The sudden and unexpected death of Linkin Park vocalist, Chester Bennington, last week sent shockwaves through the world as fans, musicians and social media users lamented this gigantic loss for the music industry and the world at large. Obituaries and eulogies filled social media and news headlines, each with their own view and memory of Bennington and Linkin Park’s music. Bennington and Linkin Park were the voice of a generation for nearly two decades and now, in a moment, a flame has died.
Here is my tribute to Chester Bennington and Linkin Park with a focus on some of their most emotional ballads that always seemed to get the best out of Bennington. The voice, the lyrics and the man will be missed. Rest in Peace.
Honourable mentions: ‘One More Light’, ‘The Messenger’, ‘Powerless’, ‘My December’.
5. Shadow of the Day (2007 – Minutes to Midnight)
The melancholic undertone of this track is what captures you as a listener from the outset. Bennington’s voice shines in this emotional song of loss and the ending of hurt and pain. The accompanying music video follows Bennington in an apartment as he does his daily tasks while the world around him collapses through war and other tragic events. The number has an excellent progression from a slow sonic beginning up onto a synth- and drum-based chorus that leads up to a great lead guitar riff. The lyrics, ‘The shadow of the day will embrace the world in grey and the sun will set for you,’ are some of the more powerful choruses that the band has written.

4. Iridescent (2010 – A Thousand Suns)
Mike Shinoda’s piano playing and vocals start off this brilliant track that focuses on hope and new beginnings amid desperation and tragedy: ‘Do you feel cold and lost in desperation? Remember all the sadness and frustration, let it go, let it go.’ This is truly one of Linkin Park’s most beautiful slower songs as Shinoda and Bennington complete a melodic duet in the second verse with their voices harmonising off each other in spectacular fashion. Definitely one of the band’s underrated gems.

3. Pushing Me Away (2000 – Hybrid Theory)
‘Pushing Me Away’ is the final song off Linkin Park’s debut album and, although it is one of Bennington’s better vocal tracks, he really showcased his talent on the live, stripped down version. Led only by a piano melody, his raw and untamed vocals send shivers down one’s spine. ‘I’ve lied to you, the same way that I always do. This is the last smile that I’ll fake for the sake of being with you. The sacrifice of hiding in a lie, the sacrifices never knowing why I never walked away, why I blame myself this way,’ are some intense and powerful lyrics about troubled relationships and the hurt that people can inflict upon each other.
Bennington’s ability to hit some exceptionally long notes with perfectly drawn out vocals really gets the crowd cheering on this alternate version.

2. Leave Out All The Rest (2007 – Minutes to Midnight)
In retrospect, and in light of Bennington’s death, this song is the perfect personal eulogy from him and gives a clear indication of how he would want to be remembered when his time on earth is done. The chorus hits home hard after the loss of Bennington whose biggest wish in this track is that the people he impacted remember the good times without focusing on the negative.
‘When my time comes, forget the wrong that I’ve done. Help me leave behind some reasons to be missed. Don’t resent me and, when you’re feeling empty, Keep me in your memory, leave out all the rest.’
In the end, the lyrics, ‘I can’t be who you are’ are another extension on the theme of self-discovery and existence: ‘What am I leaving when I am done here?’

1.Numb (2003 – Meteora)
Linkin Park’s most popular song takes the number one spot on the countdown for various reasons. Not only is it a memorable one that has reached out to fans, it also has brilliant musical elements and has a brooding personal undertone that was a siren song for a generation. That piano intro is one of the most recognisable pieces of music from the 21st century together with Bennington’s emotional vocals that range from contemplative and soft to angry and harsh from verse to chorus: ‘Tired of being what you want me to be, feeling so faithless lost under the surface. Every step that I take is another mistake to you,’ is a poignant look at the pressures of life and how false expectations can hamper a person instead of lifting them up. Bennington’s highlight is the bridge where he sings at the top of his voice – a visceral lyrical proclamation to the world: ‘And I know I may end up failing too, but I know you were just like me with someone disappointed in you.’