Something spectacular happened on Thursday, July 20th, 2016. My Chemical Romance (MCR) released this teaser trailer ( https://youtu.be/7wIKQS9Df48 ). Now, those of you non-MCR fans out there may be saying “So what?” Well, to fill you in a little, MCR called it quits back in 2013. They didn’t break up or have any drama; they were just done. This news hit fans like me as hard as if they had broken up, so anything coming from them is truly Halloween on Christmas. That being said, I thought I’d go over what I’ve learned from MCR. I’m sure other fans can relate.
1) "I’m Not Okay" (and that’s okay.)
“I’m Not Okay” is one of the most famous MCR songs and my personal favorite. It’s a song about being different, about being alone, and about being what society sees as a loser. It’s about not fitting in and not liking your life. It’s something we all feel at some point and that some of us feel constantly. The comforting truth of this song, however, is that none of us are okay. Someone may look put together on the street but hidden just beneath their smile they probably have something eating them alive. This song explains that when you feel lost, confused, or hopeless it’s okay. You’re not okay and neither am I, so together maybe we can get through this.
2) "You Aren’t Alone"
I first discovered MCR when I was in the 7th grade — and it was just in time. The friends I'd had in elementary school became very different once puberty hit, turning to more vulgar and occasionally illegal things. I slowly but surely lost them as friends because I didn’t like what they were doing nor did I have any interest in joining them. Being a clean-nosed kid in junior high leaves you pretty isolated, and feeling that way at that age only amplifies it. One day I stumbled upon my sister watching an MCR music video on YouTube and it was like finding a lake in the desert. Their music was great and the singers felt the same way I felt. They were weirdos just like me, and they looked like characters I loved growing up (I was a big Tim Burton and Addams Family fan, and I still am). It was like I had found my people, and to be honest I did. They became my favorite band, and even though I didn’t have many friends around me I got to feel like a part of something with other fans online.
3) "Art Is a Weapon"
Whether you draw, sing, write, play an instrument, or engage in some other creative medium, it’s a weapon. It’s a weapon in the fight for your future. It’s a weapon in the fight against depression, anxiety, and whatever else might be plaguing you. There’s a constant pressure in our lives to pick a normal job, do what’s popular, and simply comply despite what it means for us. I’ve always been someone who tried to fight against this, and MCR helped me find a good way to do it.
Those are the biggest things I learned from this amazing band, and I’m very glad to see them back. If you’re not a fan I hope this article makes you want to check them out. If you are a fan, let’s bust out the black clothes and throw a party on September 23rd. To Gerard, Mikey, Frank, and Ray, thanks for getting me through my teens. I can’t wait to see what you guys have coming up next.
