For years, music listeners have debated one question – what does emo actually mean? Now, blink-182‘s Mark Hoppus is finally putting an end to the debate once and for all.
This week, the frontman shared his thoughts on what emo actually means and the internet has a lot of thoughts.
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Particularly in music culture, the term “emo” has always been debated. As an example, Frank Iero has previously talked about what he thinks emo and emo music actually means. While on the Zach Sang Show in 2019, the My Chemical Romance member shared that the term has been used so many different ways that it’s hard to know these days.
“I think it has been so bastardized and diluted that I don’t even know what it means anymore,” he says. “I think that it started out as short for emotional. When you use it now to just describe a shitty haircut like that sucks. I feel like a lot of bullshit got lumped into this term and that’s why I think people really rebelled against it.”
For blink-182 especially, fans have often wondered if the band is considered emo or if they fall under the punk rock genre. There’s even a long Reddit thread of fans discussing the concept.
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is blink emo? from r/Blink182
Now, Hoppus is putting the debate to rest. This week, he took to Twitter to share his own definition of emo.
“Emo was built on one simple principle: It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to.”
Emo was built on one simple principle: It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to.
— mark of the beast (@markhoppus) October 12, 2020
The tweet is, of course, in reference to Lesley Gore‘s iconic song “It’s My Party.” However, fans still have a lot of thoughts about Hoppus’ tweet.
— Christaps Slozingis (@chrisslocombe) October 12, 2020
You’re not punk, and i’m telling everyone
— Matt (@GeraltOfPhilly) October 12, 2020
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That’s a big mood
— Pumpkin Queen🎃✨ (@rxcklxssbands) October 12, 2020
Emo is blink-182, but make it more sad
— Logan The Zombie Boy Thingy (@loganchittyHP) October 12, 2020
Hoppus’ tweet comes just days after the New York Times officially defined “emo band” as Taking Back Sunday and Dashboard Confessional. The two bands were used as the definition of the term in a recent crossword puzzle.
Ok, so it’s emo band. Which means according to The NY Times, Dashboard and us are literally the definition of emo.
— JHN NLN (@JohnNolanMusic) October 9, 2020
While you continue to figure out what emo actually means these days, you can stream blink-182’s “Emo” below.
Do you agree with Mark Hoppus’ definition of emo? What do you think emo really means today? Let us know in the comments below.
