To the kids that didn't listen to Top 40 in high school, this one's for you. We all know that our alternative music had so much more meaning than the Pussycat Dolls and Paris Hilton's one-hit wonder. While all the "cool kids" immersed themselves in boring pop ballads, we rocked out to legendary bands, some of which are still popular today, such as Blink-182 and A Day To Remember. Others did not stand the test of time, whether it be because of fights between band members or simply growing out of that 2000s pop-punk era, but they have still left a mark on our hearts and in our throwback playlists (I'm talking about you, Boys Like Girls). The following list is just some of the many songs that remind me of my high school days (ah yes, being unpopular was so much fun); these songs got me through some tough times and were there during the happy times. I hope when you read this list some good memories come flooding back. Maybe you'll even drag out your old boombox and play some of those ancient compact disks you bought when you were just a youngster.
1. "Dear Maria, Count Me In" - All Time Low
Did anyone else not realize this was about an exotic dancer until much later?
2. "Miserable At Best" - Mayday Parade
You definitely cried to this. Multiple times.
3. "Check Yes, Juliet" - We The Kings
Travis Clark made gingers hot.
4. "The Great Escape" - Boys Like Girls
Two words: Martin Johnson.
5. "Everything I Ask For" - The Maine
I still love this band even as a post-emo kid.
6. "She's A Lady" - Forever The Sickest Kids
I had the drummer sign my converse at Warped Tour one time.
7. "The Curse of Curves" - Cute Is What We Aim For
This was their only good song, tbh.
8. "Be My Escape" - Relient K
This was played at my 8th grade dance and my friends and I asked the DJ what song it was, true story.
9. "The Phrase That Pays" - The Academy Is...
At least one Academy Is... song was required on every emo kid's iPod.
10. "But It's Better If You Do" - Panic! At The Disco
Because we all still remember and listen to "I Write Sins Not Tragedies."
11. "crushcrushcrush" - Paramore
Still a relevant band, but this is one of their earlier hits that us emo kids rocked out to.
12. "Teenagers" - My Chemical Romance
I was kind of offended by this song as a teenager.
13. "The City Is At War" - Cobra Starship
This band was never that good but emo kids (including me) were obsessed.
14. "Shake It" - Metro Station
Omg, the lead singer is Miley's brother... and he got London Tipton (Brenda Song from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody) pregnant.
15. "Honestly" - Cartel
Such an underrated band and song.
16. "Take My Hand" - The Cab
Their entire album, "Whisper War," was fire.
17. "Southern Air" - Yellowcard
"Ocean Avenue" is still quite popular, but this song was for the hipster fans (before hipster was a thing).
18. "Hey Baby, Here's That Song You Wanted" - blessthefall
The best breakup song, ever.
19. "I'm Made of Wax Larry, What Are You Made Of?" - A Day To Remember
One of the best bands still out there in the alternative scene, and this is their signature track.
20. "Situations" - Escape the Fate
The music video for this was even better than the song... Escape the Fate was the definition of high school emo kid.
21. "Reinventing Your Exit" - Underoath
The classic scream song that got every emo kid into the hardcore stuff.
22. "You're Not Alone" - Saosin
Thanks to Saosin, us emo kids never felt alone.
23. "Caraphernelia" - Pierce The Veil
We didn't know what this word meant or how to pronounce it.
24. "Ride The Wings Of Pestilence" - From First To Last
This was before Sonny Moore was Skrillex.
25. "Hey John, What's Your Name Again?" - The Devil Wears Prada
When you used to say you liked The Devil Wears Prada to your friends and they thought you meant the movie... *eye roll.*
26. "The Anthem" - Good Charlotte
This was definitely the anthem of all emo kids.
27. "In Too Deep" - Sum 41
You probably listened to this religiously at some skate park in high school.
28. "All The Small Things" - Blink-182
I first heard this song on a "Now That's What I Call Music!" CD.
29. "Welcome To My Life" - Simple Plan
So much teen angst.
30. "All Downhill From Here" - New Found Glory
From the alternative band that inspired every other alternative band.
31. "Dirty Little Secret" - All-American Rejects
Tyson Ritter was every emo girl's crush.
32. "Face Down" - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
This band was extremely underrated, and us emo kids were the only ones cool enough to know about them.
33. "Thnks fr th Mmrs" - Fall Out Boy
I guess they really didn't like vowels?
34. "Cute Without the 'E' (Cut From the Team)" - Taking Back Sunday
One of the classic emo kid songs.
35. "How You Love Me Now" - Hey Monday
Kind of weird how the lead singer, Cassadee Pope, went on to win The Voice and become a country star.
