I remember hearing the word "emo" the first time when I was maybe 12. The guy spat it out of his mouth like being emo was the worst possible thing in the world. He was talking about a band I liked... but he was a tool and he smelled bad, so I decided not to pay too much attention.

Since then I haven't really cared if someone dubs a band I like emo. No one seems to agree on what it means anyway.

Well, now it's simple! There's a website that will tell you if a band is emo or not. And It's gotta be correct! Because as we all know, the internet doesn't lie. Ever.

The website is simply called "Is this band emo?"

I typed in Dashboard Confessional, knowing full well what the answer would be.

And yep: "Yes, hands down, yes" was the answer. See what they did there?

How about Blink-182? "Sorry. To anyone over 30 they are pop-punk".

Taking Back Sunday? Yes. "I can see you shaking your head. It's ok."

As you may have guessed, Metallica and Slayer are not emo. (But if you ask isthisbandemo.com if Slayer is emo, it will play you this video of a cat watching Slayer.)

They don't have all the answers though. For some bands you'll get a message that it's not in the system, and they have to check with the emo council...

The website is pretty fun to play around with, though I am not sure how the "emo council" determines their answers.

There's probably a scientific formula for determining what's emo... Or it's just a matter of opinion. As l I said, no ever ever seems to agree on exactly what emo is.

Here's some definitions of "emo" from contributors at Urban Dictionary:

Punk music on estrogen. Often acoustic guitar with soft, high male vocals (user Pureblarney)

Like a Goth, only much less dark and much more Harry Potter. (user Lockesly)

In the early 90s there was a movement in the hardcore genre that came to be known as "Emotive Hardcore," spearheaded by Rites Of Spring. Harder-core-than-thou kids, who swore by Dischord Records a la Minor Threat, actually coined the term "Emo" as something of a put-down for the kids who really liked Rites Of Spring, Indian Summer and this new wave of "Emotive" Hardcore bands. (user Chelsea)

 

a type of guitar-based music developed from emocore but having a softer, pop or mainstream sound.

And there's about a billion more on the internet.

So yeah, anyway. Here's what I do know: I like the kind of music I like, no matter who calls it what.  And everyone else is free to do the same. This website is pretty fun though.

Oh. And that kid from when I was 12 is a dick.

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