This whole "emo" thing.

MicahC · #1 06-20-2008, 01:54 AM

Thank GOD my generation will be remembered for "emo" music.

All sarcasm aside though, what makes music emo? From what I understand "emo" means emotional or showing emotion. So, wouldn't all music be emo? Since all music is spawned from emotion and expressing it? Wouldn't that render all the "You like *insert band*? They're emo" comments useless?

Lefty Robb · #2 06-20-2008, 02:18 AM

Nothing good can come of this thread...

MicahC · #3 06-20-2008, 02:27 AM

Probably, but I want to see at least SOME peoples opinions.

Petie · #4 06-20-2008, 03:01 AM

The first time I heard the term 'emo' applied to music was in the early 90s to describe Fugazi. There was a lesson in Guitar School magazine (remember that one, anyone?) which examined the use of 'the emo chord' (just an octave), and I also recall a guitarist mentioning the emo chord in Guitar World's old column where readers would send in tapes of their playing. Yes, it appears I've mentally cataloged every single article I ever read in a guitar magazine ever since I got my first Guitar World at age 12 in 1991. Now I write for several guitar magazines. Kids, stay in school, practice guitar, and you too can be me. It helps if you have a crippling addiction to coffee and a penchant for Woody Allen movies. But I digress.

Sure all music involves emotion, but in this case the use of the term 'emo' is there almost as an arbitrary name for a particular genre, just as hard rock doesn't actually sound like rocks, you can't make a plane out of heavy metal music, and dance music doesn't actually sprout legs and a boo-tay and dance by itself.

As is my understanding, the original use of the term 'emo' was related to the kind of post-hardcore, 'in touch with social justice issues' kind of stuff. At some point I guess some kids merged elements of goth fashion, 90s radio punk-pop, Pro Tools, and some good old fashioned hormonal teenage aggression, and there were enough common elements to call it an offshoot of the original meaning of emo. I think there are a lot of good things to come from emo music - some of those guys can play their asses off, and a lot of the bands use quite complex and interesting chords where 10 years ago they might have used straight power chords.

When I was in my teens, we had this thing called grunge. If you want to recreate the grunge experience, don't wash your hair for a month, and you know that old flannel shirt that's lining the dog house? Take it out and put it on. Don't wash it - you can't be cool when you smell of fabric softener. Now find an $80 Les Paul copy at a pawnshop, tune it to something approximating drop D, run it through a cheap solid state Peavey bass amp and 4 distortion pedals (don't worry what the controls are set to, nobody did back then either), and try to play Iron Man 4 times slower than the record.

While you're doing that, I'll be in the barn, drinking gasoline and eating lit matches, cos I promised myself I'd never go through grunge again.

Petie · #5 06-20-2008, 03:16 AM

Disclaimer: I actually liked some grunge, but I just felt like doing a little creative writing. *cheesy grin*

MicahC · #6 06-20-2008, 03:17 AM

Yup, I like some grunge as well.

I agree with everything you said, but I was more referring to "emo" as a derrogatory term when ALL music is emotional. As if showing emotion somehow makes you...how do I phrase this....not as good as everyone else? Is it the testosterone filled ways of metal that makes people do feel the urge to do that? Yes, the emo is a genre of music, but it seems that most of the lyrics are comparable to modern day band on the Top 10.

Petie · #7 06-20-2008, 03:25 AM

Well in the case of metalheads vs emos, if that genre/style had been known as kittenfluff instead of emo, the metalheads would be sneering 'here kittykitty' instead and proferring saucers of milk. It's all part of knowing your adversary's weakness and attacking it. Y'know, like politics or a bad relationship.

"Whenever I meet someone I figure out how I'm going to fight them." - Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock.

I wouldn't really worry about it, it's just a hollow insult. I've noticed people muttering "emo" at kids who aren't even emo at all, it's just one of those things people do that don't really make sense.

I think I'm becoming a little philosophical in my old age. They say it happens in the autumn years.

*stares down 30, which I turn in a couple of weeks*

Batchimp RG · #8 06-20-2008, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petie

Disclaimer: I actually liked some grunge, but I just felt like doing a little creative writing. *cheesy grin*

Same here...and I thought your analogy was spot on and very funny!

Regarding the "emo" thing. I've only really heard Fall Out Boy and their music production is amazing. I think they're very clever boys now that they're releasing stuff on their own label.

CosmicDebris · #9 06-20-2008, 08:10 AM

Tissue anyone?

Algiman · #10 06-20-2008, 11:05 AM

Repackaged goth culture. Nothing new about it, but that doesn't write of the whole genre as irrelevant.

richard1973 · #11 06-20-2008, 11:09 AM

loved the article Petie

ya should use that in a magazine

although you described grunge in a funny (accurate) way there was the exceptions, AIC and Soundgarden are still a couple of my fave bands that were much more talented than the usual 'out of tune power chords played through broken distortion pedal' bands

Though them and Pearl Jam lead the way in grunge, the rest were exactly like you said though *cough* sonic youth *cough*

(i liked some of their stuff too, sugar kane was a great song as was 100%)

wow i got through that without mentioning Nirvana.

DOH!

Davidmurry222 · #12 06-20-2008, 06:11 PM

What makes music emo is if every song on a 12-track CD is about sadness over a lost love, or some variant of that. (Guy wants girl, but girl doesn't want guy, so guy crys about it).

I guess thats my take anyways. not every pop-rock band falls into this category, but they get stuck with the "emo" tag regardless if they look like and musically sound like emos.

richard1973 · #13 06-20-2008, 07:30 PM

thats a pretty good summary David

I've been hoping for that scene to die off but its lasted longer than I expected, oh well.

Lyrics wise I cant stand the UK top 40 theme, every dance, pop, girl band group can only sing about one thing ..

a) I want him
b) he makes me feel all tingly
c) he's left me
d) he's left me but i'm getting over him
e) i've got over him now i'm stronger and moving on

and its done in the most lamest way ever! why do people buy it! Ok these kinda songs are more for dancing too and not meant to be lyrically deep, but if these kinda songs are about enjoying yourself and dancing then these lyrics are in the wrong theme!

Next time one of these pieces of trash come on the radio i.e. turn the radio on now, listen to the lyrics....ohh its annoying (i'll take a deep breath) But people buy this stuff and only this kinda stuff, do they not get sick of it themselves or are they too dumb to even notice.

Sorry for the rant, but these songs just get drummed into me every 5 seconds, I cant escape them! I mean if they are going to sing about this kinda thing then at least be more imaginitive and suggestive or metaphorical.

My fave band is Incubus, and I love the way Brandon writes his songs and how clever he can be with his lyrics. Wouldnt it be nice if these lame pop bands could take a lesson or two and spread their wings a bit, open up their minds a bit more, it would make the radio dross a lot more easy on the ears.

ok rant is over now

bulletbass man · #14 06-20-2008, 09:12 PM

A lot of emo music is poorly written. A lot of it is basically pop punk. The only thing that really annoys me is the assymetrical haircuts.

Though I guess sometimes you need a drunk barber to look cool. Also a lot of guys think I look like a moron for having long hair.

I like grunge too. Soundgardens badmotorfinger is a bad ass album. Alice in Chains is fantastic too.
I even like Nirvana (though the guitar tone is quite annoying) Smashing Pumpkins first two albums were pretty fantastic too (though they are not actually grunge just a band that sounds like grunge music)

Oh well I wash my flannel shirts.

It's pretty doubtful that we wouldn't all make fun of the 80s metal scene now a days.

No one will remember what bands played during our generation. They'll just go well my ipod broke so I don't remember.

**elcid** · #15 06-20-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petie

The first time I heard the term 'emo' applied to music was in the early 90s to describe Fugazi.

I always heard that Weezer got the credit for starting the whole Emo thing. I wouldn't put it past them either, they are about as wussy and lame as anything else. Although I always thought Emo was the sound of vaginas crying.