Today is the day. Sept. 23, 2016. May this day be one full of angst and remembrance of middle school youth. May it act as a day for all former scene kids to come out of hiding and revel in the joy that has been brought upon us.
Why, you ask?
My Chemical Romance reissued the 10th anniversary edition of The Black Parade today.
Do I even need to say it? We all went through ‘the phase.’ The choppy, razor-cut, fluorescently colored bangs phase. The scuffed-up Converse high tops, its original color indescribable underneath a multitude of Sharpie doodles, phase. The thick rubber bracelets, unbelievably tight black skinny jeans and outrageous amount of guyliner phase.
No matter the level of involvement, every one of us was at least a little curious about scene culture, and today is the perfect opportunity to let that flag fly. In honor of scene kids everywhere, here’s a countdown of the top ten songs that are guaranteed to put you right back in the angst-ridden, defiant mood of your youth (with a playlist attached below).
10. My Chemical Romance — “Helena (So Long & Goodnight)”
The fact that this song starts off with semi-whispering, semi-groaning nothings should be enough for it to hold its own in the top ten. Add the fact that it’s an MCR fan-favorite chock-full of depressing allusions to losing a loved one, and it rightfully owns the spot of number 10 on this list.
9. Green Day — “Wake Me Up When September Ends”
While a little painful to listen to, this track was a definite high point for Green Day. And if there’s anything that symbolizes the ridiculous semi-seriousness of the scene movement, it’s Green Day. Kick back, put those headphones in and revel in the moment … then quickly move on to song eight.
8. Blink-182 — “I Miss You”
Once you’ve heard this Blink-182 hit, it’s hard to get Tom DeLonge’s nasally vocals outside your head. In conjunction with Mark Hoppus’ smooth baritone, though, it’s a not all-too-unpleasant scene classic that’s bound to bring you back to the good old middle school days.
7. All Time Low — “Dear Maria, Count Me In”
When caught listening to this song, you can pass it off as Maryland pride, right? Formed in Towson, Maryland, All Time Low is another band whose tenor vocals and semi-generic guitar riffs perfectly embody scene music. “Dear Maria, Count Me In” is no exception to that rule and proves to be a fun, carefree option for those looking to keep things light.
6. Paramore — “Misery Business”
Get ready for some serious girl-drama. Hayley Williams bragging about how she’s not like other girls may sound cringeworthy now, but with her completely enrapturing vocals and the song’s semi-interesting story line, this song is actually not that bad. I mean, it was on Guitar Hero — how bad can it be?
5. Mayday Parade — “Terrible Things”
Break out the Kleenex. “So don’t fall in love, there’s just too much to lose/ If you’re given the choice, then I beg you to choose/ to walk away, walk away, don’t let her get you.” Need I say more?
4. Linkin Park — “Numb”
Not going to lie, Linkin Park is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine. And it’s songs like “Numb” that makes listening to them such a nostalgic experience. With the heavy electric guitar, flouting synthesizer in the background and scraggly vocals, the urge to go throw on every piece of black clothing I own is barely containable.
3. Panic! At The Disco — “I Write Sins Not Tragedies”
This wonderfully delightful song spans a wide range of angst, moving quickly through topics such as marriage, infidelity and minding your own goddamn business. The need to sing along is definitely contagious — get ready to have a good time with this one.
2. Fall Out Boy — “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs”
I bet you were wondering when Fall Out Boy would make the list. With such a wide variety of songs, it was hard to find the one song that would perfectly capture the band’s style. I eventually went with “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs” because it’s not only a song that you can scream along to, but it also has a title so unnecessarily complicated that it just had to make the list (although if you prefer “Sugar, We’re Goin Down,” I won’t hold it against you).
1. My Chemical Romance — “Welcome to the Black Parade”
Yes, I know I already included MCR in the list, but quite frankly, it’s their day. As for the song, I would go so far as to consider it an anthem for the scene movement. Although the song heavily focuses around the theme of death, the main refrain is “We’ll carry on,” a line full of encouragement for those who felt misunderstood or vulnerable at the time.
So get out there and reconnect with your scene days of old. Soak it all in, folks — this day is for you.