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Bulletproof Heart (song)

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"Bulletproof Heart"
The band's logo, reading "My Chemical Romance", and the song's title in all caps, "Bulletproof Heart", appear over an image of a distorted pink background
Single by My Chemical Romance
from the album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
ReleasedMarch 22, 2011 (2011-03-22)
Genre
Length4:56
LabelReprise
Songwriters
Producers
My Chemical Romance singles chronology
"Planetary (Go!)"
(2011)		 "Bulletproof Heart"
(2011)		 "The Only Hope for Me Is You"
(2011)
Official audio
"Bulletproof Heart" on YouTube

"Bulletproof Heart" is a song by the American rock band My Chemical Romance from their fourth studio album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (2010). Originally titled "Trans Am", "Bulletproof Heart" is a power ballad that has been characterized as a pop rock song, its lyrics focus on running away with a car. It was one of the last songs recorded for Danger Days, being a favorite amongst the band. The song was written by Bob Bryar, Frank Iero, Ray Toro, Gerard Way, and Mikey Way, and was produced by the group alongside Rob Cavallo.

"Bulletproof Heart" was released to alternative radio in the United States as the album's fourth single on March 22, 2011, and was released in the United Kingdom on June 13. It peaked at number 39 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles chart in the United Kingdom, and number 42 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart in the United States. A music video for "Bulletproof Heart" was intended to start production in April 2011, but was scrapped by early 2012. It received positive reviews from critics, with many praising its composition. The band performed the song during the World Contamination Tour (2010–2012), their 2019-2023 reunion tour, and the 2025-2026 Long Live The Black Parade tour.

Background

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Following the critical success of their third studio album, The Black Parade (2006). My Chemical Romance began to work on their fourth studio album in June 2009; however, the band abruptly shelved the project due to being unsatisfied with the result.[1] The band decided to restart production of the album, wanting to create an album that was the direct opposite of The Black Parade.[1] During this process, they had started developing a song titled "Trans Am", which was about a boy named Johnny and a girl named Jenny running away from home, it would later resurface as "Bulletproof Heart".[2][3][4] According to frontman Gerard Way, it was one of the last songs they recorded for the album, claiming that it was a favorite amongst the band.[5] "Bulletproof Heart" was among one of the four songs from the original recording sessions that made it onto the album, following "The Only Hope for Me Is You", "Party Poison", and "Save Yourself, I'll Hold Them Back".[6][7]

Release and music video

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Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys was released on November 22, 2010 through Reprise Records,[8][9][10] with "Bulletproof Heart" as the third track.[9] In the United States, it was officially released onto alternative radio as the album's fourth single on March 22, 2011,[11] and was later released in the United Kingdom on June 13.[12][4] According to Craig Aaronson, "Bulletproof Heart" was originally considered to be the album's lead single, however "Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)" was chosen instead.[13] Production for a music video began in April 2011, the band were initially unsure if the Killjoys, a group of rebellious rogues living in a post-apocalyptic California in the year 2019, would make a return, after being killed off in the previous music video, "Sing".[14][15] Way stated that the band was "unsure if it's going to go back to that world".[15] The video never materialized, and in January 2012, it was announced that it had been scrapped.[16]

Composition and live performances

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It's a fictional, metaphorical song really, but one about leaving home and running away – about doing whatever you can to run away. Because that's the point of starting a band – you get in the van to run away.

— Gerard Way on the meaning of "Bulletproof Heart"[17]

"Bulletproof Heart" is a power ballad[18] that has been described as a pop rock song,[19] it is four minutes and fifty-six seconds long.[20] Eli Enis of Paste referred to it as "a beaming space shuttle of crunchy riffs".[19] It opens with quiet synth sound that grows ever more captivating,[21] it then jumps into an appreciable alt-rock anthem.[21] Over the course of the run-time, it is full of synthesizers and powerful guitars,[22] additionally featuring a guitar solo played by Ray Toro.[23][18] Lyrically, the song is about taking your car and running away,[24] with references to the song "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" (2004) by the Killers, particularly in the lyric "Jenny, could you come back home?"[25][24] The track has multiple instances of Way yelling "These pigs are after me" over a stripped-down guitar riff.[18] The track was written by all five members of the band and was produced by the group alongside Rob Cavallo.[26] "Bulletproof Heart" is one of the few songs from Danger Days that drummer Bob Bryar received songwriting credits on, prior to his departure from the band in March 2010.[27] My Chemical Romance also performed "Bulletproof Heart" live on various occasions after its release, including during the World Contamination Tour (2010–2012),[28] their 2019-2023 reunion tour,[29][30] and the 2025-2026 Long Live The Black Parade tour.[31][32]

Reception

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"Bulletproof Heart" received generally positive reviews from critics. In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number 39 on the Rock & Metal Singles chart the week of June 25, 2011,[33] and additionally peaked at number 42 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart in the United States.[34] Melissa Maerz of Rolling Stone described it as a "Red Bull-fueled stomp".[35] Additionally, Enis placed the song at number 1 out of 10 in a list of the band's most underrated songs, calling it an "utterly soaring pop-rock song" which was "criminally underrated since its release".[19] Xenophanes, a staff writer of Sputnikmusic, praised the song for its guitar solo and bass lines.[23] Jonah Bayer of Alternative Press also praised the song for Toro's solo.[18] In contrast, David Edwards of Drowned in Sound claimed the song managed to drift into repetitive circles after its stop-start guitar riff at the beginning.[36] In retrospective rankings of the band's discography, Jake Richardson of Loudwire placed the song at number 34 out of 71, characterizing it as a "shiny blend of pomp, punk and a splash of pizzazz."[24] Marianne Eloise of The Forty-Five claimed the track was "a lot of fun" and that "it'll have you imagining that you’re running through the desert with My Chemical Romance".[22] Chloe Spinks of Gigwise placed it at number 58 out of 79 in her ranking of the band's songs, particularly praising it for its bridge, also stating that it is one of her favorite things My Chemical Romance created.[37]

Credits and personnel

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Credits are adapted from Apple Music.[20]

Charts

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Chart performance
Chart (2011) Peak
position
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[33] 39
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[34]42

Release history

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Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States March 22, 2011 Alternative radio Reprise [11]
United Kingdom June 13, 2011 CD single [12]

References

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  1. 1 2 Richardson, Jake (November 22, 2023). "The courageous story of My Chemical Romance's Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  2. ↑ Bryant 2014, pp. 248–249.
  3. ↑ Bryant, Tom (August 16, 2015). "8 of the best My Chemical Romance songs featuring different drummers". Louder Sound. Archived from the original on July 16, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Bulletproof Heart (Compact disc liner notes). Reprise Records. 2011.
  5. ↑ Mapes, Jillian (November 17, 2010). "My Chemical Romance's 'Danger Days' Track-By-Track". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 8, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  6. ↑ Bryant 2014, pp. 238–240.
  7. ↑ Richardson, Jake (September 6, 2024). "Conventional Weapons: The story of My Chemical Romance's final studio compilation, and subsequent break-up". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on April 8, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  8. ↑ Wood, Mikael (November 22, 2010). "My Chemical Romance, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys". Spin. Archived from the original on May 16, 2026. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  9. 1 2 O'Donnell, Kevin (September 23, 2010). "My Chem Announce 'Danger Days' Release Date". Spin. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  10. ↑ "My Chemical Romance Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys". MTV. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Future Releases on Alternative Radio Stations". All Access. March 12, 2011. Archived from the original on March 12, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Key Releases" (PDF). Music Week. June 11, 2011. p. 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  13. ↑ Bryant 2014, p. 294.
  14. ↑ Elan, Priya (April 28, 2011). "My Chemical Romance unsure if 'Killjoys' alter egos will return". NME. Archived from the original on October 7, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  15. 1 2 "My Chemical Romance Unsure If Killjoys Will Return In 'Bulletproof Heart' Video". MTV. April 27, 2011. Archived from the original on April 21, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  16. ↑ "My Chemical Romance's 'Kids From Yesterday': Death Of Danger". MTV. January 17, 2012. Archived from the original on December 27, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  17. ↑ Bryant 2014, p. 249.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Bayer, Jonah (October 8, 2010). "My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 Enis, Eli (January 21, 2020). "The 10 Most Underrated My Chemical Romance Songs". Paste. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  20. 1 2 "Bulletproof Heart – Song by My Chemical Romance". Retrieved June 13, 2026 – via Apple Music.
  21. 1 2 Ritt, Megan (November 24, 2010). "Album Review: My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys". Consequence. Archived from the original on January 20, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  22. 1 2 Eloise, Marianne (August 30, 2020). "Every My Chemical Romance song ranked from worst to best". The Forty-Five. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  23. 1 2 Xenophanes (November 17, 2010). "My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  24. 1 2 3 Cassie Whitt and Jake Richardson (March 24, 2019). "Every My Chemical Romance Song Ranked From Worst to Best". Loudwire. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  25. ↑ Mortensa, Mala (January 7, 2021). "10 references you might have missed in My Chemical Romance's lyrics". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  26. ↑ My Chemical Romance (2010). Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (Booklet). Reprise/Sire Records. p. 7. 9362-49618-3.
  27. ↑ "My Chemical Romance drummer Bob Bryar quits band". BBC. March 5, 2010. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  28. ↑ Goodwyn, Tom (May 15, 2011). "My Chemical Romance warm up for Lady Gaga at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend". NME. Archived from the original on July 17, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  29. ↑ Richards, Will (August 21, 2022). "My Chemical Romance play 'Bury Me in Black' for first time in 19 years as they kick off US reunion tour". NME. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  30. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (August 22, 2022). "My Chemical Romance Kick-Off Long-Awaited North American Reunion Tour With 2 Super-Deep Rare Cuts". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  31. ↑ Jones, Damian (August 11, 2026). "Watch My Chemical Romance play 'Bulletproof Heart' for the first time in four years as they kick off 2026 North American 'The Black Parade' tour". NME. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  32. ↑ Ragusa, Paolo (August 10, 2026). "My Chemical Romance Launch "The Black Parade" North American Tour in New York: Setlist + Video". Consequence. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  33. 1 2 "Bulletproof Heart". Official Charts Company. June 25, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  34. 1 2 "My Chemical Romance Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  35. ↑ Maerz, Melissa (November 22, 2010). "Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  36. ↑ Edwards, David (November 23, 2010). "Album Review: My Chemical Romance - Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on May 24, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  37. ↑ Spinks, Chloe (June 13, 2022). "Every My Chemical Romance song ranked from worst to best". Gigwise. Archived from the original on January 27, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2026.

Sources

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