Please define emo?

Question

Much like the last question I asked I am interested in gathering perspective. I see a lot of "you don't know what emo is" and I'll admit it's true. I know who it used to refer to, but obviously things have changed. I am genuinely interested in having a better understanding, and am curious about friendly and valid discussion on the topic.
Thanks.

To Someone Who Cares, thanks for the answer. I could actually hear my friend Daniel saying that in my head as I read it. Made me laugh.

Answer 1

despite what most kids seem to think, "emo" is short for emotional hardcore. the concept that "emo" is simply emotional is asinine; ALL music has emotion in it, therefore by that definition, it would all be emo.

the sub-genre branched off from hardcore and was started in Washington D.C. the pioneering bands that are generally credited with creating the style are Rites of Spring and Embrace. modern bands would be groups like Shai Hulud and pg. 99, two excellent bands. My Chemical Romance, Hawthorne Heights, etc., are not emo bands no matter what most teenagers think/say.

but I treat emo like I do any other sub-genre of rock: if it's on the radio, it is not _____ (insert style here), be it punk, emo, gothic, etc. simply put, these genres came about in the underground and the sound on MTV and other mainstream media outlets is an altered, watered-down version of the purest form as found in the local/independent scene. you want real punk? real gothic? real emo? go look in your brother's friend's basement or garage.

Answer 2

Emo means emotional. In emo music it means emotional metal. Emo has been around for about 15 years but was not widely known until the recent uprising of bands like funeral for a friend and him. Emo is just a genre of music its not a cult, not everyone who likes emo music is a self harmer. It just gets bad press from ignorant people

Answer 3

Just like goth, there is multiple meanings of emo. There is the kind of music, which really isn't like the other emo at all, and there is the stereotype emo, the kind of person that is, well emo. You know what I'm talking about.

I think you should specify which kind of emo you talk about whenever you say something so you don't get overrun by definition Nazi's.

Answer 4

Emo may refer to:

In music:

Emo (music), a genre of rock music
Emo (slang), a slang term used to describe a wide range of fashion styles and attitudes somewhat affiliated with emo music
Emo (album), an album by Screeching Weasel
"Emo", a song by Blink-182 from their Dude Ranch album
In business:

Emo (oil), an Irish oil company and filling station chain
Media:

Hope is Emo, a satirical internet video podcast about an emo girl named Hope
Art:

Emo poetry, a style of poetry
Places:

Emo, County Laois, a town in the Republic of Ireland
Emo, Ontario, a town in Canada
Emo Speedway, a racetrack in Emo, Ontario
Emo's, a nightclub in Austin, Texas
Villa Emo, a 16th century villa by Andrea Palladio
People:

Emo Philips, an American stand-up comedian
Eric Moulds, wide receiver for the Houston Texans (formerly Buffalo Bills) (fan slang)
Keith Emerson, famed British keyboardist/pianist
Emo, a character in the movie Elephants Dream
EMO may stand for:

An abbreviation of given names like Emil and Emanuel
East Moriches, New York, a town in the United States, sometimes abbreviated to "EMO"
Electronic Money Order, a type of online currency, or eCurrency
Emergency Measures Organization, an agency of Canadian provincial government responsible for emergency preparedness
Emergency Machine-Off operation, more commonly referred to as an Emergency Power-Off
Extra Man Opportunity, a synonym for a lacrosse or hockey power play
Ericsson Mobile Organizer, a mobile (push) e-mail solution available on most popular phones
Educational Management Organization

Answer 5

It WAS a kind of music. EMOtional. Punkish with meaning. But then the little 12 year olds decided it was a fashion statement, so they dress punkish but have hair over their eyes and claim they cry a lot and cut themselves. Or something.
It really was a kind of music. Good music too. Until it became mainstream :-/ Now everyone and everything is "emo" and its lost its goodness.

Answer 6

an emo person is usually very skinny, has long hair over the ears and in the back, wears tight jeans and colored t shirts and usually wear baseball caps that say John Deere on them or something stupid.

as far as a female emo person, I dont know.

Answer 7

Emo=emotional. Kids that listen to "emo" music are emo kids. Usually misunderstood, outcasts I guess. Emo music is like sad punk music? Hmmm...hard to explain. Go listen to AFI.

Answer 8

it's a genre of music and a lifestyle that certain freaks have. Just because you listen to fallout boy or my chemical romance doesn't make you emo.

Answer 9

Emotional

Answer 10

i'm going to read the answers you get because i have no clue as to what,who,when emo is! he must be pretty dam popular though cause thats all i read about is this emo thing.