What is emo?

[Vault101]

Especially when it comes to music it seems if somthing is labelled as "emo" then fans of what ever that is will adamandly say "No! its not emo!" this happens with other stuff as well

big example is my chemical romance I don't find them any more "emo" than any other band

anyway is there any music out there that everyone can agree on is emo?

it get the impression that know really knows what "emo" is other than an insult and a sterotype

what about simple plan? are they emo? theyre songs are all horrible and whiney (well I guess the horrible part is subjective)

 

[BonsaiK]

Wiki "emotional hardcore", or even just "emo". There's your answer. The article is surprisingly good for a Wiki and has just saved me lots of typing just now.

 

[Yureina]

I can't really give any solid examples... but if a band seems heavily focused upon personal pain, suicidal themes, or really anything about "life sucks", then they could be called "emo". But... I am not one for categorization, so I don't really go around looking for stuff I could call things.

 

[The Rockerfly]

Someone who is emotional
I'm guessing they are emotionally unstable too

 

[Sacman]

I can't really give any solid examples... but if a band seems heavily focused upon personal pain, suicidal themes, or really anything about "life sucks", then they could be called "emo". But... I am not one for categorization, so I don't really go around looking for stuff I could call things.

so we can call 2Pac and NWA emo?

OT: I dunno people have called me emo before because I wear a lot of dark colors and am very silent... though I don't consider myself emo... even if I am fairly emotionally unstable and I do tend to cut every so often...<.<

 

[MegatonDesign]

One of my friends was listening to a band called hawthorne heights, and they are definitely emo. lol.

 

[standokan]

Emo is a stereotype that doesn´t exist in real life.

 

[Vault101]

One of my friends was listening to a band called hawthorne heights, and they are definitely emo. lol.

Yeah I would agree

 

[TheComedown]

big example is my chemical romance I don't find them any more "emo" than any other band

anyway is there any music out there that everyone can agree on is emo?

I don't know of any early My Chemical Romance but currently its really kind of gimmicky on them.

Hawthorn Heights. They are the main stereotypical emo persona for me, music, fashion etc. Except i must admit they are also my guilty pleasure when it comes to music. Also i'd like to note that "emo" isn't really a music genre, and is technically called "Post-Hardcore"

 

[Verlander]

One of these:

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

From the way I've heard it, emo generally implies heavy introversion and a whole 'woe is me!' mentality. Lyrics about the pain of the self, specifically of overblown pain that is inherent of humanity, would classify as emo.

It is...an ill-defined term, and is used interchangeably with unrelated terms. In the immortal words of many-a-genius, people are idiots; you can't expect the majority of people that use the term to understand what it means.

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

[Damn it, double post.]

 

[Casual Shinji]

It's usually someone who enjoys wallowing in their own self pity brought on by pubescent angst.

One grows out of this state when they turn 18.

Except for this guy ocourse.

 

[Jumping_Over_Fences]

The title "emo" has changed so much over the years, it is very strange. When Weezer first came out in 1994, they were considered emo. Emo used to be the nerd look, cardigan sweaters, thick black glasses, really anything that would make you a super nerd. That was the emo style.

That has recently changed. If you try as hard as you can to be an androgynous looking gothy kid, you are considered emo. I just don't get it, maybe I'm just too old.

If you don't believe me on the nerdy emo thing, check out 2:20 of the video for Sick of it All's Step Down. It is a video chronicling all the different "dance style" in the mosh pits in 1994.

 

[Kevonovitch]

emo originally was just a play on the steryotype of goth, a poser vertion, litterally.

then it was a whiney gay, that's also suicidal.

now it's mainstreem.

WTF IS GOING ON!? D=< fuck emo anyways, i think it's just goddamn retarded.

 

[vanthebaron]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki?search=Emo
^question answered. Wikipedia is you friend.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

I used to be labelled emo... then everyone moved past that.

We now label the self obsessed whores who all hang out in the same place emo.

Mainly for kicks... I have no problem with someone who is 'emo' as long as they are not a self obsessed whore... who I generally hate anyway.

 

[Sacman]

I can't really give any solid examples... but if a band seems heavily focused upon personal pain, suicidal themes, or really anything about "life sucks", then they could be called "emo". But... I am not one for categorization, so I don't really go around looking for stuff I could call things.

so we can call 2Pac and NWA emo?

OT: I dunno people have called me emo before because I wear a lot of dark colors and am very silent... though I don't consider myself emo... even if I am fairly emotionally unstable and I do tend to cut every so often...<.<

I'm pretty sure repetitive use of the words "*****", "ho" or "n****r" disqualifies you as emo. As well as lyrics about killing cops or smoking crack.

Just thought I'd point that out.

I don't listen to that stuff... I'm a Nirvana fan...<.<

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

Emo is such a meaningless term for music anyway. Isn't all music emotional in some way?

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Basically, too pussy to be goth. The whole 'all music is emotional' thing is a pile of dick. The meanings of words change, so 'emo' means kind of, unnescesarily emotional, quite self obsessed.

It's kind of merged with the whole scene thing now, so it's not necessarily depressing, just the look. The music is like late 90's pop-punk but shitter by a mile.