Songfacts®:

• Since their founding in the 1990s, Skillet has emerged as a formidable force in Christian rock. Led by John Cooper, the band has pioneered a dynamic fusion of hard rock and faith, pushing the boundaries of the genre. Yet, their unwavering commitment to their beliefs has often placed them at odds with mainstream culture. In "Unpopular," the band defiantly embrace their outsider status, with Cooper's lyrics boldly proclaiming, "I think today's a good day to be unpopular."
• Throughout the defiant anthem, Skillet challenge the pressures of conformity and celebrate the courage of standing apart from the crowd. Cooper's lyrics highlight a generation grappling with identity and belonging in an increasingly polarized world. As he explains, "So many people don't have a place to belong."
• The song serves as a rallying cry for those who feel marginalized or misunderstood, offering hope and encouragement to embrace their unique identities.
  
  "You have powerful people telling you what reality is, what you should eat, what you should drive, and how you should live," said Cooper. "They deem us 'unpopular.' In reality, we agree more than we disagree as a society. The majority of people just want to be free and they don't really care whether or not you agree with them about everything."
• "Unpopular" marked a new chapter for Skillet - it was their first release after parting ways with Atlantic Records. This newfound independence allowed the band to experiment with their sound, resulting in a more raw and stripped-down approach reminiscent of their earlier work.
• Seth Mosley, a well-respected figure in the Nashville music scene, particularly in Contemporary Christian Music, produced the song. Mosley won a Grammy Award for his work on King & Country's 2014 album Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.
• Skillet approached writing "Unpopular" with a blend of humor and sincerity. "It's saying the world's gone so nuts that the things the world loves are so disgusting and crazy - like, in a world gone mad, would you want to be famous? That's the joke of the song," John Cooper told New Release Today. "There's a lot that God has been showing me this past year and a half. And I prayed that God would give me songs to speak to this moment."
  
  "For instance, do people want to be on the popular people's side? Do you want to be on the side who the people you are cheering for - oh, it's so great," he continued. "Watching the Olympic ceremony with my kids and seeing drag queens act like they're doing a Lord's Supper imitation. Isn't that great? We're so popular."
  
  "So, we're like, I don't want to be on that team. I want to be on the side of everyday people," Cooper concluded. "As a band, we always feel like God has inspired our songs and that we're singing about something that matters. And that's what's happening with this album in a big way. It feels like more than just writing what is on our hearts."