Q: Since when did I get so "emo"?

Let's hear it for America's Suitehearts
I must confess
I'm in love with my own sins

A:

I'm currently in an "emo music" (if we want to use judgmental superficial labels) phase. It's strange; I've liked Fall Out Boy since high school (Sugar, We're Going Down, to be specific) and The Academy Is and Panic At the Disco came to my attention in college, but I've never been majorly obsessed or anything. These days, my playlists consist of little else (besides some holiday music, but even that can be "emo" -- see A Punk Rock Christmas).

Admittedly, it doesn't always feel good to share the same music tastes as high school *fangirls*, but whatever. I went to the TAI concert, and no matter what anybody says, from a muscial point of view their performance was spot-on. Not to mention their intense connection with the audience. The show was so exhilirating, and I will always proudly call myself a devoted fan.

And the new FOB album, Folie à Deux (which basically means f*cking en français, by the way), undeniably shows off their musical prowess. I'm sorry, but there is no way you can contest the fact that Patrick, the lead singer, has an extraordinary voice, no matter your views on the song melodies themselves. Personally, I find the lyrics refreshingly introspective as well.

I guess I'm trying to say that for the moment, this is the type of music I like, and I will never really understand why people say that this is so "typically emo." Because I don't see anything "typical" about these particular bands or songs. Just listen to them; not all of the songs are about being sad and hating life, and if a few of them are, so what? Haven't you ever felt that way before? Maybe you don't need music to help you deal during those times, but don't try to undercut those of us who do.

Besides, I'm sure that eventually, I'll listen to other music. For now, I'm just reveling in the exploration, kind of like when I discovered Asian pop via Jay Chou.

~

these are the trials of our youth

On a different note, I had an interesting conversation yesterday that shed some light into a lot of aspects of gender/sexuality issues I've been going through in my head ever since first year. (for example: why use gender neutral pronouns? I mean, if you are born a girl and want to be a guy, wouldn't you just want to be called "he" instead of some awkwardly constructed ambivalent pronoun? etc.) Some things I won't ever understand on a personal level (yeah, I might have body/self-esteem issues, but I've never felt the urge to identify as anything other than female), but it really felt good to ask questions and have them answered by someone who didn't seem offended or hurt at all, which was my main concern.

If only everybody could be so non-judgmental, on both sides of the spectrum.

these are the fast times