Emo?

“emo”

alright… so what does this mean?

i mean, it can’t be that complicated, right (?)

is there any special formula that makes one this way?

20 thoughts on “Emo?”

  2. and i have no idea about the answer to emo… ive never gotten it… i guess it’s supposed to stand for emotional but they seem to always be depressed so maybe its that they express their deppression and don’t try to hide it? i dont know… cus i dont think all emo people are depressed… so that doesnt explain it… let me know if you ever get an answer, i’d like to know…

  4. you’re funny erik. i always like to read your posts. but my take on it is emo comes from the word emotional. and so i guess you have to fit into that persona. i grew up with nicknames like “no-emotion girl” so i am not emo. even though i like their style.

  9. After Minor Threat broke up in late 1983, the vibrant DC hardcore-punk scene that exploded in 1981 seems to start to run out of steam and fresh ideas within the established DC hardcore sound. The wistful, posthumous Minor Threat 7″ “Salad Days” comes out in 1984 and drives the final nail into the coffin of DC hardcore punk. Bands all over the country begin casting about for new things to do : DRI and Bad Brains start going cheeze-metal, New York bands start doing tough-guy mosh, 7Seconds goes jangly U2 alternative, etc. The prevailing change in D.C. is toward melodic rock with punk sensibilities.

    1984 marks the release of Zen Arcade by Minneapolis band Hüsker Dü, documenting their new mature sound combining furious, intense vocal delivery and driving guitars with slowed-down rockish tempos and more-complex, melodic songwriting.

    In spring 1984, a new band called Rites Of Spring forms from members of The Untouchables/Faith and Deadline. This band retains a punk speed and frenzy, but brings a totally new vocal approach to the mix. Singer Guy Picciotto keeps an out-of-breath punk style most of the time, at times delving into intensely personal lyrics dripping with emotion and sweat. His voice breaks down at climactic moments into a throaty, gravelly, passionate moan.

    The summer of 1985 becomes known as “Revolution Summer” when a new wave of rock-tempo, melody based, sung-vocal bands forms out of the DC punk musician pool with diverse rock sounds – Three, Gray Matter, Soulside, Ignition, Marginal Man, Fire Party, Rain, Shudder to Think, etc. Few bands retain the fast hardcore punk-based sound with the new vocal approach, Dag Nasty being the notable exception.

    Minor Threat’s singer, Ian MacKaye’s, sings for a band called Embrace (compare the band name to earlier DC bands Minor Threat, Void, and State Of Alert) whose lyrics are emotional and deeply self-questioning, but still clear and unambiguous. Musically, the group (formed mostly of ex-Faith members) writes midtempo, somewhat jangly music with a lot of pop guitar hooks. MacKaye’s vocals retain his trademark bold enunciation, with only occasional sparks of emotive delivery.

    These bands’ sound eventually becomes known as the classic “D.C. sound.” Some of it is derisively labeled “emo,” as shorthand for “emotional.” One account has this term first appearing in a Flipside interview with Ian MacKaye. Shortly thereafter DC bands aquire the tag “emo-core.”

    Slightly later (1986), some bands begin to focus on the “emo” element itself. The Hated in Annapolis (near D.C.) seem to be the first post-Rites of Spring to do this. Shortly thereafter, Moss Icon appears in in the same town. Moss Icon strips the “emo” element down to the core, and adds a great deal of intricate, arpeggiated guitar melody (by Tonie Joy, later of Born Against, Lava, Universal Order of Armageddon, etc.) with a strong focus on loud/soft dynamics. The vocals, too, break new ground by building up to actual top-of-the-lungs screaming at songs’ climaxes.

    Moss Icon, as a relatively well-known band that toured some, introduces the punk scene to music that has core emphasis on emotion instead of punk energy. As such, I consider them the starting point for the emo movement, not Rites of Spring as is more commonly asserted. Later emo bands draw heavily from the Moss Icon dynamics, guitar style, and vocal delivery.

    -thats the history of emo music-

     

    this is the exaple of an “emo kid”

  14. Yes, I do believe you’re right…if my dreams were turned into a movie, I would definitely pick Tim Burton to direct them. However, I don’t really think anyone would actually sit through a whole one of their own volition…they get pretty strange…

    Long time no talk. How have you been, Mr. Herrera?

  18. Anonymous says:

    the problem i have run into with saying it is just short for emotional is that technichally everyone has emotions. I use in terms of being overcome by ones emotions. The way i play guitar shows how i feel i have been repeatedly told i look ticked( not such  terms but same meanings) when i play songs i have written. An emo song doesn’t just cause emotion it causes overcoming emotion, most notably sad and angry, most for some reason don’t get an emo effect when shooting for happy. just doesn’t work to well. when you drop the minors and etcetera it just sounds punk. When i use it i will always be using it in the context of one overcome with their emotions, i get like that all the time.

  20. well, in Korean “emo” means Aunt.  lol  my roomie saw your post and said, “emo?!  emo means aunt!”  lol  that’s sooo great. 

    how are you mr. herrera?!  hope you’re coming to alumni!

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