Thursday, December 21, 2006
Generation Emo - "Yuck"
I try to keep an open mind when dealing with social stereo-types but the entire emo scene makes no sense to me. A lot of movements, such as the ‘hippy’ movement in the sixties spawned from something meaningful (war, civil rights, psychedelic drugs, increased inner awareness, etc). Emo, in my opinion, is the byproduct of bored post-adolescent middle class America.The emo scene was adopted by many teenagers that were just like everyone else in the western world. They were in a sense, kids struggling to find their own identities and desired degrees of individuality (something that we all have done at some point or another). In this search for identity, many kids began to latch onto a new breed of music – emo (short for emotion). Emo music is essentially a punk-rock spin off with overly dramatic lyrical phrases. The lyrics resemble cluttered teenage poetry containing poorly written trite rants dealing with angst, despair, and failing relationships - something the emo culture can relate to.
Instead of solving their problems and expanding their current knowledge base, ‘emo kids’ are stuck in their own shallow self loathing paradigm. Their attempts at individuality fall notably short. In fact, they have literally regressed into tight girlie-pant-wearing, commercialized, ‘artsy’, emo poster boys and girls (the exact thing that they are supposed to scorn). Just look at the overabundance of ‘emo kids’ congregating like sheep inside of your local Hot Topic store.
Now, the emo crowd is not the most intelligent of human beings, but they aren’t exactly dumb asses either. At least they are in touch with their emotions (no pun intended), and their own self pity doesn’t really infringe upon the happiness of others (since it’s more or less just a clever charade to mask their lack of individuality anyway). While 90% of emo music is complete garbage, there are some good tunes here and there that are definitely better substitutes for those horrible testosterone induced ‘jock rock’ songs currently plaguing the radio waves.
In conclusion, the emo scene is merely a trend that will soon be forgotten. It has no lasting value and it falls incredibly short of ever becoming an actual movement (as movements require a strong belief system and some form of cerebral aptitude). Anyone who considers themselves emo now will look back at it in the same light that eighties teens and young adults do when they think about their old acid wash jeans, raging mullets, and White Snake cassette tapes – “Yuck”.
Ultimately it’s time to leave those bleeding hearts at home kids, for all hope is not lost!
Po - memoriesforsale.blogspot.com
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I don't agree with your statement that "emo" music is just a trend. I honestly believe that the "sights and sounds" of emo music is actively changing the standards of the listening audiennce. Along with indie-rock, the emo is shifting the music scene; pre-pubescent vocals pouring words out over any sort of mis-mash of instruments has made its foothold. With a readily available mass communication network available (the glorious internet), hundreds of thousands of new, CRAPPY bands are their way into the limelight.
We, Generation X, has nothing to look forward to in the next musical age; I myself have not heard a new band since 2000 that I actually follow passionately.
I will agree that the majority of individuals who listen to "emo" will not follow it into their later years, but Emo is selling. Corporations are making shit-tons of money off of these bands; they will continue to sign more and more of them, and eventually, true rock n' roll will die.
Wow.
Yes, emo is obviously selling but so was disco in the late 70’s as well as glam rock in the 80’s. Both of these crappy forms of music are similar to emo in the way that they are merely a social trend not backed by any real movement (as stated in my article). To proclaim that rock and roll is dead because we have a plethora of crybaby teens trotting around in tight black t-shirts is nonsense. Rock and roll will never die, it merely evolves. We still have a lot of culture left in this nation that’s just dying to break out. For every ten crappy trends that come out one will ‘revolution’ occur. Be patient my friend.
Po
I guess that you might have a point in "not losing hope."
I went to see Synophrys on the 23rd, and 2 of the other 3 bands there actually presented some pretty solid rock performances.
Maybe I'm just going to the wrong venues and hanging out with the wrong people.