Growing up, the definition of emo was heavy black eyeliner, studded or chained belts and being dressed in black from head to toe. Nowadays, being emo is defined as being punk and addressing emotional subjects.
Back in the 2000's, emo stood for emotive hardcore, which was essentially a combination of genres including pop, and indie. The emo era lasted from 2001 to 2006 and brought about an array of bands who each brought a different angle and element of emo to the table.
Personally, I think the definition of emo evolved from describing a person to describing music and the subject of the songs. I also thought that emo and goth at the time were the same, if not closely similar. I have never considered myself emo, so I am not the best source as to how one would be categorized as emo. The difference between the three bands in the trinity was the style in which they were considered "emo."
My Chemical Romance brought out a darkness and would be considered the most emo of all the bands. Panic! was described more of vaudevillian emo, while they did touch upon some emo topics, their costumes portrayed more emo than their sound. Fall Out Boy was emo in the respect that they had more of a pop-punk sound than emo lyrics.
While I wasn't emo myself, I did know that in the early 2000's there was the Emo Trinity made up of Panic! At The Disco, Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance. Anyone who listened to all three of these bands was considered to be emo. These bands are influencers of many bands today.
1. Green Day
When I think of emo, Green Day is one of the first bands that pops into my mind. While they weren't part of the emo trinity, they were one of the most popular bands in the early 2000's. Songs such as American Idiot, Wake Me Up When September Ends, Good Riddance (Time of My Life) and 21 Guns paved the way and influenced how bands wanted to sound.
In addition to Pearl Jam, Green Day was the second of the two bands to break out of the alternative mold and into mainstream pop in the post-Nirvana era.
It seems that in today's scene bands such as Call It Off, SWMRS and Creeper have influences, similarities and ties to Green Day.
While Green Day is still together, the band members are taking some time to work on other projects in addition to touring as a band. Billie Joe Armstrong is currently performing with a new band dubbed The Longshot, who released their debut album "Love is for Losers" back in April of this year.
Fun Fact: Billie Joe Armstrong's son Joey Armstrong is a drummer for the band SWMRS, while his other son Jakob "Danger" Armstrong is a guitarist and singer for the band Mt. Eddy.
2. My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
In the 2000's, My Chemical Romance was the definition of emo and probably the most emo band in the Emo Trinity. They rocked the guy-liner and makeup, adorned costumes and crooned songs like rockers. MCR's major musical influences came from bands and artists such as Queen, Misfits, The Cure, and Iron Maiden. When I hear songs like Helena,I'm Not Ok (I Promise) and Welcome To The Black Parade I can definitely hear similarities to Queen.
Sadly in 2013, the members of MCR departed ways. Since the break up, all former members have moved on to other musical projects. Gerard Way and Ray Toro both started solo careers (in addition to other projects) while members Mikey Way and Frank Iero continued down the path as members of new bands.
While I wasn't a huge MCR fan, I was able to talk to someone who was.
"I think MCR was emo because not only were the lyrics raw and emotional, the albums themselves were masterpieces. They [the albums] told really interactive stories and along with the dark look of the band members and the theatrics in their music videos were amazing. They touched on some of the typical emo topics in their lyrics, too - loneliness, grief, mental illness, and heartbreak...but the story lines of the albums made everything a bit deeper and more immerse."-Mikayla McLaughlin-Ahern
Fun Fact: Bassist Mikey Way is the younger brother of Gerard Way.
3. Panic! At The Disco
Panic! at the Disco
Joining My Chemical Romance, Panic! At The Disco is another band in the Emo Trinity. Panic! was emo in a different way when compared to MCR. While they did sing about similar topics, Panic! was more emo in the sense of theatrics than in terms of lyrical meaning.
Panic! has certainly changed over the years. Members have come and gone, but the one thing that hasn't changed was Brendon Urie. Urie is the only original member of Panic! left while other band members such as Dallon Weekes, Ryan Ross, and Spencer Smith have all moved on to new musical ventures.
As someone who is just now starting to get into Panic!, I can tell there's a difference in the way Brendon has evolved in his songwriting. Songs such as I Write Sins Not Tragedies, Victorious, Don't Threaten Me With a Good Time, Hurricane, This is Gospel and Death of a Bachelor all seem to have darker undertones focusing on drugs, alcohol, adulterous relationships and death whereas songs such as High Hopes and Hey Look Ma I Made It seem to focus on Urie's confidence and rise to fame.
Fun Fact: Before writing their own material, Panic! was a Blink-182 cover band.
4. Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is the last and final band in the Emo Trinity. I would agree that while the band was more pop than punk, Fall Out Boy is emo. Their sound in the early days was considered to have a pop-punk sound with a multitude of different melodies and post-hardcore foundation.
Over time, the band has changed their sound and with that change, they were still able to remain in the realm of pop, rock, and alternative.
I asked a friend about their opinion of Fall Out Boy and whether or not they thought the band is considered emo and influenced other bands today.
"Oh yeah definitely. They've been around for so long and really popular that I wouldn't doubt that other bands heard them and wanted that same sound. They're very upbeat and modern day rock and roll" - Zoe Bliss
Fall Out Boy recently released their seventh album "MANIA'' and recently wrapped up their tour to promote the album.
Fun Fact: While Fall Out Boy is a popular band, not many bands in the emo scene wanted to tour with them. In an interview with Rolling Stone singer, Patrick Stump revealed "None of the emo bands messed with us. They hated us. They wouldn't tour with us."
5. Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is another popular emo band that was blasted through headphones in the early 2000's.
Songs about revenge, love, and heartbreak are only a few of the things that made Paramore emo. In addition to the lyrics, the hardcore sound, darkness [some of] of their music videos, and Hayley's bright colored hair contributed to their emo-ness.
Like Fall Out Boy, Paramore has been making music for over a decade and both bands have since taken their newer material in a different direction. While still considered the alternative, the band has added a bit of a lighter and happier flair as opposed to the straight up hardcore pop-punk vibe.
Songs such as Misery Business, Decode, Riot!, That's What You Get, crushcrushcrush and Brick By Boring Brick were intense with the guitar riffs. fast-paced drumming and Hayley's strong 'take no prisoner' (Let's be honest though Hayley's voice is always like that and I love it) voice. You could tell that there were traces of pain and anger within the lyrics.
Fun Fact: After forming in 2003 and still in junior high, the band took up 100% of the member's extracurricular time until the point where they left school to tour in the middle of the school year.
Energetic dance performance under the spotlight.
Taylor Swift in a purple coat, captivating the crowd on stage.
Taylor Swift shines on stage in a sparkling outfit and boots.
Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers sharing a joyful duet on stage.
