19 Years of ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’
By Stella Violet
The debut studio album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, by American pop rock band Panic! At the Disco turns 19!
Everyone say, thank you Ryan Ross.
On September 27, 2005, frontrunners Ryan Ross and Brendon Urie didn’t know it yet, but they were about to release an album that would change the pop-punk scene forever with satirical staged spectacles and theatrical performances.
To this day, the album is recognized for its unique sound, original aesthetic, and its ability to withstand the test of time. With its most notable song, “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” being deemed as an emo classic.
The album was entirely written by band member Ryan Ross who was heavily influenced by author Chuck Palahniuk. His love for Palahniuk is expressed on the track titled, “The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage”, which is a quote from Palahniuk’s book, Survivor.
Early 2000s pop-punk had recently transitioned into a more cabaret-eque sound with bands such as the Dresden Dolls and the World/Inferno Friendship Society releasing albums featuring this new sound.
However, it wasn’t until Panic! entered the scene that circus performers, burlesque dancers and old Broadway musicals could become a commercial hit.
The melodramatic sound mixed with risque lyrics, electronic beats, and highly detailed and theatrical music videos are what set the band apart from others in the scene. And, its what made Fall Out Boy members Patrick Stump and Pete Wentz sign the band to their label Fueled by Ramen.
Beyond the music, Panic! At the Disco focused on their public image, often being captured in photos wearing over the top blazers and ruffled shirts with eyeliner, top hats, and detailed sleeve garters which created this vaudevillian image surrounding the album.
The album plays out much like a three-act play with a self-titled introduction and intermission which allows listeners to fall into the story of AFYCSO. Including lines like, Don’t you see? I’m the narrator and this is just the prologue”.
The over the top titles like, “Build God Then We’ll Talk” and “There’s a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven’t Thought of It Yet” tell stories within themselves, making them enticing and captivating to listeners.
Music videos for the album, such as Build God Then We’ll Talk, bring the lyrics to life.
The video tells the story of a mime who often acts out sexual scenarios on stage meanwhile off-stage he struggles with his own relationship with his girlfriend. He theatrically cheats on her with an imaginary lover and when the woman finds out she retaliates by having a mimed affair of her own.
This exaggerated example of adultery through euphemisms and sly humor is how Panic! expressed real-world problems and revealed their consequences which was a major theme throughout the album.
In the music video for “But It’s Better if You Do,” a man ignores his girlfriend’s warning not to go sing at an illegal strip club. The video portrays the story with “Wizard of Oz”-style editing, whereas as the video goes on the colors change from black and white to color.
The man slowly falls for another woman in a mask at the club who eventually ends up being his girlfriend just as the authorities arrive hauling them both off to the police station.
The entire production of this album is similar to the Broadway musical, “Chicago,” which is a satirical take on the corruption of the criminal justice system portrayed through a “celebrity criminal”.
The most important transition from the album's release to touring was the band’s ability to keep the element of a theatrical live performance like the ones featured in the music videos.
In 2006, Panic! At the Disco performed in Denver, Colorado leading to the band’s most iconic live released performances of all time.
The hour and a half long performance featured the entirety of AFYCSO and a cover of “Karma Police” by Radiohead. And, heavily resembled a play with intermissions, a host who introduced each act and burlesque dancers who shared facts about the frontrunners between songs.
The performance featured life-sized mariannette dancers, exaggerated outfits and musical instruments, and a highly-detailed set design.
Live in Denver also features vocals from writer and guitarist, Ryan Ross, who is not vocally featured on the studio-recorded album.
Rumors on online forums have circulated for years as to why Ross never sang on either of the two albums he helped write and produce for the band. With the most notable being his nerves and his dedication to the band, knowing Brendon Urie’s powerhouse vocals would help the band skyrocket into fame.
However, the Live in Denver performance has become a cult classic among long-time Panic! fans due to Ryan Ross’s vocals, with fans even releasing bootlegged versions of live performance on Spotify.
Aside from the music videos and live performances, the 40 minute album was unlike anything released at the time. Its dramaturgic way of storytelling was and still is unique and untouched 19 years later.
As a recognized emo staple, the album and band is still finding new audiences and sharing the cult-classicism of its theatrical performance.
With its take on musicals like “The Sound of Music” with the lyrics “There are no raindrops on roses and girls in white dresses/ It’s sleeping with roaches and taking best guesses.” And, its nod to the Broadway musical “Chicago” it really is no wonder the album has held its status all these years later.
If there’s one thing we should take away from this era is, men need to start wearing eyeliner and expressing their emotions again.
Seriously, bring back real emo men.
And, as an from the New York Times details, “This grim take, however, is not an appraisal of the merits of [musicals themselves]; it’s a cheeky editorial on all forms of pageantry, from the stage to the lies we tell in real life. And what better way to approach an extravaganza than with a beautiful spectacle of one’s own?”
