From 666 to 777…and back.
YouTube star Chad Tepper just released his second album, Never Stood A Chance. The songs recount his experience dealing with unhealthy love cycles and how heartbreak can lead to insecurity. The “NeverEnding Nightmare” that seems to consume Tepper and names track four, has been manifested into a pop punk / hip-hop fusion album.
Tepper gained recognition online for his solo channel in 2013 and soon became a member of the famous YouTube group called Team 10. His involvement in the entertainment industry shifted to a music focus in October of 2019 when Tepper released his first album, TRASH LOSER.
The emo-confessional lyrics in TRASH LOSER have carried over to some new tracks such as “Outta My League” and “Bad Tattoo.” However, Never Stood A Chance also includes elements of a silver lining that do not appear in TRASH LOSER. The song “777” uses the number sequence associated with good luck as a metaphor for reaching a high point in life. It ends with the lyrics “I think you can be the one that makes me happy / so happy / and I’m never going back.”
The album’s lead single “Light My Fire” is unlike anything on TRASH LOSER. It is hopeful, upbeat and guaranteed to get you dancing. The love song uses imagery of rose petals, sparks flying and “heart beat[s] / like an earthquake.”
The two lighthearted songs, playing back-to-back, are followed by a hate anthem called “1-800-IDONTKNOWYOUANYMORE.” The song is about jealousy, loneliness and drinking to forget. Its hook, “I miss you when I’m blank,” suggests that the pain of missing someone is hard to erase.
Every heartbreak takes a toll on Tepper’s self-esteem. In the songs “I Wish I Was Better Looking,” “Don’t Make Me Get Naked Alone” and “Outta My League,” Tepper desires a relationship but doesn’t believe he is worthy of love. His bruised confidence is expressed in lyrics like “I wish I was everything you needed / I wish I had lips that you needed to kiss” and “she’s way too good for me / all my friends agree.”
The anonymous “she” Tepper is referring to may also be the “Worst Best Thing” from track 12, the final track on the album. Even with the push and pull of internal battles, Tepper’s most compelling message is revealed in the powerhouse song “Run The World” featuring Bryce Vine.
In this song, Tepper takes his power back by proving his place in the music industry. The song is for his enemies and haters, for anyone who thought being a YouTuber meant Tepper couldn’t or shouldn’t be a musician. Its lyrics sum up what it feels like to stay strong after being doubted; “they think that I’m the bad guy / but who’s gonna run the world when I eventually die?”
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