Panda Bear is perhaps one of Adam Young's darkest songs. To understand why, you've got to understand that you should never strap on a diving tank unless in the water, because too much oxygen can and will kill you. This song is about someone about to commit suicide, judging from "I'll strap on a diving tank, and sing when I inhale..." He's inhaling purified oxygen to which prolonged exposure means death, or perhaps it's a metaphor for a just-as-lethal method. He's "content like a panda bear" because he's wrapped up everything in his life worth finally doing; he remembers the time he spent in Paris with an unknown companion in a "snowy veil."
Oh, and think about the first lines of both verses. They both describe actions of retreating from life; it's like he's wrapping up everything before he takes the plunge.
It might not be so grim. One of the running threads in Owl City songs is "being underwater" - think of Explorers, Swimming in Miami, Umbrella Beach... and this song is followed on the album by The Airway, another 'water' song, which directly references scuba diving.
It might not be so grim. One of the running threads in Owl City songs is "being underwater" - think of Explorers, Swimming in Miami, Umbrella Beach... and this song is followed on the album by The Airway, another 'water' song, which directly references scuba diving.
"Retreating from life" is another running theme, though it seems to be a retreat into fantasy - needing time out from the 'real world' of dealing with people.
"Retreating from life" is another running theme, though it seems to be a retreat into fantasy - needing time out from the 'real world' of dealing with people.
Which is not to say that there aren't darker undertones in some of his songs, but I don't think this is definitely...
Which is not to say that there aren't darker undertones in some of his songs, but I don't think this is definitely one of them.
Panda Bear is perhaps one of Adam Young's darkest songs. To understand why, you've got to understand that you should never strap on a diving tank unless in the water, because too much oxygen can and will kill you. This song is about someone about to commit suicide, judging from "I'll strap on a diving tank, and sing when I inhale..." He's inhaling purified oxygen to which prolonged exposure means death, or perhaps it's a metaphor for a just-as-lethal method. He's "content like a panda bear" because he's wrapped up everything in his life worth finally doing; he remembers the time he spent in Paris with an unknown companion in a "snowy veil."
Oh, and think about the first lines of both verses. They both describe actions of retreating from life; it's like he's wrapping up everything before he takes the plunge.
It might not be so grim. One of the running threads in Owl City songs is "being underwater" - think of Explorers, Swimming in Miami, Umbrella Beach... and this song is followed on the album by The Airway, another 'water' song, which directly references scuba diving.
It might not be so grim. One of the running threads in Owl City songs is "being underwater" - think of Explorers, Swimming in Miami, Umbrella Beach... and this song is followed on the album by The Airway, another 'water' song, which directly references scuba diving.
"Retreating from life" is another running theme, though it seems to be a retreat into fantasy - needing time out from the 'real world' of dealing with people.
"Retreating from life" is another running theme, though it seems to be a retreat into fantasy - needing time out from the 'real world' of dealing with people.
Which is not to say that there aren't darker undertones in some of his songs, but I don't think this is definitely...
Which is not to say that there aren't darker undertones in some of his songs, but I don't think this is definitely one of them.
I completely agree!!! I though I was the only one taking this song in a dark way.
I completely agree!!! I though I was the only one taking this song in a dark way.