Anger at Daily Mail’s Latest Attack on Emo’s and My Chemical Romance

That’s it! No more! I have had enough of the Daily Mail spreading nothing but assumptions, hypocrisy, exaggerations, and above all - lies. They’ve done it in the past in 2006 with this equally disgraceful article on Emo and Goth culture. This article labels Green Day as Emo (yes, again) and uses a picture of Helen Flanagan to show what a Goth should look like. But apparently these dimwit reporters haven’t learned a thing, despite a massive outrage at the time. Well, what are they doing (again) exactly? Read on.

Last year, Hannah Bond committed suicide, and the press - predominantly the Daily Mail, has now pointed the blame finger squarely at My Chemical Romance. According to the Daily Mail it is somehow their fault that the music they created had such an effect on the 13 year old, it influenced her death. What utter bollocks.

It’s terribly tragic that Hannah decided to do this to herself, but why the need to assign blame (8 months later) on ONE band is unfathomable. Below is a breakdown of the Mail’s report, and for those who may not be aware of My Chemical Romance or other such ‘Emo’ bands, I’ve tried to explain the below quotes rationally, and why this article has infuriated so many people up and down the country. I myself am not an Emo, but I do appreciate some of the music, including MCR, as with many other genres, so I do know my stuff.

“One of the foremost of these “suicide cult” bands is My Chemical Romance, from New Jersey.”
Suicide cult bands? Can the Mail please offer any evidence or proof that MCR are in any way encouraging or condoning suicide? Their music is open to interpretation of course, but to me it is generally quite positive and does not in any way say that death is a good thing, or that it should be glamorised. But because lyrics are about dying the Mail as usual wrongly assumes that it must be depressing, when in fact the songs are saying messages like don’t give up, carry on, and stand up and be strong in hard times.

“Music plays a critical role…American bands such as My Chemical Romance, Good Charlotte and Blink 182 are particular favourites.”
True, music is a big part of being Emo along with the dressing and styling. Naming the above bands as Emo however is completely unfair and ridiculous. It’s obvious to anyone that has heard these bands that they are not even remotely Emo. MCR may dress in some way Emo, but lyrics are the opposite - more on that later. Good Charlotte are Pop/Punk at best, not taking themselves seriously and generally being positive about their previously downtrodden lives. One video has them at an Old People’s Home messing around. Blink 182 were even more upbeat, silly and less serious than Good Charlotte. See below.

This is Blink-182. Do they look miserable or suicidal? No, so if you are going to pinpoint or highlight particular bands as Emo, at least do some research and not look at the first names that are listed on Wikipedia.

“My Chemical Romance made it to No.1 in the UK chart with Welcome To The Black Parade in October 2006 - the ‘black parade’ is a place where all Emo’s believe they will go when they die”
I actually had myself laughing in stitches over this one. Have you ever heard such a ridiculous statement in your life? They talk about being Emo like it is a religion or something. The Black Parade is a song about a person accepting death, remembering the happiest time of his life (a parade when he was young) which is comforting to him. The song is quite upbeat and is fundamentally about not letting death get you down, and simply because the lyrics are about dying, the article immediately assumes it must be depressing and somehow encouraging suicide.

Words are thrown around like cult, and underground society, as if Emo is some sort of dark religion when it’s just a genre of music. It’s fans have their own styles and tastes, just as varied as any other branch of music.

Finally, an excellent quote from someone who wrote into the Daily Mail;

“Yes, it’s tragic that this young girl has lost her life, but attaching blame to a phenomenon that reflects the depression - not causes it, is senseless.”

Kerrang! magazine this week had a full page spread of letters sent in by people who are angry at the unjustified attacks on MCR and Emo’s by the media. Funnily enough, they make much more sense than the Mail does. Some are highlighted below;

“…pointed out that people had been killing themselves long before My Chemical Romance were even born”

“MCR and other such ‘emo’ bands do not condone self harm, their music is used to bring people together and help them through tough times, to make them feel happy when they are down and show them they are not alone. Suicide is not the answer and the bands have said this themselves. Music is an escape, not the reason to hang yourself.”

“it is appalling that they have decided to target ONE band over this issue. To say that MCR have in any way encouraged it is absolutely ridiculous. Have they ever actually listened to the lyrics?”

Exactly. In another song of the album, lyrics such as “I am not afraid to keep on living, I am not afraid to walk this world alone” are very powerful and surely promote life and for the Mail to highlight one song, of one album, by one band, is not only unprofessional but misinformed and inaccurate as well. The country-wide anger that the articles on the Daily Mail website have generated must show just how wrong and stupid these narrow minded reporters are. They always need a scapegoat and this time it is Emo. How long is it before they blame rap or R&B music for gun crime, teenage pregnancy and violence. What, they already did…?

If you feel the same, or can explain the Mail’s reasoning, please leave a comment so I can understand. The way I see it, the Mail has done this all before and I am getting very fucking sick of it. Good god, Daily Mail reporters please do some research in the future, you feckless, overpaid, halfwits.