What first comes to mind when you hear emo? My Chemical Romance? The Used? Suicidal kids with black hair covering their face? The truth is, none of those have to do with emo.
First Wave (80s)
Emo originated in the mid-80s from hardcore punk (Black Flag? Bad Brains? Minor Threat?) as a more personal alternative than the mostly political lyrics found in hardcore (Example of emo lyrics - Rites Of Spring's All There Is). Most use the terms emo-core or emotive hardcore to describe this period referring to its roots in hardcore.
Important bands - Fugazi, Rites of Spring, and Embrace.
Second Wave/Screamo (90s)
Somewhere along the way, during the 90s, emo took a more indie approach, with music that was usually softer, more melodic and sometimes slower. Also, during the 90s, screamo was born, which usually sounded somewhere between emo and hardcore. Typically, screamo bands kept the yelled/screamed vocals found in hardcore, but with more melodic instrumental parts, like in emo.
Important bands - Sunny Day Real Estate, Saetia.
Third Wave (00s)
Before the 2000s, most of the original emo had disbanded and many bands appeared who, although had no musical similarities to previous emo bands, were miscategorized as emo anyways. Some of these bands include: Fall Out Boy, From First To Last, AFI, My Chemical Romance, and The Used. Typically, if someone labels a band as emo, they probably arent.
Important bands - Thursday, Jimmy Eat World, Further Seems Forever, A Day In The Life.
So there you have it. A short history of emo music. No "whiny teenagers who cry and cut themselves". How emo came to describe them, I have no idea..
