Around the time of seventh grade, at least a handful of kids start to change -- drastically. Black becomes the only color they will voluntarily wear because it matches the smeared kohl liner on their sad, desperate eyes; their overall aura becomes that of someone who understands the deepest form of pain and suffering. Yes, my normie friends, I speak of the emo kids. You've either known one, went to school with one, or if you're anything like me, you were one. Regardless of if they've thrown away their plethora of rubber band bracelets or have grown out their precious side bangs, these folks live on with the songs of our people still fresh in their misunderstood hearts. So, get ready to check yes, Juliet, because sugar we're goin' down the list of the top ten songs that represented emo culture.
10. "Misery Business" by Paramore
Okay, I'm pretty sure that this jam was for just about anyone who listened to it. Chances are, the boy you wanted to ask to the middle school dance asked Sarah with the pink pre-wrap instead of you, therefore you made it a point to sing "whore" as loud as you could (as long as your mom wasn't around), despite the fact that both of you were only twelve.
9. "Thnks fr th mmrs" by Fall Out Boy
Oh FOB, how you created mantras for us misinterpreted youth. They have certainly maintained their status as a popular pop-punk band (hello, Uma Thurman?), nothing can beat the complete disregard for spelling like this classic. Can someone say edgy?
8. "Cat and Mouse" by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
This song made even the edgiest of edgelords shed a few tears. This song took you back to all the heartbreak you felt whenever you weren't allowed to straighten your hair to impress Billy at school *sigh*.
7. "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" by Panic! at the Disco
I CHIME IN WITH A HAVEN'T YOU PEOPLE EVER HEARD OF... This song is actually so iconic and defined a generation of angsty preteens. You can really tell a lot about a person if when they hear this song or it is mentioned they sing along or not.
6. "Fall For You" by Secondhand Serenade
5. "Knives and Pens" by Black Veil Brides
Personally, Black Veil Brides awakened me to the art of screamo music. Andy Sixx (now known as Andy Biersack) was the skinny jean wearing, guyliner hero we needed back then, and boy did he deliver. God bless you BVB, you will always have a place in our outcast hearts :,)
4. "If I'm James Dean, You're Audrey Hepburn" by Sleeping With Sirens
Sleeping With Sirens was in fact the most confusing band around at the time. Kellin Quinn was every scene girl's dream, however when you heard his voice the first thought that came to your head was "huh?". His extremely high vocals might have had something to do with his extremely tight pants, but he still spoke to our ~rAnDoM~ souls.
3. "Miserable at Best" by Mayday Parade
Weren't we all miserable at best in the seventh grade? I will never forget the days when I would get yelled at by a teacher for wearing Hello Kitty ears in class or a bro would tell me I looked like a raccoon and I would go home and crank this song as loud as my iPod touch would go. What a time.
2. "American Idiot" by Green Day
If you grew up in a small, sports-heavy town like I did, this song ignited your rebel heart. Though I did contemplate on putting Boulevard of Broken Dreams on here, I definitely think this song called out all the posers.
1. "Welcome to the Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance
This song, this ANTHEM, is one hundred percent, unarguably number one. This is a bop, a jam, an example of perfect music. Any person who has ever identified as scene, goth, or emo cannot deny that when that G-note drops, you feel the transformation back into that angsty tween. Nothing will ever be more disappointing then when MCR posted on their twitter, inspiring the hope for a reunion, only to later say it was for an anniversary album. Rest in peace MCR, we will always be apart of the Black Parade.
