Yungblud Completes the Story With Idols: Part II
The long-awaited second half of Yungblud’s recent Grammy-nominated project, Idols, was finally released on February 20th, 2026, and with it, one of his most ambitious bodies of work to date. After winning Best Rock Performance for his performance of “Changes,” a song off of Idols Part I, the world was anticipating what Yungblud would do next, and he did not disappoint. With the release of seven new songs, the story of Idols was officially completed, continuing where we left off.
Yungblud. Idols: Part II. Album cover. Capitol Records, 2026.
The album opens with “I Need You (To Make The World Seem Fine),” an acoustic-driven ballad grounding the listener in vulnerability. Opening with the lyrics “Pictures of idols, rise up and fall,” Yungblud immediately addresses the idolization of celebrities we look to for our own comfort and reassurance. This song describes the feeling of the world falling apart around you while you’re searching for that sense of stability and looking for someone, or something, to tell you that everything will be okay. Many of us look to our “idols” as our safety net; meanwhile, they’re struggling too.
With “The Postman,” the theme of longing is continued in the lyrics, “Everybody wants to be loved, everybody wants to be adored.” In this song, Yungblud is portrayed as the postman himself, the one who delivers both happiness and heartbreak. This reflects the struggle of wanting to be loved when your presence is not always welcome. Love is not linear but complicated, and being part of someone’s life means risking the possibility of hurting them.
We then flow into a new version of “Zombie,” the iconic single off of Idols Part I. This version brings a single new life, featuring Smashing Pumpkins. With heavier instrumentals and a more textured sound, we get something new out of this rendition. It reiterates the change in sound and evolution throughout the album while emphasizing the theme of awakening.
“Time” is a stripped-back acoustic ballad about heartbreak and life after a breakup. As one of the most vulnerable moments on the album, we experience the feelings of leaving a relationship to find yourself and love someone else. That in-between of detrimental heartbreak, but also understanding that even when it hurts, we have to choose ourselves.
“War Pt. II” continues the story of “War Pt. I” (from the first half of the album). Beginning with the same lyrics, the song immediately brings familiarity to this second half, reminding us to think of where the story began. Although the songs have similar lyrics, the tone and intention have changed, understanding what we are truly fighting for, which is contentment within ourselves.
As we reach the final two songs of the album, one could argue that these are some of the most impactful lyrics and meanings in the complete album. “Blueberry Hill” is a song that symbolizes nostalgia and longing for that safe space, somewhere you can escape the daily struggles of life and be true to yourself. Rather than a physical space, it represents the freedom and feeling internally before the depression and self-doubt creep in, looking at this as if it is fully in the past and out of reach. That longing flows directly into “Suburban Requiem,” the epic conclusion to the album. Not only are these sanctuaries discussed once more, but instead of them being unreachable and metaphorical, it tells us the story of finally finding that place and feeling again, breaking free from the suffocation of a typical suburban life, and realizing you can break free from something you were always told you must endure.
In an Instagram caption about the album’s release, Yungblud says, “Idols II is about the fundamental comprehension of morality. Are you running away from something in this life, or are you running towards something? For me, it depends on the day.” I think this statement rings true through each song on the album, representing growth as something that isn’t linear but an up-and-down internal conflict that ultimately will lead you into the best version of yourself.
Rather than coming across as a collection of bonus tracks, Idols: Part II completes a beautiful story of self-discovery and acceptance in a world where not everyone fits society’s mold. While Part I is about the process of finding yourself and surviving the darkest moments of your existence, Part II explores what it means to live as the version of yourself you fought so hard to become. Ultimately, Idols: Part II captures the recognition of stepping into your true self while understanding that we are always evolving and the journey to self-discovery is never-ending.