mgk pairs fangs with feelings in his feverish single “vampire diaries,” a punchy, pop-punk song that’s as catchy as it is confessional. Fueled by hooks, heartbreak, and museum mayhem, this emotionally charged track is an anthem for night owls and dreamers alike.
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Stream: “vampire diaries” – mgk
I found the fountain of youth, it turns out it’s a curse…
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Machine Gun Kelly has always been something of a chameleon in the music world: Hip-hop, pop-punk, alternative rock, he’s dipped his toes in it all.
But now, with the release of his new single “vampire diaries,” mgk isn’t just genre-bending. He’s blood-letting. And if the sharp, gleaming fangs he’s been showing off on Instagram are any indication, he’s not playing it safe this time around. He’s biting into a bold new aesthetic, literally and musically, and honestly? It tastes like a hit.
I sleep against the bedroom wall
The sun comes out,
and I can’t do nothing at all
I swear the life I live so boring
I don’t know why they
make it look so cool in stories
‘Cause I can’t leave ’til it’s night time,
and I can’t drink what I want
Tried to find the silver lining,
but it’ll kill me if I touch
And just walkin’ in the daylight
is something I’ve never done
‘Cause I was born to fly,
but, baby, I would die to run, so
The single, a follow-up to this summer’s infectious anthem “cliché,” is everything fans love about mgk turned up to eleven: punchy guitars, confessional lyrics, polished yet punk energy, and enough earworm hooks to keep it spinning in your head all week. Produced by the ever-reliable Travis Barker, “vampire diaries” is an electric, emotionally-charged track that manages to feel both rebellious and refined, like sneaking out after curfew, but with a glam-rock soundtrack.
mgk is still riding high on the wave of pop-punk that he helped revitalize with 2020’s Tickets to My Downfall.
But “vampire diaries” introduces a slightly darker, moodier edge, a shift that feels symbolic of his evolution. There’s a rawness here that goes beyond the flashy visuals and slick production. Yes, the guitars are loud and the drums crash like thunder, but underneath it all, mgk is telling a story. And it’s a surprisingly vulnerable one.
Take, take, take me out
There’s so much I haven’t seen,
don’t let me rot inside this town
Take, take, take me out
I know how it’s gonna end,
but it’s too late to turn around
“vampire diaries” walks a tightrope between metaphor and confession. mgk uses the image of a vampire, hidden in the shadows, unable to show his true face in the light, to explore themes of isolation, fame, and self-restraint. “I was born to fly, but baby, I would die to run…” he sings in one of the track’s most striking lines. It’s a subtle but powerful insight into the emotional tug-of-war he’s been navigating in the public eye. Is he talking about addiction? Sobriety? The pressure of always being “on”? Maybe all of the above.
But don’t get it twisted, this track isn’t all angst and brooding. True to form, mgk keeps it catchy and energetic. The chorus explodes with melodic hooks that are tailor-made for live shows and late-night drives. It’s the kind of song you can scream along to with your friends while still feeling like it means something. A rare trick, and one he’s pulling off with more ease than ever.
And then there’s the music video.
Directed by longtime collaborator Sam Cahill, the visual for “vampire diaries” is a full-on cinematic experience. Set in New York’s American Museum of Natural History, the video feels like Night at the Museum on a chaotic sugar rush, if Ben Stiller were replaced with a tattooed rockstar in pink eyeliner. mgk prowls through dinosaur skeletons and historical exhibits like a man possessed, tying his tie in the mirror one moment and breaking into dance the next. It’s cheeky, surreal, and entirely self-aware, a perfect visual match for the song’s emotional tension.
I feel the heat on my skin, but I don’t care if it hurts
(I don’t care if it hurts, I don’t care if it hurts) Ah, ah, yeah
I found the fountain of youth, it turns out it’s a curse
(Turns out it’s a curse, turns out it’s a curse) Damn, okay
I seen every cemetery, never been in the church, mm, uh-huh
I put a cross around my neck just to find out if it burns
Take, take, take me out
There’s so much I haven’t seen,
don’t let me rot inside this town
Take, take, take me out
I know how it’s gonna end,
but it’s too late to turn around
And yes, we said “dance.” That’s because the choreography, handled by none other than Sean Bankhead (whose résumé includes Usher and Tate McRae), adds a layer of polish and performance flair that’s genuinely unexpected. Watching mgk move with such commitment, sometimes goofy, sometimes graceful, is proof that he’s fully invested in this new chapter, fangs and all.
The internet, of course, is buzzing. Fans are already dissecting the lyrics, shipping the museum aesthetic, and, yes, debating whether those fangs are permanent (spoiler: they’re not, but let’s pretend). But what’s undeniable is the way “vampire diaries” feels like a statement. It’s mgk saying: I’m still evolving. Still unpredictable. And still not done surprising you.
It’s also setting the stage beautifully for his upcoming sixth studio album, lost americana, due out August 8th. If “cliché” was the spark, then “vampire diaries” is the fire catching. There’s a clear narrative forming, one that seems to blend glitzy rockstar flair with real personal reckoning. mgk has never been afraid to be theatrical, but here, it feels more grounded in purpose. He’s not just playing dress-up. He’s transforming.
And honestly? It works. With “vampire diaries,” mgk proves once again that he’s more than capable of switching lanes without losing his identity.
The track is tight, catchy, and brimming with the kind of attitude that made fans fall in love with him in the first place. But it also hints at something deeper. A willingness to dig into his own shadows. To dance in the dark. To bare his fangs, literally and metaphorically.
I let my fangs show, smile for the cameras
Cut both my wings, so no one can tell
Find me at twilight turnin’ to ashes
If it’s my last breath, I’m happy as hell
In a summer crowded with catchy-but-forgettable singles, “vampire diaries” sinks in and stays. It’s fun, it’s dark, it’s catchy, and it’s got heart. Whether you’re in it for the anthemic hooks or the late-night existentialism, mgk is serving something for everyone. And if this is just a taste of what lost americana has in store, August 8th can’t come soon enough.
Fangs out. Rock on.
Take, take, take me out
There’s so much I haven’t seen,
don’t let me rot inside this town
Take, take, take me out
I know how it’s gonna end,
but it’s too late to turn around
‘Cause I was born to fly,
but, baby, I would die to run
‘Cause I was born to fly,
but, baby, I would die to run
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:: stream/purchase “vampire diaries” here ::
:: connect with mgk here ::
:: pre-order lost americana here ::
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Stream: “vampire diaries” – mgk
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© Sam Cahill
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