“No one gets muscles by watching ME lift weights”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Song: I’d Do Anything by Simple Plan
Article: The Rise of Emo Nostalgia by Jia Talentino
Thought: So there’s a TikTok/IG trend with the song “Teenage Dirtbag” in the background where you show yourself now and then as a teen. Over the last month, I’ve been to a couple very emo (sub genre of punk-pop from the 00s) bands live. So fun but a reminder of the emotional casserole of teenage angst.
Emo music expresses everything with a dramatic take. The girls are unforgettable and you’ll never get over them. Your parents are assholes who know nothing and can’t possibly understand what your going through. Your friends will fight for you and be there forever. The drugs, alcohol, and parties free your mind and body from the oppression of the man.
I still love this music but not the unrealistic thoughts it produces – girls leave and you move on; your parents probably aren’t totally dumb; your friends will change; alcohol doesn’t free you from anything. Being emo wells up in me a lack of autonomy and victimhood. It says “this is all being done to me and I have no control/responsibility.” The temporary escape is okay but not the mindset. Thinking that too long steals away my accountability. It’s okay to listen to music that gives you the feels – but it’s not a fairy tale or nightmare representing everything.
Lately, I’ve been too focused on other’s actions and minimizing the role I play. So I’m a work in progress for better boundaries. I will always be an emo kid but hopefully never a teenage dirtbag again.