What Is Emo?

Emo has become the one thing that it was created never to become, emo is as mainstream as mainstream itself. Many people place the blame on bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, who some call the "king of emo himself", the All-American Rejects or any of the new pop-punk bands that are on the radio.

That isn't true they are just trying to get there music heard worldwide and thier succeding. Many people think emo is just a phase like goth that kids go through then they become normal again, others say its a punk that crys a lot for the girl that broke his heart, or maybe its a phrase for indie rock, it is easier to say emo (short for emotional) then independant music.

The origins of emo are easy, it was when the first band picked up thier instruments and poured out their thoughts on stage or rehearsal space. When the beatles sang songs of love and the hundreds of bands that followed them doing the same thing. The only difference is that the sound has changed, now music is filled with poppy-bass lines, catchy riffs, and high pitched vocals, a more jump around sound then the "I love you, heres the song I wrote for you" sound. Post-Punk is another term for emo that refers to punk bands that in place of short 2 minute songs with scratchy vocals you have longer songs with singing or talking (ex: Alkaline Trio comapered to NoFX; The Get-up Kids compared to The Pixies).

Hardcore music such as poison the well, thrice, quicksand, the used, norma jean, even get thrown into this emo mix but thats because they both have strong emotions conveyed in their music and put energy into a song, you hear and feel it when you listen to them, the guitars collide with a fierce rythme section or a calm song filled with emotional voice. Post-Punk bands like Cursive, Desaparicidos, Criteria En Grande, fall under the omaha sound that has weird rihthmes and whispered vocals, but bands like Thursday also share that common sound that wouldn't neccessarily be heard in mainstream music. Saddle Creek records a label started by Coner Oberst (Bright Eyes/Desaparicidos) for his band Cammander Venus, has spawned many of the leading emo bands holds what some to be true emo music that is emotional music with singers who pour thier hearts out in whatever way they feel neccessary whether it be screaming or singing.

Post-Hardcore, also known as Screamo is another label associated with emo. It is when emo bands scream. This style of emo goes more into punk because the vocals function as another instrument and sometimes are followed or overdubbed by singing. Still Life were one of the first bands to do this then other bands such as Thursday, Coheed and Cambria, and silverstein caught onto the idea and made it into their own thing. Fugazi are also credited with starting emo as well as thousands of different bands form different local scenes in the 80s and some garage bands from the 70s but wait, pink floyd were doing the same thing many emo bands do today and that is a good live show and pouring out emotions to the listener.

Many people belive many different things about why and how emo became mainstream. Some say its because of D/C or Jimmy Eat World but really it would be because so many more people are feeling isolated by pop-music or the mainstream so they buy something different and now that trend has spread. The Get-up Kids, Sunny Day Real Estate, Thursday many people call them sell outs because they signed to major labels and thats not true selling-out is when you only do it because its cool, or you get paid, you sell-out when you think your selling out.

Weezer are sometimes labeled as the godfathers of emo, even though they have been on the radio for years, they're nothing new but when emo came up they seemed like the perfect band to pave the way for this new trend and now bands like the used, thursday, taking back sunday are paving the way for emotional music into the mainstream. Many people don't think they're buying into it because they call themselves "indie rock" or "hardcore kid" , well, they are. Emo is defined by one thing, how emotional the song is.

- Stephen Landry

Comments

[Xx_banx]

i dont like emo.
unless its the hardcore kind.
learn how to spell "Rhythm"

[Twh2003]

Not a huge emo fan myself, though Bright Eyes rock. Everyone HAS to admit their lyrics are genius...

[face990]

ah so thats what emo is. always wondered. and to be honest a idont wasnt to know any more. iv just realised that i have a great dislike for emo. justby the names used.. its not emo- they might as well classify it as pop. cos it is pop

[Xevious]

Emo punk is what I like to call boy bands with piercings.

[fishboneul03]

^^^^^hopeless musical bigotry

[Encore_God]

Far from my cup of tea, and not really rock n' roll, but Bright Eyes are pretty haunting from what I hear of their stuff.

[let-there-b-rok]

bluddy emo, they av no idea bout real musik

[system]

the point is, he shouldn't have even written this article. all he really did was give some examples of emo bands, he didn't even define it. you know why? ITS BECAUSE NO ONE CAN. EVER. ITS IMPOSSIBLE. its too wide of a genre.

[Tom Martin]

why do people read an article about a genre they dont like?

[rhysh]

weezer are not emo

[evaniscool314]

tom martin is right, who reads about something they dont like. And if you're all just here to make fun of it... well thats pretty ignorant.

[h.s.sweethearts]

cheer up, there's something to live for...

[dez18]

Please note, it seems like I am a "emo kid" with my last posting, which isnt true. I am a fan, but I also believe for every good emo band, you get 5 shitty bands, (Sensis Fail cough cough).

[UG Gangsta]

lol poison.... hardcore..... haha emo sux

[horazonblade]

Man theres not many things worse in the music world then closed minded people who burn any music that isnt their type or doesnt fit to what they like to hear.

[Dunlop(.73mm)]

true

[Gurgle!Argh!]

Post-punk and emo are totally different things.

Ever heard Gang of Four or Liars? They're post-punk. Try and tell me that they're emo....

Anyway, I don't like this. You don't seem to knwot hat much about emo.....

[harm0n20]

who gives a shit about what "genre" of music they listen to! good music is good music.

[Ender605]

What are you talking about?

Weezer is not emo in ANY way.

[Russ Tundra]

You know what weverything in this article is correct and every one that dislikes it is a poser and is trying too hard to become a punk and has never watched SLC Punk. You have to live the life!

[Confusedtheday]

emo is the style of music I play and my bassist hates it!i just read this to him and his perspectve has changed.Emo can be what u want it to be,fast slow or in the middle..it doesn't have to be classied as "emo."

[garagerocker69]

wow! that was the worst article ive ever read! wasnt this supposed to be an article defining emo, not dissing it? learn to control your anger man!

[Bubonic Chronic]

What is Emo?

Isn't he that red dude from Sesame Street that you can tickle? Or maybe I'm thinking of the pig dude on the bottle of glue...no, that's Elmer...

Hmm...I feel like chicken...

[pinkerton]

Emo is short for emotional. All good music is emotional. Thusly all good music is emo. So if you say you hate all emo, then you are saying you hate all good music. Don't mess with that shit, I am the god of verbal logic.

[Nimrod]

what is emo?

[dresedtodepres]

ya know thats kinda bullshit just because if music is emo if its emotional, than couldent even like slayer or hatebreed be emo? everything for the most part comes from an emotion somewhere

[PunxNotDead7688]

Corperate Punk SUX!!!!!!!!!

[horazonblade]

Genres will never go away, they are neccisary but hindering part of music. No matter how much you complain in a forum, or whine to your friends, its gonna stick so stop complaining.

[sun_is_blind]

its because of emo that bands (like mine) who play without the restrictions of some genre, can't get any shows. emo is just a flock of seagulls and hopefully it will go just as fast

[punksnafu]

um...people dont 'create' a style of music and put rules on it...it becomes a product of someone expressing themselves...

[FaithInTheTheif]

im with idle_romeo
everyone has their one oponions and ideas so just keep your crap to yourslef

[gryftorsguitar]

if emo means music that was written with emotion, then almost every song i think of is an emo song. even songs like under the bridge was writen on anthonys heroine addiction and emotion at the time. and if i think about it then, i wouldent want to listen to anything not emo cause whoever writes that is a fake just puttin a song out that they think will get them chicks or money or w/e

[MatsumotoHideto]

It's times like this that made me listen to Japanese rock music..
emo...
mother of god...

[punksnafu]

gryftorsguitar said it best. I had always thought that but always ***ing forget about it when i read another one of these threads. ALL songs are emotional, its about the style of music more...and people can do w/e the *** they want, music's evolutions arent and will never be dictated

[emop]

emo is good, i just hate the whole attitude of the following of it..most "emo" kids i know are just fakin' depression cause its "cool" which i think is BS.

its the only thing i hate about this genre of music.

[Squint]

how bout.. there be no "emo" and people stop tryin to label stuf?

[rushtonisback]

Or.. How bout everybody respect this persons column and keep your opinions to yourself.+

[Guy Snowden]

harm0n20:
who gives a shit about what "genre" of music they listen to! good music is good music.
[POSTED: 28 January 2004 - 17:53]|

i Agree with this dude !!!!

[Sokrfreak04]

Did nobody catch that Indie music was referred to as "independent"?...maybe before somebody writes a review, they should get their genres correct...indie stands for INDUSTRIAL...other than that this whole article is a bunch of different for muddled distorted guitar sounds w/ winy punks behind the mic...which, don't get me wrong...sounds cool, but let's not overanalyze the small amount of musical diversity these bands actually have...

[Mr_Fooz]

didnt even read the articlle. emo is pussy music, therefore anyone who listens to that shit is a pussy and therefore a woman. Thats alright for the chicks, but any guys who listen to it might as well be castrated.

[dez18]

Mr_Fooz is ignorant, commenting on something they didnt even read....so childish

[Timmeah]

haha thats quite funny mr fooz. obviously you dont listen to any music at all then? because if emo is emotional music, and all music contains some emotion, then you just called the whole world pussies. one big middle finger up to you.

[niamh]

"screamo is associated with emo. It is when emo bands scream" ha ha ha
not a great article didn't hold my interest for long i forced myself to finish reading it

[Wizcid]

This doesnt explain what emo is, it merely points out bands that you think are emo and bands that you think started emo. Do some real research next time.

[*Truly Ninja*]

weezer is emo you idiots

[ReelGreenBat]

weezer can be called emo or not... different songs have different sounds... they can be called indie, emo, pop-punk, punk, or alternative, they all fit really.

[pinkerton]

weezer is "rock" music. But yes, about 1/2 or 1/2 of their songs are emo.

[pinkerton]

1/3
i didnt mean to say 1/2 twice

[superdupergirl]

People try to hard to label music. It doesn't really matter what it's called, as long as it sounds good.

[dutchy29]

I agree that had to one of the worse explanations of "emo" I've ever heard.

[Brand Nizzle182]

We Are Each Only Alowed to like one genre. SO MAKE IT COUNT!!!

what is the fuXin point of this...

[musicmandanoz]

squint is right STOP THE LABELING!

[nabbist]

not a very good article. crap, actually. a good subject, but no good thoughts or points made.

[BigAndyW]

OK, lets get this staight, for all the idiots regurgitating it over and over.. Emo music DOES NOT MEAN EMOTIONAL MUSIC AS A WHOLE. Get over it. It's A GENRE of music, a sub-genre of punk to be more specific, although it's also expanded to fill several other sub-genres of its own, calmer ones and heavier (screamo and post-hardcore) ones. It DOES NOT mean "emotional music" in the sense that all music evokes an emotion of some kind.. The name is inaccurate yes, but that doesn't mean you pricks can say "ahah all music is emo" for fucks sake! It should be renamed "dep" short for "depressing" Then it would be more accurate..

[BigAndyW]

Hmm.. Ah well, didn't realise the tags don't work on this bit

[si_wilburn]

fukin ell why do u have to catagorise evetrything!!!! Music is Music Punk is punk whether its aar or nofx its still punk the sub catagories are getting way to much for me !!!!!
long live ALL punk PUNK IS CERTAINLY NOT DEAD ASK GEORGE BUSH AND FAT MIKE

[runefan88]

emo is just another failure of an offshoot of punk, like grunge. both emo and grunge branched off of punk, and both suck major ass.

[Wildrule]

i think it was not a bad article, emo's alright but not my favorite

[ShoeLaces907]

Emo...such a conformist musical trend with many to most bands displaying no musical creativity whatsoever.

I like the Buzzcocks too, but do we really need this bands shamelessly ripping them off and calling themselves cutting edge?

That being said, I'm not putting down all emo bands. Just the horrible ones.

[Gurgle!Argh!]

Sokrfreak04, indie DOES NOT stand for industrial. it stands for indie...

[Gurgle!Argh!]

Sokrfreak04, indie DOES NOT stand for industrial. it stands for independent

[sential]

this article had some good points, but one thing I would like to add is that many of these bands start off just playing punk or rock, or whatever, and they write their songs the way they want and then they are labeled emo. For example, Weezer was emo before emo was even a term. In actuality they were just a rock band that wrote good lyrics. Its not like they were like, "hey lets be emo...". It wasn't until later that people just had to make some label for bands that didn't fit so nicely into any current category. The same for get up kids and a ton of other bands out there. Who cares if the songs are emotional, its just music. I hate the term emo, it pigeonholes everyone that puts feeling into their music. I mean if emo is music that is emotional, then yeah like it was said earlier, who isn't emo. Those that dont put emotion into their music aren't going to affect anyone with their music. The beatles were emo, eminem is emo, and Mr. Bob Marley could be the king of emo. Everyone of his songs were about repression, broken hearts, love, problems with society, etc.. Stop judging music by the labels applied, just listen to it. Who cares what its called, its all audible art. Just listen.

[Sokrfreak04]

Weezer and all of it's fans know that the "label" associated with it is "dork rock"...just go to the website...they'll tell you. And again...I can't stress it enough, although I like "emo", whatever it is...I like what sential said ^...can we try to not overanalyze the TINY LITTLE MINISCULE FINITE AMOUNT OF MUSICAL DIVERSITY ACTUALLY PRESENT IN THE MUSIC THAT IS AN OBVIOUS OFFSHOOT OF PUNK?! Geeze, listen to what you like, but don't put other people down because they like different music than you...IT'S TIME TO GROW UP if that's all you're gonna do...my 2 cents...

[starbomb13]

you can be emo and still have catchy riffs and choruses, and you can still be pop and emo. It's all about if the song makes omeone emotional-then that comes down to opinion-what you think is emotional can be a load of sh*t to someone else

[morningview4]

there is no such thing as emo. the kids who listen to anything post-grunge but are just SCREAMING to be different pick and choose bands they like and label them "emo" for reasons x,y, and z. however, when they run into each other and compare favorite bands, they do nothing but insult each other, saying that the others bands arent "REALLY emo, theyre sell-outs! [see article defining the term 'sell out', for the record, guys]. well, theres my 2 cents.

[psychodelia]

when i hear an emo band that can play ill respect them... i dont mind pop ppl that can sing, but most emo bands cant even goddam sing (their voices crack... i guess theyre still going thru puberty at 25. go figure) anyway ya all i hear is power chords and nothing original

[sential]

for every good "emo" band, there's at least 100 shitty ones.

[BassPlayer4Hire]

Wow this guy has no idea what he's talking about.... emo didnt start with Dashboard Confessional or anything of the sort. It started in the late 80's/early 90's with bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Fugazi. Before you make a crap article, at LEAST get your facts straight.

[BassPlayer4Hire]

Oh my bad, you did mention them, I was too distracted by your shit article to notice...

[FunkasPuck]

ian mckaye is emo...nuff said

[stratslinger15]

Ha! You're acting like emo's the only music that isn't original. I don't think there is one band that doesn't model it's playing styl after another's. And if you say differently then your on crack.

[lovetorock]

all i know is taking back sunday is the best friken emo band ever

[lovetorock]

everyone who disses emo music should go screw a friken donkey

[vlvtundgrnd77]

how could anyone not like emo? how could you not like fugazi come on now repeater is one of the best albums ever!

[andieba]

Emo is a genre which some guy/guys or band invented just because they cant spell Punk/grunge or metal!!

[i am sparticus]

come on ppl!!!!!
emo is this term that's been thrown at anything that not super happy, happy songs!!!
so come on its gettin slightly borin now!!!

[Pumpkinsmasher]

the only good emo is bright eyes. everything else is sappy and pop. unless, of course, that is the aim the artist was going for, but then i wuoldnt classify it as emo.

[Anti-FlagAddict]

well, i now know what emo is, i always wanted to know what it was.....now i know.. o.O

[Anti-FlagAddict]

woah woah woah,weezer is not emo at all dude.....you should really do more research...by the way..were you under the influence of ANYTHING whn you wrote this?C'mon, i won't tell anyone....

[Bisonman80]

Who are you guys? Your all too criticizing... JESUS. HE ISNT STATING THIS SHIT AS FACTS, hes obviouly just stating his point. Give him a break, and once again, MUSIC IS OPINIIONATIVE, everyone likes somthing different, and the fact that people just say: emo sucks, or rap sucks, or rock sucks,, is just plain sad. Give each genre a chance before you put it down, hell, you might even start to like it. And yes, emo is too big of a genre and is impossible to define, but guess what dumbass, EVERY GENRE IS HUGE. THERE IS NO GENRE THAT DESCRIBES ONE MUSIC, because EVERY BAND IS DIFFERENT ASSHOLE, and thats the straight-up truth, whether you like it or not. , thanks for readin!

[princePopadom]

you go girlfriend!

[pluckin crazy]

BBOOORRRIIIINGGGGGGGGG...
what is emo?...easy question...emo is shite

[Joth]

pluckin crazy:
BBOOORRRIIIINGGGG
GGGGG...
what is emo?...easy question...emo is shite

exactly, this review could be taken down to 4 words:
what is emo? shit
there ya go

[felixpotvin86]

is that smoke up my ass mr emo fan?...emo is not defined by emotion, kurt cobain was emotional, eddie vedder, layne staley were emotional...they are not emo...chris caraberra or whatever his name is, the used guy, and all those bands starting with the day of the week name have whiny voices, its a piercing high pitched squeel kind of like an animal dying or suckin in its last dying fighting breaths of air...they make me feel much discomfort when i listen to them, these stupid white suburban night kids just like me are so pretentious, if they were really emotional they would be a little more intense, and not make softcore pop music for the deaf...or 12 year old boys and girls...sorry to all you young ones

[felixpotvin86]

hahahahaha john mayer kicks more metaphorical ass than any of those emo popsters!

[Deth2Emo]

emo is crap

[twobelts]

did you actually do any research on the origin of EMO? im guessing you didnt. the first 'EMO' band was Rites of Spring, which had Guy Picciotto, who is now in Fugazi (who is NOT a ***ing EMO band!) and the term Emo was actually a derogatory comment made towards rites of spring buy a guy in another band who played a show with them. Sreamo is a bull shit marketing term that shoudnt exist, because apparently If you play "emotional hardcore" you can only show one emotion, witch i always thought there was more than that. if you want to hear some actual 'Emo?' music then hear are a few i suggest

rites of spring
herion
braid



ps. before i forget i am not an 'emo kid'.

[Deth2Emo]

hoo cares theyre all gay

[GuiTarPlaYnPunK]

good article..but i still hate emo

[dr. dingleberry]

What the hell? Everyone is entitled to thier own opinon on which music they listen to...if you dont like it, go back to limp bizcuit or eminem or some crap. And dude.....stop writing articles you know nothing about. Emo isnt a sound or a band, its a gay feeling.

[CvPrEpKiLLaH]

i still don't get it...

[cheesetastic]

say what you want about whoever you want but, dashboard confessional is one of the best lyrical driven bands ever, there is enough emotion in one song to double any other cd, so if that makes them "emo" well ok

[WIZ]

[sarcasm] this column taught my a lot, i mean, i didn't know Weezer was emo [/sarcasm]

[bean_brain]

I think the move of emo into the mainstream has a lot to do with the fact that the trendy thing to do these days is to stand out and be an individual, so people look for stuff that is out of the ordinary. The unfortunate thing is that we live in a society where things are so mass-produced that they can become a cliche very quickly. Personally, I like to listen to a bit of Thursday and Dashboard Confessional. I know some people find it whiny or lame or whatever, but I think when done right, emo can be pretty cool. As for you guys who don't like it, well, I can't force you to listen to it... but let's try not to be too negative.

[alaskanbassist]

Uh yeah, Mr. Idiot Dude, if Emo is short for emotional, doesn't that mean all music is emo? Almost every song ever written reflected someone's emotions at one time or another.

[Black_Flame]

have you ever noticed how just about every famous band in 2004 is either emo or rap ? wow that's gay ... we need some new stuff 9as long as it's not boy bands or pop )

[mole_ais]

Why can't you leave people who like emo (or anything else for that matter) alone? They don't have a go at you because you're into hardcore metal or something.

[Ralph]

Damn, that definition of emo sucks! I've read a much better one in "Punk in depth 3, the 90's" bij mr.Lucky.

"In order to avoid confusion, I will explain the difference between emo and pop-punk. Emo is a very deep, thoughtful, emotional offshoot of punk. It tends not to be as catchy as pop-punk and is very melodic. Pop-punk is really just pop music done with punk instrumentation. The themes sometimes intermingle, but in general (there are always exceptions) emo tends to be much deeper than pop-punk. Pop-punk is much lighter and catchier than emo."

Also, the good emocore bands are often 'major-phobic'. A good example is FUGAZI, (with members of Minor Threat, and the often proclamed father of emo: Rites of Spring) It's a great band, they got alot of offers from major labels, but declined them all. Instead, they've been with the indipendent label Dischord (co-founded by Ian Mackay from fugazi and minor threat). They stayed away from merchandise and MTV. Talking 'bout DIY.

O yeah, emo is hard to define because (in my oppinion) it doesn't has boundaries. They're often not afraid to try different things because they don't give a monkey's behind what people think. That's what I like about it. If a hardcorepunk band makes a 'mellow' album, instead of screamin' their heads off (I'm not dissing hardcore, i like it to) their often called pussy's or, well, emo's (but not as a compliment). To prevent that, those bands won't make such songs. So they are restricted in their creative expression. If a bands doesn't give a shit about that, it may happen that it's labelled as emo. Emo isn't just about a girl you lossed, it can be about politics too. The subject doesn't really matter.

You problably guessed that I like emo. But, as al genre's, emo contains good and band bands. The bands who try to be emo, often are over the top. Tryin' to be a certain kind of music always sucks if you ask me. but i don't have a problem with labeling. It doesn't has to be exactly correct, but it give you an idea what kind of band it is. Pretty handy with thousands of bands around the world.

Hmm, this comment wasn't meant to be this long. Actually, the qoute of the article should have been about it. Sorry about that :P, but I did got to spill my guts.

[Ralph]

Oh, twobelts: in my oppinion fugazi is emo. But I have another deffinition of emo than you have, i guess.

[bean_brain]

Good points Ralph

[fr0zt]

Anti-FlagAddict:
woah woah woah,weezer is not emo at all dude.....you should really do more research...by the way..were you under the influence of ANYTHING whn you wrote this?C'mon, i won't tell anyone....

Have you ever heard Pinkerton? Listen to their lesser known songs on that album. Everything is Emo about it, idiot.

Rivers was pissed off when he wrote the album, and you can just hear his emotions flow.

[hardcorejunkie]

figure out how you want to classify thursday, according to you they play about 45 different styles.

[jarvisl8]

what is with emo's all dressing the same and have the same hair style, lip piercings etc, where did all that come from, they all annoy me tho coz all they do is whine and do some crazy dancing ??????? weird emo kids

[glassjawXmcr99]

Twh2003:
Not a huge emo fan myself, though Bright Eyes rock. Everyone HAS to admit their lyrics are genius...

yeah, but oberst is bi...its weird knowing that some of those songs are about guys...plus bright eyes sucks. they are a disgrace of emo.

[glassjawXmcr99]

jarvisl8:
what is with emo's all dressing the same and have the same hair style, lip piercings etc, where did all that come from, they all annoy me tho coz all they do is whine and do some crazy dancing ??????? weird emo kids

yeah, but that goes along with almost every single genre. rappers=cornows and big diamond earrings..hair bands=long hair and ripped jeans...country=cowboy hat, wrangler jeans, and cowboy boots...etc...its another way to express style with music.

[strychnine_slut]

why even write an article about this?
i think i don't like emo.

[SickGirl]

strychnine_slut:
why even write an article about this?
i think i don't like emo.


dude, who cares wat you think? emo can be good or bad. its everyones opinions. i kno this guy isnt writing to prove anything its just his opinion.which is ok. STOP WRITING STUPID ARTICLES ON WHAT YOU THINK IS BETTER! ITS YOUR OPINION SO DONT SAY YOUR AUTOMATICALLY RIGHT! no, im not talking to this writer.

[justinscatsuit]

emo is almost as trendwhored on as punk, EVERYONE is doing it cos its "cool" or in fashion.
people should just learn to be original for once, why does every band have to be a carbon copy of another one?

and who cares who's more whiney and who's more hardcore.. it's all gonna be "so last season" by next june...

[SocialD]

thats a good article, he's right.
people shouldn't label anything as emo, to some extent i think ALL music is emo, if it doesn't have any emotion to it, its not worth listening to.
Hendrix, Zeppelin, they both show emotion in the way they play guitar, and in there lyrics they give off emotion, emotion doesn't have to be sad, it can be happy or angry so if there's NO emotion, its no good.

[punkida]

yes it's true, they are using very deep, thoughtful and not really catchy lyrics. it is punk... a subgenre. bands like the used, afi, the ataris, dashboard confessional, millencolin, alkaline trio, the get up kids, at the drive-in, sunny day real estate and finch are good examples of it. Much of Emo is characterized introspective lyrics, sudden, surprising shifts in rhythm, ragged, screamingly emotional vocals, pretty instrumental breakdowns, slightly unconventional song structures, and a decidedly un-punk embrace of poppy elements. hey! if you think this bands play/write only sad and lonely songs... you're wrong. also, not all emotional bands/songs or bands with emotional front man can be classify as emo. for example, you are in a band... a hardcore metal band... you're going to write a song and you want it to be with angry lyrics because you are experiencing an emotional feeling (after your breakup with your girlfriend), (because all your friends hated you) or (because you are not happy). you know what to use... "i'm angry with you! grrrrr!" Now if you're an emo band you'll say "why did you live me here?" it's like you're shouting to the whole world to see what your feelings are. many said emo sux but we people that are listening to different kind of music do know that all the bands with different genres specially emo do kick ass.
sorry post-punk(x: papa roach) is not emo

[guitaridiotFM]

SocialD, Hendrix and Zeppelin are not emo. If you had listen to half the postings on here you would understand that. Go to hell.

[Rock 101]

I think Emo is a useless sub-genre. LOTS of bands have expressed their feelings in their lyrics, tons! Is REM Emo? Is Pink Floyd Emo?

[emo_loser_chic]

whats so bad about emo

[Jello6025]

^^
everything

[lohnlennon]

HOW CAN YOU COMPARE THE BEATLES TO EMO!!!!!!!!!!!
IM GONNA HUNT YOU DOWN AND SLAUGHTER YOUR FAMILY YOU DUMB NIGGER1!!!!!!!!!!

[Animuswh]

emo sucks so bad! emo bands r very smart, cause they only play that crap to get some 12 year old kids to buy their shitty cds!!! if u wana make money fast, and not hav to be a musician, play emo!!!( im gona kill u, if u play emo cause i said that!)

[quo_vadis]

what is emo? in 1 simple word: SH*T

[greendaynaz87]

im gonna dissagree with most of u lot herre, EMO is short for EMOTION so when did weezer be emo?? (wheres the emotion in my hash pipe??!! huh??) and a lot of ppl are getting mixed between emo and pop, emo has nuffin to do with pop its not even in the mainstream (do u see any emo bands on the pepsi chart????). emo music is not easy to play (take a look at thurday-drowning,for the workforce tab ) so if sum1 REALLY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT EMO IS GO TO http://www.fourfa.com/ AND IF PPL THINK THAT EMO BANDS ARE BOYBANDS WITH PIERCINGS THEN GO HERRE http://www.dobi.nu/emo/ U PPL SHOULD TAKE THE PISS OUT OF BUSTED OR MC FLY OVER AND OUT!

[greendaynaz87]

TAKING BACK SUNDAY,BRAND NEW, THURDAY,DASHBOARED CONFESSIONAL...KICKS EVERY EMO-HATERS BOLLOCKS HA!

[FatKidsOnMopeds</3]

LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!111..

[kb122402]

i love typing comments down this far the page because its pretty much a given that nobodys gonna read them. ne way im a former emo-hater. g/f gave me a brand new and so co cd and i realized emo dont suck that bad. OOO yea 50% of emo songs are unlistenable to but the other 50% are just songs some of which are actually pretty good

[dogma911]

Argh. I hate these sad people who post comments like 'emo sux'
What is the point of you saying that at all-your wasting your time and annoying people like me. People have their own opinions and sux is spelt with a cks!!!
And there is no way that you can group all the different emo bands together and say that they collectively suCK, there is a lot of variation in them.

[gobeta]

Right lets settle this once and for all, Weezer? JEW? Alkaline Trio? can u say f off! that aint emo! for gods sake if ur gonna waste time on a article about a genere that is 2 wide to describe, at least find out about the genre first and get sum REAL emo bands, i.e. Thursday, Thrice, Coheed & Cambria, Street Nowhere, DREDG if ur looking for orignal emo, hell FFaF, Poisonthewell, theres bloody loads, just pick a band that IS ACTUALLY emo! stupid pop-punk bands like All-American Rejects are NOT emo, there IS a difference between punk and emo, emo's can play more than 4 chords on guitar. Dashboard Confessional, just about fit into emo, but barely! they're like on the verge of it, becoz they aint emo, just like depressive lyrics, again, there is a difference. Right I've had my rant for the day lol

[gobeta]

although i wuld like 2 add that i do agree there are FAR TOO MANY bands, claiming to be Emo andi n fact just ripping off ova bands styles EXACTLY. O ya and I can't rmember hwo but someone said sumin bout emo beign all power chords, listen to Funeral For A Friend, Thursday, Dredg JACK-ASS

[gobeta]

ok, i know, im posting too much lol but just wanted to add, punkida, hoiw can u say emo lyrics are not really catchy, the whole way the genre came about was becoz the lyrics are soo emotionally fuelled and appealling to the listener, I mean hell, my brother, whos virtually completely 'chav' as some would say, ends up singing emo lyrics from me playing them becoz they ARE catchy

[Ozzyfan2005]

emo sucks

[wilson88]

hey all you emo fags out there-
if you want depressing music, theres an music option that actually sounds good...
everheard of soundgarden, yeah they make good music, and have all the emotion you want from your gay ass little emobands

[i_am_lamb]

I never..got emo. I mean, i thought all music was supossed to be somewhat emotional...blehh

[Nirvanadude777]

EMO IS HORRIBLE AND IS A SICK PERVERSION OF MUSIC

[principessa747]

I don't understand : 1 - how you can compare a legendary band such as Pink Floyd to any EMO bands that surfaced recently. Especially that you can say that they resembles them because they put emotion into it. I believe that any style of music has emotion in it. If music didn't have emotion, it's wouldn't be "music". I just despise EMO. They convey their message is a very annoying manner, and they all sound the same.All with that whiny voice. and secondly - where's Simple PLan? If there's any bigger sell-out. Simple Plan. Used to be Reset, a decent but struggling Canadian punk band. Maybe they would have been big. But we'll never know. They had a "SIMPLE PLAN" to get rich - do what the producers wanted, and the money pours in... and lastly, but not leastly - Blink-182 = "Fathers of EMO"

[monkeyspks]

yeah.. well. it was actually informative, i didn't mind this one like i do most of the other "what is punk?" or "What is emo!!" type articles. it wasn't as stereotypical as the others (still a little though). anyway. i don't think you did much research on the real types of emo, just the mainstream crap that people on amazon.com will whine about calling it emo. people can call anything emo now adays. Alkaline Trio is NOT emo. The Get up Kids are NOT emo.

uhh yeah. lol, I'm not making any sense.

[box_car_racer51]

Metallica sucks...yea...i said it...i said it

[box_car_racer51]

OMG im gonna cry like a whiny little shit now because my favourite band is now labelled a genre i don't like. Im gonna curse at whoever wrote this article because they say i like emo

[nextfoolmartyr]

eh, emo doesnt really tickle my fancy, but bright eyes kick ass

[Nirvanadude777]

to Xx_Banx
there is no such thing as hard emo, you should die.

[guitarman23]

emo rocks!! better than stupid hardrock where all they want to do is kill people or have sex. music is about emotion, and emo expresses emotions. and the singers from it are a lot better than the 'singers' that scream into the mike... idiots...

[RainbowBaby]

let me just say this once and for all. The Used. are not. hardcore. Hardcore is not a desperate/dewy-eyed loser whining/crooning. Hardcore is decent music. thankyou.

[BluesonaPaul]

to guitarman23
...sense u LOOVE emo so much ur probly one of those kids who when their parents tell them 2 do their homwork, u run 2 ur room crying and write in ur journal of gay songs about how the world hates you...if u dont like hard rock then u need 2 get off this site and go wipe off ur vagina

[THE-FOOL67]

How many emo kids does it take to screw in a light bulb? Who cares, let them cry in the dark.

[guitarman23]

to bluesonafag
...sense ur like in the 4th grade... who else would use the word vagina in a "comeback"? So why don't you go pop a couple pimples, get horny, and go jack off in a minute or so...

[guitarman23]

Loser

[x_themetalfan_x]

Emo is crap. Period. If you wanna bitch, then do it in private instead of filling the airwaves with their shit that makes my ears bleed. Good Charlotte, will you just all die already?

[guitarman23]

Seriously, chill out...

[kick the jams]

frikkin a Good Charlotte sux and they aren't emo

[cantshreddave]

no mention of the smiths i dnt think surely the godfathers of emo

emo is better than punk btw, but zeppelin kick every ones ass

also no mention of funeral for a friend, or hundred reasons?

[xa.black.heartx]

the ammount of people that discredit any type of music just mab ybecause they have all have black hair and trousers round there ankles. Alot of "emo" is mint and when you get to hardcore my god it blows your mind ive seen 3 hardcore emo bands penknifelovelife, narcosis and apathy syndrome and its crazy. OK the screamin is used abit to much but the guitarist are pros it so random u cant make out notes. SO there is amazing talent in some emo bands. Jimmy eat world and stuff aint emo its just i dunno rock???? Id class it as punky music actually.

[RHCP892]

i have a major problem with people that refuse to open their mind to any other kind of music besides their own personal my-music-rocks-and-yours-sux genre. im currently being "emotized" and itroduced to bands like hawthorne heights, hidden in plain view, ect. In my opinion emo takes a lot to understand. It makes you think, not like the straight forward stuff you hear on the radio every day. It is an aquired taste and if you are one of the many narrow minded individuals who only listen to what they call "real music" (what is this real music???) and spend their time dissing other people online about the music that they listen to then i am truly sorry.

[RHCP892]

punkida knows wat hes talking bout

[suicideangel_2]

i agree with rhcp892 people should poen their minds to different music and i dont think weezer are emo and if you didn't know emo stands for EMOtional rock.

[NickDaBeast]

Emo may stand for emotional but don't bring up that all music is "emo" because emo is a genre. Emo has single handedly made a bunch of kids fake depression cuz it's "cool." That ain't FUCKING cool making good songs is cool not starting a stupid trend.

[julian2k4]

i think emos should do us all a fovor..and cut themselves... to end with thier pathitic lives

[lost_it_again]

urgh emo. this goes out to all the emo bands out there, with all the hunger, war and disease in the world we don't need you cluttering up the airwaves with this useless crap, so please, i beg of you, for the good of humanity stop it, please.

ps. go and listen to some real metal

[metOLIca]

there are some good songs or bands in of every genre, and it is very hard to put bands in a specific genre, musics good when its good. I hate emo in general because it is a very untalentede low form of whiny ass music for kids who cant be bothered to learn how to play their guitars- try compare any emo song to a metallica pantera, lamb of god, children of bodom song- metal is the way

[metOLIca]

guitarman23- As a guitarist are you noit ashamed to play the pathetic 'riffs' and boring songs. All songs have emotion, crying like a little bitch about your girlfriend leaviing you when you were 12 isnt the only emotion.

[LedZeppelin5532]

Exactly metOLIca
im so sick of these 15 year old faggots after having one bad relationship turning to faggot emo music. no one cares how you cry yourself to sleep and how you cut yourself every night.

[LedZeppelin5532]

To compare emo to shit is giving it to much credit, and it's an insult to shit.

[bibou_LesPaul]

emo is such sh!t,
it is UNTALENTED music made for the average ppl who just eat whatever they are fed.
the sheep of society and all those pathetic fashion addicted kids that have started listening to 'punk' and wear vans in order to be 'cool'.
SUCH SH!T!!!..

[PagePlantBonham]

guys, emo is nonexistant, you cannot say you don't like emo, cuz emo is defined by the lyrics of the song, not the sound...so to say you hate emo is, frankly, retarded. That means that any and every song that has some kind of emotional or deep meaning, you don't want to hear....so that means that you are shallow and unworldly.....so have a great life.

[will_clip]

^im gonna disagree with the above. I think emo does have its sound altough it is vague. Nobody will ever call Metallica or Dr. Dre emo for example.
And im just gonna say that 99% of you stupid metalheads are too closeminded. At least a lot of us(granted not all of us, but higher a percentage than you) are open enough to listen to your music and not bash it into the ground. Even if we do hate it we find something good to say about it. And for those of you punk/emo fans that keep bashing on the metalheads... you're not helping us any.

[the glue man]

emo = crap

[Paraniod Panda]

So all emotional music is emo? I'm sorry but that is rubbish. Bach stirs up emotion far better than any whiney kid with pretend issues. All emos who live in my area are middle-class fashion conscious fools who want to seem like they're profound and talented. Emo is for pop for people who are taught by their parents and other middle-class friends that pop isn't cool.

[PagePlantBonham]

ya, all emotional music pretty much is emo..BECAUSE THATS WHAT EMO MEANS!!!.. gaawww....

[will_clip]

Emo stand for emotional yes. All emotional music is not considered emo though. That's just a name, not a definition of the genre people. I know many emo fans and non-emo fans alike have classified it as such though, and i apologize on their behalf for the confusion.

[milk_it_good]

Not only do a worrying amount of you make gross generalisations as if they are solid fact, but you also substantiate it by ending with insightful comments, such as 'emo=shit', 'emo sux' and 'emo is shit and it sux'. You also make it alot easier for people to distinguish.

I'll tel, you what I think emo is. When you listen to a retro song with a sad-derived emotion woven through it, e.g. 'Tears in Heaven' Eric Clapton, there are rhythym swings that revert back to a joyful, fuller tone. There are varying balances, but they all possess this mixture. AAaahhh, EMO. Emo extracts that EMOTIONAL, sad tone and completely exploits it. It distills it, boils away any happy veers and is left with the bare, raw emo. Extend the sadness and 'TA-DA' you have a emo song. Consequently, the music can be a very intense, confronting and deep. OBVIOUSLY, alot of people can't tolerate this, can't understand it and therefore, begin flaming it.

[Ryan N.]

Shut up, Emo is a bunch of rich people complaining. what reason do you have to compain when your rich. none. I think we should kill all emo artists, maybe that will make them happy, it will certainly shut them up (for once)

[piss_off]

Dude, the guy who wrote this has no idea what he's talking about. but yes emo sux.

[greendayjcm]

i like big butts

[greendayjcm]

I dont get what everones problem with emo is. I mean it's just a genre of music, and a lifestyle i guess. There's no ***ing point in people arguing their opinions, who cares if emo sucks or it doesn't.

But yeah emo is awesome.. haha!!

[obliviousibanez]

jew isnt emo

[Xjrm88X]

If you all hate emo, then why are you reading an article about it? I dont read about shit I dont listen to and then talk shit about it. I dont give a *** what you listen to, just dont and i really dont give a *** what you think about me or what i listen to. Go talk about your own music and keep your opinion to yourself you ***ing twats.

[thexredxchord]

Get a ****ing clue. Emo isn't short for emotional, it's short for emocore or emotional hardcore, because that's what it is. It's bands like Mineral who basically make hardcore music (REAL hardcore I mean) but use emotional lyrics instead of political. Emo died out in the late 90's, it's not Bright Eyes or any of this other acoustic or pop-punk shit.

[thexredxchord]

Get a ****ing clue. Emo isn't short for emotional, it's short for emocore or emotional hardcore, because that's what it is. It's bands like Mineral who basically make hardcore music (REAL hardcore I mean) but use emotional lyrics instead of political. Emo died out in the late 90's, it's not Bright Eyes or any of this other acoustic or pop-punk shit.

[Kobain10491]

Mr_Fooz wrote:

didnt even read the articlle. emo is pussy music, therefore anyone who listens to that shit is a pussy and therefore a woman. Thats alright for the chicks, but any guys who listen to it might as well be castrated.

im with this guy

[Kobain10491]

LedZeppelin5532
wrote:

To compare emo to shit is giving it to much credit, and it's an insult to shit.

and this guy

[critter1388]

COHEED AND CAMBRIA ISNT EMO OR POSTHARDCORE!
if anything theyre progressive
and conor oberst is a butthead

[pam-pam]

cool article..
i listen to emo myself. and whether i like it or not i consider myself emo too...
emo is a good type of music to listen to.. it talks about how life sometimes sucks, it talks about happiness, hatred and almost everything.. just like other genres do..
don't argue with me about that coz it is the truth..
tnx..

[fadingboy]

This article is shit. You obviously have no idea what emo is. The only band you mentioned that even has anything remotely to do with emo music is fugazi (and to some extent sunny day real estate). If you want emo listen to saetia, embrace, a day in black and white, heroin, drive like jehu, the funeral diner, rites of spring etc.

And no, emo is not short for emotional however much idiots try to say it is.

[mr.joopy987]

None of that shit is emo. None of it. fadingboy knows what he's talking about. You were wrong about screamo too. Thursay =/= screamo. Hot Cross, Saetia, and Circle Takes The Square are screamo.

[Not_so_emo]

People classify emo?s as people who sit in the corner, slitting their wrists, listening to emotional music. They wear tight black straight legged jeans, converse shoes, black cuffs; have tatts (usually of punk stars), have many piercing, usually in their lips or have both ear pierced. I luv emo/punk/hardcore music & if my friends dont like it well thats their opinion but i still luv it. They also call me emo but it really doesnt bother me cause i dont look emo or "act" emo in any way. Its just the music i like.

[Not_so_emo]

Im a girl by the way

[HughF]

Emo, is probably the worst thing to happen to music since hair and glam medal. And band with a high-pitched singer who wines around can get a hit song. The only emo band that ever was good is Jimmy Eats World, and they are alot different than what shit is being thrown out and called "emo" today.

[HughF]

*Any* not and.