What first comes to mind when you hear emo? My Chemical Romance? The
Used? Suicidal kids with black hair covering their face? The truth is,
none of those have to do with emo.
First Wave (80s) Emo
originated in the mid-80s from hardcore punk (Black Flag? Bad Brains?
Minor Threat?) as a more personal alternative than the mostly political
lyrics found in hardcore (Example of emo lyrics - Rites Of Spring's All There Is). Most use the terms emo-core or emotive hardcore to describe this period referring to its roots in hardcore. Important bands - Fugazi, Rites of Spring, and Embrace.
Second Wave/Screamo (90s) Somewhere
along the way, during the 90s, emo took a more indie approach, with
music that was usually softer, more melodic and sometimes slower. Also,
during the 90s, screamo was born, which usually sounded somewhere
between emo and hardcore. Typically, screamo bands kept the
yelled/screamed vocals found in hardcore, but with more melodic
instrumental parts, like in emo. Important bands - Sunny Day Real Estate, Saetia.
Third Wave (00s) Before
the 2000s, most of the original emo had disbanded and many bands
appeared who, although had no musical similarities to previous emo
bands, were miscategorized as emo anyways. Some of these bands include:
Fall Out Boy, From First To Last, AFI, My Chemical Romance, and The
Used. Typically, if someone labels a band as emo, they probably arent. Important bands - Thursday, Jimmy Eat World, Further Seems Forever, A Day In The Life.
So
there you have it. A short history of emo music. No "whiny teenagers
who cry and cut themselves". How emo came to describe them, I have no
idea..
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