My thoughts on "emo"

[topless_mike]

Over the past few years, we music fans have been bombarded my an insane amount of music. It seems, to me at least, that the more popular music becomes (along with a growing population), that there are more and more artists around. With this abundance of artists, has come the trend of sorting and labeling these artists. Years ago, there was rock, blues, jazz, rap, etc. Basic styles of music, right? Im going to focus on Rock.

With more and more rock music, some felt it was necessary to classify it, like it was a fucking library book. Now we had Classic rock, Speed metal, Thrash metal, Hair metal, Death metal, Black metal, Industrial, Hardcore, Nu-Metal, and Emo. Im sure there are others out there, but I'm not concerned about them right now.

We all know what Emo is; most of us commonly and openly mock it and those that sing it.
But something about it really made me think the other day. I was flipping around on my sat radio and landed on 21- Alt Nation. Dashboard Confessional happened to be playing. This is a band that I really despise: I personally think they are talentless, his vocals are extremely horrendous, and the only reason its getting airplay is because "emo" is trendy now. In disgust, I flipped around some more and landed upon 23- Hair Nation. "Every rose has its thorn" by Poison was playing.

Now, I remember when that song came out- back in '88. It was all over the radio, on mtv (when they actually played music), etc. I went out and I bought the tape (whats a cd?) as I'm sure millions of others did. At the time, I could name every song on both sides. So I flipped back to 21 and listened to Dashboard some more, then flipped back to 23. Stop the press !! Here was a hair band, supposed rock stars living the rock and roll lifestyle, sex, drugs, rock and roll, booze, etc, getting sappy and singing about love? about feelings?

So maybe emo isnt this new, trendy music style. Maybe its just re-hashed "power ballad" that we all fell in love with back in the day? What makes them different? Not much- while the packaging has changed, the product is still the same.

While I still think that emo kids either need a good beating, a good wake-up call, or just need to take that next step off a building rooftop, I think I can accept emo, but only as a "new-age power ballad".



p.s. Dashboard still sucks.

[King Hippos Bandaid]

he is a cool poster

but he is a little too midwesty and seems like he wants to marry Brett Favre and Barack Obama

[drjoek]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/406098338_3458473344_o.jpg

[LaBoob]

Whatever you need to tell yourself... :tongue:

It's kind of like the way language develops itself... two groups of people speaking the same language separate and after enough time speak completely different languages and can't communicate with each other... Emo's roots might be in the power ballads of yesteryear, but after enough time we go from this:
http://www.moondancejam.com/images/bandspage/06poison.jpg

to this:
http://www.emo-corner.com/emo-boys-kissing/images/kissing.gif

Sorry Topless Mike, I know you hate that pic :happy:

[realmenhatelife]

Emo has become a catch all term for gay because being gay isnt that wierd anymore.

There is actually a musical set of parameters that would classify a band as emo, especially when people started throwing that term around in the late 80s/early 90s post hardcore scene. Most of these bands are really good. What is called emo now is at best a pastiche, and is terrible. You can talk till you're blue in the face about dissonance, tempo shifts, errant guitars and lyrics but 9 times out of 10 someones going to come back at you with a comment about 'eye liner' or twinks or some bullshit that doesnt mean anything. It's a total bumout.

[Mike Teacher]

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m110/MizzleT/Art/baeno.jpg

[donnie_darko]

"emo" has taken over "artsy" as most peoples politically correct term for "gay"

this post is far too emo for me.

[keithy_19]

Emo is such a generic term I personally feel it's incredibly difficult to classify it as one thing. You listen to an early Dashboard song that is all acoustic and then listen to a Taking Back Sunday song like 'Cute without the e' and you tell me what the similarities are. The content has to deal with girls. Getting hurt by girls. Having your heart broken.

But a whole lot of music has to deal with heartbreak and relationship struggles. I don't think just because the subject matter has to deal with girls it means that it's 'emo'.

[TheKlonoPin]

I like to listen to emo while I take lots of pills and chat online with my friends. But then, I'm totally hardcore.

[Doctor Manhattan]

http://www.berlinwallpaper.com/Murals/images/Elmo.jpg
He's adorable!
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2896/caption134cq3.jpg
Even a dark lord of the sith can't resist!

[SatCam]

Emo is such a generic term I personally feel it's incredibly difficult to classify it as one thing. You listen to an early Dashboard song that is all acoustic and then listen to a Taking Back Sunday song like 'Cute without the e' and you tell me what the similarities are. The content has to deal with girls. Getting hurt by girls. Having your heart broken.

But a whole lot of music has to deal with heartbreak and relationship struggles. I don't think just because the subject matter has to deal with girls it means that it's 'emo'.

emo

[JerseyRich]

The best thing about repairing digital cameras all day is the fact that a lot of people don't erase their pics(Because they can't or they forget) before they send it in to be repaired.


I can't tell you how many of these kinds of photos I have seen in my time working there.

This one is masterful. Sad, dark, in the mirror, with a backwards hairdo.
http://www.fashionshanty.com/images/emo/girls-emo-haircut.jpg

[frye hole]

Emo is such a generic term I personally feel it's incredibly difficult to classify it as one thing. You listen to an early Dashboard song that is all acoustic and then listen to a Taking Back Sunday song like 'Cute without the e' and you tell me what the similarities are. The content has to deal with girls. Getting hurt by girls. Having your heart broken.

But a whole lot of music has to deal with heartbreak and relationship struggles. I don't think just because the subject matter has to deal with girls it means that it's 'emo'.

Don't waste your breath trying to actually discuss music as it relates to "emo". Those days are gone - now all people want to talk about are haircuts and eye liner.

Its a shame because some "emo" bands actually have some good songs:
early Dashboard, Thursday, Taking Back Sunday.

And getting back to Mike's original post -
I would be much more embarrassed if I had to admit I liked Poison than I am admitting I like Thursday .....

[nate1000]

Emo is such a generic term I personally feel it's incredibly difficult to classify it as one thing. You listen to an early Dashboard song that is all acoustic and then listen to a Taking Back Sunday song like 'Cute without the e' and you tell me what the similarities are. The content has to deal with girls. Getting hurt by girls. Having your heart broken.

But a whole lot of music has to deal with heartbreak and relationship struggles. I don't think just because the subject matter has to deal with girls it means that it's 'emo'.

A huge piece of the keithy_19 puzzle just fell out of the sky and suddenly it all makes sense.

[SyndicateParish]

http://www.fashionshanty.com/images/emo/girls-emo-haircut.jpg

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/MG/190950~Valley-Girl-Posters.jpg

Emo is a sad remix of 1986 in my opinion. It's funny how kids these days probably think they are doing something different than kids from the last 30 years.

[SyndicateParish]

to this:
http://www.emo-corner.com/emo-boys-kissing/images/kissing.gif

Sorry Topless Mike, I know you hate that pic :happy:

.. can you add me to the list of people who hate that picture too?

[topless_mike]

Emo is a sad remix of 1986 in my opinion. It's funny how kids these days probably think they are doing something different than kids from the last 30 years.

becareful..

they are sensative... remember?

[Dougie Brootal]

Over the past few years, we music fans have been bombarded my an insane amount of music. It seems, to me at least, that the more popular music becomes (along with a growing population), that there are more and more artists around. With this abundance of artists, has come the trend of sorting and labeling these artists. Years ago, there was rock, blues, jazz, rap, etc. Basic styles of music, right? Im going to focus on Rock.

With more and more rock music, some felt it was necessary to classify it, like it was a fucking library book. Now we had Classic rock, Speed metal, Thrash metal, Hair metal, Death metal, Black metal, Industrial, Hardcore, Nu-Metal, and Emo. Im sure there are others out there, but I'm not concerned about them right now.

We all know what Emo is; most of us commonly and openly mock it and those that sing it.
But something about it really made me think the other day. I was flipping around on my sat radio and landed on 21- Alt Nation. Dashboard Confessional happened to be playing. This is a band that I really despise: I personally think they are talentless, his vocals are extremely horrendous, and the only reason its getting airplay is because "emo" is trendy now. In disgust, I flipped around some more and landed upon 23- Hair Nation. "Every rose has its thorn" by Poison was playing.

Now, I remember when that song came out- back in '88. It was all over the radio, on mtv (when they actually played music), etc. I went out and I bought the tape (whats a cd?) as I'm sure millions of others did. At the time, I could name every song on both sides. So I flipped back to 21 and listened to Dashboard some more, then flipped back to 23. Stop the press !! Here was a hair band, supposed rock stars living the rock and roll lifestyle, sex, drugs, rock and roll, booze, etc, getting sappy and singing about love? about feelings?

So maybe emo isnt this new, trendy music style. Maybe its just re-hashed "power ballad" that we all fell in love with back in the day? What makes them different? Not much- while the packaging has changed, the product is still the same.

While I still think that emo kids either need a good beating, a good wake-up call, or just need to take that next step off a building rooftop, I think I can accept emo, but only as a "new-age power ballad".



p.s. Dashboard still sucks.

Whatever you need to tell yourself... :tongue:

It's kind of like the way language develops itself... two groups of people speaking the same language separate and after enough time speak completely different languages and can't communicate with each other... Emo's roots might be in the power ballads of yesteryear, but after enough time we go from this:
http://www.moondancejam.com/images/bandspage/06poison.jpg

to this:
http://www.emo-corner.com/emo-boys-kissing/images/kissing.gif

Sorry Topless Mike, I know you hate that pic :happy:


frye hole:
And getting back to Mike's original post -
I would be much more embarrassed if I had to admit I liked Poison than I am admitting I like Thursday .....

one more bad word about poison and i will murder you all, and everyone you know and love.

[Dougie Brootal]

The best thing about repairing digital cameras all day is the fact that a lot of people don't erase their pics(Because they can't or they forget) before they send it in to be repaired.


I can't tell you how many of these kinds of photos I have seen in my time working there.

This one is masterful. Sad, dark, in the mirror, with a backwards hairdo.
http://www.fashionshanty.com/images/emo/girls-emo-haircut.jpg

i wouldnt throw her out of bed.

[mikeyboy]

i wouldnt throw her out of bed.

:lol:

[Dougie Brootal]

:lol:

i always get a special feeling when i make mikey laugh!:smile:

[grlNIN]

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/1687/clipimage002lb5.jpg

[Knowledged_one]

I wish my lawn was emo that way it could cut itself

[realmenhatelife]

And then the other thing tht is totally annoying when people start talking about lyrical content, like noone wrote about girls and being said and all that stuff before 1996.

[TheMojoPin]

Patrick Swayze is going to need lots of it to beat that damned pancreatic cancer.

[ravn816]

I'm one of those people who likes at least one song/band in every genre, and I mean every genre...including emo. However, for the most part, I find emo to mostly sound the same from song to song and band to band, and most of it is depressing drivel crap.

I find in particular with modern rock, especially emo bands but it can be applied to a lot of Rock bands, and maybe even the Rap/Hip-Hop genre, there's 3-5 good bands, and of those bands about half only have one good album in them. Once these select few start to make it and become big (i.e. making lots of money for the record industry), the market just gets fucking saturated with bands that sound like a bad imitation of the good bands that came out before them.

I'm going to listen to so emo and cut myself now. :dry:

[Furtherman]

While I still think that emo kids either need a good beating, a good wake-up call, or just need to take that next step off a building rooftop, I think I can accept emo, but only as a "new-age power ballad".

Well you might want to head south Mike.... but be prepared... they're fighting back!!

Emo kids attacked in the streets on Mexico

A bizarre wave of mob emo-bashings is sweeping across Mexico. The movement is being generated on message boards and social networking sites by non-emo youth who highly dislike like the emo look and attitude.

Here is a newscast... it's in Spanish, but you can just tell from the images that they're really fighting.

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[topless_mike]

ha
this is awesome.
how did you find this?

yes, they were really fighting. in uncivilized countries like that, shit like that gets real serious really fast.

[Furtherman]

how did you find this?

A sad little bird told me.

[Freakshow]

2004 called. It wants its thread back.

[topless_mike]

2004 called. It wants its thread back.

2008 answered the phone. this thread was started 22 days ago.

[realmenhatelife]

Something else that bugs me about the whole perception of emo, aside from people just not getting what makes emo music what it is, is that every generation has so form of androgynous rebellion. Anyone who has a really hard time with emo kids, or really likes to pick on them, is just tapping into that generation gap or some xenophobic bullying instinct. But if you can handle flock of seaguls, punks, ziggy stardust, flower children, beatniks, greasers, and flappers etc then you really shouldn't be getting such a kick out of emo kids. In another 15 years someone is going to be on the mooch and pepper message board bitching about 'those queer fucking bladerunner kids'

[Furtherman]

Something else that bugs me about the whole perception of emo, aside from people just not getting what makes emo music what it is, is that every generation has so form of androgynous rebellion. Anyone who has a really hard time with emo kids, or really likes to pick on them, is just tapping into that generation gap or some xenophobic bullying instinct. But if you can handle flock of seaguls, punks, ziggy stardust, flower children, beatniks, greasers, and flappers etc then you really shouldn't be getting such a kick out of emo kids. In another 15 years someone is going to be on the mooch and pepper message board bitching about 'those queer fucking bladerunner kids'

I'll give you Bowie as androgynous, but the rest are far from it. Flock of Seaguls? Outside of a couple concerts, were there ever more than two fans in the same area proclaiming that they were fans?

Greasers?! Bowser would kick your ass.

[angrymissy]

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/1687/clipimage002lb5.jpg

Todd Cleary: I made you a painting. I call it "Celebration." It's sexual and violent. I thought you might like it. .

Todd Cleary: Death, you are my bitch lover!

Secretary Cleary: It wouldn't kill you to play some competitive sports, once in a while.
Todd Cleary: [suddenly incensed] Would that make you love me?

best character from that movie

[topless_mike]

best character from that movie

+ 1

[keithy_19]

Patrick Swayze is going to need lots of it to beat that damned pancreatic cancer.

:ohmy:

[realmenhatelife]

I'll give you Bowie as androgynous, but the rest are far from it. Flock of Seaguls? Outside of a couple concerts, were there ever more than two fans in the same area proclaiming that they were fans?

Greasers?! Bowser would kick your ass.

The list I made wasn't androgynous, but definately fucking with sexual norms. There is something very homoerotic about greasers, and thats where leather daddies started and those are the gayest fucking dudes on the planet. But all the people I listed were basically sexually revolting to people older than them, and for the most part there is an element of homosexuality, or at the very least bisexuality to them. I said flock of seagulls, but i meant new wave and then the extreme mid to late 80s stuff like culture club, grace jones, etc.

Fact is that emo kids pull tang like a fucking astronaut. All this teenaged internet pornography floating around is getting made by little indie tramps so their shitty emo boyfriends can jack to it.

[TheMojoPin]

I've never gotten a very sexual vibe from "real" emo kids. On the contrary, they seem to be trying their hardest to go for a very asexual deal. Personally, I think that contrasts a lot of them from some of the more sexualized trends you're talking about. The emos seem to be more caught up in ambiguous sexual identity/fashion as opposed to "raw sexuality."

[Furtherman]

The list I made wasn't androgynous, but definately fucking with sexual norms. There is something very homoerotic about greasers, and thats where leather daddies started and those are the gayest fucking dudes on the planet.

I have no idea what leather daddies are. But I'll take your word for it.

[LaBoob]

I have no idea what leather daddies are. But I'll take your word for it.

You mean, something that says, "Dad likes leather?"

[realmenhatelife]

I've never gotten a very sexual vibe from "real" emo kids. On the contrary, they seem to be trying their hardest to go for a very asexual deal. Personally, I think that contrasts a lot of them from some of the more sexualized trends you're talking about. The emos seem to be more caught up in ambiguous sexual identity/fashion as opposed to "raw sexuality."

Sexual ambiguity fits into the same social rebellion that hypersexuality does. There was a definate ambiguity to new wave, punk, glam, the flappers and the fin de seicle. It's all just reactionary, its very socially accepted to be an abercrombie bro alpha male type, so the reaction is to appear superficially gay and and seemingly sexually aloof. But then they get their own norms and being more androgynous becomes more attractive, so it goes through the looking glass and becomes sexual. The whole concept of what emo really is that I try to sell to people is one of reaction- it initially was a post hardcore thing and the stereotypical image that people have now is the total exaggeration of the original reaction. This isnt that wierd when you consider Bill Haley would one day turn into Kiss.

[Knowledged_one]

I wish my grass was emo that way it could cut itself

[Furtherman]

I wish my lawn was emo that way it could cut itself

I wish my grass was emo that way it could cut itself

Feeling out the joke? lawn... hmmm... maybe grass....

[Knowledged_one]

Feeling out the joke? lawn... hmmm... maybe grass....

I suck i admit it

[TheMojoPin]

Sexual ambiguity fits into the same social rebellion that hypersexuality does. There was a definate ambiguity to new wave, punk, glam, the flappers and the fin de seicle. It's all just reactionary, its very socially accepted to be an abercrombie bro alpha male type, so the reaction is to appear superficially gay and and seemingly sexually aloof. But then they get their own norms and being more androgynous becomes more attractive, so it goes through the looking glass and becomes sexual. The whole concept of what emo really is that I try to sell to people is one of reaction- it initially was a post hardcore thing and the stereotypical image that people have now is the total exaggeration of the original reaction. This isnt that wierd when you consider Bill Haley would one day turn into Kiss.

I get what you're saying...cool analysis.

The "image" aspect of "emo" doesn't really bug me...it's just a lot of the melodrama. It's the "LOOK AT MEEEEEEEEE!!!" aspect of those movements cranked to 11 zillion.

[LaBoob]

I thought that was a glitch in the matrix

[realmenhatelife]

I get what you're saying...cool analysis.

The "image" aspect of "emo" doesn't really bug me...it's just a lot of the melodrama. It's the "LOOK AT MEEEEEEEEE!!!" aspect of those movements cranked to 11 zillion.

Since it's such an internet cliche I'll bet we feel like we see it way more than we actually do. I may see a kid with a white belt and hair he combed with a dick at a movie but my gut reaction is coming from some stuff I saw on the internet. The stuff I did to have people pay attention to me when I was in highschool probably seemed that shitty and over the top to the older generation.

[TheMojoPin]

I don't remember the older generations writing really elaborate and creepy poems and slash fic about the bands they loved or being into "fashionable" self-harm and "suicide glam" quite as much.

[Furtherman]

I don't remember the older generations writing really elaborate and creepy poems and slash fic about the bands they loved or being into "fashionable" self-harm and "suicide glam" quite as much.

Oh? You don't recall the kids who considered themselved "Plath"?

[Stankfoot]

Sexual ambiguity fits into the same social rebellion that hypersexuality does. There was a definate ambiguity to new wave, punk, glam, the flappers and the fin de seicle. It's all just reactionary, its very socially accepted to be an abercrombie bro alpha male type, so the reaction is to appear superficially gay and and seemingly sexually aloof. But then they get their own norms and being more androgynous becomes more attractive, so it goes through the looking glass and becomes sexual. The whole concept of what emo really is that I try to sell to people is one of reaction- it initially was a post hardcore thing and the stereotypical image that people have now is the total exaggeration of the original reaction. This isnt that wierd when you consider Bill Haley would one day turn into Kiss.

There's a kernel of truth about emo in all this babble:
" it initially was a post hardcore thing and the stereotypical image that people have now is the total exaggeration of the original reaction."

What you people call emo is just an internet punchline with no relation what its really about.

It reminds me how punk rock was perceived when it first came about. I was listening to the Sex Pistols and an acquaintance heard it and asked who it was. When I said the Sex Pistols they said "Isn't that the band that takes a crap on the stage and then throws up all over the audience?". I said that's the one! They do it every show!

I know its useless to argue about anymore so I'll stop now .....:wallbash:

[TheMojoPin]

Oh? You don't recall the kids who considered themselved "Plath"?

Holy shit, this is unpseakably funny.

[Furtherman]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/Furtherman/gothopotamus.jpg

[LaBoob]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/Furtherman/gothopotamus.jpg

:lol:...I bet they both have office jobs now.

[TheMojoPin]

:lol:...I bet they both have office jobs now.

No way. The thing on the left has an ICP shirt. I think the odds are about 70-30 that both are dead.

[LaBoob]

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r269/rdolleman/funny-pictures-emo-bath.jpg

[CambriaBurning]

I think a lot of "emo" music gets a bad rap because the band gets associated with their fans.

There is definitely some sort of tribute to "glam rock" in there...

Check these guys out... if it wasn't for the music, you'd think you were watching Poison.

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[CambriaBurning]

http://www.emo-corner.com/emo-boys-kissing/images/kissing.gif

Sorry Topless Mike, I know you hate that pic :happy:

Aaaaaand something to cleanse the pallet...
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