Letters to 5SOS5

LETTERS TO 5SOS5

Made by fans

INTRODUCTION

On September 23rd, 2022, 5SOS released their 5th studio album, 5SOS5. The day before they performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, singing old songs and new ones that would be released after the show in some parts of the world. Absolutely everybody could enjoy that night, being there in person or watching the show via livestream from home, because the band wanted every single fan to experience that magical show.

This release was unforgettable and so special. This album has impacted on lots of fans since it came out. 19 songs full of feelings and experiences that fans can relate with. An impeccable production (shout out to Michael for such an incredible work!), poetic lyrics, amazing rhythm section. For this reason, fans from all over the world wanted to show their love and appreciation to this album.

Every fan has written at least one letter to one of the songs of the album. They have told them how they make feel, how they impacted on their life and explained some experiences to them. Do you want to read these letters? Keep reading!

All the love to 5SOS5 <3

COMPLETE MESS

Dear COMPLETE MESS,

Where do I even begin with you? I could be cliché and say that you make my life complete; I could say that you’re my other half I cannot live without. I could try being somewhat poetic, and tell you that when you first came into my life, neither of us realized just how little time it would take for us to find each other in the right place; the common ground between the wreckage and love of existence.

And while I hate to admit it, there is a certain evanescence to love. Nothing lasts as long as we want it to, and the enthral of two hearts intertwining is no exception. Forever is never possible when it comes to human nature. We love soulless skin we shouldn’t touch, or our lives end in what is essentially a display of human mortality. Call me a cynic, but it feels wrong to hope for a forever future. Time after time, it is proven that mortals aren’t built to withstand dynasties. Whether it be dynasties of rulers, champions, or love, we all know nothing lasts.

But don’t let that consume you. The knowledge that everything is temporary should lead you to cherish every moment you live in. Experience life to its fullest extent and never apologize. Don’t be sorry for the life you lead, because it is perfect.

You are the part of me that was always missing. You are the palette for a beautiful painting that outshines the masters. There is a puzzle piece shaped hole in my heart when you’re gone, and it is because you’re not by my side. Life passes by inconsequentially when we’re separated, and for what? For the reason that every moment spent laughing with you is a lifetime in memoriam.

You complete me, and I have no regrets.

Sincerely, Grey from Canada (@_greynoise_ on Twitter)

Dear Complete Mess and 5SOS,

You make me complete

You make me a complete mess

You’ ve shown me that life is a balance between good and bad; calm and chaos; grayscale and color.

You’ ve shown me that life is full of contradictions but that without these the entire existence of life wouldn't be possible.

Hang on to moments like they’ll never drift away

‘Cause you’ll never get to say goodbye

You've shown me that life is made up of so many tiny moments but we should hang on to them, be present with them and cherish them because each moment is fleeting.

You've shown me what is important. You have reignited my drive for life and made me appreciate the art of simply being.

You've shown me that the memories we have, we never truly have to say goodbye to them and they'll last a lifetime with us.

5sos creating Complete Mess

You've shown me that sometimes the best things in life are created internally without the need for influence of others.

You've shown me that you should always back yourself, have faith, confidence and strength to trust you.

You've shown me the value of unity, friendship and connectivity. And how that can create some of themost beautifully honest pieces of work.

You've given me the best gift, at your concert, hearing you live for the first time, you turned my darkness into gold I felt alive and that feeling is still strong and pushing me forward.

Calum. Ashton. Luke. Michael.

This song, you, your music, your friendship, your fandom, it all makes me complete. It has brought me so much peace, so many amazing friends and a love for life again.

I will forever be grateful.

Yours always, Holly x, from UK (@TheGhostof5S0S on Twitter)

Hi Complete Mess,

It's always a nerve wracking moment when the first single of an album is released. Not just for the artists but also for the fans. It has this fear of "What if I don't like it?" and I have had that since the SGFG era But, in those 8 years and 4 albums I've NEVER been disappointed (Also not this time!)

It started with a teaser on TikTok and then we got more snippets over the course of the week. Every time I heard more, I also loved it even more! And then on release day we got the most beautiful song accompanied with a gorgeous video in the desert! This album was going to be amazing

It meant a lot to me that all the band members could be heard and that the style was a combination of Luke's and Ashton's solo albums. It was all the 5SOSfam could ever hope for! Now it feels like I'm just saying the obvious things but honestly this meant A LOT!

At the same time, I was also wondering what the rest of the album would sound like because this was not a standard pop song. However, at this point 5SOS5 is out (yes!!!) and I think Complete Mess was indeed the best single to put out first. It contains so much DNA of all the members and the whole album and I still dig it whenever I hear this one I honestly think I've never skipped this song and I could watch the video a thousand times! I would also like to say that my fingers still hurt from playing it on guitar haha.

Thankyou! You're the best and you made us all a 'complete mess'

Arjan/Penguin from The Netherlands (@penguinperformances on Instagram)

Indonesia

Dear Complete Mess,

I don’t know where to start, other than thank you! Thank you for giving me back the one person in my life who means the most to me, my dad, and being the reason I could make new memories. You mean so much to both my dad and I, that we even got matching tattoos because of what you mean to us. Ever since I was about 6 years old, all I wanted was my dad back, and you did that. You became our thing, the thing that we bonded over when he finally got sober and we started to repair our relationship. Without fail, every day he’d pick me up from my classes, and at the same time, you’d come on the radio and within three days he knew all the words and would be singing his heart out with me on our home. We bonded for the first time in years over you, and it led to so much more! For the first time, he was willing to sit down and listen to me go on and on about something I loved so much, 5SOS. We started by watching the music video for Complete Mess, often leading us down the rabbit hole of many more music videos, funny interviews, and at one point the 10 year show (more than once, I may add). Every day we’d watch a little bit more, and he fell in love with the 4 silly Australians who brought you life, just as much as I did. You became our thing, the first time I heard I got to hear you played live, I facetimed him, even though I was across the country and it was super late for him, he stayed up because we wanted that moment together, because I knew I wanted my first experience hearing it to be with him, even if he couldn’t physically be standing next to me. But that quickly changed, when I surprised him and told him I was taking him to a show, and that we’d get that moment together, to get hear our song live, standing next to each other. And he got super excited (like a kid in a candy store excited), it was his thing to look forward to, his reason because he knows how much you (and 5SOS) mean to the both of us. The pure excitement and joy on his face when he got to experience hearing you played live for the first time was something I can never forget, he was in awe of that moment, the fact that we got to spend it together. At that moment, I knew that you were going to be the thing that kept us connected forever, there was no losing him again (at least I hope not) after this moment. We got to hear you live one more time together, 2 months to the day of the first time, and he was just excited to hear it again as he was the first time. I will forever be grateful that you were the one thing that had to come on the radio every day because it was the thing that gave him back to me. Being able to sing our hearts out at a couple of shows together and just enjoy the moments, have been some of the best moments of my life.

And to the band, that brought you life, I’m thankful that they did because if they hadn’t, this song simply wouldn’t exist, and those moments (plus many more, because my dad can’t wait to go on tour again with me) would not have happened, we wouldn’t have had a reason to connect again like this. So, to Luke, Ashton, Calum, and Michael, thank you for creating this song, giving us these experiences and giving me my dad back <3

Pictures of our matching Tattoos that we got the day before we camped all night for our first show together:

Rylan from Illinois, US (@Rylan_Larson_20 on Twitter)

Complete Mess is such an amazing song and my favourite song, because it talks about your life as a complete mess, because I lost a lot of things in my life. I lost the love of my life because he cheats on me with my best friend and I lost my best friend when she died but I do not give up, because sometimes my life is bad, but I motivate myself that my life is amazing and I have the best mother and brother ever.

I have a lot of people that I know I was friends with them and my family from my father side was putting me down and bullying me because I am different person then them. They put me down but my family and my 2 best friends and my dance group motivates me so hard and it gives me a lot of Power to not put myself down.

The guys are talking about their ups and downs at relationship and this relate to me so much because I also have a lot of up and downs in my relationship, but they give me a lot of motivation. It says not to go in the past just go to the future. Myself is also complete, back then it was not complete but now it’ s complete.

When you not represent yourself then you cannot be yourself. That is why do not give a damn what other people say to you, because if you listen to the comments from other Persons that bullied you, then you are the one who keeps getting bullied and you always will be a victim from the people who bullying you that is why you are a complete mess.

As a tip from me who always gets bullied every time, because of my skin colour or because of my figure or because I looked away it’s not my fault I have this problem since my childhood, never let something like that pull you down, face your bully and tell your opinion, because if you do not do it then the bullying will continue.

This song combines the positive and negative aspect in your life. It has a lot of touch and misery in there, you know that right? The answer is it depends on your situation. It could be talked in this song about romantic love that also has good and bad memories, but in the lyrics, it could be refer of wavering self love, Love among them as friends or as family, or maybe your relationship with yourself.

It stills relay the same message. We are fighting each other, representing struggle in our life’s or help each other in your life. This song is such a meaning to me, because it’ s about self reflection and interact my reflection in my life, because I have a bad life back then, but now my life is better then back then, I am so thankful to the guys, that they talk to us in this song about their life and they relationship to us and they loved one. So, I hope they are going to see this and they deserve this so hard and Complete Mess is such an amazing song. I love artist who has an amazing and emotional storyline in the song.

Thank you so much 5SOS that you guys are doing such an amazing job and talk about your past and future and tell us your story about it. I am so happy to be in this Fandom, because I’m so in Love with their Songs and the creative way in the MVS.

Jojo (@cthingsz on Instagram)

EASY FOR YOU TO SAY

5SOS,

I’ll never forget the excitement of being blown up with tweets and messages about how you guys played a brand new song on Take My Hand tour for the first time. Running home from school to listen to it over again on YouTube, trying to make out what I thought the lyrics really were brought so much joy knowing I might get the chance to hear it live too. Easy For You To Say was the song that was really the start of a new beautiful era of 5SOS. Having got the chance to hear it live at the Philly show was a literal out of body experience and the lyrics resonate with me so so much. Forever thankful you added it to the setlist before its release. I LOVE YOU! Congratulations boys on yet another beautiful and powerful album <3 Julia from New Jersey, US (@julia.day12 on Instagram)

Hey, my dearest friend!

As you might know, these last months have been a total roller coaster for me, but you have always kept me company, in all the hard and emotional times, and in moments when we shared the best memories together!

I am so grateful to you! For all the warmest hugs you gave me when I was laying awake at 2 am in your company. I felt your invisible arms wrap tightly around me, the warmth spreading to my heart. I felt like you gave me all this power and strength to go and be the happiest, you are my glimmer of hope!

Fun fact, you were my greatest friend this summer, since the moment I met you, you have had a very special place in my heart. You will always stay there, no matter what. Your words ‘between all the gasping I finally breath’ have motivated me so much to reach for that happiness and enjoyment, that I was avoiding. And, yes, I was so scared to find a piece of peace of mind, I was so scared of that feeling, but with your reassurance, I did it. With your help, I spend my 18th birthday with peace of mind, which I didn’t think I would be able to have on that day. Through these months you slowly, but with this huge force, kept filling the void I had in me this year, I shed so many tears and then smiled like a fool when I felt the warmth and comfort coming back to me with your presence, you rebuild that part of me that was drenched in pain, so whenever I felt like I was going back to feeling miserable, you were there giving me this uplifting feeling, like I had wings that helped me to fly above all the pain!

I felt like we had this promise between ourselves, that you will always be there for me, and I love it!

You were my best companion on all the drives, all the walks on the beach, watching the sun dive deep into the sea, showering us in all the vibrant colours. Since then, I have associated you with this mix of dark and deep orange and light blue colours, the colours of these sunsets, so every time I see them, I think of you! You were with me when I left home and started this new chapter of my life in a big, scary city, but I didn’t feel alone, thanks to you! And all these memories we shared make your company feel like I am coming home, you remind me of the warmth and the welcoming feeling of home!

Dear, Easy For You To Say, there is so much love and appreciation in my heart for you. You are my treasure, and I hope that we will keep sharing all these precious moments and that there is so much more for us in the future!

Anna Marija from Latvia (@marvelousheartt on Twitter)

Dear Easy For You To Say,

I travelled from Newcastle to Leeds on the 15th of April 2022 to see your band in concert, it was absolutely amazing to hear you being sung live. You are such a beautiful song and I hope to hear you again in future concerts.

@5soslukerools (Twitter), from the UK

Cait from The Netherlands (@InvisiblePanicx on Twitter, @SoftShadesx97 on Instagram)

From Germany (@maren.1605 on Instagram, @marenk1605 on Twitter)

Dear Easy For You To Say,

I don't remember the exact moment nor the circumstances in which we met, except that it was thanks to a video that someone was kind enough to share on social networks taken at a concert sometime during the TMH tour back in summer. The song wasn't complete and the audio of the video wasn't particularly good, but from that first moment

I knew that that song would stay with me long after I had discovered it. I am not mistaken in thinking that, in those days, I was not the only person who wished that this was the one chosen as the band's new single. A band that has been in my life at intervals, sometimes more present than others just at the moments I needed it most but without really disappearing. Unfortunately, the new single was Blender. Even being a great song, I must admit that it is not one of my favourites (although I want to emphasize that the sax at the end always makes my hair stand on end).

My story with EFYTS continued in the wake of what happened with the band. There were weeks when I couldn't listen to anything other than this song: I listened to it when I was feeling sad but also when I was happy, just for the pure pleasure of listening to something or as a relaxation method before going to sleep. Other weeks, however, I stopped listening to her at all for fear of ending up hating her. But that turned out to be difficult. Next to Me Myself & I and Take My Hand, EFYTS was the song whose lyrics I have learned in the shortest possible time simply by repetition. And that doesn't happen to me very often. Even with those audio conditions and background noise, EFYTS awakened in me a feeling of comfort and security, and a certain sadness, which I had not felt for a long time when listening to other songs. Both the melody and the lyrics themselves were like an embrace given at the right time, like that little voice in your head that reminds you that it is not bad to be the way you are or to feel that you are going to the opposite of the world.

There was a phrase that especially marked me: "A darkness that holds me and loves when I bleed / It locks all the doors and then hides all the keys". I'll never be able to explain why, but I kind of became obsessed with that part of the lyrics. I don't know how to describe it either, but it translates in a very poetic way how I have felt on more than one occasion with the world around me (family and friends, work...). And thanks to the way it is expressed, I have understood that time is what it is and that I should not rush it.

By the time the album was released, the song that hardly anyone was talking about became my favourite and my moral support again. Listening to EFYTS in the studio version gave a different meaning to everything I had experienced in the beginning: now it was more real and tangible. I may have even shed a few tears when listening to the CD, but I won't tell anyone about that.

For some people, EFYTS is just another song in a repertoire that is very far from the sound we are used to hearing from this group, but for me it will always be special and I will defend it every time I can. EFYTS deserves much more recognition than it has, both lyrically and vocally and, of course, musically.

With my best wishes for people listen to this song at all times, Vanesa, a faithful fan from Spain (@noguidinlight on Instagram & Twitter)

BAD OMENS

Dear Bad Omens,

You remind me of someone who I love. It was a toxic one sided relationship and I was ignoring every red flag that was thrown my way. There were a lot. You left me delivered for hours, and I would anxiously wait for you to respond. Then when you finally did, I would be over the moon. But this was a cycle. You still suck at responding. I tried to force a relationship that wasn’t there. Then you left, and I’m still trying to get you back. I want you back. You were such a big part of my life that I feel lost without you. I miss you and it hurts so much, but I know it would be better if I left you alone. I love you though, not in a romantic way exactly but not in a friend way either, but in a I don’t know any other way to describe the way I feel for you. It’s too intense for friendship. We were built to fall apart. I wish we were closer. When you left, I was heartbroken but a piece of me was set free. I miss you and it hurts like a bitch. I'm trying to stop the door as it’s closing. I hope that it never closes, but inevitably, it will. You will leave with a piece of my heart to possibly never return. I will be broken, but that’s ok. I wanted this,

But I got the cold shoulder, and you left me hanging. Maybe in another life, another me, another you. In an alternate universe, are we together? In love? Actual best friends? Not whatever we have now? Am I hooked on the pain? Or am I hooked on you? Every time I talk to you, you hurt me, even if you don’t realize it. Heaven knows I should let go, it's nothing that I don’t already know. It’s a cycle, we talk, I love you, you don’t feel the same, and I’m left broken. But yet you keep talking to me no matter how much I try to get you to go away. Why? Why do you care? Do you care? I love you, but how do you feel about me? I need to know. I need to know to keep my mind at ease. Are you ok? Is my anxiety wrong? Or are you hurting and not telling me? I want to help you, but if you don’t talk to me, I don’t know how. You consume my thoughts more than you should. I give you everything and I get nothing in return. But I can’t let you go. I know I should. I tried to go cold turkey but that didn’t work. Maybe in three years it will all stop. All of this pain will go away. Or maybe it will get worse. If it goes worse, I just need you there for me. You're leaving me, but I don’t want you to. I want you to stay forever. For me. I’m trying to get you to stay. I need you to stay. For my mind to be at ease. It’s a toxic cycle, but I don’t want it to stop. You’re my best friend, in a way, and I physically can’t lose you or else I might go crazy or even off the edge. But if I let you go will the pain stop? Or will it make it better? If you let me in will the pain stop? Or will it make it worse? Where will we be in 30 years? Together? In love? Best friends? Or will you break me again without even realizing it?

Sincerely, Sam from Colorado, US (@s.selliott on Instagram)

Melina from Germany (@melina_s0s5 on Instagram)

My Letter to Bad Omens <3

Of all songs on this album, you have the power to simultaneously make me want to cry but also feel like a bad ass. I’ve never related to songs by 5SOS that much. And never understood the special feeling you have towards a song when you can. But I really felt it this time around. I absolutely adore this song, and has helped me come to terms with some things and made me feel a lot better in the long run. Realising how much this song related to me was jarring, and kind of scared me a little bit, but it’s amazing to have a song feel like home <3

Niamh Gibbons

Dear Bad Omens,

I hope you’re doing well after ignoring the red flags (lolz I’m joking). Ok, so here goes nothing, you have opened my eyes. I love the way you speak to me without actually speaking to me. You made me realise how badly I’ve been stuck in this red loop of emotions that makes me feel kinda worthless and you’ve taught me how I gotta put myself first over everything. You’ve become the only source of light in the dark cave of my feelings, indicating that I HAVE to follow the path of “your light” and get the hell outta this dark place. Within you, I’ve found myself, found to love myself, found to prioritise myself and found to confront all of the bad omens life/people throws my way. thank you for everything!!

Yours,

Jaza from India (@highontwl on Twitter)

Dear Bad Omens,

I was told to personify you and write you a letter. But I’m not sure if you’re the bad omen or the victim. Are you scared to lose them even though they’re not good for you because you love them so much? Or are you the one hurting them and pushing them away? Which character of the song’s story are you?

You’re me. You’re just like me. Because right now you’re in that little grey area with me. When I get close to people, I’ m scared they’ll leave me. So I bail and blame them for it. In my head, I think I’m not at fault and it was the other person who didn’t even care while I was slowly drifting away. But deep down I know that I was the one, self sabotaging our relationship because of my insecurities and fear of abandonment. I’m the bad omen.

And this took me a very special person in my life and of course, you, to understand. My best friend. In the past, where I have tried to push people away, they let me do so. They didn’t fight for me to stay. But she, she shoed me what real love and friendship is. I naturally tried to push her away too, multiple times, but she always pulled me back and asked me what was going wrong. She didn’t let me go and walk out on her.

That’s when I realised where the self sabotaging tendencies stemmed from. I never had anyone to constantly validate the fact that they would never leave me in the past. So, I thought, maybe if I left them first it would save me from the heartbreak later? But with her, it’ s so much less complicated. That’s what you do when you love somebody. You don’t let them go, you don’t push them away, both the sides put in the same effort. So, what about the bad omens then? They slowly start fading away. That’s what you do when you love somebody. You unlearn your bad omens. With love, Kashika from India (@thebloodlinelrh on Twitter)

ME MYSELF & I

Hi ‘Me, Myself & I’,

I'm not sure where to start but you're my absolute favourite song of 2022!! The 3rd 5SOS5 single couldn't be more of a BANGER!! I love the beat, I love the video and I love the lyrics. Especially the lyrics hit hard at the time because I felt like shit and slowly became happier, even though I was even more alone than before.

"I guess, I guess I got what I wanted I never knew what I needed

Leave it up to me to blow it up without a good reason I know, I know that it was my own fault

These lies I feed myself

Me and my selfish appetite I did not need your help Now it's just me, myself, and I"

Those still hit hard but luckily, I'm feeling way better now!! Like I said, I also love the video and I decided to do a cover in the same style. I changed clothes like 100 times and the end result was very cool. It even got reposted by 5SOS (twice)!!! I've been making covers for years but this is the absolute highlight of everything. It made me believe in myself and in the impossible! I will continue making music for the rest of my life.

So, in short, thank you for everything! You've been through the highest and lowest moments with me this year and you're an absolute favourite! And your little brother and sister songs on 5SOS5 are great as well <3

I wish you well, Arjan/Penguin from The Netherlands (@penguinperformances on Instagram)

Me, Myself, & I,

Where to start, where to start. First, I want to tell you how absolutely supportive you have been of me since i met you all those months ago. I met you, we got close, hung out about seventy times in one week, and you allowed me to understand you more and more. It was like a flower blooming, I got past you’re walls and happy beats, and just like that it was like we were the same person. We have post hurt people in our past lives, gotten upset at the people we love the most, and then we both got devastatingly depressed when we had no one left and we’re all on our own, with no one to blame but ourselves. But then, after I pushed everyone away, whether it be because of them not being enough, or me feeling like I was just tearing them down, after all of that, I found you. And you picked me up while I was crying on the floor, you carried me to my bed, you went and bought some ice cream, you put on my favourite movie (Ten Things I Hate About You), and you held me close and let us cry together. And then after everyone was gone and it was just us, you didn’t try to fix me. You didn’t try and make me better, and try to solve exactly what in my stupid fucking brain was making me turn away

anyone who shows interest in me (which I unfortunately still do a lot), you didn’t do any of that. No. You listened to me, you told me how you felt, and then you let me cry. And I’ll never thank you enough. You helped me get better. You held my hand, and that one day we were at a concert for that one band I love, 5 Seconds of Summer, you screamed along with me, and you made it okay for me to let my sister just hold me, there, at one of my favourite moments since I’ve been alive; you told me to let my oldest sister hold me as I thought of your words. I love you more than you’ll ever know. Love, Rebecca Lupher from Michigan, US (@lukespigtailz on Twitter)

TAKE MY HAND

To Take My Hand,

Hey my love, I really want to say thank you for being the anthem to soundtrack my feelings, you always understand how I’m feeling and can make me feel so love. Your lyrics make me feel like I’m okay and I’ve got nothing to worry about. I’ve got your hand now and forever and I’ m never going to let go <3 xx

Lola from England, UK (@5_secondsoflola28)

Dear Take My Hand,

I’ve known you for a while now, I thought you already taught me everything I needed to learn from you, but you still manage to surprise me with a new take on life every time I listen to you.

I’ve uncovered a lot about myself through the mirror you held for me, I’ve been ignoring my reflection for so long; scared of seeing the scars of my past falls, but you gave me the strength to let my flaws be part of me without tearing me apart.

I’ve always mourned the parts I’ve lost of myself along with memories I can only visit through people’s stories. But you’ve reminded me to open my eyes, take in the present before it slips away too.

You heard my silent cries for help and you offered me a hand to hold, I took it without hesitation, and ever since, you’ve pulled me up whenever I slipped over the edge of my doubts. I promise to hold your hand forever, I promise to never let go <3

Leen from Jordan (@leenbasha on Instagram)

Dear Take My Hand by 5SOS,

I love how happy you make me feel. You always remind me that there are people who will always be there for me. You mean so much to me and I will always remember July 18th because that's when I got to see you live. That was one of the best nights of my life because I got to see 4 people who saved me. You remind me of a new era and new beginnings. July 18th was also the night I got to meet one of my online friends, Dori because of 5SOS. It is so amazing how you connect so many people across the world. I also have an online friend named Kelly in Toronto, Canada. We live in different counties and have never met but she means so much to me and we've known each other for almost 2 years. She went to the concert in Toronto

on July 20th. This was 2 days after my show and we wanted to do something to feel connected. So, we made signs that finished each other’ s sentences from Disconnected.

This was so much fun and I felt closer to her even though we were still in different counties. This was such a crazy moment and I will always remember it. You hold a special place in my heart. The people who created you mean the world to me and I love reminding myself of the happy, good moments in life by listening to you. I am a very emotional person and have my struggles so I love when songs understand my struggles and speak about them like Emotions (my fav on 5SOS5), Jet Black Heart, Outer Space/ Carry On, etc. but you always help me be positive and smile. As cheesy as it sounds, smiling is something that 5sos never fails to make me do and I don't think I could live without them. So thank you and I love you endlessly! I will always be grateful for everything you do and all the times I've smiled because of you.

Macy from Ohio, US (@macycreekbaum on Instagram)

Dear Take My Hand:

You came to me on one of the hardest days of the year, not so long ago before your release I lost one of the most important people in my life, the angel who was like a mother to me, my superwoman, my grandma. And the day you were out for the world to hear you it was her birthday, the funny story about this is that the last time I saw her, the last time I spent with her I was with the rest of my family talking about the band that brought you to live, because I was planning on going to one of the shows of the tour, and I remember who she came to my side while I was searching for a photo asking who they were, I told her that they were my favourite band and I answered all her questions.

That night before I leave to go back home and I hugged her not knowing it was gonna be the last time she told me “ I know that you are going to that concert and I want you to tell them thank you for me, because I don’t know English, but these guys make you so so happy and that’s my favourite thing in the whole world”

The first time I listened to you I was in tears, my mind was replaying that sentence in my head while I was listening to your sweet melody and at the same time listening closely to the lyrics, feeling them like a hug from her.

And the moment I heard you live for the first time when I flew back in April to Brussels just to see the band, that moment I swear I felt as if she was right to me, taking my hand, telling me one more time how much she loves and how proud she is of me, the same way I feel every time I listen to you, so thank you for being an escape from reality and my demons and thank you for being a home.

I love you <3

Lu from Spain (@bassistkink_ on Twitter)

Dear Take My Hand,

I didn’t know that there could be so much beauty in a song. The lyrics have helped me in so many ways. I introduced my friend to this song and it changed her life. The message that no matter our mistakes, there is hope and there are people who want to help, is so special and beautiful to me. The idea of “now and forever” is so timeless and it’ s brought me comfort in dark times. The lyrics “just as you’re losing yourself again, look in the mirror” has taught me so much. I didn’t know words could save a life until I started listening to 5 Seconds of Summer. I can’t put into words how grateful I am for this song and for all the 5SOS members. Thank you for providing an understanding and home through music. I will love Take My Hand and 5 Seconds of Summer now and forever.

Sincerely,

Erika from Florida, US (@erikaa.layne on Instagram)

From England, UK

CAROUSEL

Dear CAROUSEL,

Thank you for being there for me during tough times. Thank you for being a pillar of support in which I could relate to. Thank you for being something that made me feel like I was not alone.

For context, at the moment, it is my GCE ‘O’ Level examination period (which is in my country a major exam that decides our future career path). This song has been ingrained within me, and has been a source of escapism during stressful periods.

I related to this particular verse: “I tried to keep my head above the ocean of my doubt” This entire period of exams has sunk me into a sea of self doubt, and plunges me into a state in which my self esteem is particularly low.

“I’m feeling like a dreamer, don’t try to wake me now” was another line I related to. The pressure that I’ve placed on myself to do well and the aspirations I have, it all feels like a dream, and “waking up” from it to find out that they may not be attainable, and that there may be failures is something that I personally cannot accept.

The first time I heard it live (on livestream) from “The Feeling of Falling Upwards” made me feel a connection with it, and something about it had already attracted me to the song (maybe because I felt a strong connection to the music).

But, this song still reminds me that: life just keeps going on, and that failure doesn’t mean that it is the end of everything. It provides me a sense of reassurance, a sense of security for myself. It reminds me that it is not the end if I cannot achieve my dreams. It is not the end as there are many ways to get there.

“I’ll pay again to keep from stopping it now” : life is something precious, and if I could, I, too, would also pay again to keep it from stopping and ending.

Thank you to 5SOS and Sierra for writing a song like CAROUSEL. It has brought a lot of comfort to me and I believe many other people.

Just like the line, I’ll never want this song to end.

Thank you.

With a lot of love, Jea from Singapore (@jeauhhh on Instagram)

From Argentina

From Poland (@lietocal on Twitter)

From California, US

Dear Carousel,

You were my claimed song and you did not disappoint. The first impression I got of you was during one night only, London. It was a magical feeling. Everyone was screaming at the top of their lungs after you got announced and I stood there baffled. I closed my eyes and watched a whole music video form up right before my eyes. I couldn’t believe that i get to experience my claimed 5sos5 song on such a special night.

"I built it from the ground up just to watch me burn it down". The first few words hit hard. I feel like the world is spinning faster than ever, leaving no time for us to waste. Every second is worth it, good or bad. We're trying really hard to please everyone around us, when in reality all we have to be is the best version of ourselves. We look back at memories wanting to relive them, losing the focus on making new memories. Our life is a carousel that never stops spinning, no matter how hard we try. We gotta learn to live in the moment, to live life to the fullest. To focus on the round, we are currently on.

Keep your head up, you'll be the best version of yourself. I love you lots.

Yours, Selina from Germany (@babybluelashton on Twitter)

Carousel:

Thank you for being with me recently every night and reminding me that even if life is hard you gotta carry on. I’ ve cried to you for so many times, gaining clearer self recognition. Though most of the cases you left me kind of hopeless and lonely, I’m sill grateful you game the chance to take a better reflection on my problems and contemplate what I truly want. Currently my life’s been dreadful for the heavy schoolwork and stressful competitive society. Having you by my side is like getting encouragement from someone who’s also been through a lot, which really is mind blowing and helpful for a clueless teenager like me. So, thank you for existing and influencing so many towards finding a better path for life.

Aurie from China (@starting_line_aurie on Instagram)

CAROUSEL,

You were the song I was most looking forward to hearing before 5SOS5 came out because I already felt that you would be very special (I was right!!!). When the album came out and I finally met you, I remember being scared (IN A GOOD WAY) by the lyrics that connected with me and my feelings in an incredible way. I’ve been trying to get out of the ocean of my doubts that make my mind a mess and when I put on my headphones, you’re here to help me. Thank you so much!

Luiz from Brazil (@luizguilhermetg on Instagram)

Dear Carousel,

When 5SOS released the track list for their new album 5SOS5 you immediately caught my eye. I had this feeling that you were going to be one of my favourite songs of the album and I claimed you.

Then I was watching the ONO show in London from my tv in my cozy room at home together with a friend, I guess it was Luke (I’m not sure) who announced that the next song they were going to play was you, ‘Carousel’. Me and my friend screamed along and I was so excited what kind of song you were, I mean it was co written with Sierra Deaton it had to be a great song.

From the first seconds I heard the song I fell in love, the fact I claimed you as my song from the beginning I don’t know it was just a sign.

The boys singing ‘my life’s a carousel spinning around’. It just kind of hit me in the face, my life has always been a non stop spinning carousel, and I’m trying to let go of the past but it’s just hard, I need to get off this carousel but for now I just don’t know how to do it. Sometimes I’m just very scared to look forward to the future, my past really did hurt me and made me anxious.

I guess you’re the song I really needed, it shows me that I have to let go and have to embrace the future even though it can get scary. I have to take a step off the carousel that just keeps spinning around and you really help me with that.

I would like to thank the guys from 5SOS for creating you, they have this incredible talent to make songs just like therapy. It creates a safe space and that’s literally amazing.

Just a massive thank you for being the song you are, it’s an eye opener to me.

Yours sincerely, Sanne from The Netherlands (@wwylm_lrh on Twitter)

Letter to: Carousel

5SOS5 is characterized by its songs that delve into the most human side of each one of us and Carousel is no exception. How many times do we feel that the world spins too fast and we too slow? That our life is a carousel spinning around. This song could be one of my most personal on the album, showing that feeling of building something to ironically sabotage ourselves, feeling that we don’t control our life and we see it from the passenger seat, trying to keep our heads above the ocean of our doubts because we know that we must keep the party going and go with the flow, but most importantly, that despite this feeling that all opportunities are further and further away from us, we do not lose faith that we can reach that moment where we will enjoy the carousel of life, where we will be at peace with what is in the back of our mind, we will achieve everything we set out to do and we will “get there”. We must stop looking back without knowing why, enjoy the little things even if we feel the world against us, enjoy that little carousel but more importantly, know that we can go further, and nothing is going to stop us. ”Life is a climb... but the view is great”.

Sincerely, Hillary Checo from Dominican Republic (@thinwhiteliesos on Instagram)

OLDER

Dear Older,

When you appeared in my life, someone I really love and that spent almost my whole life with me (teenage years and first adulthood years) passed away. It’s the first time I experienced mourning and it was really hard to me. I tried my best, but sometimes you just need to let go all these feelings to feel better, and I did.

Older, you put into words what I was feeling. This need of not wanting to get older, to stop time to enjoy with your loved ones, to refuse growing up without those you love. You will always remind me of her, my furry sister, my dog with who I lived some of the best years of my life.

You turned such a bitter feeling into something sweeter, if it makes sense. With your delicate lyrics and your beautiful melody, I felt understood and you felt like a hug. Thank you for coming when I was drowning and I didn’t know how to keep my head above water.

You remind me of princess fairy tales and Peter Pan, which are two of my favourite things of this world, so yeah, apparently you remind me of things I really love. Thank you for becoming the friend I needed during these dark times. Now I know you will always be here reminding me that my feelings are valid and it’s okay to feel them. It’ s part of the process.

When I saw you being performed live for the first time at the Royal Albert Hall, I got goosebumps. You are really beautiful, and I couldn’t help but cry. It was magical. Later, you became something visual with an amazing music video that represents your essence. The calm in front of the end of the world because you decided to love and spent your life with these people you love despite knowing that someday, life would end up being apocalyptic when one of both leaves the world. The metaphor is mind blowing.

With you, she will always be with me. Forever.

Thank you for existing and coming to life at the best time. You are not alone with these feelings, promised.

I love you,

Jules from Spain (@lietome_luke on Twitter / @gallery.lrh on Instagram)

Dear Older,

I don't wanna get older

Without your head on my shoulder

On the day that you leave me

I'll forever be bleeding love

As forever comes closer

Hope the world will spin slower

I don't wanna get older

A couple of years ago, my partner was diagnosed with a lifelong brain condition. It was sudden and rippled waves of shock, worry and pain between us.

We have lived each moment day to day not really knowing or understanding the severity of his diagnosis. It changed our relationship from carefree, fun and spontaneous to something much more fragile, tentative and unsure.

Knowing that I could lose someone I love so dearly, someone I have come to rely on and love is truly the scariest feeling my soul has ever felt.

It has made me hang on to and cherish every single moment but sometimes this has been too intense, too full of emotion.

Your lyrics resonate so heavily, so personally with my heart. They describe my life.

As Sierra and Luke so beautifully explained, when we fall in love, we inevitably set ourselves up for one of the hardest and ultimately the most painful moments you can experience in life.

Your music video flipped my whole perspective, my whole outlook towards this.

Instead of this impending doom, 'the end of the world' cloud I had surrounding me, you showed me it can be full of love, peace and even calmness. That we should just simply enjoy being, enjoy spending time with our loved ones however this may look.

Luke, Sierra and 5SOS thank you from the bottom of my heart for creating and sharing such a touching tribute to the beautiful journey of love.

My love always, Holly x, from the UK (@TheGhostof5s0s on Twitter)

Hi HAZE,

It’s nice to send you this letter and show you how I feel about you. It’s weird to say, but I liked you before I even knew you. Something just told me ‘This could be the one’. Tension built throughout the following months, not knowing what you would be like exactly. The first time I heard a snippet of you was when Ashton posted you on Instagram. It was just 6 seconds (not even 5). Everyone was going wild because you know, which song would it be. But I don’t know, we kinda have a connection? So, I thought it was you right away. Don’t mind me having the lyrics wrong btw.

It’ s almost like online dating where you just get really excited about the other person but you never really met them in real life. And then it was September 23th. The thing with me is, I really have poor judgement from time to time. Like with my best friend for over 10 years now. The first time I met her I was like ‘ no, we ’ re never gonna get along’. So, as I said, poor judgement. And I think I did the same thing to you. At first, I was like ‘yeah, it’s a nice song’, but that was it. And as I started listening to it again and again, you became my favorite song.

What I really like about you is how everybody knows you yet again nobody really knows you. We know the lyrics, we know the rhythm, we vibe to it, but your name is never mentioned. To me it makes it even more funny that you are called HAZE as it’s not clear why you are named that way and that’s kinda hazy. The second verse was something that really got me. I know you are about a person or a general feeling about someone, but to me this second verse of yours has another meaning. The part that Ashton sings is about losing yourself after changing your surroundings. This summer I moved out of my parents’ house. In the past I moved out for 4 months total to do an internship and I just didn’t feel it. I liked my internship, but being alone made me feel so miserable. So I was really scared that would happen again when I moved out. And yes, when you move out, it’ s just shitty in the beginning. You don’t know anything of your neighborhood, it costs so much energy to move everything, to make it feel like home. And it’s just some sort of whirlwind of emotions for a while and you tend to just live unhealthy because you can’t keep up the pace. You continue with finding that person that makes everything bearable for you. Your live kinda changed and you’re not your new self when that person’s not around. To me it’s so much more than a person. Throughout this time my friendships got more intense, I picked up new skills, I kinda blossomed. And what I mostly relate the second verse to, as I don’t have a SO, is music. And I think that’s what makes you specifically so special to me. You just make me feel like everything’s alright. You got me vibing, I don’t have to pretend that everything is fine or everything is not. I can just lose myself in the rhythm of you. It’s an overall feeling I get with 5SOS5, but with you I feel like playing an air guitar or driving my car windows down shouting the lyrics. Even dancing in the rain would be nice with you. Your bridge just takes me to a whole different place. It makes me long for finding my significant other. It’s about having such a deep relationship with someone to me. In the first verse you say ‘a beautiful moment in time’, in the bridge it’ s ‘that was a moment in time’. It’s about the good and the bad. And whether it’s been a good time or whether it’s been a bad time, you just want that person by your side. Because whatever the moment was, and even though every moment in lives passes by, that person will give you beautiful moments. A lot of people described Older as the ultimate wedding song, but I’m rooting for you.

I just want to thank you for being a part of 5SOS5. You have a great vibe, an amazing rhythm and your riffs are incomparable. But most of all, you just make me feel good about myself and happy to see the future. It restored my faith in love and I’m just kinda jealous of what you’ re feeling for that special someone, because that is exactly what I want in live.

Love, Kelly from The Netherlands (@notfeelinggrown on Twitter)

Dear HAZE,

You’re so upbeat and never ever fail to make me smile and dance. I hold you so, so close to my soul. Like you, I also had my heart broken by a city. I moved abroad to a new city all excited, but being all on my own was so hard. I think if I’d’ve had you back then it would have helped me so much. Not only can I relate to you, but I can dance and have fun with you too!

Thank you for being. Thank you for existing. Thank you.

Love,

Aleksandra from Norway (@aleksandarlie on Twitter)

(Photo taken by @viveecaa on Instagram)

Dear Haze,

I wanted to say how much I love you and the positive and happy energy that you give off! Honestly, I needed something like that! Anyways I’ll keep this short and sweet but I just wanted to let you know how appreciated you are not just by me but by so many people!

Love, Della from Canada (@de11a_draws on Instagram)

YOU DON

Dear You Don’t Go To Parties,

T GO TO PARTIES

We have known each other for a long time. We met when we were thirteen years old.We were young and naive. You were like the sun. I was like the moon. You were funny. I wasshy. You were the tall one. I was the short one. You noticed me first. I was thinking about you as a friend. And then, we started talking and exchanging messages. And we talked, we talked, we talked a lot. You became a ritual, talking to you was my ritual. You were everywhere in my life, at school, on my phone, in my head. You were with me, always

You started it. I wasn’t prepared for that. You were joking, and you were not. I was very serious, and I was afraid. You wanted to be with me. I didn’t know what I wanted. You were in love with me. I didn't know what I was feeling. You were more experienced than me. I was lost, caught up in my own feelings. You wanted to see me outside of school. I was scared. You asked me out. I said yes.

You were sure of your feelings. I was not sure of my feelings: love? Friendship? You didn’t understand how I could be so lost. I was so lost; I didn’t understand what was the sensation I was feeling when you were around me. You didn’t understand my reaction. I wasoverwhelmed by your presence. You were thinking I was hating you. I was not hating you; I was loving you in my odd struggling way. You were struggling. I was hurting. You were lost. Iwas lost.

We tried, but it failed. One time. Two times. Three times. You were hurt. I was hurt. You were sick of trying. I was sick of trying. You were ready to kiss me. I was so scared because you were my first one. You didn’t understand what was wrong with you, with me, with us. I didn’t understand what was wrong with me, with you, with us. The distance continued to set in. I was ready to move on, to forget you, to get my mind off you. You didn’t know what to do, you were so lost.

You started to go out, to go to parties. I stayed at my house, alone and I saw instastories of you drinking, dancing, and having fun. We started to ignore each other. We were acting like we were strangers, like we didn’t spend every night and every day during five years talking to each other. I started to go to parties eventually. You kept going to parties. We were seeing each other. I didn’t talk to you. You didn’t talk to me. I was dancing and looking for you at every party I was going to: I was searching for you because I didn’t forget you, because I didn’t hate you, because I didn’t move on. You were there sometimes, and sometimes, you were not. I was lost. You were the lighthouse of my nights.

I felt stupid for looking for you after all of those years. I feel stupid because I don’t know who I’m looking for You are not the same person anymore. I’m not the same person anymore. We don’t know each other anymore. We aren’t friends anymore. We aren’t lovers anymore. There is nothing but the past and a battlefield between us from now on. You don’t go to parties anymore. And I’m still looking for you, for the connection we had. You have moved on. I’m still hoping for a second chance. You are not here anymore. I’m still here. Youare not looking for me. I’m still looking for you

at every party, in every person, in every place,at every time. You are not talking to me anymore. I’ m thinking of you, always

The night passed and I’m always looking for you. The night passed and you didn’t show up. The night passed and I'm thinking about you. The night passed and you didn’t send a text. The night passed and I’ m lonely in this crowd. The night passed and you are not therewith me, nevermore

Cindy from France (@cindy.dy.14258 on Instagram)

To You Don’t Go To Parties,

Heyyy, it’s not 5am but I’m clinging to my bed and writing to you at 2 in the morning, skipping a party. So, I hope you know how much you have me wrapped around your finger (yes, pun intended with your sibling). You know, that lil boost Calum gives you in the beginning and then he breaks in with those immaculate vocals and bass?? That’s my FAVORITE part aboutchu. I feel so pumped, ready to deconstruct a wall ffs. And why you calling me out like that? Yeah I don’t go to parties, so what? hmphh. I mean why would I anyway? Why would I leave the comfort of my home, my room, my bed. Ykw tho? Weirdly enough, you are my comfort space. You are in my ears in my head almost 24*7 grrrr. Just so you know, I’m not kicking you out anytime soon. So, make yourself at home, we’re in for a ride uwu

Yours personal DJ, Hruthika from India (@ghostingsos on Twitter)

BLENDER

Melina from Germany (@melina_s0s5 on Instagram)

Heya!

First of all, welcome to the 5SOSFam! I can’t speak for anyone else, but I had been looking forward to meeting you for such a long time, and I was REALLY nervous when the moment was actually there. Because well… What if we wouldn’t have clicked? What if we weren’t really compatible? So many questions, that got answered in the time span of 2 minutes and 28 seconds. You may have been the shortest song on this new record, but the power you hold in these 148 seconds give me energy for a whole week.

Your powerful bassline and guitar riff are really catchy, and I can’t help but turn the volume button all the way up whenever you come on my Spotify shuffle. Proof of that? My bestie and I blasted you through the speakers of my car ON REPEAT while I was driving back to her place, and we were screaming the words at the top of our lungs, having so much fun when one or the other messed up the notes or the words until I had tears rolling down my face from laughing. You really did make us howl, with laughter, but still.

Other than that, I just fell in love with the words that were used to make you. The metaphor of being in a blender going ‘round and ‘round when you’re in a relationship you can’t seem to get right, getting stuck in the same situations and discussions over and over again, is something I never figured of screaming at the top of my lungs. Then again, 5SOS kinda went with the unconventional song titles for this record, didn’t they? There’s you, obviously, then Bleach and Caramel? Even Carousel. I had no idea what to expect, but you all blew me away.

I’m really grateful we got a music video for you too! The coloured filter and the effects that were used were really cool. The angle the whole mv was filmed from made it feel like I was actually standing on stage with these guys. And I’m not gonna lie, Michael’s little bouncy dancing during the first chorus is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. And YOU made that possible!

Thank you, for being a part of a record that makes me really happy. I hope you like the 5SOSFam as much as we love you, and I hope that from now on the four Australian dudes will take you with them everywhere they go. And even if they don’t, a part of you will always live inside my heart, that’s for sure.

I guess that’s all I can write before you actually start thinking “OMG it never ends”, so this is me, officially signing off!

And erm… In case nobody told you yet today: you’re kinda cool.

Love ya, always,

A. xo

From the US (@CaraMichael_ on Twitter)

To BLENDER,

Hiiii, first off, I claimed you cause we both weird. And just so you know, I’m proud of my choice xD. I just kept listening to you on repeat when you entered this world and you were and are a VIBE!! I really couldn’t stop though you kept saying the same shit over and over. But FUVK dude you legit got me howling at the moon. Well done! A sad b!tch but vibey and mood asf >>>. Oh btw my mom like looooooves you. Just today I was listening to you on speakers and my mom was vibing with me!! How cool is that?? Cool x 100 in a desi Indian household bro!

I wish some day we could scream out the AAAH AAH A AA AAH A AH AAA AAH AH AH AH AAH A AH together <3<3 Until then stay safe and keep rockin’. Yours the emotional to your blender, Hruthika from India (@ghostingsos on Twitter)

CARAMEL

From Indonesia

Dear Caramel:

I needed an escape from reality; I didn’t want to live in the complexity of my own life anymore. I was tired of walking in straight lines. I found what I longed for in you, the beauty of breaking conformity. We danced, your hands around my waist, we cried in each other’s embrace, and we fell in love with life and its everchanging days. But no matter how much we wanted the day to last, the sun is bound to set, and songs always end. The last guitar string you hit, Caramel, will forever ring in my ears, a melody of serenity and words of sorrow that I’ll remember for years. As much as we tried to hold on tight, you should let me go and kiss me goodnight.

Leen from Jordan (@leenbasha on Instagram)

BEST FRIENDS

Dear Best Friends,

Thank you. Thank you for giving the memories with my friends some background music. Thank you for giving me my best friends. (Shoutout to the Alex, Marts & Ida at this point).

In the past weeks I’ve been getting to know my co workers a lot better and the line “I’'ve got the best friends in this place” describes us perfectly. We get to do so much fun stuff and I really feel like I got myself some friends who are on a 5sos kind of friends level. We can do the most random shit together and I’m incredibly thankful for them. I made them listen to you and they loved it. You are our favourite song to listen to and we connected on a deeper level because of you!

Yours, Selina from Germany (@babybluelashton on Twitter)

Dear Best Friends,

You truly came into my life with perfect timing, during a moment when I was questioning exactly what notable memories, I’d made to bring me to this place in my life now. I’ve made and lost some of my closest friends over the years, and every time you ’re with me, I know that the ones I think of are the ones I hold dearest in my heart, whether or not they’re still with me now.

Walking with you is the most magical sort of memory lane to cross. I think of the very first friend I made, who drifted in and out of my life after years of the most close knit friendship I experienced. Every time I talk to them now, it reminds me just how much I love them, how grateful I am that we found our way back to each other, and how deeply I treasure the years we shared. And I remember all the friends who ever inspired me or unknowingly reached out to me when I most needed to remember that my imperfections don’t make me any less worthy of our friendships. No matter how often our perspectives differed, how briefly they touched my life, how distant we are now, I can think of them all fondly now.

You remind me of the online friends I’ve made, those uniquely beautiful people that make me feel seen when I know thousands of miles of land and water separate us. You’re there in the back of my mind when I open my heart to those people, the ones that love me for precisely who I am and somehow manage to tether me to this earth when my soul so desperately thinks of drifting away. You play behind every smile I have when I see those friends in my notifications, in my messages, and in my memories.

And most of all, I think of you when I think of my ride or die, my irreplaceable number one, the person who has quite literally been by my side for every second of my life. She so flawlessly fits exactly the kind of best friend everyone deserves, and no matter what, I know we are stronger than what tries to break us. You remind me how much I love her and how, truly, as long as she’s with me, I do have the best friend in this place. And as long as I’m here, I’ll be holding onto each of my friends and memories just that bit tighter because of you. Thank you. I remain

Yours truly,

Cristal from Canada (@clearestrainbow on Twitter)

Best Friends was one of the songs I was most looking forward to on the album for 2 reasons, the first one is because it's song 12 and that's my lucky number, the second is because I really admire the friendship you guys have, I really found comfort in it Seeing how they support and love each other like brothers always makes me happy.

In my case, my best friends are some of the most important people in my life and I wouldn't know what to do without them, so this song helped me put into words what I didn't know how to express.

I really love the song, it's like a serotonin boost that I needed to help me get out of bad times, because every time it starts it makes me smile.

Another thing that I also love this song for is because it makes me feel that even despite the distance and that we literally don't know each other, we are best friends. I know that I can count on you and your music at any time and I know that it will make me happy, since you make me happy. Thank you for sharing your art with us.

“I love to love you, for God sake

I got the best friends in this place

And I'm holding on”

Jules from Argentina (@safetyswft on Twitter and Instagram)

BLEACH

From England, UK

Dear Bleach,

You have fully succeeded in occupying my brain, working your words into my past and present. When the edges of the world are darkened and everything is hazy, you hum in the back of my mind, the only thing that breathes. I count to ten and whisper your words to bring myself back to this earth.

Your every line fits my life like pictures in a perfect frame. Too often, I find myself underprepared, swimming out into an infinite hurricane fully believing that my tiny life vest will save me. It’s only proof that every time I fall is when I trip over myself. I cut my fingers gripping onto the jagged edges of who I am, always fighting who I pretend to be; it gets harder to let people, places, and words slip through the blood. I shut out the people I love and silently craft façade after façade of empty eyed masks in the hopes that I’ll find a persona liked enough by others for me to learn to love it, too. Every mask is another chance for me to try again, to reinvent myself as I drift further from my truth. And then I try to pull each person back, tripping over each sham of myself again to salvage what’s left of the love around me.

But with every almost me, I remember my true self and every moment she lived and breathed freely. I let her spin down the drain, but she clogs the pipes, refusing to disappear while stubbornly clinging to the memories of the people who came closest to loving her. And perhaps it hurts the most when I find that I’m not one of them.

So, with you in mind, I pay more attention to her. I can try to wash myself away or paint a new mask over her, but even as I do, I won’t ever quite figure out how to live without her. Instead, we watch her both everything I was and everything I want and when she starts to spin away again, it’s you who reminds me to hold on. Thank you. I remain

Yours truly, Cristal from Canada (@clearestrainbow on Twitter) P.S.: I have never bleached my hair, but I still love you with my whole heart.

Bleach,

It makes me sad sometimes that you’ll never truly understand how beautifully you can tell me how I’m feeling when not even I know. I know that you’re often helping people through things such as relationships, but for me, you helped me through losing three of my grandparents in the span of two years. I was really close with two of them, my mother’s mother and father. They lived just down the street from me all my life, and after I lost my grandpa in 2021, I got even closer to my grandma; during the summer I’d go down the street to her house almost every night and I’d show her my favourite movies and television shows to her, and we’d watch them till we fell asleep late at night. Then, September of 2021, she had some health problems, and ended up in the hospital for just over a week. After that we went straight for it, and she moved in to live with me and my family. It brings me joy to know that she really enjoyed herself with us, I’ ve never seen one person laugh and smile so much. Then August 22, 2022, she passed away after dealing with cancer and several other health complications. July 27, 2022 my grandpa on my dad’s side passed after fighting Parkinson and cancer up until the age of 90. Then I met you this September, and I don’t think I’ve cried so hard in a while. You perfectly told me exactly what I was feeling without even knowing it. You told me that “it takes time to let go,” and you were right, it is gonna take me a lot of time, but I know that as long as I have you, I’ll be able to get through it. But not only did you tell me that, you listened to me. You understood how I was feeling. You shared stories with me. You cried with me. Hell, I’m crying writing this while listening to you speak to me once more. You shared with me how you’ve gotten through things like this. How sometimes you need to make sure that you’re moving on, that you’re not holding on to something you can’t have anymore. Bleach, you really saved me during a really hard time in my life. Your beautiful voice told me that it was going to be okay, and I want you to know that I love you, and that I’m never ever ever going to let you go. You’ re my support forever.

Love, Rebecca Lupher from Michigan, US (@lukespigtailz on Twitter)

Dear Bleach, you are very new to me. At first it was a small bond that i wanted to learn more about. Slowly you became intriguing, I wanted to know your story and with hearing you I think I’ve got it.

Cause you’re just like me.

I’ve done so many things that I would love to wash out with bleach. I’d like to erase every mistake I’ve made on myself and on others. I’d like to start over with so many people that I lost who were dear to me.

You saying you brought a knife to a gun fight is like me being unprepared for the constant losses and tears i shed for the mistakes that can be washed out with bleach. I’ve made up for lost time to my family, since I shut myself out at the dark doors. And found the window of opportunity to change and better myself.

I’ve started over for you. Because I’m all honesty Bleach I can’t live without you. Emily Kane from Texas, US (@1_emily_kane_1 on Instagram)

Bleach,

When the feeling is airtight, I know it takes time to let go, but I can’t take it no more, can I make up for lost time?

The feeling is suffocating at times, and knowing you put so much time and effort into something that is now missing from your life can be paralyzing. Wondering where the time went, and who you are meant to be with that piece of you missing and potentially a new worldview. You want to move on and find who you are meant to be without this piece of you, but it’s hard and takes time.

If there’s bleach in the hallways I can start over

The tears, and wanting to forget everything, but not being able to let go at the same time. In relationships, but also my past self. Starting over seems like the easiest option to move on, but this part of you, you are trying to erase will always be a part of you.

Till I’ve figured out living without you (everything I was spinning down the drain)

This missing puzzle piece is something we must learn to live without. It can make your heart feel empty and lost. Rediscovering who you are as a person can make you feel broken, but it’s okay to get lost to in order to find yourself. Starting over can also mean transformation. Every day is a new day, and in a sense a new start, another chance, and an opportunity to take a step towards moving on and moving forward.

Bleach, this song holds such a special place in my heart. Something about the song is so comforting and validating. There was a time in my life when I was bleaching my hair and obsessively bleaching my bathroom attempting to forget a traumatic event and the past version of myself. The bleach was temporary until I learned how to cope and keep moving forward in life. Eventually, I was ready and able to weave this back into my life and use it as strength to evolve as a person. I cannot thank 5sos enough for this song, in the oddest way it makes me feel heard in a way that no one has been able to. Thank you Bleach, I love you so dearly and you will always have a special place in my heart.

With lots of love, Haley from Minnesota, US (@Sunshinefor5SOS on Twitter)

RED LINE

You’re gone again.

I’m standing in the room now cold as ice, left behind after yet another heated time, the slamming of the door still ringing in my ears I wonder if you too, are feeling strangled by your tears? Fuelled only by the heat of our words, the once all consuming fire is now replaced by a silence calling for winter coats.

You’re gone again.

The hate in my blood, the spite on my tongue. You’re no good for me, and I no longer long. For the man in my heart is out of the picture, maybe one day I’ll take notes of the lecture. In the clarity of silence, all left is anger. I hate you, I hate you! The voice in me chanter.

A contradicted happiness filling my veins, you’re gone and forgotten, while you’re hunting your trains.

You’re gone again.

The lonely hours are knocking, threatening to end me. Time is flowing, the message not sending. I long for your love in the bitter aftertaste of a glass one too many. I look for another, I’ll be happy with any. I cry, the silent kind, tears streaming down my face, hitting the countertop where we once made love. I look to the ceiling, up and above, I reminisce your memory, and a smile is tugging my lips.

You’re gone again. Will you be back? Am I supposed to be glad? How many times did you walk out the door, into the darkness with a message of not being welcome no more? Excruciating pain, as my heart slowly tore. You told me you were not to ever return, but do I regret? When will I learn?

You’re gone again.

The overwhelming feeling of guilt, lying over me like a blanket of metal. In the house that we built, I feel fragile like a petal. Because the blanket is weighing me down to my knees, I mindlessly pray will you come back, will you, please? In the darkness where I once recited your name, I now sit alone and wonder: Do you feel the same?

You’re gone again.

Reaching out for a body that’s no longer there. The pain growing stronger, getting harder to bear. My body is longing for another to hold. To feel. To love. To grow intertwined, and in the darkness to mould. My mind is a mess, blurred by the liquid poison in my veins. Like a junkie my withdrawals are making me shake.

You’re gone again.

I need you back. Hours passing by, no words shared, I’m wondering why? For every hour ticking, I think about you. The question remains: Do you think of me too?

You’re gone again.

A knock on the door, a shock to my blood. Rushing through my veins like my body from the floor. Anticipation, regret, fear and love, I open the door, and who do I see? The man from my heart staring directly at me.

You’re back again. You say that you’ re sorry, you ’re pulling me in. My body to yours, the air becomes thin. Two vessels together in the house once so cold. No jackets are needed, when you’ re sharing a soul.

Ellen from Denmark (@5sos_Dane on Twitter)

Dear Red Line,

I think what I like the most about you is how much I relate to you lyrically depressing start, I know, but let's not get into that. I love everything about you, the melody, the guitars!! and of course, the lyrics. You just feel so raw, vulnerable and beautifully morbid in the best way <3 I think you’re telling a beautiful story, and I’m so grateful that the band chose to share you with us. It seems to be a fairly consistent theme on the album too, that “everybody’s livin’ on a one way ride”, so #yolo, if you know what I mean? But besides that, it’s a beautiful lesson to the listener (or me, at least) a poignant reminder to keep the ones you love close, to learn when to let go, and to let yourself truly feel it all, instead of trying to numb it with alcohol and the (literal) cold. Thank you for showing me life from a different perspective to my own, and of course for being a really good song to cry to now and then.

Love, Ru from Singapore (@takemyblender on Twitter)

Red line is such an emotional song, because it reminds me of my loss of my relationship from my best friend alias my boyfriend that I know since my childhood. My romance with him was not so good, because my boyfriend all the time said he loves me, but my best friend that I know since my childhood was in love with my boyfriend and she does not tell me and after 1 years and 2 months they are a couple.

But on the other thing, my other best friends said to me that he is not the one for me, because he was a player to other girls, but to me he was so different, because he was my best friend, but after months, we are getting a couple and then we have ups and downs in the relationship, but back then after 1 year he was not taking me seriously and then we have the biggest fight and came after 2 weeks back together.

After 2 months at our anniversary and my birthday he cheats on me, but the funny thing (sarcasms) he cheats on me with my best friend that I know since my childhood. I was heartbroken and my other friends said that I was naïve that I was getting him another chance.

Many years after our break up, I meet him with my ex best friend and they are getting engaged and she is getting pregnant.

They apologized to me, but I was so angry and pissed that I see them, I said my opinion to them and I was about to punish them and scream at them, but when I was doing my other best friend was holding me back and then I was so happy to said my opinion on them.

But at the same time my heart was so broken, because he was the love of my life and he broke my heart, because he was my first boyfriend and my family liked him and he does that to me.

This song means a lot of bad memories back to me, because it takes me to my depression moments and heartbroken phase, because he broke me so bad and I was lovesick so hard, but it does not matter to me anymore, because I do not need this man in my life.

My motivations are 5SOS, my family and my two best friends that I know for 5 years now and I’m so happy to have these people in my life, because they are making me so happy and give me the feeling that I’m a strong woman and I don’t need any men on my side to broke my heart, because I have two buddies that I know for 5 years now and the best man in my life is my brother on my side and I’m so grateful to them for being there for me.

5SOS make me so happy with the album, because with this song they give us the motivation to love ourselves and not be dependent on someone who can hurt you and I love these guys so much and this song gives me a lot of emotions in this melody, lyrics and meaning of Red Line is so powerful, strong, beautiful, and emotional at the same time. Thank you so much for this to us 5 Seconds of Summer. I love you so much.

So, it was my story to what Red Line gives to me and I hope you all going to enjoying my story, because it was so hard to talk about my heartbroken story.

Greetings, JoJo (@cthingsz on Instagram)

MOODSWINGS

Dear Moodswings:

I’m not the best at doing this stuff, but I'm gonna open my heart for you ‘ cause you deserve it.

The first time I listened to you I was in tears, such a mess, you really hit hard on me because of your honest words. I wish I could have listened to you last year, but if it has not been like that, it is because maybe it was not the right time until now.

Last year was a hell for me, I was with a really bad depression and mental health, so many moodswings in my life, lying to my closest people, and the worst part, lying to myself, I was feeling lost, with no desire of living at all, wishing that death had taken me and not a very important person in my life, i was dead alive, with toxic addictions and personality. I wasn ’t able to talk about how I was feeling with anybody, even with myself, so many emotional changes, losing people around me, losing me But now, every time I listen to you, I cry but with a smile in my face, ‘ cause you ’ve known how to describe my past year and showed to me when my mental health is more stable, for that reason you’ re bittersweet to me, ‘cause thanks to you, I finally know, that I'm not like that anymore, cause I’m stronger than I was thinking, that it’s okay to have moodswings constantly in my life and the most important thing, I’ve learned that I actually can live without her, I just need feeling her memories next to me, guiding and helping me through life.

Thank you Moodswings for having opened my eyes and shown me that even if I'm swinging my mood constantly, it’s okay.

Debs from Spain (@uaresogolden28_ on Twitter)

Moodswings,

You’ve very quickly become someone that means the world to me. Someone I look to for comfort. Someone I look to when I feel alone or am just looking to feel like someone gets it. To me, you feel so much like what my attachment style in a relationship feels like. You embody it in ways no one has been able to before. I felt crazy for so long because of the person I had become in relationships after my first. When I met you, I felt like someone had put words to the way I was feeling, which makes me feel so much more understood and way less alone or crazy in that.

I remember going into my first relationship with an anxious attachment style but ready to finally love someone. Without going into too much detail, he made me feel terrible for the love I had to give and the relationship itself was incredibly toxic and borderline mentally/emotionally abusive. It left me with so much trauma and flipped my world upside down. I went from a naive girl who trusted everyone, to a girl who kept everyone at arm’s length away because I was afraid of being hurt to that degree again. I didn’t stand up for myself the way I wished I would have and I was so angry at myself for it. I vowed never to let someone treat me like that again. But by the time I went into my next relationship, I was more focused on protecting myself, that the love I wanted to give to someone became secondary in my mind. I wasn’t emotionally available and wasn’t able to give him the love he needed. And I felt it, no matter how much I didn’t want to admit it or believe it, because I used to be someone who gave love away so freely. I

Sarah from Florida, US (@2ndsofsummer on Instagram)

could see the way it was hurting him, and it hurt me to know I was hurting him, but I didn’t know how to get out of fight or flight within a relationship. I could see my actions, the fights I was starting, the way I handled certain situations, etc pushing him away. The way I handled confrontation, the words I used, the timing; it all felt so wrong when I looked back at the relationship. And it broke my heart to know I was breaking his. We weren’t ready for each other. And I blamed myself for that for so long. I know now that that relationship happened for me to recognize what I need to work on in myself for whoever the next person is. But for so long, I felt so guilty about those patterns and I felt crazy for being so paranoid and for treating relationships the way I tended to after my first. That is the reason I am so grateful for you, Moodswings. You put words to feelings and actions I couldn’t explain myself. You made me feel so much less alone and crazy. You helped me understand the patterns and the way I was feeling better than anyone ever could before. You made me feel so seen in a way no one else ever had before. And you don’t even know me. You are beautiful. You truly are a masterpiece that I couldn’t be happier to have as part of my life. You brighten my day and the days of so many others. You make people feel so seen and less alone. You deserve for the whole world to appreciate you the way I know 5SOS fans do. And I hope someday you get that love. Thank you for everything, truly <3

Love, Hayley <3

From New Jersey, US (@hayhayfar on Instagram, @holdonnhayley on Twitter)

FLATLINE

Dear Flatline,

There are people who come into our lives and light up our seemingly perpetual darkness in inexplicable ways. Their hearts ignite sparks in every unlit, tragic crevice in our minds, and their existence calms the chaotic dissonance in our souls.

It feels impossible to encompass everything they are in something as permanently immortalizing as words.

But you did.

You flawlessly captured the miraculous glow of meeting someone and instantly knowing they’re the type of person you could spend forever with. The type of person that embodies sunshine and poetry and starlight. The type of person you would love loving and would love to love until the end of time. The type of person that makes your heart stop and your skin tingle and your mind race. The type of person that can’t really be described in words.

But you did.

With catchy beats, angelic voices, immaculate instruments, and gorgeous lyrics you ’ re nothing short of a masterpiece. Because these people are our lifelines. These people are our home. These people we’d die all night and every day just to miss.

Because they’re so much more than people. And they’re so much more than words because words could never do them justice.

But you did.

There are songs that come into our lives and light up our seemingly perpetual darkness in inexplicable ways. Their lyrics ignite sparks in every unlit, tragic crevice in our minds, and their existence calms the chaotic dissonance in our souls.

It feels impossible to capture everything it is in something as permanently immortalizing as words.

But I tried. Thank you for being that song.

Sincerely, Emm from Canada (@aloveletgo on Twitter)

Trapped in dark times, it often seems as if there's no way out. You're stuck in this hole, and you’re just falling deeper and deeper.

Then all of a sudden everything changes. After a low, there comes a high.

Going to a concert, visiting your happy place, or meeting someone new.

Someone who makes your life better.

The feeling of excitement, nervousness, and adrenaline all mixed together

Slowly developing a crush on someone and then falling all at once.

Non stop.

Kind of a feeling of falling upwards.

It feels like being on a rollercoaster going down, and you get this fuzzy feeling in your tummy just like butterflies, but at the same time the butterflies are carrying you up. You're so high above the ground, somewhere above cloud 9.

You feel infinite.

You don’t even recognise the person you were before.

It feels like you're reliving your first love, or maybe it is your first love. It's exciting. Looking at them makes you feel nervous but in a good way, it's hard to stay focused when you're close to them. It's an adventurous feeling, and you can't get enough.

Will this feeling last forever? Probably not, but enjoy it while it lasts.

But right now, you just want them, and it feels right and that's all that matters. That's all that matters, right?

Your heart is racing so fast it almost feels as if it's not beating at all. And all of that because of that one person Crazy.

Just them and no one else.

It’s like a drug you can’t get enough of.

Please make this feeling last forever.

Flatline.

Caitlin from Germany Ireland (@justcallme_cathy_ on Instagram)

To, Flatline_____

Bro I really didn’t know you a year ago lol. I didn’t even know myself lmao. thanks to your parents, I’m getting better at that hehe. You spoke my heart out you know, but of course in a much more significant way. It’s like my brain is tickled and all the juice is out and threw that in a blender *coughs* emotional *coughs* blender with some impressive 5SOS ingredients and made the best freaking mess I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. And the best part is I can keep you with me now and forever :DD. And a special mention to the freaking falsettos and poetic lines carved in you?? Oh God just cut me open and take my heart outtt. I’m lowkey sad that you can’t hear yourself because NObody should or could miss such a work of art. If only you could feel the damn LIFT that you give me every single time. Oh but I still think we should avenge your parents for doing you dirty

Yours uplifted stan, Hruthika from India (@ghostingsos on Twitter)

EMOTIONS

Dear Emotions,

Thank you. You’re opened up a side to me I’ve tried to hide for so long, and made me feel like I’m not alone.

I know how you feel and I completely relate. I’ve felt so alone and confused with my feelings for years and years, but there were often things I could never put into words, and you’ ve managed to convey it in a way that makes so much sense and feels so special to me.

I must admit, you’ve made me cry a lot, but that’s a good thing.

I love you so much, you are so beautiful and will always hold a special place in my heart. Beth x

From England, UK (@1_directions_of_summer on Instagram)

The song ‘Emotions’ means a lot to me because recently over the last few years I’ ve been struggling with anxiety and depression etc. ‘Emotions’ is a song that I can relate to because I've been through a lot. And ‘Jet Black Heart’ is a very similar song that has also been helping me with my anxiety and depression. And now in the beginning of June and July I’ve been struggling with anxiety and depression again. I couldn’t afford to see a therapist or a psychiatrist because it’s expensive and we don’t really have the money for it. In 2014 when I started high school I was very down and depressed, but I’ve made a few friends in high school but that did really help my problem. So, one day I came home from school and I saw this band called 5 Seconds of Summer and I’ m “hmm okay this seems interesting”. And the first song that came up was ‘She Looks So Perfect’ . And I started listening to them and I fell in love with the band. From that day 5SOS has help my anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember. Even before ‘She Looks So Perfect’ was even released. So yes, that’s my story. Thank you for being the best band any fan could ask for; you guys are actually heroes and I love you so much. And if one day you have another worldwide tour, please consider coming to South Africa Cape Town, I haven’t seen a live concert in 9 years and it would mean a lot to me if you guys could come here. I’ve been a fan for almost 11 years and you saved me. I love you guys so much and I’m so freaking proud of you boys. 5SOS5 is going to be my number one album. <3

Megs from South Africa (@MeganKruger31 on Twitter)

Dear Emotions,

I just wanted to tell you how much I love you and related to you.

I'm struggling a lot with my mental health; it's been like this for about two years. I don't go to a therapy or get any help because I'm too scared ask for it and still can't talk about it openly with people.

I find a lot of comfort in the lyrics and your meaning; you make my feelings valid. You remind me a lot of Jet Black Heart, you both talk about how it's okay not to be okay. This is why I also really love and relate to Jet Black Heart.

I think the verse "I'm doin' my best and I guess that's the best I can do" was the last straw. When I heard that verse for the first time I just broke down (I literally cried for 2 3 hours). This verse hit my weakest spot; the last 2 years were the worst years of my life, I did my best to stay here and that was the best I could do. 5sos are the only reason I'm still here, the only ones who were by my side when I was at my lowest. I can't thank them enough for keeping me alive but I'll love them until the day I die.

I wanna say thank 5sos for creating this amazing album but especially Michael, thank you for writing and producing you as know as the best song on the album.

Michael was right when he said "real bands save fans, real fans save bands", they definitely saved me.

Yours always,

Agam from Israel (@flatlineloml on Twitter)

Dear Emotions,

You are such a comforting song. You portray the acceptance of what you’re going through; the attempt of getting people to understand what you're feeling. You show what so many people including myself feel so simply; relatable to everyone. You truly are a masterpiece. With only few words you explain what I can never word right and express. You’re here for all us mentally unstable people that long for someone to understand and acknowledge us and make our pain feel valid. You make me feel understood in the dark moments where no one in my real life seems to care. You are a truly special song.

Mia from England, UK (@ghostofirwin_ on Twitter)

(@Marianela010 on Twitter, from Argentina)

Music, I think is something peerless. A word, a voice, a phrase, a thought, a feeling, someone through music, is simply special. A person in need of music is too. And when that person finds in music a style, a musician or several , a song that makes them think "it's for me, this is me", it's particularly unique for them. Well, if I'm that person, you're that song, and now I'll somehow tell you why.

For a long time, I have had in my head these kinds of things that are done too much, occupying everything, that weigh on my mind, that become so overwhelming that I would like to forget everything, even if I know that it is not that easy. Each of the things that I should or should not have done, each feeling of guilt, regrets, slights, each important person for me at some time that is now lost in the past of my life, each favour that I did not return, each new attempt of living failed, each of those things that I can't trust anyone, not even express. But you, although I didn't tell you anything, you arrived as if you already knew everything beforehand, as if you had seen me inside and told me “You don't have to say anything, now I'll tell you what I know about you". Yes, first, you helped me understand myself; understanding me.

Sometimes others have misunderstood me, and it hurts me to have to see that I worry those who love me. For them I smile and I limit myself to 'being there', not caring about having to find myself face to face again on those nights, when I think "I don't wanna cry about it", but the next day my eyes are swollen again and I hope that no one notice it. Then you helped me see that it's okay if I "still can't help it sometimes," and I knew you loved me.

I also destroy myself with each new mistake, I also know loneliness, I also feel that there is a monster roaring inside me and I hope that no one asks what it is if they hear it, because I don't know either. But it was when you whispered in my ear "don't mind me, I'm just feelin' kinda broken", when I understood that it wasn't 'the end of the world' for me, that I just need time. If I'm just feelin' kinda broken, I can find a new feeling, find a way to restore what has been broken, to turn my desert into a garden, even if it takes time, dedication or effort; as long as the Sun rises again, there is hope.

Now I'll tell you something: that day, while I was immersing myself in my "where did I go wrong?", and thinking about why everything seems to be wrong for me now, since when did I stop dreaming and everything started to be such a difficult reality, in which each new step turned out to end in a stumble, to find the beginning of a new labyrinth, or simply, it was a false step; You opened your arms to me, and I felt you in every note. You made me think more positively about myself, telling myself not once but several times that "I'm doing my best and I guess that's the best I can do!" and it felt very real. Thank you, dear, thank you.

I still have more than five things to tell you, in six, seven, eight, nine and ten ways, but I hope that with these lines you have understood something of what I wanted to say, so I'll continue here with my "emotions"... with you.

Katia from Cuba (@k_ltmjbh on Twitter)

Wendy from Belgium (@Niall_ma_vie on Twitter)

I’ve always been connected to Michael, so hearing Emotions for the first time was shocking, the lyrics are simple but so complex and have such meaning buried within them. Emotions is very relatable for me, it’s a song for me to feel heard and understood. It makes me feel less alone in this world and know that I’m truly understood. This song gives me hope and comfort. And I always try to remember the lyric “I’m doing my best and I guess that’s the best I can do”, it’s so deep and moving to me. I’ve been having a hard time lately and I’ve been getting overwhelmed and I wanna just cry. This song has helped me the past few weeks and it will always help me get through the rough days. This song is everything to me.

Bella from Ireland (@issaabe11aa on Instagram)

Hello my dear friend Emotions! Remember the time we were driving down town having a rough day. We both were going through a difficult period of life together? Our hair flying in the wind, the city lights shining so bright. I looked at you, you were sitting in the passenger seat and you said 'Talk about it, I don't wanna talk about it got too many things on my mind'. I knew exactly how you felt. Tears rolled down my eyes and I replied, cry about it, I don't wanna cry about it but I still can't help it sometimes. We both sat in silence and looked at the city lights shining so bright while we were in darkness. We were doing our best but I guess that was the best we could do at that point of time. We both were trying to figure out where we went wrong. I was starting to be hard on myself thinking about how I always have brand new mistakes. But you gave me a hug and told me that I just needed a little time and that I needed a little space to be okay again. You made me realize that "home" doesn't necessarily have to be a place it can be a person too.We both were struggling at that point of time but we made it out of the darkness. I wouldn’t have done it without you and I just wanna say thank you for always being there for me and I hope you'll be by my side forever ♥

Ritwika from India (@Ritwika_Mitra_ on Twitter)

Emotions

The first time I heard about you I already knew I was going to have such an attachment to you. When I finally got to listen to you and I instantly fell in love with you because every word you said I have felt for my entire life. I finally felt like someone understood how I felt and understood my emotions. You made me feel like someone actually knew how I was feeling and that I wasn’t alone. You will be cared for my whole life and every time I need someone but I have no one you are the first I listen to because I know once I hear the first words, I instantly feel happy and safe. I love you so much and I know you will be part of my life and I’m so incredibly grateful that you became part of such a great album. Thank you for being part of my life and I know you will never leave me and for that I am so happy.

Alexis from Arizona, US (@5sosstan25 on Twitter)

BLOODHOUND

From Thailand (@cchaaemms on Instagram)

TEARS!

From Israel

Here’s a fact about me, TEARS!: as someone with excessive daytime sleepiness, I’ m constantly sinking deeper, being pulled down into unconsciousness. The hole in the sun always seems to be caving in because I get pulled into sleep against my will, constantly. I don’t feel like I’m truly alive, and I want to be quite literally woken up. After all, how do you live when you’re not awake?

But here’s the thing about that, something I’ve learned as I grow older and look more into treatment for my issues: “I’ll feel better when I let myself see clearer” is so, so, so true. But “I’ll feel better when I let myself sink deeper” is the hole in the sun whispering to you trying to pull you in, be it your negative thoughts or your sadness or in my case sleep.

Let yourself cry, but you WILL see the other side as long as you remember to clear up your tears every so often.

It’s like how to help with my depression, I stopped making jokes about death or dying, stopped even using it ironically or to make a point. Why? Because my brain didn’t know I was joking. I had to stop letting my brain hear those jokes so it could heal. You have to stop accidentally tricking your brain into thinking that sinking deeper is okay, is what I learned. And trust me, it’s hard and I know it. But sometimes you really do have to burn the world to start over, and the way you do that is changing small things first, like setting the gasoline that will help light the spark.

The gasoline for my sleep issues is talking to my doctors. Yours can be anything that you think will help that you haven’t tried yet.

Change how you talk about your feelings, remind yourself of things that make you happy and make you feel alive, clear up your tears so you can see the other side.

And you know what TEARS!? It’ s going to be okay. Maybe no one is feeling exactly what you ’re feeling, but you’re not alone in that we all have feelings that give us tears.

I know it’s almost preaching optimism to you, but optimism persists because it really can help. I’m not going to back off on it because it’s nice to be optimistic, at least in my experience. I’m optimistic that I’ll get treatment for my sleep. I’m optimistic that you ’ll see the other side. We can burn the world whenever we need to start over and it comes back with the same persistence that we need to have. Isn’t that neat?

We’re the fortunate ones because we keep pushing our luck and it works. We’ re gonna keep pushing our luck until we feel alive, until we make it to the other side.

But that being said, it’s still okay to cry, to be upset you’re being pulled down, to be upset you’re sinking deeper, to hit the ground in frustration. Find the balance. Just like your album sibling Emotions, tears are valid. You’re valid. You’re NEEDED. You just need to wipe up yourself often enough to see clearer.

Love,

Kon from Illinois, US (@kryptonsmenace on Twitter)

Letter to: TEARS!

How can we find the perfect words to describe that feeling of wanting to shout to the world how you feel, that you know you should get on with your life but you're sinking, how to find the words when you just don't know how? well, curiously you found them. You found a way to describe those nights when the world seems so big and we feel so small, when we keep fighting, but somehow or other we feel tired and we just want to black out in our room, to be free from everything that binds us for just a little moment, and you found those words that lived in one way or another in the chest of so many who just want to feel alive, and you made us feel less alone. It's funny how we

sabotage ourselves to feel better, isn't it? these days when we don't feel enough and we want to burn the world to start over, but you know something, TEARS! ? We are more than we think, and those thoughts that invade us, that bind us, will one day disappear without the need to sink deeper. You're not alone, cry, scream, scream to the world how you feel, crying doesn't make you weak, it's okay to seek help, it's okay not to be okay. Thank you TEARS! for being that relief, that scream that makes us feel alive.

Sincerely,

Hillary Checo from Dominican Republic (@thinwhiteliesos on Instagram)

From England, UK (@gracelizabetht on Twitter)

Phoebe from the UK (@xxoneadditionxx on Instagram)

From Indonesia

A FEW LAST WORDS…

This fan project was born because of fans, literally. Lots of you, guys, wanted to do a fan project to show 5SOS your love for this album, and I think this action just shows how much this album means to you all. We did this in less than four weeks; you started to send letters and some of you even did art works. I’m pretty sure this is what means the most to the band; their work being loved this way by their fans.

I personally got emotional with your letters, seeing how a specific song has changed your life or made you understand yourself better, how it made you open your eyes, how a song was by your side when someone you loved passed away, how you arranged relationships with family or friends thanks to 5SOS5 songs. Some people even found therapeutic writing a letter to the song they chose, to let go emotions. I cried more than once with your words, and if you arrived here and you read the letters, you will understand what I mean. You see you are not alone with your feelings. These songs aren’t just songs; these songs touched hearts and lives. And I think this is the real power of music. 5SOS, if you ever read this: you did that. We are beyond proud of you!

Endless love for you, 5SOS, and for your new album 5SOS5 <3

THANK YOU TO ALL THE FANS WHO TOOK PART IN THIS PROJECT!

Original idea: @gallery.lrh

@lietome_luke

Fans who participated:

@_greynoise_

@1_directions_of_summer

@1_emily_kane_1

@2ndsofsummer @5_secondsoflola28

@5sauce.is.great @5sos_Dane @5soslukerools @5sosstan25 @aleksandarlie

@aloveletgo @babybluelashton @bassistkink_ @C4LZABRAH @CaraMichael_ @cchaaemms @cindy.dy.14258 @clearestrainbow @cthingsz @de11a_draws @erikaa.layne @flatlineloml @gallery.lrh

@ghostingsos @ghostofirwin_ @gracelizabetht @highontwl @hiorbyehoney @holdonnhayley @InvisiblePanicx @issaabe11aa @jeauhhh @julia.day12 @justcallme_cathy_ @k_ltmjbh @kryptonsmenace @leenbasha @lietocal @lietome_luke @lrhtakemyhand @luizguilhermetg @lukespigtailz @macycreekbaum @maren.1605 @Marianela010 @marvelousheartt @MeganKruger31 @melina_s0s5 @Niall_ma_vie @nikkilouisesmith @noguidinlight

@notfeelinggrown

@penguinperformances

@Ritwika_Mitra_ @Rylan_Larson_20 @s.selliott @safetyswft @starting_line_aurie

@Sunshinefor5SOS

@takemyblender @thebloodlinelrh

@TheGhostof5s0s @thinwhiteliesos @tinybrownpanda @uaresogolden28_ @wildfleur.stan @wwylm_lrh @xxoneadditionxx