Modern Emos Aren’t Really Emo
January 31, 2019
“Emo” is a subculture that sprouted from fans of emotional hardcore, or emocore, a style of punk rock. It’s generally associated with youth who are dispirited and angry with society, other people or themselves.
The best era for emos who listen to that type of music, in my opinion, was 2003 to 2009. Artists at this time made amazing albums such as “Discovering the Waterfront” by Silverstein, “Louder now” by Taking Back Sunday and “Don’t You Fake It” by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. These albums included sweet tunes like “Face down,” “MakeDamnSure,” My Heroine” and “Call it Karma.”
Some people think that the new wave of modern emos starting from 2012 ruined emo culture. Currently some popular emo bands have become nothing but mainstream pop, like Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, Twenty One Pilots and My Chemical Romance. Those bands were once considered emo back in the day, talking about personal and confessional topics relating to pain, self-loathing and failed love. But please don’t call things emo that aren’t emo anymore.
My Chemical Romance remained true to emo but they broke up in 2013 and were mostly considered punk until modern day emos started claiming their music was “emo” even though they only know their most popular hits. MCR has great history and their music is good,
Other than the music, fashion was a very important part of being emo. Emos were known for dressing in all black or bright neon colors. Normally black ripped jeans, band t shirts, rubber bracelets and having their iconic emo eyeliner and hair. They would buy most of their clothes at Hot Topic back when the store wasn’t full of all these random pop artists and only had emo/alternative bands shirts and merchandise. Modern emos don’t embrace the full emo look but still shop at Hot Topic.
Bands start changing their sound and start attracting new audiences as they grow, but this doesn’t mean they still represent their musical genre. Fans of the genre should look into their origins and be honest with themselves and see if they are a true fan of them and can truly call themselves emo.
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Oliver • Jan 5, 2021 at 8:31 PM
I do think some modern emos are actual emos just not all. I’m a 2021 emo who wears black ripped jeans, converse, black band tees and beanies however I love The get up kids, Sunny day real estate, American Football, Rites of spring, Cap n jazz and stuff like that.
JJ • Dec 29, 2020 at 7:20 AM
I’m emo especially since it’s 2020
Karma • Oct 20, 2020 at 1:24 PM
Im emo even if it is 2020 that’s just me
Lizzy • Oct 10, 2020 at 1:27 AM
Thank you James finally someone understands. music although a big part of emo does not classify if you are or are not emo. As a matter of fact we generally are very creative and do art and (this point is from my experience) — I love all types of music as well as emo music. And as a fact you can be emo without looking or listening to emo music. Emo is about your personality being sensitive and that you accept yourself and wear your own style . The only thing we can truly say that makes all emos related js that we are sensitive.
Gabe • Apr 21, 2022 at 11:39 PM
i 100% agree, music does not necessarily define who we are, it may influence us, but nonetheless, does not define us Emos’
James • Sep 13, 2020 at 11:21 AM
You all act so bitter towards new emos, as if you, yourselves, weren’t told that you didn’t belong because you were a little bit different. You know what a true emo is? SOMEONE WHO IS SENSITIVE TO OTHERS’ FEELINGS, KNOWS how it feels to be OUTCASTED, and IS WELCOMING AND CARING. HONESTLY, this “I listened to this band at this time, so I’m more emo and therefore better than you” sh*t is getting old and dumb real fast. Here’s an idea: DON’T call yourself emo if you’re EXCLUDING, STUCK UP, AND DON’T UNDERSTAND THE PAIN OF BEING NEGLECTED BY SOCIETY.
Thank you.
Andre • Apr 26, 2020 at 12:01 AM
You talk about 3rd wave emo (bands associated with Taking back Sunday, MCR, etc.) like it had some sort of street cred. It didn’t – that was the wave that ruined emo’s good name.
4th wave emo (Tiny Moving Parts, The World is a Beautiful Place, etc.) has made it clear that they’re trying to pay homage to 2nd wave emo (Mineral, early Appleseed Cast, American Football) and therefore 4th wave carries a bit more credibility, but unfortunately the bands (with the exception of E!E!IWALE) are noticeably less talented at songwriting and/or can’t pull off the authentic rawness that the first two waves did in spades. You just don’t see singers collapsing on stage and wailing their lungs out with tears streaming down their face anymore. That’s what made it special. That’s what made it emo.
Thus, the term “emo” should’ve been phased out around 1999 when bands like Further Seems Forever started to pop up, which would have taken some nitpicking to distinguish from pop/punk and general alternative rock acts.
1st and 2nd wave emo were awesome, 3rd and 4th are super cringey (especially Fallout Boy and P!ATD – it’s no surprise they’re straight pop acts now, because that’s who we all always we knew they were at heart). Ian Mackeye probably pukes in his lap every time he hears that mindless drivel on MTV. Do yourselves a favor and go to fourfa.com to learn about the real history of emo.
Emo Matthew • Jan 31, 2019 at 1:00 PM
Has anyone seen EMO the Musical on Netflix? Emo for the 20’s!?