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Chemical Wedding (2008)
IMDB rating: 6.60
Plot: A shy, stuttering professor brings Aleister Crowley back to life.
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Directors: Doyle Julian
Actors: Callow Simon,Weber Kal,Charlton Jud,McDowell Paul,Shrapnel John,Franklin Richard,Bayler Terence,Ashby Robert,Ashe Jared,Breton Geoff,Fraser Mat,Nelstrop Thomas,Rea Sean,Sadler Andrea,Thriller,
Does anyone else actually like the so-called 'emo' music of today?
It’s easy to answer "Yeah, whiny emos, duh," but I’m asking you to restrain for a moment. First of all I do know what ‘real’ emo music is. It started out in the later 80s, and there were bands such as Rites of Spring, Sunny Day Real Estate, and the Get-up Kids until the genre mostly disappeared towards the end of the 90s. It was generally punk-based. Somehow, at this same time, the ‘emo’ stereotype was formed. The ‘emos’ today stereotypically listen to bands that have that image but actually could be classified with many other rock genres. If you actually give them a listen, they aren’t the whiny, inept groups you expect, at least in my book.
As I said, it’s all in the image. The music isn’t really all that different. In my opinion it’s the alternative of today, and it gets a place in the mainstream because there are stereotypes that distinguish the bands. For instance The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. They started out as a pretty hard band, probably considered screamo. Something about their image led to the ‘emo’ label. Their last album was very pop-rock-based, and if you listen to it, it’s really not much different from Bon Jovi as of recent years or Matchbox 20. The lyrics are generally about maturing through life, and they don’t sound particularly whiny to me.
Then, you have Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco. Once again, it’s just their images. They are both fairly poppy and energetic. Fall Out Boy isn’t the sligtest bit ‘emo’ and doesn’t deserve the negative stereotypes. Panic! at the Disco at least makes a little more sense, but it’s also a misconception. Their lyrics are often very deep and complex and need analyzing. They often speak through metaphors, and many of their songs are about the abstract, wealth and grand events for the elite, today’s fashion and how it applies, and broken trust in relationships. But it’s mature, not whiny. The song "I Write Sins not Tragedies" is lyrical genius about a cheating bride being found out just before the wedding, and it would have made some great literature years ago, in my opinion.
AFI started out as a hard-core punk band. Listen to 1995’s Answer that and Stay Fashionable. You’ll probably mess yourself out of shock. Then they changed to horror-punk, and eventually, a combination of alternative and, at times, screamo. Their lyrics tend to be dark, but not in an immature whiny way. Like Panic! at the Disco, they would have made excellent stories a century ago.
And I can’t leave out the biggest stereotype of the ‘emo’ community. My Chemical Romance. My question is… Why??? The band started out with a punk-based sound, and now can almost be considered a reincarnation of classic rock and arena rock. 2006’s The Black Parade was a very creative story revolving around a dying individual. Resulting in a huge misconception. It DOES NOT involve suicide.
It’s about ‘The Patient,’ who is dying from cancer and looking back at his life. The song "Dead!" is about how his life was wasted, and how he never did what he wanted and lived a happy life. "Teenagers" could have fit with any decent classic rock band some decades ago. "Welcome to the Black Parade" is all about carrying on. Don’t tell me the chorus "And though you’re dead and gone, believe me. You’re memory will carry on," is negative. The word death is very misunderstood. In "Famous Last Words," the character gets a second chance. Look at this chorus. "I am not afraid to keep on living / I am not afraid to walk this world alone / Honey, if you stay, you’ll be forgiven / Nothing you can say could stop me going home." And they blame THIS band on suicides??? They speak out against it! I guess death is just too touchy of a subject.
It just puzzles me that generally respectable bands take fire for self-harm and suicide. Seriously, just listen to them. I have tricked many people who criticized ‘emo’ groups by having them listen to them. They said they were all right, and their faces went pale when I told them who they really were. If anything, today’s hip-hop is in a state of disarray. It was very decent in the late 80s and the 90s, even heading into this decade, but it’s now abandoned all decent meaning. I used to speak out when people said it was nothing but violence, b!tches and hoes, and money, but now, I’ve found, it really is! With arrogance and lack of skill on top of it all.
I’d just like to know if anyone takes these ‘emo’ bands for what they really are and, like me, finds them to be some of the only decent stuff hitting the mainstream these days. Before you flame me, I am generally a metal fan, with classic and hard rock roots, and I’m just as big into alternative. That being said, people have taken today’s ‘emo’ music all wrong. Listen to the countless sappy love songs that made hits in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Tell me what whiny is. Honestly.
First — I DID read everything you wrote
I did not know the genre was still around — at least on a wide-scale.
…and you make a very good point — I am one of "those" who assumed EMO started with that "sound" in the 90s — and I never really cared for it.
FYI — I was never part of the "FOB/MCR vs Metal" War of 2008, that was on here.
I never listened to MCR or that genre, so I cannot judge.
Nor, even if I do not like it — Who am I to criticize??
If it’s not my cup ‘o tea — then that’s that.
There’s enough music to go around for everyone.
Your essay has intrigued me, to look into these bands you mentioned from the 80s.
Punk-Based EMO — Really!! — I’d like to check that out!!
In short — I do Not like the "stereotypical" EMO, which inundated radio, in the late 90s… — never have.
However, I do so appreciate your information and "passion" on this subject
It is why I come to R&P.
Edit –
Unfortunately, those with the most Web-Space, get to Categorize Bands into Genres.
There are so many bands, that I think are misrepresented and you make a good point — if they are labelled by a Genre that someone has decided they already do not like — then they may never give them an "ear" — and miss out on something, potentially great.
Screw genres!! (pardon me )
Oh, I missed something — "Tell me what whiny is. Honestly."
Well, I totally agree that "whiny" is a part of "certain" pop from ANY decade.
My goodness, the bands of the late 70s, like Facedancer (not very big, but if you look at this track listing, you see a song called "Cry Baby" — http://facedancer.net/?page_id=14
– a very whiny hard rock/metal song!!
This actually started a term, briefly called Cry-Baby Rock — which was assigned to many bands that came out of California as the "Hair Metal" or "Glam Metal" genre.
It was not their "look" — some were good & and others were "cry-baby".
I personally consider some of the infamous Kurt Cobain’s Nirvana songs (Whiny Complaint Rock) — called "teenage angst" by some critics — called "whiny" by others, like myself.
I think "whiny" is about attitude — not any particular "vocal style"
The protest songs of the late-60s & early-70s — especially "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young.
Here, this band was suppose to be "strong" revolutionaries with hippy ideals, but that song, calling attention to the horrible deaths of 4 killed at Kent State University — is so One-Sided and Unfair about what "really happened that day"
But, the song is "taken-up" by the anti-establishments of the day, as this Great Protest Song…
I think it stinks and is completely "Whiny!!"
"4 dead at O-HI-O, 4 dead at O-HI-O, How many more??" <sniff, sniff>
Yes, it was a horrible "event" — but the song is so structured to manipulative to MILK anger & tears from Fans.
I know this is awful — but we were so sick of the song, we would sing — "Not enough dead at O-HI-O <repeat>"
That’s how annoyed we were at the Whininess of Protest Songs!!
anyway — Someone here mentioned The Killers as EMO ??
Is that correct or did I miss something?
Anyway — I think The Killers are an amazing band !!
( okay, I’ll get off my soapbox, now…
~Elizabeth~ n'existe pas | Nov 22, 2009
Some of it is good. However, I do agree. Ryan Ross of Panic at the diso is good songwriter
Syd Barrett | Nov 22, 2009
I agree.
jmorrison&jlennon <3 | Nov 22, 2009
cudnt be arsed reading all that but i like MCR.
Michael | Nov 22, 2009
there was too much to read but i llike bands like MCR and black veil brides, who i think are quite emo, yeah the music is good. i listen to it and im not an "emo", i hate the steryotypes
Kate | Nov 22, 2009
here is what i say.
who knows what emo music really is
well lets just start off by pointing out that emo really means emotional
so if that is like saying emo music is music that has emotion put into it
music that makes you feel a certian way or reminds you about a time or something that happened in your life
emo music does NOT have to be "hard core" "metal" or music that "emo/scene kids" like for instance some nickleback songs have very emotional lyrics. i presonally LOVE boys like girls, and NO ONE will change my mind. even on the new cd which is a lot dancier and popish their lyrics are still emotional
ex. someone like you
"so sing me a song i know all the words to and ill sing along could you be my savour ive been out here too long and ive just been looking for somewhere to belong barely holding on"
if by saying emo music is music with emotion in it than as far as im concerned emo music is the ONLY good music. much better than stupid shit that is about nothing and has no value or meaning what so ever.
KaitlynnLovesMartin | Nov 22, 2009
I read all of that and agree with absolutely everything you said. I love all those bands you mentioned. I am the only one out of my friends that loves this stuff, and not the cRAP that everyone is listening to.
soccergirl | Nov 22, 2009
YES.
They’re not my favorite bands, but I like PATD and MCR 
Maud | Nov 22, 2009
Yes..
Blink 182
The Killers
My Chemical Romance
I consider this emo
