What is Emo?

[AlexN]

^ Definitely hipsterish.

 

[fourboltmain]

It all scenesters. It's American kids trying to act original when they're really ripping off old Brit rock style. I have found that it is usually more afluent kids who are trying their hardest to disassociate themselves from their upbringing by wearing old clothing. They all worship Mike Patton and think their music is hardcore, yet hate Black Flag and Minor Threat for some reason.

But what the hell right? We all go through fazes, but after 17 there's no excuse.

 

[Jadee]

Thought that would help

And some lyrics i've found on a forum. Sorry for the emo lover no offence intended.
I don't know much about emo music anyway, that's just fun.

"I WANA DIE ALL I DO IS CRY
I WANA DIE ALL I DO IS CRY
I WANA DIE ALL I DO IS CRY
I WANA DIE ALL I DO IS CRY
I WANA DIE ALL I DO IS CRY
your love kills me
KILLS ME
KILL ME
KILL ME KILL ME "


*goes and cry cause the emotion is toooo strooooong too paiiiinnnnnful*

 

[Lena]

there are worse ways to for kids to dress.

i absolutely agree here with utopia and i also stand with almost famous..
there are lots of kids in tight jeans and hair on their face here, but they've always been there, its nothing new in europe.. its a Jesus and Mary Chain kind of style no?
they look kinda sweet and bruised but definetly they seem like anticomformist 'thinkers' to me, which i totally approve, much preffered to barbies and kens or the what's its name.. erhhh scav (?) crew

but how can we sit here making huge generalisations?
like 'emos want to commit suicide' it's bizare no?
in my book hanging lebels to people is a bit farfetched, mean and 'passe' in an out of 'style' way.
nobody 'sane' wants to carry a label being classified as 'being' this or that
and i bet its 'other' people that gave the 'emo' term to whoever has his hair on this face..

*and i'm sure some may be labelized as 'emos' without knowing what emo even means

 

[AlmostFamous]

Generalizing any kind of group just sucks.

saying that all emo kids are self obsessed and/or self loathing is just as bad as being convinced that all models have eating disorders.

emo is the 'cool' thing right now. but all those super cool scene kids will go from emo to whatever else is coming next.

 

[Paullw]

Some more stereotyping, sorry! http://www.dobi.nu/emo/

Also: http://www.zenhex.com/quiz.php?id=930

and more seriously: http://www.fourfa.com/history.htm

 

[Plastic'sWife]

^ Paul that was a cool site....

 

[coralmilk]

source - fourfa.com

Emo is a broad title that covers a lot of different styles of emotionally-charged punk rock.


Some pointers about emo fashions (above simple, universal hardcore attire)

• the Emo Romulan look - short, thick, greasy, dyed-black hair with bangs cut straight across the forehead, and cut high over the ears. Someone from Time In Malta recently described to me the San Diego Crimson Curse scene as "Spock Rock."
• actually, any greasy dyed black hair. Bangs in front and spikes in back is very emo too.
• horn-rim glasses, or at least thick black frames.
• bald head, furry face (boys only). Goes especially well with horn-rims.
• heavy slacks, often too tight and short.
• thin, too-small polyester button-ups in dark colors, or threadbare children's size t-shirts with random slogans. Button the collar if you got one.
• clunky black shoes
• scarves
• gas station jackets. This has diffused a lot over the years though, it's no longer exclusive to emo kids. Nowadays, you may want to select a nice corduroy denim jacket.
• also classic outerwear but quickly diffusing to normality: the famous Blue Peacoat
• barrettes on boys
• make-up (male or female)
• too-small cardigans and v-neck sweaters
• argyle
• anorexic thinness. Veganism helps here.

[font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][/font]

 

[oceanharlot]

hmm... yeah. emo is out for the most part. its not cool to be too emo anymore... now its like all indie kids and their psychosis.

but its cool man. whatever floats you boat.

 

[Lena]

so is it a DC thing then paullw?
could make sense cause i havent heard people mentioning the 'emo look/sound' over here

thanks for the links

 

[Brazilian Girl]

I don't see how emos can even be copied. If you copy an emo, then you're emo cause emos are fake punks from the very start, no? I don't get it Alex....

I think you're absolutely right...

And I think the emo look can be cute sometimes, but most emos just try waaay too hard to look this certain way. The emo look is not original... I mean, it's like there's a standard, "emos should dress like this", so the kids go and dress like they're supposed to dress in order to be "emo".
Do I make any sense?
Where I live, it's like the city is taken by emos, it's kinda annoying. I mean no offense to those who appreciate emo It's just that everywhere you go there's always a group of emo kids, all looking the exact same... What happend to originality for goodness sake?!

 

[Plastic'sWife]

thanks for posting coralmilk, very interesting...

 

[Paullw]

so is it a DC thing then paullw?
could make sense cause i havent heard people mentioning the 'emo look/sound' over here

thanks for the links

It seems to be, I'm not really into it. However its around in the UK, there was even a program about it on Radio 4, so it can't be underground anymore.

From what I understood, hardcore evolved from punk, and is basically faster with more yelling, then came emotional hardcore, which was like hardcore but less yelling, more high-pitched singing. Then it got all commercialized and what is now called emo is nowhere near the hardcore it started as.

This is as I understood it, from a non-emo fans viewpoint. AlmostFamous seems to be the fan, so she probably knows better.

 

[Lena]

if it's roots are in DC could have quite some sociological interest,
we havent seen a US 'lifestyle' trend going global since quite some time now
(was rock'n'roll the last US lifestyle trend?)

in anycase i find this topic very interesting (trendwise)

emos are better than chavs

 

[utopia]

emos are better than chavs

yeah I think so too... I love my emo friends...they're sensitive and know how to hold an intelligent conversation. and like I said, while it's a 'look' and may be 'done', it could be so much worse.

 

[scblonndie]

I don't really "get" emo. At my school what I consider emo are the kids that dye thier hair black, dress like Ashley Simpson/Hillary Duff's boyfriend and listen to Good Charlotte and Simple Plan. Mostly those are the freshman. My friends always get into arguments about what's emo and what's not. The second something becomes "emo" they hate it (RIP The Killers!) They're always torn when it comes to Bright Eyes and Elliot Smith. I don't know what they're talking about though, I just sit there are wait for the conversation to end. But basicly I get the idea that Emo is BAD.


I just wish the trend would go away so it can stop confusing me.

 

[AlexN]

its a Jesus and Mary Chain kind of style no?

Except the Jesus and Mary Chain aren't emo.

And neither is Elliot Smith!

 

[AlmostFamous]

Elliott Smilth is the FURTHEST thing from emo. He's just....amazing.

 

[MulletProof]

i dont think she said elliot was emo, she said those kids LIKE elliot..and in my words, they worship elliot .

 

[scblonndie]

Most of my friends (and myself!) love Elliot, but there are some who actually think he's emo. Wich is why I don't really understand emo..