The early 2000s were the golden age of pop punk. Bands like Fall Out Boy and Panic! At the Disco dominated the radio, and hair straighteners and black hair-dye were constantly sold out at your local Target. Though we may have grown up, whenever we hear My Chemical Romance played in the distance, we remember our emo days with a smile.
1. You used to beg your mom to buy you manic panic hair dye so you could ~stand out~.
2. Panic! At the Disco's breakup was your first real heartbreak.
3. You owned multiple pairs of the same black skinny jeans that cut off the circulation in your thighs.
4. No one understood you.
5. Pizza was (and probably still is) your favorite food.
6. Hayley Williams and Alex Gaskarth were hair goals.
7. Pete Wentz posters covered your bedroom walls.
8. Your parents waited outside while you shopped in Hot Topic because you were afraid they would cramp your style.
9. Most of your money went to new black eyeliner because you were always running out trying to perfect the raccoon look.
10. You didn't need anyone OR that town.
11. Band T-shirts made up most of your wardrobe.
12. The rest of it was studded belts and band bracelets.
13. You argued with your friends about whether it was Green Day or Blink-182 who brought Pop Punk to the mainstream.
14. "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" by My Chemical Romance was your JAM.
15. As was "Sugar, We're Going Down" by Fall Out Boy.
16. You still blast these and remember all the words.
17. You spent far too long getting your fringe looking perfect in the morning.
18. Converse with lyrics handwritten all over them were both edgy and ~original~.
19. Your profile picture on Myspace/Facebook was a high exposure selfie in black and white.
20. You had to convince your parents to let you go to Warped Tour.
21. And when you went you were a proud part of a mosh pit.
22. The mall was your choice hangout spot.
23. Or the skatepark.
24. You spent countless hours watching Bryan Stars interviews on youtube.
25. When you found someone who had the same taste in music as you, you became inseparable
26. You lived for when your favorite bands came to your town.
27. And you joined their fan clubs so you could get early access to the tickets (and the T-shirts, tbh).
28. You owned a shirt/bracelet that said, "Defend Pop Punk."
29. And defend it you did.
30. You subscribed to AP and/or Kerrang magazines.
