a humorous vibe and makes them feel like they can do the same tasks and feel great.

The theme of boosting confidence in the music video is very clear and the lyrics only further establish this victorious feeling. However, there is a hidden meaning behind this video that viewers will not see unless they are aware of the bands history. According to Wikipedia, the band formed in 2004 and composed of Brandon and 3 other members. After 2 years, one of the member, Brent Wilson, was kicked out of the band for the lack or responsibility and replaced. Then after their second album, their style of music started changing and since Brandon and Smith wanted to make further changes, the other two members left and formed their own band. Furthermore, in 2015 Smith left the band due to health issues and left Brandon as the only member of the official lineup.  

Original 4 Members of the Band

With this said, we start to get a better understanding of the hidden meaning of the music video. Brandon has gone through a lot with the band these past 12 years; he witnesses the band coming together and then saw the members slowly leave making him to be the only original member. This is a difficult thing to go through because a band is like a family, a team and to see members leave brings a sense of discouragement. It can get to some people head and destroy them from the inside, yet Brandon is still going strong with the band taking it to the next level as their new album dropped in 2015, Death of a Bachelor. The first song on the album is no other than “Victorious” which makes perfect sense because he is expressing himself. As an artist, he is full of confidence with high self-esteem and is ready to continue with the band taking it in the direction he envisions as well as make his fans happy.

According to an article by Stumme, Brandon explained on Genius.com “…It’s about having that confidence and being like 'Yeah, I could be the greatest, I just have to push myself to do it.' I just kept chanting 'S-P-O-R-T-S' the whole time in the studio. It was fun." He the artist summarizes the point of the music video because after watching it the viewer are left with this feeling of being energized. The best part is that it does not have to be about a certain thing but just in general, makes us feel more… Victorious!