Originally written July 12th, 2006

This article, although fairly dated by now still features some interesting thoughts I had at the time and I have updated this article slightly specially for view on Conviction Conjunction. Here’s a self proclaimed logical retort on all the critics of the new age “emo”, “emotional”, “screamo”, or otherwise hardcore music. It starts like this:

Get off your throne of intolerance and take a look at what emotional music actually is. The term “emo” in terms of music is actually a fallacy within itself. What music isn’t emotional? Every song should have some type of emotional response on the artist or on the listener, otherwise the “artist” hasn’t really done their job? That’s why they are called artists. Think about any song, then think about how that makes you feel, that’s an emotion tough guy. Okay let’s move on…

You might be saying well, all emo music is gloomy, depressing and only deals with the bad things about life. Sure the trend may be set that way. But artists do what works, what corresponds with the current trends of today, otherwise we would never had “eras” of different music. Although, in contemplation I think we as a musical culture are getting very diverse in that aspect. Think about the 70’s. What do you think of when you ponder on the music from that era? Disco and rock and roll probably come to mind. What about the 80’s? Lot’s of pop rock, synthesizers and hair metal. What about lately? Hmmmm… rap is pretty big, there’s lots of dance music, lots of techno, brit pop is also very “in” right now, emo is slowly dying off but still in the race or evolving into something new. But sure, emo music was definitely a big part of the 2000’s and LOTS of bands capitalized off that.

In a phrase to cut these lips: emotional music if anything is more real than any other music (spoken like a true emo). We have all been hurt, we have all shed pain. Why can’t these ideals have their own soundtrack? What right do you have to listen to Shikira and say that emo music is too depressing. Shikira’s songs, like a lot of other popular dance artists are driven on other (although quite relative) emotions. All music is emo, all music is emotional. We are are humans, we have emotions, why try so desperately to cover them up? Nihilists i’m looking at you… naw just joking.

That’s another thing, the emo music scene itself also contains another misclassification called “emos” who are the people that listen emo music. Emo people listening to emo music. Can anybody say blatant over exaggerated generalization? I mean, we don’t call people that listen to power metal, “power metals”, or what about rap, we even refer to them as “rappers” or “gangsters”, definitely not “raps”. Why aren’t the people that go to rave clubs called emos? I mean, they are happy, they are always signing and dancing (usually under the influence, but besides the point). Last time I checked happiness was an emotion, which “emo” is supposedly short for.

Hate the scene, hate the music, you’re only driving closer to the ideals and stereotypical notions you applied to what is emo. Hypocrite.

Note: My views and opinion on things have changed since writing this in 2006.

Originally written July 6th, 2006

As a kid, I was always questioning things; I was and still am a very curious person. Faith and religion were one thing (or two things) that I never questioned because my mother told me that’s how it was, and I had no reason to think otherwise. I grew older and seen how wrong that ideology actually was. There in fact was a reason to think otherwise and in fact my religion: christianity was not the only religion out there to my surprise. I later learned that Christianity was not the oldest and definitely not the most plausible or logical to me anymore.

I grew a little more and realized that all organized religion had no bearing in my life, and had nothing to offer me. I chose not to live my life based on faith and hope. I chose to live life realistically, questioning, scientifically, rationally, and most important, logically. I continued to keep the idea of “God” in the back of my mind however. I still “prayed” when I wanted something to happen, or wanted something not to happen. That’s the way i was told to help solve my life problems. Although it did comfort me, it was obviously worthless, as it never solved anything, it maybe even had a negative effect on the situation. Later, I chose to ditch the idea all together.

I then discovered that I was now grouped in a category named atheists. But my questioning mind didn’t stop there. I then tried to question, well, how did we all get here? How did this all start? Although I believe in what modern science and physics has proven about the Big Bang, the universe itself, and evolution, there still remains the lingering question: Well then what is the meaning of life?

I then realized this is why there is religion and faith in the first place. This question cannot be answered, so we have to invoke spiritual deities and other pseudo higher powers to instill us with some comfort and reassurance that this life is meaningful. But I then realized this isn’t an answer, it’s a blindfold, it’s just an excuse to cover up the question itself.

The fact is that this life on this planet has all been formed by a chain of events that lead to the eventual creation of atmosphere and sustainable life. Scientifically it all makes sense. But pseudo scientists (usually backed with their own religious agenda) continue to force beliefs on the general public that make no sense. Our universe is so vast, so huge that we don’t even know how big, or how vast it really is, not for sure anyways. There is at least another 200 billion galaxies besides ours. Why limit yourself to the idea that a God created us, and only us. There is other life forms out there, maybe wondering the same thing we are.

Now I am grouped into a generalization called “nihilist”. Before I even knew what nihilism was, I was already executing the chain to this belief since childhood. I am fine with this. Even though my life is bleak, and meaningless by nature, I am no longer blind, I have no force controlling my life. I am free to do whatever I want with my limited time.