"Adam's Song" could be considered Blink 182's first controversial song. First, you have to put aside all of the normal fart jokes and sex humor that the band usually promotes and realize that "Adam's Song" was their first chance at being serious. When "Dude Ranch" was recorded, Blink 182 wasn't looking to impress anybody by any means. They were just a few lucky kids from California that got the chance to goof off in front of America's youth, but this time, get paid.

When the solemn ballad was heard on their next album, "Enema of the State," everyone was in uproar. The first rumor to surface about "Adam's Song" was the death of a good friend of Blink 182's that they felt they should honor. That was never found to be true however. Another rumor was that Mark Hoppus was expressing his personal feelings about being away from home on tour, but decided to twist the lyrics into a fictional letter instead. This story carries the most weight so far.

Just like the subject matter contained in the lyrics to "Adam's Song," Blink 182's corresponding music video presented a very sincere and reflective side to the three punk-rockers. The video shows the band playing in either an empty parking garage or subway station with hundreds of photographs collaged behind them on the cement wall. It really is an awesome video to view since apparently the first time I finished watching it, I realized my mouth had been open the entire time and a tiny puddle of drool was on my favorite shirt.

The video to "Adam's Song" didn't show Blink 182 playing pranks on each other or imitating any popular boy bands this time, but focused on the recreation of memories from the collection of pasted pictures mounted on that stone wall. Scenes play of the members interacting with the people inside the photos and of cherished moments that may have seemed insignificant at the time.

Many Blink 182 fans relate "Adam's Song" to "Stay Together for the Kids" from their following album, Take off Your Pants and Jacket. Blink 182's serious side was beginning to emerge, and luckily, their fans were taking it very well. Personally, "Stay Together for the Kids" is my all-time favorite song by Blink 182. It really pulls together Mark Hoppus's great talent for melody writing and Tom Delonge's ability to produce simple, but powerful guitar riffs.

Obviously Blink 182 thought that the more serious material was a good route for them to explore with the release of their self-titled album before they broke up. Even the up-beat material on that album is kind of shocking lyrically like the song "Go" for example. That song is about Hoppus and his mom attempting to run away from an abusive father.

I'm very proud that Blink 182 was brave enough to create a song like "Adam's Song" because I think that in some small way, the awareness of suicide probably increased. Also, it may have given some needed strength to those who felt that life gets too hard to bear sometimes.