With almost 500,000 views in just a few hours, it’s safe to say that fans have been excited for the launch of the 2019 League of Legends World Championship’s single and music video.
“Phoenix,” performed by Cailin Russo and Crissy Costanza, is all about facing your own worst enemy: Yourself. It’s an interesting take on Worlds, when most songs in the past were about fighting other opponents in a struggle for victory. But it’s one that competitors and fans alike are familiar with.
“What are you willing to lose / You cover your wounds / But underneath them / A million voices in your head, they’ll whisper / Stop now / Another twist of the knife / A twist of the screws / It’s all in your mind/ And it’s fighting you.”
These are the powerful opening lines to the song, leading to the chorus that states: “You gotta conquer the monster in your head and then you’ll fly.”
The colorful music video depics League of Legends champions and pros facing evil clones of themselves, appearing to symbolize the negative thoughts that could get in their way as they fight to become known as the best team in the world.
SK Telecom T1’s legendary player Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and G2 Esports mid-laner Rasmus “Caps” Winther make an appearance in the video along with other popular pros. They are shown struggling to fight off their evil doppelgangers at first, trying not to fall victim to the shadowy figures on the train and in press conferences.
In the end, the players conquer their inner demons and become even stronger. As fans watch the evil entities crumble against the players’ determination and willpower, the lyrics exclaim: “Fly, Phoenix, fly / It’s time for a new empire / Go bury your demons / Then tear down the ceiling.”
Fan reaction to “Phoenix” have been positive so far, with most YouTube comments fixated on the lyrics, “Are you gonna die today?”
While the song may have sparked a new meme within the League of Legends community, it’s still unclear if the song will become as popular as the still-talked-about “Pop/Stars” that came out before Worlds last year.
“Phoenix” is Against the Current lead singer Costanza’s second time lending her voice to a League of Legends song. She sang “Legends Never Die,” the World Championship 2017 single, another song that the LoL community still talks about.
With relatable lyrics and stunning visuals, there’s no doubt that “Phoenix” will become a hit in its own right.
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