My Chemical Romance fans: Put your minds to it, knuckle down, buckle down, do it, do it, do it!
Blogcritics' groovy Retro Music Chick wrote a pointed little satire a week ago called "Teen Suicide - What's Stopping You?" It focused specifically on the music and personae of Gerard Way and My Chemical Romance and their grand crusade to provide the voice and courage to the afflicted and misunderstood teenagers who go around cutting themselves. Message boards and Gerard Way will tell you their music has help snatch back countless teens from the edge of suicide. Retro Music Chick ain't buying it.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - allen
A wise man once said to me, "An artist is a 'sellout' the moment they accept money for their art."
Not a very wise man...are they supposed to do what they love without making a living from it? Just because they're an "artist"?
27 - Michael J. West
are they supposed to do what they love without making a living from it? Just because they're an "artist"?
Why not? Most people do. They call them "hobbies."
28 - allen
So, Micahel, you're saying that any professional artist...someone who does this full time...is a sellout because they make money from it?
I think comment 24 made a good point on this...the band started this out as a "hobby," but happened to gain exposure from fans and people like you who would argue until you turn blue. Cheers to them for making money and not being cocky about it.
29 - Michael J. West
So, Micahel, you're saying that any professional artist...someone who does this full time...is a sellout because they make money from it?
Yes.
I should note that I don't necessarily consider "sellout" a bad thing. If you can make money doing what you love, more power to ya and congratulations on making it. Just be honest with yourself about it: if you sell your art for money, you are an entrepreneur, selling a product, to consumers.
30 - Claire
I can't believe the narrow mindedness of the author of this article. Have they been to an MCR concert? If they had they would know that MCR do not promote self harm. In fact Gerard and the guys actively promote the need for anyone with suicidal tendancies to seek help and talk to someone. They do this because they really care about their fans and also because they have 'been there' so they are speaking from experience. I'm a 39 year old mother of 3 and grandma to one who loves everything about the band. Their music has helped me through some very bad times over the last 4 years or so and for this I thank them.
31 - jimmy
'It has gotten a lot of predictable indignant responses from cheesed off MCR fans, most of them in typically illiterate teenage chat room style - like we're even supposed to consider the opinions of folks who aren't serious enough about their thoughts to at least attempt writing a legible sentence.'
that is ridiculus. the person who wrote this article obviosly has no understanding of the culture of teenage youths. Your 'illiterate' teenagers are simply shortening their speeches to stuff like 'u' instead of you'. I can imagine you as the kind of parent (if you are one) as a one who doesnt let his child on the internet without permission, and does not listen to their protests that they would like to wear a different style of clothing from common society, saying it is not 'normal'
try looking up your facts
32 - Proud to be Fifteen Year Old Girl, so get over it.
*reads your article*
*yawns*
By the way, your stab about the fans not writing legibly? The grammatical errors in RMC's article just as bad as any universally accepted chat-speak.
She has really bland (not "bad" but yes, bland) taste in music too. The only real highlight was The Banshees. But whose to say Morrissey or they did not exploit anyone?
Though I do hate people who use "depression" to get attention. Fuckers don't even know what depression really is.
*goes back to sleep*
33 - J.J. Hunsecker
"Those who engage in attention-getting behavior are trying to get someone's attention."
Exactly, this guy is just glomming off the other author because he saw how many comments she got and apparently his bereft of an original idea.
MCR fans don't get upset and respond because that's the author's sole purpose in needling you. He just wants to start a flame war. If you really want to get strike back, just ignore him.
34 - Joe Harris
The original article was genius. Thank you for putting the clarifying cherry on top for all those half-wits.
35 - gmar
that article was totally wrong i love mcr and i am not planning to kill myself any time soon there music is rocking good stuff and just awsome to listen to theres nothing depressing and morbid about it listen to the words properely and you might understand the message they are putting across i dont think they are fake or commercial just a bloody good band and a style about them let them dress in black its hot gerard is so talented and gourgous leave the band alone and listen to something else if you dont like them!!!!!!!!!!! i wouldent normally even respond to an article like that but couldnt help thinking what a moron.
36 - Al Barger
Joe Harris - Thank you for your kind words. Again, I was trying to carefully lose my regular sideways creative expressive styles of writing to be as bone dry and straight forward as possible, so as to minimize the chance of being misunderstood, accidentally anyway. And yet it happens.
Personally, I blame the public schools for the basic problem in this comment thread, as well as in the RMC thread connected. The schools do such a poor job in teaching even basic reading comprehension that deciphering my simple declarative sentences seems to be beyond them.
How many versions are there in this thread of saying that the author is wrong, because this fan has no plans to kill himself and the band does not promote killing yourself? How far off is that from what I actually said? How could you POSSIBLY get that out of what I wrote?
Again, my point was exactly that I don't think very many MCR fans are truly suicidal. The first clue should have been in the very TITLE of the piece, where I carefully put the word "suicidal" in quotes. No, I don't think most MCR fans are particularly suicidal - but I do observe that a pretty fair percentage of them are MAJOR drama queens.
And of course the band doesn't want their fans to kill themselves. Who would buy their records and t-shirts?
Besides which, I never said MCR were monsters. In fact, if you read closely, I mostly more or less defended them. I don't buy their shtick, but they've got at least a couple of good songs.
I was jamming down the highway, with MCR and Roger Miller back to back this afternoon, which is funny cause Miller's light touch cuts so perfectly through the MCR drama queen effect.
Which is not to say that "Welcome to the Black Parade" is not a fine little song. But some of it is SO overreaching "Son when you grow up, will you be the saviour of the broken, the beaten and the damned?" Oh. My. God.
In fairness though, being the leader of the black parade is lyrically not much further reaching than Johnny Cash's famous "Man in Black" song. That's a little cheesy too. Johnny got, earned, some slack, cause he wrote "Folsom Prison Blues" among others.
But really just between those two songs, "Welcome to the Black Parade" probably rates at least as good as the specific song "Man in Black." I'll have to put them together sometime.
37 - Muddie
The only thing more scene than emo is emo-bashing.
38 - kickmekikea_stray
I'd like to say first of all i'm not A teenager i'm A 38 mom, And I LOVE MCR! To who it may concern, I wonder how old you are. Don't you remember being A teen and having problems?
It's hard being A teenager everyone stereo type's you, people who don't know you seem to be afraid of you just because of your age. I was depressed as A teen, but not because of any band's songs, It was the way I was treated by people,like, A boyfried, parent's, friend's,etc. I have always loved music and I believe music helped me through some rough times. But I wasn't depressed my whole teenage time, I was happy too, the music and good friend's made this possible. Too many adult's give teen's A bad rap and it's not fair. And FYI, the depression rate among adult's is huge.
To Cindy(#22) and The Other(#4) I agree with all your comment's.
MCR is an excellent band, they are the best rock band around right now. They have A great guitar player(Ray) and great song's.
Michael J, I think most band's want to be famous and make money, yea it's A job. As far as "commercially calculated", you don't know much about this band. They might be on A major label now, but their first album wasn't. And it has some good song's on it, and they played/toured their asses off promoting it.
They write their own lyrics and music, so Al and Michael, how can you relate that being "corporate music food product"?
And come on now, comparing MCR to the like's of Pretty Ricky and American Idol. They are A far cry away from being that commercial.
Their music is different and fresh and I love it!
Oh, and how's this for cheesy, MCR's some good eye candy for all us chick's to look at!!!!!
39 - Kate
My Chem likes what they do and does what they like. You have a right to speak your mind, but I'm a classically trained musician and I love them. So, you can't really say they're horrible. There are people who actually like the type of merchandise they sell at places such as Hot Topic. Get this: they're not all goth, and stereotyping like that makes you look stupid.
40 - mcrmum
maybe whoever wrote this crap should go to a mcr show. i took my 15yr old twins and it was fantastic. the band are awesome musicians. they really care about the kids. when some fell over they stopped playing to help them out. these kids are no different to us growing up with sex pistols, buzzcocks etc. maybe you should try to remember what your parents had to say about your taste back then.
41 - KiKi
You quite obviously have absolutely no idea what you are talking about here. Have you even listened to "Headfirst For Halos"? Gerard Way said : "It's about suicide..... don't do it" The song has an upbeat rhythm and at the end of it, it repeats "think happy thoughts"!!
So you can go and fuck yourself!!
42 - Michael J. West
They write their own lyrics and music, so Al and Michael, how can you relate that being "corporate music food product"?
I promise you, the issue of whether they or somebody else writes their lyrics and music is non-corollary. Shania Twain writes her own songs, too. Does that mean she's not corporate music food product?
And come on now, comparing MCR to the like's of Pretty Ricky and American Idol. They are A far cry away from being that commercial.
They're a short hop away from being that commercial. They're on the cover of Spin magazine, for God's sake. The next step is Rolling Stone. Then Entertainment Weekly. Then it's a free-for-all.
43 - kickmelikea_stray
OK, So by your standard's all band's are commercially calculated. Well, we all have different opinion's, and that's fine. We(MCR fan's & other music fan's)will never agree with you & you'll never agree with us.
Life goes on.
Spin and Rolling Stone do cover music of all kind's.
ALL band's do make money from what they do, so what, if you love it you do & if ya don't,ya don't.
Like I said before, MCR did not start out on A major label, they worked hard to get where they are today, so why run on them. MCR also is involved with charities. They have A Tshirt that the profit's go to toy's for tot's and hurricane relief, As well as doing A non proffit cover of the song Under Pressure. This was all done pre Black Parade album too.
I can think of so many band's/singer's that start out on A major label,their first song goes straight to number one, now that IS commercially calculated.
I believe MCR worked to get where they are today and good for them. I love what they do.
Beside's wasn't this blog mainly about teenager's & the problem's with them & suicide? So many people always blame the music for this. That's so wrong,in my opinion anyway.
This whole world is commercial, you need to get over it!
44 - Al Barger
Kickme asks "wasn't this blog mainly about teenager's & the problem's with them & suicide?"
Again, NO it wasn't. That's why the word "suicide" is in quote marks in the title. It's about the minority of goth/emo/MCR fans who carry on with cutting themselves and talking like they're suicidal as a ploy for attention and sympathy.
Also, puh-lease with all the stuff about MCR's good works, like they're altruists just trying to help out society. Nonsense. They're a commercially contrived pop band out to make money - not that there's anything wrong with that, as both Brother West and I have said. We object only to the dishonest posturing of altruism and messiah-hood. ["Son when you grow up, will you be the saviour of the broken, the beaten and the damned?"]
But if they were really mostly concerned with being do-gooders, they wouldn't be in a rock band on a major label. They'd be making like Mother Theresa, working in soup kitchens or hospices. Their pretense of altruism is SHTICK.
45 - Nicolette
Blame it on the music. Say it's a gag to get attention because cutting is the new "cool".
You've obviously never experienced the inner turmoil that My Chemical Romance puts into its music.
I've self-mutilated, I've been suicidal, and it is definitely not as trivial as you're making it out to be.
"This showing off of self-mutilation and threats of suicide is a particularly ugly form of narcissistic attention grabbing. Kids carrying on this way need beaten." Yes, let's solve the problem of self-violence with more violence shall we?
I have met teenyboppers who like MCR because "Gerard Way is like, so hot", but I'm not a teenager and I appreciate them because of what they accomplish musically and because they don't seem to buy into this "cheesy niche marketing".
Instead of directing your diatribe at a band that actually knows how to play an instrument, perhaps you should instead spend your time on the negative effects of Paris Hilton/Nicole Richie/Lindsay Lohan on our society? They're breeding a new generation of teenage whores, after all.
46 - kickmelikea_stray
Love that last paragraph Nicolette, soooo true.
And puh-lease,"messiah-hood",WTF? The line in the song about being the savior of the broken,beaten and damned, is not Gerard talking about himself and all the fan's know this.
So if you work in A soup kitchen that's the only way to be considered A do-gooder? Huh, and I thought those people were just doing their community service.
47 - Al Barger
Kickme, come on now buddy. I like "Welcome to the Black Parade" best of all the MCR I've tracked down, but the messiah shtick is RIGHT THERE. By the song, it's Dad who assigned him the job of being the savior of the broken, beaten, and damned. Traditionally in our culture, that would be JESUS' job, see? So he's kinda moving in on that messiah job.
Nicolette, please do not count me any defender of the likes of Paris Hilton. I think South Park dispatched of the "stupid spoiled whore" perfectly when they left her up Mr Slave's ass. Just the place for her.
Consider that I'm taking My Chemical Romance more seriously as artists worthy of criticism than some purely worthless heiress. Is that making nicer?
48 - just an opinion
"We object only to the dishonest posturing of altruism and messiah-hood. But if they were really mostly concerned with being do-gooders, they wouldn't be in a rock band on a major label. They'd be making like Mother Theresa, working in soup kitchens or hospices. Their pretense of altruism is SHTICK."
They may not be Mother Theresa or work in soup kitchens (or maybe they have), and I'm not saying they are "just trying to help out society," but they do use their money from being a "commercially contrived pop band" to contribute to the following:
1. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
2. .50 cents from the sale of each concert ticket will go to charity
3. Tsunami Relief Fund - from their cover of "Under Pressure"
4. Gerard Way has created artwork to raise money for causes such as the fight against breast cancer.
5. The band created a tshirt to benefit MusiCares and Toys for Tots.
I'm not one to get caught up in all the bickering, but just wanted to list a few things that the guys in MCR have invested their time. Plus, they have talked about using "Cancer" as a charity single where all the proceeds will go to, of course, cancer research. It may not be up to your standards, but I think it's far away from being "dishonest posturing of altruism."
49 - Al Barger
just an opinion - As a student of Ayn Rand, I'm no big fan of altruism, much less expecting it as the basic yardstick of moral worth.
On those counts, I'm not accusing MCR of anything. I haven't seen Gerard Way carrying on like HE thinks that he's Mother Theresa. I'll just say that his fans do him something of a disservice when THEY carry on like he is.
Donating money and art for charity is good. I'll give him a couple of points for good deeds. Just don't way over hype it.
50 - just an opinion
Al:
I agree with you that the younger fans make him out to be a savior, but in their mindset he might really be. Try going back to when you were young and didn't have the knowledge about music that you do now. Was there not a band for you that is equivalent to how MCR is for these kids? Maybe you weren't as extravagant as teenagers nowadays in expressing your loyalty, but I'm pretty sure any music lover has a band that really helped define who they are in their own minds. All these kids know are that you're bashing the band that they happen to look up to...God forbid...and I believe that bickering with them is childish. Let them believe what they want, and like the music they want to. They're just trying to figure out who they are, and apparently this band has made an impact.
51 - Al Barger
Just An Opinion - I am not "bickering" with MCR fans. I'm talking nice, and taking time to actually try to understand their music and gently point them in the right direction, and give them a little bit of a clue of how to think, whatever kind of music they want to listen to.
You suggest essentially just ignoring the MCR fans, but that seems to be exactly the problem for some of them. If their folks were making as much effort to understand and talk to them as I am in just a comment thread to a blog story, I'm guessing there wouldn't be so much acting out.
Also, someone needs to teach these kids basic social skills, like listening and simple civility in conversation. Particularly, if any of these MCR fans think I'm bashing the band, they're just not doing a good job of reading. On the basis of what specific words that I've written would you say I'm "bashing" My Chemical Romance?
In my teenage years, I was pretty partisan toward the Beatles and Elvis Costello. It wouldn't do you much good right today to say anything against Macy Gray or the White Stripes. But even as a high school lad, I wouldn't have just started abusing and cursing someone for criticizing my favorite singer. I was raised better than that.
52 - allen
Thought this might be interesting to read alongside this article:
Click here
53 - anjalene servis
im so fucking tierd of people fucking judging me for me being emo and i just think that yall mother fucking idotes dont have no fucking right to call us suicidal and im so sick of the fucking things people say about it and i know u all have just as much fucking problems than us or you just think u all are so fucking perfect but this is the real fucking world not no fucking farie tale so fuck off
54 - anjalene servis
ps i forgot sorry for spelling
55 - Jennifer
This is getting to be quite ridiculous.
As for comment number 53, please, learn how to spell so people will acknowledge you exist and you may actually get a point across for once.
There is no such thing as an "emo" kid, as I explained earlier.
I suspect I will be hearing feedback.
56 - anjalene servis
look jennifer or how ever u spell it i dont care if i cant spell becuz this is such a stuppid web site yea i check in to see what people have 2 say about this stupid web site and yea u guessed right you r going to get feed back and u have any thing to say to me thensay it andill be getting back with u and there is such things as emo kids and just becuz i cant spall and yes ur right this is getting reddiculuios
57 - 48 year old Goth
Why is Goth considered a YOUTH culture? Doesn't this offend anyone? I mean, it seems as though at least a few people, typically adults who are involved in the culture and don't want it to be described as some silly adolescent phase when they know otherwise, would defend it, although I suppose most people aren't as passionate about it as I am...
58 - Danelle
Ya.. this does piss me off. I'm most likely the origonal Goth / mutant / princess from hell. When I Glam Goth I know that these kids only wish they could order clothes from Bone Yard or Corsets R Us. Besides being Trans and Goth is even more depressing.. but I live through it.. mainly just to see how bad it's gonna get cause.. once.. it was REALLY bad. Mainly I love pissing off stright laced people of all races. I ware black lipstick to work on an occasion as well as getting away with waring the Victorian hi laced, tight - did I mention BLACK - velvet outfits with the lace up granny boots. Oh .. sorry didn't mention the Betty Page / Vampire hair cut. (Black).. How do I get away with it?? Nothing to get away with. I work IT. The company I work for respects diversity.. to the max. They thrive on it.. It's what makes the company it's money. I'll bet you could point this out to your company and maybe just maybe you can live the style as well as talk the style. Goth's (to me) are the new hippy's. The ones who are the true conscience of this society. There really isn't much to be happy about. In reality this world really does suck and if you aren't as good at cutting the other guy's throat (be it being better at programming or quicker at something that will give you an edge) you are in a world of hurt. How to let it out.. Get thee hence to a Goth club and dance and accociate and sceme. Figure out where you can make money and get together with other Goths and make money. Because.. you have to remember the golden rule.. "Those who have the gold.. Make the rules!" Then you can laugh as you crush your enemies beneath your feet! (as it where). Read Tzun Tsu. True Goth isn't just for the young.... and neither is suicide. I love Marylin, Lacuna Coil, Sisters NIN and a lot of the new stuff. It still speaks to the rebelious side of me that will never die. Tell me I can't do something and I'll do it just because.
OK.. Enough of ranting
59 - Phillip Winn
Yeah, it really does seem like every generation thinks they're the first to invent being angry without a good reason. Color me bored.
60 - Brittany
you guys fucking suck MCR is the best fucking band in the entire world i love them and i will never stop loving them you guys are all wrong there music does not make people commit suicide BY THE WAY GERARD WAY IS THE MOST HOTTEST STUD IN THE ENTIRE WORLD SO BACK OFF I"M GONNA BE HIS NEXT WIFE! MCr if your reading this i'm your biggest fan and i love you so much i would do anything for you and Gerard YOU ARE MY IDOL xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo muhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hugz and kizzez I LOVE YOU SO MUCH and i wish you would marry me well bye untill we meet again kiddin im just a total freak about MCR and i was soposeed to go to the concert on sunday the 6th i was so mad and sad when i heard that the band got food poisoning if they were to die i would kill my self thats how much i love them thats alot now ani't it well i give you my heart and i wish you better so i can go see you in concert i love and i will never forget you if you die and who ever killed you i will hunt them down and kill them for you well i love typing about you so it's hard to stop well bye now!!!!!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxooxoxoxoxox <3 :( :) :-P
61 - Brittany
I LOVE YOU MCR AND YOU ARE FUCKING MORONS IF YOU THINK THAT MCR ARE CAUSING KIDS TO COMMIT SUICCIDE SOMEBODY CAN'T MAKE SOMEONE ELSE DO SOMETHING SO IT'S WHAT'S IN THE KIDS MIND THAT'S TELLING HIM THAT I SHOULD KILL MYSELF UNLESS MCR WERE TO KILL THE KID HIMSELF BUT THAT'S ONLY IF BECAUSE I USED TO CUT MYSELF BUT NOBODY CAN MAKE ME DO IT I WATED TO DO IT CAUSE I'M A TROUBLED KID
62 - Amanda
DO U EVEN LISTEN TO ANY MORE THAN LIKE 2 SONGS IFYOU REALLY PAID ATTN. TO THE LYRICS IN THE SONGS THEY TALK ABOUT NOT HURTING YOURSELF AND LOVED ONES,I MAYBE A NEW FAN OF MCR BUT I CAN STILL DEFEND THEM IN SOME OF GERARD'S QUOTES HE TALKS ABOUT BEING SUICIDAL HIMSELF BUT GETTING HELP AND HOW HE WANTS THEIR MUSIC TO SAVE TEENS FROM KILLING THEMSELVES NOT THE OPPOSITE!!!!!!!!!!LISTEN TO SOME OF THEIR SONGS BEFORE YOU JUDGE THEM!!!
63 - Anonymous
Hahaha, I have no idea why I read this article of bogus nonsense. Whoever wrote it needs to get out of the house...maybe he/she will find that there are many teens that care and respect their elders. Where do they get off on judging other people. I read all of these comments and have seen the couple from Al Barger trying to defend himself. Also to Al Barger...just incase you don't already know this and you need to be informed, this is NOT the 1960's anymore, and it hasn't been for 40 years. Styles change every decade, quit dwelling in the past and move on. For all of the people here who do not like MCR: What the hell are you even doing posting comments? Why don't you just fuckoff?
64 - Personal attacks are not allowed. Please read our comment policy.
I agree with "48 year old Goth". Goth is indeed a culture, not anything these adolescents should ruin with their clique nonsense and insecurity-based identity-seeking. I am 52, and while I am not Gothic, I have Gothic neighbors who I frequently visit and have become familiar with the Gothic Culture through. Their appearance and mode of dress is quite 'extreme' and peculiar (especially their makeup). They are often discriminated against, yet unfortunately society mocks them even when they attempt to sue, by denying them the legal protection they deserve as a minority with a low social status. Why is this, you ask? I cannot be certain. Goths obviously do not wish to be perceived of as youthful when they can be perceived as a culture that all people can involve themselves with, yet people refuse to consider Goth as a serious belief system to espouse. It does not resemble a high school clique, and contrary to what many believe, it does not contradict itself.
65 - Old Poncho
This old fool cares.
66 - Tiffany Clemmons
I am, at 30, possibly one of My Chemical Romance's oldest fans. I've seen them live a number of times, and have been fortunate to meet many of their teenaged fans. I've yet to meet anyone who claims to cut themselves, or really anyone who mopes around. Maybe it's different elsewhere, but here (mid-atlantic US) I've only come across high-spirited, grateful, intelligent, kind young people.
I was, until a few years ago, one of those people who secretly cut and drank and starved myself trying to gain control of my downward-spiraling mental state while the rest of the world saw a successful, happy person. There was no good reason for any of it, yet it was beyond my control. There were many factors in my recovery, not the least of which was an introduction to My Chemical Romance.
For those of us who love My Chemical Romance, it is difficult to explain why their music and personality--regardless of being dark, pre-packaged, over-processed, over-produced, and all the other stuff it is accused of--makes us happy. Maybe we feel powerful. Maybe we feel like we have allies. Maybe it's just a lovely distraction from a life that wants us to fit neatly into a pocket of society and stay there in silence. Whatever it is, for some of us, My Chemical Romance and the five young men that comprise it have made all the difference. Let us have that.
67 - Al Barger
Miss Tiffany- Thank you for your heartfelt testimonial. Understanding the world is a process of getting past general ideas to particulars. A lot of the goth/MCR crowd seems pretty cheesy, including some of the particular folks who've been on these MCR threads here at Blogcritics. But YOUR particular testimony puts at least your corner of the scene in a considerably better light.
Note though, that you start out with disclaimers in the first paragraph about not knowing any MCR fans that cut themselves - but that you yourself have such history. So that doesn't do much to dissociate that behavior from MCR fans.
But in any case, I'm happy to let you have that. No one would propose not letting you have it. If MCR speaks to you, then good for you.
68 - Sean Paul Mahoney
My Chemical Romance is goth? That's news to me.
Back in the stone ages (also known as the late 80's), goths were black wearing kids who listened to Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, and other bands not played on the radio. Mainly, being goth was a way to let your angst flag fly. Now, thanks to Hot Topic and boy bands in make-up,"goth" is watered down version of the original.
Having worked at many LA goth nightclubs I always found real goths to be droll, anti-social types with a flair for the dramatic and basically harmless.
69 - LOLZVENOMZINMAIVEINZ
meh.
MCR sucks
they're not philosophical and they're audience is generally turning horseshit into diamonds in relating to their lyrics..
however
who knows if MCR leads to suicide
Cher certain helped me to come out of the closet.
70 - Ck
Wow, generalising is a key sign of ignorance my dear lady, not to mention criticising a set of people who have natural hormonal imbalances and haven't spent as much time on earth as you and hence aren't so knowledgeable.
Although some of the points you made there ring some truth to me and i agree with you - the fact of the matter is whether you choose to discredit a band that has often stood up in concerts against self-harming and suicide - promoting help. If some people are idiots and chose to listen to the music and take literal meaning to the lyrics let them kill themselves.
And don't go attacking morrisey and robert smith - it's kind-of laughable to be honest to have a 40 something woman complain about today's youth and going on about miserable bands on the internet - you should do something productive like them.
Childish though this remark has been - i think you need to question yourself before you do others (although i am very hypocritical here - being on the internet myself)
71 - Ck
oh and as a point - MCR's new album is terrible compared to their first two. And upon reding the rest of your comments i am quite horrified. I have heard of Frank Sinatra as you have of Sonic Youth - an artist's popularity is no longer a sign of their talent (ie. eminem/black eyed peas/fallout boy - terrible, untalented "musicians") so if Frank Sinatra is more popular - surely it can be said that it doesn;t require an aquired taste to enjoy his music.
Anyway - i am sad writing this.
72 - Al Barger
Don't be sad, CK. Come on over and raid MY MUSIC STASH. Perhaps this song from Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers would lift your spirit.
73 - Ebru Batik
My Chemical Romance have, on numerous occassions, explained that they are not an "emo/goth" band. They simply play rock and do not promote self harm. Sure you have mention the song "Bury Me in Black" which was not even released but how about their other song "HeadFirst for Halos" from their first albumn (I bOught you my bullets, you bought me your love) which WAS released and is promoting people to NOT inflict self harm. As the lyrics go;
"Just think happy thoughts"
It is not as if they have lyrics in their songs that say; "KILL YOURSELF, SLIT YOUR WRISTS!!" so how can you presume that that is what they promote? Your assumption of them and what they are about was not fair.
As someone has stated earlier, the band came about after Gerard Ways horrible experience with witnessing the september 11 terrorist attacks.
They do not promote self harm they are simply a rock band. And i believe that Gerard Way is actually someone to look up to because he has been in a deep depression twice but has managed to come out of it. Their music keeps me calm and reserved and i think if it wasnt for them..there would be a lot more teenage suicides than you think.
74 - Al Barger
Ebru- Thank you for your thoughtful comments. However, you're reading me somewhat wrong. I'm not saying that MCR are causing kids to kill themselves. Again, I'm not really trying to harsh on the band. They've got at least a couple of pretty good tunes - whatever genre category you might use to describe them.
Again though, MCR seems to be concocted and marketed in such a manner as to appeal first and foremost to self-indulgent teenagers wanting to wallow in their special exquisite misery - even for kids who mostly really don't got it that bad. I don't intend that as a universal statement about ALL their fans, so take it as an if-the-shoe-fits thing.
I'm not saying that they (or any other music or movie) would "cause" someone to kill themselves. I'm saying that there's a lot of posing and playing up among lots of rich decadent Americans and Europeans (not just fans of certain kinds of music) in our therapy culture who choose to be miserable when they don't need to. They get things out of it - sympathy, indulgence and excuses for f'ing up. It's easier sometimes to get the rewards of luxuriating in exquisite misery than to do anything to actually improve your lot.
But of course different people take things differently. I sometimes listen to NWA and Snoop, but I'm not planning on popping a cap in anyone. If you enjoy MCR and their music helps you, great.
I'd just suggest that if you're unhappy and listening to music you consider what you're getting out of it. Is this music just comfort food? (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) Is this music increasing my chi, fueling me to buck up and be happy, and do something to improve my lot? Or is this sitting around feeling sorry for myself music - at least as it relates to you?
As the saying goes, you are what you eat. That applies to your mind and soul as well as your body.
75 - "suicidal 16 year old teenager"
I am very disgusted by this entire essay. Its actually heart wrenching to read. This band's motto is to save lives. They have time and time again have said that. I DONT understand WHY elder folk are bashing us younger folk by saying that we are killing ourselves becasue of the music. Yes, my chem DOES have a morbid theme to some of thier music BUT its only the photoshoots (WHEN the used to cover themselves in blood) AND the morbid theme is to the imaginative Gerard Way's view of expressing himself as a metaphor. I HIGHLY doubt that these critics take the time to ACTAULLY watch interviews and read the lyrics and understand really what the message that my chem are trying to give. I believe that these critics are being annoyed by these teenagers that happen to like my chem and are just bashing them for the hell of it. I seriously think that these elder folk need to open thier minds and see how my chem is having an impact but for the better.
Many of these elder folk are old school. They may see how Gerard and Frank act in a homosexual manner and get outraged. And if that IS the problem, then take it up with the Gay community. Music has NO RULES. The artists can express ANYTHING they want. They will have critic of course but seriosuly, if anyone is trying to stop them... then i must advise those bashers to NOT hold thier breath.
I do agree with some of these other commentors replying to some of the other defenders of my chem becuse of the crude language and such.
But one must think, the essay had in there jackasses & bastards thrown in there. If this author wants to get through to people, try not to seriously bash these kids.
Most of them look UP to my chem and by reading this, its VERY hurtful.
I must ask, have ANY of these critics watched and actaully listened without rolling thier eyes "Life On The Murder Scene".
Its a DVD that shows the who what where when why and how about my chem.
Also, i would love to see proof OF these suicidal teens that as they are sliting thier wrists say "This is for track number 7 on My Chem's CD, goodbye cruel world!!"
YEAH, i highly doubt that HAS ever happened and doubt that it ever will.
Also, i feel really bad as a my chemical romance fan that other fans are just saying eff you eff that. But seriously the whole thing is outrageous especially how the author put that we teenagers an uneducated.
If someone has read this and has something rude to say... why bother? No ones minds were changed.
And if someone agrees with me great.
SINCERELY,
Becca
p.s. and if my grammar and sentences werent as interesting as the article explains, then i MUST not be educated