Max Vanderwolf returns with a searing statement in Twice in a Lifetime, the latest installment in his thought-provoking Vanderwolf Singles Club. Unapologetically bold and brutally honest, the single is an incisive critique of the commercialization of creativity—a razor-sharp dissection of the way capitalism preys on the lifeblood of artists, converting passion and rebellion into marketable myth.
Musically, the track is both haunting and hypnotic, riding a fine line between rock opera and protest anthem. Vanderwolf’s delivery feels more like a sermon than a song—equal parts preacher, prophet, and punk provocateur. Lyrically, he aims at the industry’s deification of fallen icons—Janis, Jimi, Marley, Lennon, Cobain—each name echoing like a chant of lost souls commodified. These martyrs of music are resurrected repeatedly, not in spirit, but in box sets, books, biopics, and corporate campaigns. Vanderwolf doesn’t just name-check them; he reclaims them, stripping away the glossy nostalgia to expose the cultural machinery behind their canonization.
The accompanying video, brought vividly to life through the animation of New York filmmaker George Panagakos, is a surreal visual parable. Blending religious iconography with pop culture symbolism, it nods to Scorsese’s Last Temptation of Christ and Terry Jones’ Life of Brian, as Vanderwolf puts it. It’s a fever dream of resurrection and exploitation, using allegory to underscore the song’s core message: in modern mythology, the cross looks a lot like a stage, and every encore might just be a crucifixion.
Philosophically charged and visually stunning, Twice in a Lifetime isn’t just a song—it’s a callout. Vanderwolf, with his decades-deep perspective and unflinching artistic voice, delivers a piece of work that demands not only to be heard but to be questioned. Joseph Campbell said death is rebirth; Vanderwolf asks: at what cost?
Whether you’re a fan of fiery commentary, genre-defying soundscapes, or just tired of the sanitized narrative fed to us by corporate culture, Twice in a Lifetime is a must-listen—and a must-watch.
Follow Vanderwolf:
🎵 Listen to Twice in a Lifetime
📺 Watch the Official Video
📸 @vanderwolfmusic on Instagram
