- See Emo (disambiguation) for other uses of the term Emo.
Emo (originally short for emocore, itself a contraction of "emotional hardcore", now usually 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 punk's limited emotional palette of alienation and rage. It is also used to describe fans of this genre, most commonly teenagers. (Emo Kid)
Though the term emo orginated with the hardcore punk scene in the United States in the mid 1980s, the roots of the 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 punk beyond its original constraints while still retaining its raw emotional punch, and included the proto-emo classic "That's When I Reach For My Revolver". In 1984, Hüsker Dü's album Zen Arcade established what is widely considered to be the definitive blueprint for emo: complex, raw guitar-oriented music with intense vocals and deeply introspective songwriting.
The term emocore first came into to use around 1985, and was used to describe certain bands in Washington D.C.'s hardcore scene who, to the great consternation of hardcore purists, began introducing very un-punk emotional themes in their music, including sadness, hope, compassion and even love. Two such bands were Rites of Spring, who are generally credited as being the first true emocore band, and Embrace.
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 hardcore 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 called "hardcore emo" emerged featuring chaotic hardcore music with abrasive, emotional vocals. Significant hardcore emo bands include Heroin, Angel Hair, Antioch Arrow, Swing Kids, and Mohinder.
Many of these hardcore 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 and Mineral explored a more moderately paced form of emo that mixed the early emocore sound of Rites of Spring with the post-hardcore innovation of Fugazi. The first commercially successful band that was (arguably) emo was Weezer, who made a large splash on MTV with their debut CD in 1994.
Today, the term "emo" is increasingly ambiguous. With the success of such pop-punk 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 applied to many diverse guitar-pop bands, such as Thursday, Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, the New Amsterdams, and more recently to quieter, acoustic-driven bands such as Bright Eyes.
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 "don't mind him, he's just being emo."
Emo fashion
Stereotypical "emo glasses" "Emo fashion" seems to be directly derived from pre-existing punk and goth fashions and retains staples from these two, including the tendency for dyed, flat matte black hair and multiple piercings; in particular, labrets and ear "plugs" are prominent. Eye liner on the males is common.Wrist accessories such as plastic bracelets and wristbands are typical. So-called "emo glasses", identified as thick, black-rimmed "nerdy" glasses, are embraced as a quintessential emo accessory. Rolled-up jeans and t-shirts displaying sarcastic slogans or images of old-time cartoons are popular as well. 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".
See also
External links
- "How To Dress Emo" (http://www.dobi.nu/emo/) — a comprehensive guide poking fun at stereotypical emo attire and character traits.
- Insta Emo Kit (http://www.sykospark.net/emo/) Similar to above.
- The Emo Videogame (http://emogame.com/) — an online "video game" series dedicated to emo culture, which is very tongue-in-cheek and self-effacing.
- Urban Dictionary (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=emo) — definition of emo
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