Some History
In 1985, Minor Threat frontman Ian MacKaye and fellow musician Guy Picciotto wanted to shift away from the violence that surrounded the DC hardcore punk scene, so they decided to move their music in a more personal direction. They formed a band called Rites of Spring, whose innovative and experimental songs created a whole new genre – something their fans started describing as “emocore”.
In the 90’s, emocore began to take on a more indie rock feel, producing bands like Jawbreaker and Sunny Day Real Estate. “Indie Emo” was highly influenced by another one of MacKaye’s projects, the band Fugazi, and indie group Mission of Burma. Bands including Cursive, The GetUp Kids, and Bright Eyes were signed to indie labels and started to generate national attention.
Towards the end of the ‘90s, indie emo wasn’t so indie anymore – Teen People sealed the deal with their article on the new hip music called emo. Indie emo was officially dead – and mainstream emo was born.
The transition was evident in Jimmy Eat World’s release of Bleed American, which had almost no trace of emo whatsoever. But, the public knew Jimmy Eat World was associated with the term emo – so it stuck. Dashboard Confessional accomplished national success with frontman Chris Carrabba’s bleeding heart lyrics. New bands that had similarities to Jimmy Eat World and Dashboard were lumped into the same category – creating what we know as today’s emo genre.
Some Examples
Emo music involves pain - and describes it too. In the early nineties, Jawbreaker was the cornerstone of emo with frontman Blake Schwartzenbach belting out songs about alcohol, regrets, heartbreak and failure.
"There's a white light coming up
You draw the blinds hoping it'll pass
I kissed the bottle
I should've been kissin you
You wake up to an empty night
With tears for two" - Kiss the Bottle, Jawbreaker
Later 90's and early '00s, we saw the rise of emo icon Chris Carrabba and his band Dashboard Confessional. Carrabba would not just use his lyrics to convey his pain, but his voice too (I'm serious - he wrenches in pain). He often sheds a few tears during his shows because he is so moved - and, well, emo."Walking away.
It's not the same as running.
Is it to you now that you've run this in the ground.
And you say take this.
This medicine is just what you deserve.
Swallow, choke, and die. " - The Bitter Pill, Dashboard Confessional
Now, it's taken an even more drastic turn. Bands like Brand New spill not only their sadness but their anger and resentment as well. In one instance, the lead singer caught his girlfriend kissing another band member at a party. This was the result.
"So, is that what you call a getaway?
Well tell me what you got away with.
Cause I've seen more spine in jellyfish.
I've seen more guts in eleven-year-old kids.
Have another drink and drive yourself home.
I hope there's ice on all the roads.
And you can think of me when you forget your seatbelt,
and again when your head goes through the windshield." - Seventy Times Seven, Brand New
Lately, one of emo's more popular associations with pain is the spilling of blood. Bands like My Chemical Romance and Senses Fail paint bloody pictures with their lyrics - often bordering on being just plain ridiculous. This one is my favorites.
"Can you grant me one last wish
Play russian roulette as we kiss
I'll be your cheap novelty
Blow your brains out on me." - Choke on This, Senses Fail
3 comments:
nice blog ... miss you Frankel
i don't think ian was in rights of spring. it was brendan canty (later fugazi), guy piccioto(also fugazi), eddie janney (gvsb) and mike fellows(?). produced by ian mackaye. you should look up "revolution summer" which was the period of time in summer of 85 which was their shift away from the hardcore scene. also see embrace, ian's rev summer project. and don't forget dave smalley. he practically blueprinted the emo singer sound. also an often overlooked early emo influence (imho) is "new wind" by 7 seconds.
cool blog - frank
regret: we should have had a Dashboard scream-o party while you were here.
It would've been good to let a little out with no shame.
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