Emo (an abbreviation of "emotional") is a term now broadly used to describe almost any form of guitar-driven alternative rock that expresses emotions beyond traditional rock's limited emotional palette of alienation and rage. It is also used to describe fans of this genre, most commonly teenagers. (e.g., emo kid). The actual term "emo" originated in the mid-1980s D.C. scene, with the band Rites of Spring. The term addressed both the way the band connected with its audience, as well as its tendency to deal more with topics of personal and relationship politics than with the standard themes of rock music.
History:
The roots of the emo style can be traced to two seminal bands of the post-punk era. In 1983, Mission of Burma's album VS did much to expand rock beyond its original constraints while still retaining its raw emotional punch. There are still emo bands around today, but most of them take on a full-on screaming approach (hence the name Screamo) like Circle Takes The Square and Saetia. In 1984, Hüsker Dü's album Zen Arcade established what is widely considered to be the definitive blueprint for emo: simple, raw guitar-oriented music with intense vocals and deeply introspective songwriting.
As the style caught on, bands such as Moss Icon, Policy of Three, Navio Forge and Indian Summer evolved the form into what became known as simply "emo", a style which intensified the dramatic aspects of vocal performances in order to achieve a cathartic breakthrough with the audience. Done well, the result was powerful emotional release that often left emo bands and their audiences crying or screaming at the end of performances. While effective, such open displays of emotion made many traditional rock fans uncomfortable, and caused much friction between the two camps.
With the mass-market acceptance of alternative music in the early 1990s, a new derivative style variously called "chaotic emo", "screamo", and "Emo Violence" emerged featuring a blend of the more aggressive parts of bands like Rites of Spring, mixed chaotic rock music and with abrasive, emotional screaming vocals. The record label Gravity from San Diego, California was a major influence in releasing many defining records of the style in the early 1990s. Significant emo bands include Heroin, Angel Hair, Antioch Arrow, Swing Kids, and Mohinder. Many of these emo bands, such as Antioch Arrow, were significant to a blossoming scene on the west coast of the United States. After the decline of the significant bands in this movement, the focus on emo has shifted to the east coast instead. Focus on Screamo has shifted to Europe.
Later in the 90s, bands such as Sunny Day Real Estate, Elliott, Christie Front Drive, Get Up Kids, Cap'n Jazz, The Promise Ring and Mineral explored a more moderately paced form of emo that mixed the early emo sound of Rites of Spring with the post-hardcore innovation of Fugazi and Quicksand. This style is sometimes referred to as "midwestern emo", due to many of the bands coming from midwestern American cities like Chicago or Kansas City.
Today, the term "emo" is increasingly ambiguous. With the success of such power pop bands as The Get Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World and The Promise Ring, the music industry has eagerly appropriated the term "emo" as a marketing tool. Consequently, the emo label is now wrongly applied to a wide assortment of many diverse guitar-pop bands, such as Thursday, Senses Fail, Hawthorne Heights, the New Amsterdams, and more recently to quieter, acoustic-driven bands such as Dashboard Confessional. Bands such as Bright Eyes are often mistaken for emo but are not.
Recently, as emo has edged its way into the public consciousness, non-fans of the genre (and even some ironic fans) have taken to using the term as a condescending insult, representing the stereotype of the angst-filled and overly-dramatic teenager. Examples include "cheer up, emo kid" or "I hate emo-fags".
Emo fashion:
"Emo fashion" seems to be directly derived from pre-existing rock fashion and retains staples from it, including the tendency for dyed, flat matte black hair and multiple piercings; in particular, labrets and ear "plugs" are prominent. Rolled-up (and often times form-fitting) jeans and t-shirts displaying sarcastic slogans or images of old-time cartoons are popular as well. Also band t-shirts, buttons for bands, and converse all-stars tend to be worn. More recently, many aspects of emo fashion have become mainstream and are regularly sold at stores like Hot Topic. Emo fashion, according to its proponents, is deeply rooted in a "being proud of who you are", anti-consumer subculture. Critics of the fashion point out that it has become so mainstream that it has become shallow and antithetical to this notion. To this extent, various websites and magazines have taken to poking fun at "emo kids" and stereotypical emo fashion, some offering guides to "making yourself emo".
History:
The roots of the emo style can be traced to two seminal bands of the post-punk era. In 1983, Mission of Burma's album VS did much to expand rock beyond its original constraints while still retaining its raw emotional punch. There are still emo bands around today, but most of them take on a full-on screaming approach (hence the name Screamo) like Circle Takes The Square and Saetia. In 1984, Hüsker Dü's album Zen Arcade established what is widely considered to be the definitive blueprint for emo: simple, raw guitar-oriented music with intense vocals and deeply introspective songwriting.
As the style caught on, bands such as Moss Icon, Policy of Three, Navio Forge and Indian Summer evolved the form into what became known as simply "emo", a style which intensified the dramatic aspects of vocal performances in order to achieve a cathartic breakthrough with the audience. Done well, the result was powerful emotional release that often left emo bands and their audiences crying or screaming at the end of performances. While effective, such open displays of emotion made many traditional rock fans uncomfortable, and caused much friction between the two camps.
With the mass-market acceptance of alternative music in the early 1990s, a new derivative style variously called "chaotic emo", "screamo", and "Emo Violence" emerged featuring a blend of the more aggressive parts of bands like Rites of Spring, mixed chaotic rock music and with abrasive, emotional screaming vocals. The record label Gravity from San Diego, California was a major influence in releasing many defining records of the style in the early 1990s. Significant emo bands include Heroin, Angel Hair, Antioch Arrow, Swing Kids, and Mohinder. Many of these emo bands, such as Antioch Arrow, were significant to a blossoming scene on the west coast of the United States. After the decline of the significant bands in this movement, the focus on emo has shifted to the east coast instead. Focus on Screamo has shifted to Europe.
Later in the 90s, bands such as Sunny Day Real Estate, Elliott, Christie Front Drive, Get Up Kids, Cap'n Jazz, The Promise Ring and Mineral explored a more moderately paced form of emo that mixed the early emo sound of Rites of Spring with the post-hardcore innovation of Fugazi and Quicksand. This style is sometimes referred to as "midwestern emo", due to many of the bands coming from midwestern American cities like Chicago or Kansas City.
Today, the term "emo" is increasingly ambiguous. With the success of such power pop bands as The Get Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World and The Promise Ring, the music industry has eagerly appropriated the term "emo" as a marketing tool. Consequently, the emo label is now wrongly applied to a wide assortment of many diverse guitar-pop bands, such as Thursday, Senses Fail, Hawthorne Heights, the New Amsterdams, and more recently to quieter, acoustic-driven bands such as Dashboard Confessional. Bands such as Bright Eyes are often mistaken for emo but are not.
Recently, as emo has edged its way into the public consciousness, non-fans of the genre (and even some ironic fans) have taken to using the term as a condescending insult, representing the stereotype of the angst-filled and overly-dramatic teenager. Examples include "cheer up, emo kid" or "I hate emo-fags".
Emo fashion:
"Emo fashion" seems to be directly derived from pre-existing rock fashion and retains staples from it, including the tendency for dyed, flat matte black hair and multiple piercings; in particular, labrets and ear "plugs" are prominent. Rolled-up (and often times form-fitting) jeans and t-shirts displaying sarcastic slogans or images of old-time cartoons are popular as well. Also band t-shirts, buttons for bands, and converse all-stars tend to be worn. More recently, many aspects of emo fashion have become mainstream and are regularly sold at stores like Hot Topic. Emo fashion, according to its proponents, is deeply rooted in a "being proud of who you are", anti-consumer subculture. Critics of the fashion point out that it has become so mainstream that it has become shallow and antithetical to this notion. To this extent, various websites and magazines have taken to poking fun at "emo kids" and stereotypical emo fashion, some offering guides to "making yourself emo".
emo: The Hated, Native Nod, Indian Summer, Sleepytime Trio, Evergreen, Embassy, Moss Icon
emocore: Rites of Spring, Gray Matter, early Lifetime, Samiam, Hot Water Music, Ignition, Jawbreaker, Kerosene 454
post-emo indie: Sunny Day Real Estate, Promise Ring, Mineral, Getup Kids, Jets To Brazil, Cap'n Jazz, Joan of Arc, Braid
nu-emo: The Used, Taking Back Sunday, Hawthorne Heights, My Chemical Romance, Thursday, Finch, Thrice, Senses Fail, Machbook Romance
emocore: Rites of Spring, Gray Matter, early Lifetime, Samiam, Hot Water Music, Ignition, Jawbreaker, Kerosene 454
post-emo indie: Sunny Day Real Estate, Promise Ring, Mineral, Getup Kids, Jets To Brazil, Cap'n Jazz, Joan of Arc, Braid
nu-emo: The Used, Taking Back Sunday, Hawthorne Heights, My Chemical Romance, Thursday, Finch, Thrice, Senses Fail, Machbook Romance
by Jadyn June 24, 2005
Many People Think That An Emo Is A Person That Dresses In Skinny Jeans And Black Morbid Tops. Many Of You Also Think That An Emo Is Someone Who Has Dyed Their Hair Darker Than It Originally Was. This Is Untrue
Lets Get Some Background Into This Shall We?
Emo Was Originally A Type Of Music - Emotive Music - In The 80's And 90's I Suppose. BUTTTT Some Saddos In The Late 90's Early 2000's Decided That They'll Make Up A Meaning For The Word 'Emo' Which Is Commonly Used For Emotional People.
EVERYONE IS EMOTIONAL.
We All Get Sad
We All Get Happy
We All Get Exited
We All Get Depressed
We All Get Angry
We All Get Bashful
We All Get Undecided
We All Get Bloody Emotions K?
Emo Doesn't Mean Emotional
That Makes Everyone Emo
Some People Also Think That Emo's Are People Different From Themselves. Loners Maybe. Just Because Someone Is Alone At Lunch Time Doesn't Make Them Emo. Or If Someone Is Wearing Too Much Eyeliner It Makes Them Emo To Some People
Right.
Instead Of Me Ranting At You
I'm Gonna Ask You A Favor K?
Ask Before You Say
If You Want To Know If Someone Is Emo
Ask Them
If They Don't Want To Be Called Or Labelled 'Emo'Then They Obviously Aren't Emo And Will Say No Or Definately Not.
If They Are A Wannabe Emo Then They Will Say Durhh.
Personally
I Hate All Of This Labelling Shit
I Was 9 When I Was First Labelled Scene And Goth And Emo
And Back Then I Didn't Know What They Meant So I Shrugged Them Off.
I Have Only Just Turned 13 Now And It Is Really Doing My Tree In
If Humans Were Meant To Be Labelled They'd Be Cans Of Beans And Shit. Labelling Has Taken Over Every Teenager's Life
Just Don't Do It K?
Lets Get Some Background Into This Shall We?
Emo Was Originally A Type Of Music - Emotive Music - In The 80's And 90's I Suppose. BUTTTT Some Saddos In The Late 90's Early 2000's Decided That They'll Make Up A Meaning For The Word 'Emo' Which Is Commonly Used For Emotional People.
EVERYONE IS EMOTIONAL.
We All Get Sad
We All Get Happy
We All Get Exited
We All Get Depressed
We All Get Angry
We All Get Bashful
We All Get Undecided
We All Get Bloody Emotions K?
Emo Doesn't Mean Emotional
That Makes Everyone Emo
Some People Also Think That Emo's Are People Different From Themselves. Loners Maybe. Just Because Someone Is Alone At Lunch Time Doesn't Make Them Emo. Or If Someone Is Wearing Too Much Eyeliner It Makes Them Emo To Some People
Right.
Instead Of Me Ranting At You
I'm Gonna Ask You A Favor K?
Ask Before You Say
If You Want To Know If Someone Is Emo
Ask Them
If They Don't Want To Be Called Or Labelled 'Emo'Then They Obviously Aren't Emo And Will Say No Or Definately Not.
If They Are A Wannabe Emo Then They Will Say Durhh.
Personally
I Hate All Of This Labelling Shit
I Was 9 When I Was First Labelled Scene And Goth And Emo
And Back Then I Didn't Know What They Meant So I Shrugged Them Off.
I Have Only Just Turned 13 Now And It Is Really Doing My Tree In
If Humans Were Meant To Be Labelled They'd Be Cans Of Beans And Shit. Labelling Has Taken Over Every Teenager's Life
Just Don't Do It K?
What Not To Do Else You're Judgemental;
John; Emo!
Sarah; Me?
John; Yeah You Big Emo
Sarah; How Am I Emo?
John; You Dyed Your Hair And You Wear Skinnies
Sarah; So? People You Hang Around With Dyes Thier Hair And Wear Skinnies. I Don't See You Calling Them Emo
John; Cause They Aint Emo Are They?
Sarah; Yeah But What Makes Them Different To Me
John; I Know What They're Like And They Aren't Anything Emo
Sarah; Well Then. You Don't Know Anything About Me Do You?
John; Yeah I Do, I Know That You're Emo
Sarah; Obviously You Don't Know Me Then Do You?
John; Fuck Off
What To Do...
John; Oi Sarah!
Sarah; What?
John; Are You Emo?
Sarah; Fuck No
John; Oh, What Are You Then?
Sarah; Human...Why?
John; I Mean StereoType
Sarah; Oh..Nothing
John; What If You Had To Be Something?
Sarah; Erm....I'd Be...Skater Or Or Scene Or Cool Bruv
John; Oh Okay...Since When Do You Say Bruv
Sarah; Since When Don't I Say Bruv?
And So On
The Second Example Makes Life So Much Easier And Doesn't Cause Arguments/Fights
Do It For The Kids LOLOL
John; Emo!
Sarah; Me?
John; Yeah You Big Emo
Sarah; How Am I Emo?
John; You Dyed Your Hair And You Wear Skinnies
Sarah; So? People You Hang Around With Dyes Thier Hair And Wear Skinnies. I Don't See You Calling Them Emo
John; Cause They Aint Emo Are They?
Sarah; Yeah But What Makes Them Different To Me
John; I Know What They're Like And They Aren't Anything Emo
Sarah; Well Then. You Don't Know Anything About Me Do You?
John; Yeah I Do, I Know That You're Emo
Sarah; Obviously You Don't Know Me Then Do You?
John; Fuck Off
What To Do...
John; Oi Sarah!
Sarah; What?
John; Are You Emo?
Sarah; Fuck No
John; Oh, What Are You Then?
Sarah; Human...Why?
John; I Mean StereoType
Sarah; Oh..Nothing
John; What If You Had To Be Something?
Sarah; Erm....I'd Be...Skater Or Or Scene Or Cool Bruv
John; Oh Okay...Since When Do You Say Bruv
Sarah; Since When Don't I Say Bruv?
And So On
The Second Example Makes Life So Much Easier And Doesn't Cause Arguments/Fights
Do It For The Kids LOLOL
by Sarah-Jayne May 29, 2008
The emotional side of punk; the sad/dramatic side of punk rockers. People who wish to announce they are emo may cut hair so it covers (at least) one eye and wear eyeliner and layer their clothes note: this does NOT mean that all people who dress like this are "emo" Emos look at love and life through black-covered glasses and may occasionally smile if among other emos. Emos are known for hating "preps" group of people who hate black and pop their collars. Emo is also associated with cutting of wrists -- emos may do this and they may not, but if they do, they're just gay because that is something stupid to do.
BE WARNED OF EMO WANNABES -- people who cut their hair, wear the makeup, pretend to cut, and generally act like a-holes. They are not emo. They are WEMO - wannabe emo. Also be aware (but friendly) to the ELMOs - they dress emo but they are happy outgoing people and love to laugh and be normal with their friends -- they are ELMOs (they try to be Emo but come off more Tickle-me-Elmo)
BE WARNED OF EMO WANNABES -- people who cut their hair, wear the makeup, pretend to cut, and generally act like a-holes. They are not emo. They are WEMO - wannabe emo. Also be aware (but friendly) to the ELMOs - they dress emo but they are happy outgoing people and love to laugh and be normal with their friends -- they are ELMOs (they try to be Emo but come off more Tickle-me-Elmo)
**REAL EMOS**
Emo kid #1: So...yeah...that was sweet...
Emo kid #2: Yeah...it was really okay I guess...
Emo kid #1: I got a tatoo to express my feelings...
Emo kid #2: Wow...nice...
**WEMOS**
Wemo boy: OH MY GOD, LET ME GO CUT MY WRIST AND MAKE OUT WITH A GUY! AREN'T I SEXY WITH MY LONG BANGS?
Wemo girl: OH WOW, DID YOU SEE MY SNAKE BITE PIERCINGS? LATER I THINK I'LL DYE MY HAIR BLUE BECAUSE I'M AN INDIVIDUAL AND SARA DYED HER HAIR BLUE TOO!
Wemo boy: SHUT UP, I'M REFLECTING ON HOW FUCKED UP MY LIFE IS...
**ELMOS**
Elmo kid: OH MY GOD! I LOVE EGGS! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Emo kid #1: So...yeah...that was sweet...
Emo kid #2: Yeah...it was really okay I guess...
Emo kid #1: I got a tatoo to express my feelings...
Emo kid #2: Wow...nice...
**WEMOS**
Wemo boy: OH MY GOD, LET ME GO CUT MY WRIST AND MAKE OUT WITH A GUY! AREN'T I SEXY WITH MY LONG BANGS?
Wemo girl: OH WOW, DID YOU SEE MY SNAKE BITE PIERCINGS? LATER I THINK I'LL DYE MY HAIR BLUE BECAUSE I'M AN INDIVIDUAL AND SARA DYED HER HAIR BLUE TOO!
Wemo boy: SHUT UP, I'M REFLECTING ON HOW FUCKED UP MY LIFE IS...
**ELMOS**
Elmo kid: OH MY GOD! I LOVE EGGS! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
by JENN.E.FURR. December 20, 2006
There are too many stereotypical definitions for an emo on Urban Dictionary, so I'm going to try to clear this up for those who don't know what they're talking about. Emo stands for "emotionally challenged", yes, but that's not a synonym for "melodramatic, cutting, freaks who over dramatize everything", because not every single emo on the planet is like that. Usually, the over dramatic ones are the fake ones trying to get attention from everyone.
Emo people are usually those who have very difficult lives at home or in general, constantly facing problems that effect them emotionally, and drive them into a self panic. They usually think there's nothing really anyone can do for them, they feel very alone in the world. Its true, nobody knows just how much they go through in a day, with people criticizing, bashing, and labeling them alone. Most people are too dim or self absored to see through their thick skull and realize the pain these people go through everyday.
When people start shooting off their mouth about how emos are black dressing, cutting, eye-liner wearing, melodramatic, freaks, that's only because it's what society has labeled them as. And maybe, they do wear eyeliner or dress in all black, but does that give you the right to bash them? Does that make them any less of a person? All they need is for you to walk up to them and give them a compliment and maybe even become friends. Because, if you do that, you could really really realllly make that persons day. Emos are NOT a frkn subculture, so STOP saying that, they're humans like you and me.
Emo people are usually those who have very difficult lives at home or in general, constantly facing problems that effect them emotionally, and drive them into a self panic. They usually think there's nothing really anyone can do for them, they feel very alone in the world. Its true, nobody knows just how much they go through in a day, with people criticizing, bashing, and labeling them alone. Most people are too dim or self absored to see through their thick skull and realize the pain these people go through everyday.
When people start shooting off their mouth about how emos are black dressing, cutting, eye-liner wearing, melodramatic, freaks, that's only because it's what society has labeled them as. And maybe, they do wear eyeliner or dress in all black, but does that give you the right to bash them? Does that make them any less of a person? All they need is for you to walk up to them and give them a compliment and maybe even become friends. Because, if you do that, you could really really realllly make that persons day. Emos are NOT a frkn subculture, so STOP saying that, they're humans like you and me.
Random Dumbass: "Hey, look at the freakish emo over there, bet he just finished cutting himself, the dumb shit!"
Random Guy: "DUDE! Wtf is your problem? He actually looks like a pretty nice guy. I think we all know who the REAL dumbass is..."
*random Guy #2 proceeds to go over and talk to Random Emo*
Random Guy: "DUDE! Wtf is your problem? He actually looks like a pretty nice guy. I think we all know who the REAL dumbass is..."
*random Guy #2 proceeds to go over and talk to Random Emo*
by DepressionHurts August 30, 2009
Kids who often feel rejected or unaccepted in what most people would call the "normal" groups. Most of the time clothed in darker colors such as gray and black. They make friends just like everyone else but tend to only feel really comfortable around others like themselves. Contrary to popular belief, Emo kids do not ALWAYS want to kill themselves. The cutting is actually an action from form of depression and many non-emo people do it also.
by Court4282 January 16, 2008
OhMyGod! She is soo emo!
I mean look she's always wearing jackets, trying to cover up scars.
What the fuck. Emo is a type of music, smartass.
I mean look she's always wearing jackets, trying to cover up scars.
What the fuck. Emo is a type of music, smartass.
by ForeverInReality June 2, 2009