What were you doing in the early 2000’s? If you were like me, you’d have been into emo music. Music made in this era was emotional (emo) and included ballads, but not forgetting screaming lyrics and heavy guitars. Most people who were into the bands listed below, dressed a certain way, lived a certain way, and loved a certain way. Black skinny jeans, black hair, converse shoes and band shirts are what you’d find me in back in those days, ahh the memories. Now 20 years later, I still thrash these bands and specific songs on Spotify. If you don’t know these songs, I suggest you log on to Spotify now and check them out! You won’t regret it!
10.Taking Back Sunday - Cute Without The ‘E’ (Tell all Your Friends) 2002
Cute Without The “E” is an energetic and nostalgic song about romance and the meaning behind the song is a pretty clear one to anyone who likes to mosh along to emo songs. Adam and Antonio write how it is extremely hard to accept when a relationship comes to an end as people tend to take so much to heart especially when they are young. This song is from Taking Back Sunday’s 2002 album “Tell All Your Friends”. It is a strong and emotional song that easily makes it in to the top 10 of Greatest Emo Songs of All time especially knowing it has almost hit 120Million streams on Spotify, it’s definitely a favourite. (119,891,720 streams on Spotify)
9. Sleeping with Sirens - If You Can’t Hang (Lets Cheers to This) 2011
Sleeping with Sirens come along in 9th spot with “If You Can’t Hang” from their 2011 album, ‘Let’s Cheer to This’ with over 112Million streams on Spotify it is easy to see how this song would make it on to this list. Kellin Quinn sings about since the age of 17 he has been in unfaithful relationships and he desperately wants a genuine relationship, and this is something he is finding increasingly hard. This is a relatable track with powerful gritty tones and emotional undertones, definitely a fav. (112,479,416 streams on Spotify)
8. Paramore – crushcrushcrush (Riot!) 2007
Hailey Williams’ voice is smooth with melodic qualities and this song “crushcrushcrush” is an iconic addition to this list coming in at number 8. The song references a crush that Hailey has, and she just wants some alone time with him, but the guy acts two ways around her and around his friends. She is basically saying that she’s fed up with the mixed messages, the song is an anthem for the emo scene and given it has over 152Million streams on Spotify, it’s apparent the fans feel the same way at times and can definitely relate. (152,846,743 streams on Spotify)
7. Fall Out Boy – Grand Theft Autumn/Where is Your Boy (Take This to Your Grave) 2003
Fall Out Boy brought out the album ‘Take This to Your Grave’ in 2003 right in the hype of emo music. Another track relating to relationships but this one is a relationship Patrick Stump wishes he could have with a person who is in a toxic relationship, and she can’t see it. He wants to be the one she needs, not the boyfriend and this makes “Grand Theft Autumn/Where is Your Boy” an iconic song that many would relate to. 60Million Streams can attest to this. (60,622,649 streams on Spotify)
6. Thrice – Artist in the Ambulance (Artist in The Ambulance) 2003
Thrice come in strong with this song “Artist in the Ambulance” from 2003 off the album with the same name, which is a powerful gritty fast paced melodic hardcore song. Maybe not the traditional emo song, it was one of the favourites from its time in the emo scene. The song portrays the responsibility of an artist to want to make changes with bettering themselves whilst sharing their passions with fans, ultimately reaching millions of people with their music. (37,384,993 streams on Spotify)
5. Matchbook Romance – Promise (Stories and Alibies) 2003
Matchbook Romance brought out “Stories and Alibies” in 2003 and although this is one of my favourites, it hasn’t had as many streams as others coming in at over 3Million streams. This is a melodic song that have harmonies for days. It is another song about ending relationships and wishing they could overcome their issues and obstacles and just, be in love but losing everything when they lose the person they love. (3,698,222 streams on Spotify)
4. My Chemical Romance – Helena (Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge) 2004
A best of Emo songs would not be complete without a song from My Chemical Romance. “Three Years for Sweet Revenge” was their claim to fame, and they were heavily noticed in the emo world after this album. It was hard to pick one song from this album, but ‘Helena’ resonated with me the most. This song was written for singer Gerard’s grandmother who was a huge supporter of his music. Gerard misses her so much, he'd do anything to get her back again and he is angry for her leaving because no matter what he says, it won’t bring her back. Death and loss are something people relate to and with almost 250Million streams on this song, it is proof this song resonated with not only me, but with others. (249,580,066 streams on Spotify)
3. The Used – Yesterday’s Feelings (In Love and Death) 2004
Another classic emo band, The Used, rose to fame in 2002 with their self-titled album, “The Used”. Their third album “In Love and Death” brought out in 2004 included ‘Yesterday’s Feeling’ even though it wasn’t the most popular song on the album, only having almost 4Million streams, it was a favourite of mine as its message was loudly expressing disconnecting temporarily from reality whilst dwelling on the past. (3,648,468 streams on Spotify)
2. Funeral for a Friend – Your Revolution Is a Joke (Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation) 2003
Making it into the number 2 spot is a special favourite of mine, ‘Your Revolution Is a Joke’ by UK group, Funeral For A Friend from their album Casually Dressed and Deep Conversation. This song is about people realising they are powerless to change the problems facing the world and in turn rejecting the lies spread by the media. This song wasn’t a huge hit for the band compared to others, but the melodic undertones and harmonies drew me in straight away. The song has almost 1Million streams on Spotify. (991,015 streams on Spotify)
1. Mayday Parade – Miserable at Best (A Lesson in Romantics) 2007
The number 1 spot is saved for my favourite emo song of the early 2000’s. ‘Miserable at Best’ by Mayday Parade from their 2007 album, “A Lesson in Romantics”. This piano ballad features two singers harmonising the way they do beautifully. The song itself is very emotionally driven with the guy in the song asking for some space from his girl only to find out once she gives him space that it was the worst mistake of his life. He needed this girl and now it’s too late. The emotions felt when hearing this song are relatable to the audience and has definitely made me shed a tear or two. (76,493,262 streams on Spotify)
Spotify, 2022, Spotify, streaming audio, 8 April, Spotify.
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