So I'm just going to be honest with this. Some of it may sound a little harsh, atau maybe not, idk. Just gonna be honest.


First of all, I just want to point out the fact that I've never seen Flyleaf live. I only started getting into them about 2-3 years ago, but was never a true fanatic until about a tahun ago. I have been following the band ever since then, and the hari they announced the release tarikh for New Horizons (the album, not the single, though that was exciting too), I was of course stoked about the album, but even lebih so, I was stoked about the fact that they'd be touring again soon, and I'd finally get to see them live.

However, that excitement faded on the hari they announced Lacey's departure from the band. It broke me. I was just thinking to myself, so much for seeing them live, and hearing Lacey's unique voice and screams in person, and hearing her amazing speeches that she always gives. And the possibility of meeting the whole band. All of those hopes went down the drain.

And on bahagian, atas of everything, I just could NOT picture the band without Lacey. Yes, I am one of those people who says "it's not Flyleaf without Lacey." I am well aware of the fact that Flyleaf is a band, not just Lacey, and I have very high respect for Pat, Sameer, Jared and James. They are all very talented people and all have good hearts, and I am not trying to neglect them atau make them feel like trash sejak saying the band won't be Flyleaf without Lacey, but come on, let's be real. The lead singer of any band is the head of the band. I mean, imagine if Hayley Williams left Paramore and was replaced sejak some other singer. Would it still feel like Paramore? atau if Billie Joe Armstrong left Green hari and was replaced? atau Amy Lee from Evanescence? It doesn't matter how good the rest of the band is atau how good the replacement singer is, it just wouldn't be the same. This is especially true with Flyleaf, as Lacey's voice is so unique and irreplaceable, and how the majority of their songs were written, atau at least co-written sejak her and anyone who knows her story can easily tell that the songs are about her life. And in my opinion, she has a way with words, a way with delivering speeches live that's so amazing that no one could top. I'll only believe it when I see it. So in my honest opinion, I think it's great how the remaining four members are going to continue making music, but I truly think it would be appropriate if they changed the name of the band and started new. I'm sorry, but I just think that it would be best to leave Flyleaf in good memories. Don't get me wrong, I strongly believe that those men are fully capable of making GOOD Muzik without Lacey, but it just wouldn't sound like Flyleaf without her.

Now onto Lacey. I completely understand her reason for leaving and she had every right to make that decision. Her son needs her and I've been trying really hard not to be selfish and put peminat-peminat before family. However, I honestly think she could've stayed for just one lebih tour. I don't just say that because I haven't seen them live yet (though in all honestly, that's a big part of it), but with the baru-baru ini release of New Horizons, and the fact that she was the one who sang on that record, I feel that she should've done at least one tour for that album. It would've been nice to hear her sing those songs live at least once, and to know that it would be the last tour with her, and the last chance to see all 5 of them live, so therefore we peminat-peminat would do everything we could to make it to a tunjuk while we still could. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but the last tour that they did, I don't think anyone had the slightest clue that it would be their last tour with her. I'm sure tons of peminat-peminat figured that they'd have other chances to see them all.

Now Kristen... honestly, she is talented and has a very nice voice, but she's a pop singer. I've watched all the video that have been telah diposkan with her performing with the band, and I honestly tried to have an optimistic mindset and give her a chance, but I couldn't help it, it just sounded and felt so wrong. It literally gave me negative vibes. The guys are still good, but with her Singing those songs that she didn't even write, they basically sound like a cover band. I just don't think her voice is very fitting for their genre of music. But I mean, I can't blame her; Lacey's voice is one of a kind and can't be replaced. It just breaks my hati, tengah-tengah to think about how some people who have never heard of Flyleaf before, will end up going to one of their upcoming concerts, and will think Kristen is THE singer, the always has been singer, and might never even know about Lacey. To me, that's just not right. Lacey is like no other. And the way all 5 of them worked together so perfectly... it's just heartbreaking knowing that it's history now. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not trying to hate on Kristen sejak any means. I actually feel bad that she's gotten so much hate from a large portion of the fans. I mean, it's not her fault that Lacey left, and she's only trying to help. I actually respect her for her bravery. I also feel bad for the guys, and the hard time they've been telah diberi sejak the fans. They must feel awful to read all the komen-komen from peminat-peminat that say things like Lacey being Flyleaf, the way they're not gonna listen to them anymore, etc. Not to be a hypocrite, being one of those people myself, but even going through those komen-komen personally, people have just been plain nasty about it. I try to be as respectful as possible when I state such things, remembering to give credit to the guys and NOT make them feel worthless, but I can't lie. I can't keep supporting them now like I used to.

Of course I'll keep following them and listen to whatever they may put out in the future, but honestly, it's just not gonna be the same. I'll keep supporting old Flyleaf sejak all means and will keep listening to the stuff they've already put out like I always have. But I don't plan on going to a tunjuk on this upcoming tour. I keep getting emails saying Flyleaf is coming to my city, and it literally pains me to have to see that and say no, but I just don't think I could pay money to go see a replacement singer cover Flyleaf songs. If just watching video of that causes me pain, I can't even imagine how it would be to actually see it in person. I'm sorry, to the rest of the band. I Cinta anda guys to death, but I just don't think I could do it. I'm just desperately hoping and crossing my fingers that, someday down the road, Lacey will sertai them for a reunion tour atau something. If that were to happen, I don't care if they don't come to my city, I will FIND a way to go see them. I don't care what I have to do. I Cinta this band, but I Cinta the band for the fullness of what it is. If any member, even if it's not Lacey, were to leave the band, it would just feel incomplete (though obviously the loss of the singer bites the most sejak far). Same goes for any band. It was the same thing when Josh and Zac Farro left Paramore. Though not nearly as painful to endure as it would've been if Hayley left, they still haven't been the same without them.

So I guess my point being, I Cinta Flyleaf, I Cinta Lacey, but similarly to the body of Christ, and their song Beautiful Bride; without one part of the body, the body it incomplete. Without one member, the band is incomplete. "If one part's hurt the whole body's sick; it one part mourns we all mourn with him." Best of luck to them, but I honestly just don't see it working out, at least not for the majority of peminat-peminat who know them with Lacey. And I guess this concludes my rant.