SaxInTheCity's Blog

Every now and again I do a story that seems to really strike a nerve, nationwide. The report I put together on "Emo" music (aired 1/23/08) is one such example. I've been getting angry e-mails from people everywhere who truly hated it--people who think I have no idea what I'm doing whatsoever (a painfully common thread throughout my career from those who despise my work).

Below is the story. Watch it and then read the complaints I've posted that have been e-mailed to us here at FOX Chicago. I've added my own heart-felt reflections (OK, I mean smart-alecky retorts) in the midst of the comments. 

Feel free to yell at me yourself, too (at the end of this blog entry)! The more insults hurled the better! Come on, give it to me! EMOte your hearts out! 

OK, here comes the reaction:

From: Ami in Texas at demeters_child@yahoo.com

I and many other people found your report on "the backlash of emo" at once laughable and slightly insulting. There were many incorrect generalizations stated, almost all of which rarely, if ever, apply. Furthermore, most people agree that emo as a culture does not exist. It is a genre of music, not a lifestyle. Many of the bands you used as examples of emo music do not classify themselves as emo. Also, the look and clothing style you stated were "emo" style are actually a mixture of many different sub-cultures' styles. As an example, skinny jeans were originally part of punk culture. Many people style themselves as "emo" because they want to fit in with a group. News reports such as the one you did encourage these people to keep trying to do this. (Mark says: So we should not report what's going on?) Because of this, they are not really expressing who they are. I believe that if generalizations, opinions, and hearsay (Mark says: Hearsay? Are you suggesting I made up everything I reported?) are presented as facts, as I believe happened in your report, (Mark says: Oh, you ARE!) it will continue to encourage people to keep on pretending to be "emo". This makes people unhappy because they do not feel free to be themselves.

From: Brittany in Viera, Florida at brittanymm@cfl.rr.com

 I would just like to say that I can't believe the news stories you make on the "emo" culture. (Mark says: I "made" only one story.) YOU HAVE IT ALL WRONG. Being emo isn't just about cutting yourself and being a loner and listening to emo bands (Mark says: When did I say emo was about "cutting?") Teenagers are laughing at you (Mark says: Won't be the first time--you should have seen them laugh at me in high school.) because of how pathetic it is! Not every emo person cuts themselves. Not every emo person causes self-pain. (Mark says: Are you sure you watched my story? There is no--repeat--NO mention of cutting in it.) And the bands you claim to be "emo" like Blink 182 and Green Day, wow. Just, wow. (Mark says: I know, I know, they are indeed great bands. YowzaWOWza!) There is another genre called "punk" believe it or not and that is where those two bands fit in for example. (Mark says: Punk? Hmmm. Never heard of it.) Please, do the world a favor, the next time you decide to do another news story on "emo" get someone who actually knows what they're talking about to do it. (Mark says: The whole world a favor? That's a mighty big task to ask someone who doesn't know what they're talking about...) Because whenever you have a news story on the topic, whoever the news anchor is ALWAYS asks the preppy people (Mark says: There's a big difference between a news ANCHOR and a news REPORTER. The news anchor is usually reading a teleprompter, introducing a news reporter's story by reciting the words written by the news reporter--a.k.a ME in this particular instance).  Preppy people are just as "bad" as you claim the emo group to be. (Mark says: I never claimed anyone who likes/follows emo music is "bad." You are somehow seeing and hearing things in my report that just don't exist.)

From: Lisa at lisacoh92@hotmail.com

You guys have emo all wrong. Of course, music is emotional! All bands write lyrics that deal with emotion but that doesn't mean they are emo. (Mark says: I never said that all bands are emo.) Emo is a way of life for some people. (Mark says: I did say THAT!) "Emo people" are being themselves. For some it means that they are lonely or depressed. To others it's based on how they feel at times. You guys have the definition of emo all wrong (Mark says: I defined emo exactly the way you did, Lisa. Did you watch the story?) and you should ask teenagers about emo and listen to the answers you get. (Mark says: The boys of Addison Park I Interviewed are mostly teenagers.) Trust me, we teenagers have a voice to that has not yet been heard. (Mark says: Trust ME, Lisa, I've heard the voices of plenty of teenagers. Usually on busses. Teenagers are loud.)

From: Sarah von Pistol at peace.love.syn@gmail.com

Your story was WAY off course. If you want a truer version let me know. (Mark says: I was going to say "no, thanks" but then Ms. Pistol's e-mail just continued anyway.) Your little story on the emo culture was full of BLEEP. Everyone I know saw it (Mark says: I'm flattered to have garnered such an audience) and couldn't stop laughing at how misinterpreted it was (Mark says: WelI, I spoke too soon.) First of all, Addison Park is barely even considered emo. They are pop and nothing else. Second of all, Fall Out Boy???? Dashboard Confessional????? Blink 182???? Emo???? NO NO NO NO NO! They are the polar opposites of emo. And Green Day is punk and yes there IS a difference. Next I would like to state that the term emo does NOT come from EMOTIONAL. It comes from the genre Emotive Hardcore Rock/Metal. That particular genre sprouted in the 80's. And doesn't every artist write songs about how they feel? Isn't that why music started? To express yourself? And yeah totally, emo kids get beat up all the time. Pshhhh hell no! It never happens. (Mark says: Hmmm, Ms. von Pistol is calling me a liar.) And those kids who are down and depressed on the streets and on YouTube are NOT emo. They're woe-is-me-narcissistic-attention-whores. (Mark says: Wow, harsh.) And emo isn't underground either. I believe you are talking about the metalheads. Emo kids are pretty much everywhere and they're not crying (Editor Saxenmeyer's note: Ms. von Pistol uses a word here that rhymes with wussies.) And they're not all cutting themselves either. (I know you were thinking about it). (Mark says: Agin, as I said above I'm not sure where cutting even came into reference here) Emo (followers) don't look at the floor; they are a confident people who don't give a damn what people think. The fact that you were asking Addison Park what emo is, is another strike against you. (Mark says: I think I'm beyond three stirkes and out with these e-mailers at this point.) They have no idea what emo is, listen to their music. If you want to know what emo is I would ask me. (Mark says: No need to, Sarah 'cuz you're telling me plenty right here, eh?!) I'm not saying I'm an expert but wouldn't it be better to ask an emo kid than kids who THINK they are? (Mark says: Sounds like you think you're an expert to me.) By the way, if you want a list of emo bands (Mark says: No, thanks.) I would listen to Escape the Fate, Silverstein, Lovehatehero, Aiden, and Eyes Set To Kill. (Mark says: Oh, too late.) Never heard of them? (Mark says: Correct.) EXACTLY! You aren't going to find uber popular emo bands. They don't exist. The popular "emo" bands are mainstream *cough* Fall Out Boy *cough*. (Mark says: Need a lozenge, Sarah?) Besides, the fact that you even did a story on emo culture made all the emo kids laugh (Mark says: You've already pointed that out to me but thanks for the reiteration.)

From: Nina in Lake Elsinore, California at tania3ran@yahoo.com

My name is Santi, a typical "emo" teen. (Mark says: Wait a minute, first you say you're Nina, then Santi, and yet your e-mail says Tania! Which is it?!) And first I would like to say that you're research on the "emo" topic was pathetic, you're never going to find out what emo really is, 'cause when you did that report you were way off! (Mark says: So my research was bad but yet if I had tried to research it I wouldn't have found out anything anyway? You lost me...) Second, If you wanna know what emo really is then read "Everybody Hurts" by Leslie Simons and Trevor Kelley, "Nothing Feels Good" by Andy Greenwalk, and for some emo history read "Please Kill Me" by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain. (Mark says: I usually only read USA Today, Cat World and the AARP newsletter but I'll try to make time.) And I would give you some of what you call "emo" bands to interview and get emo right, but the bands getting that kind of attention would ruin their emo-ness. (Mark says: And we don't want to ruin anyone's "emo-ness," do we?) The bands you called "emo" are so not emo! Fall Out Boy is not emo! The only thing emo about them is the music on their first and half of their second CD. And all the real emo fans know that Green Day is so not emo! They ruined their career when they wrote the album "American Idiot" and they're never gonna get the emo scene back. (Mark says: Being an American idiot myself, I like that album.) Dashboard Confessional is more like Adult Alternative, like Nickleback, and not close to emo. (Mark says: Wow, I can't get anything right.) And last, about criticizing your poor choices in choosing the bands, Blink 182 may be loved by the emo fans, but it's not emo. Blink 182 was around before "emo" even started. So your report was pointless and all wrong. And before you start doing reports on today's scene, ask a teen who is "emo" because they would give you the real story. Sorry, try again. Psshh. disappointing.... (Mark says: Hey, is "Pssshh" an emo word? Because Sarah above used a variation of it, too!)

From: No Name in South Carolina cheersharkqt@yahoo.com

I just want to say that your story the "Emo Backlash" was inciteful (Mark says: do you mean "insightful" and you're being sarcastic or did you think we were trying to "incite" something?") and the dumbest f**kin BLEEP I have ever heard in my entire life. (Mark says: Ok, i guess you were just being sarcastic.) Being Emo is not about wearing "suction tight" jeans whatever the hell that is, having black hair, and being "emo"tional. NO!!! It is about being who you want to be. So next time do your research f**kers. Thank you for your time. (Mark says: No, thank YOU, No Name, for such an "inciteful" comment.)

From: Clare at lovex1eight7@yahoo.com

Are you kidding me? You just embarrassed yourself and the whole population of Emo music followers (Mark says: It takes a lot more than emo to embarrass me, Clare.). I live in Michigan and I'm embarrassed how you didn't even catch the gist of what me is. Emo music is NOT Blink 182, Green Day, or Fall Out Boy. Those are alternative/pop punk bands. (Mark says: I said they were "Emo-esque", not Emo. Clever, eh?) Emo bands that have hit the nation and are extremely well known are Thursday, The Used, and Hawthorne Heights. Emo music is music that hits you at another level, that expresses true inner feelings, and is rarely played on the radio (Mark says: Sounds like the new Duran Duran album.) I'm a journalism writer (Mark says: you mean, "journalist?") as well as an emo music follower, and I can tell you deffinately did not do your research (Mark says: I can tell you "deffinately" did not use spell check, journalism writer.)

From:  Katie Barber in Pennsylvania at  katietieb129@comcast.net

I'm a senior in high school and into what you call "emo" music. I just thought that the piece you did, while a nice effort, failed miserably. I myself don't have black hair or skin tight jeans but could be considered emo I guess. From the inside of our "culture," your report was laughable. (Mark says: So I've heard.) Green Day and Blink-182 emo? I think not. Maybe you could have done some more research. (Mark says : All this talk about research! Really, who has the time!?) Maybe talked to an emo band and not Addison Park. They themselves implied that they were NOT emo in the report (alternative and pop-punk are what they consider themselves). And as for the backlash, it's really not as bad as you would like to claim it is. Kids get beat up at school all the time and not because they are emo, it's because there are jocks. Why not report on the subculture of the typical athletic male? (Mark says: Maybe next time.) They are more dangerous than anything else in my opinion. I hate to say this but I believe you are too detached from us (Mark says: And that's by design.) You couldn't understand the youth of today. Someone younger may have been better. (Mark says: How the heck DID i get SO old?!?!?!) So in all, I'm just letting you know that you aimed at the target but fell about 15 feet too short...more or less. (Mark says: Considering my eyesight in my old age that's not bad.)

From: Kerri in Illinois at Kairbears4@aol.com

This e-mail is being sent to you after watching your segment on Emo. Anyway, you people have your story about "Emo Music Thrives in Chicago" completely wrong. First off, Blink-182 is NOT emo. Green Day is NOT emo. Fall Out Boy is not really considered emo. They are more considered Pop-Punk and Alternative. (Mark says: See my comment to Clare above about my use of the word "emo-esque.") I'm not sure where you people get off thinking those two bands are emo. (Mark says: Please note that "you people" would be ME. We don't report stories by committee.) Those bands were created and have been performing way before emo culture even started. (Mark says: I thought emo started in the'80s. That's what Sarah (above) confirmed, as well as Brian (below). You really need to get your facts strait. (Mark says: strait or straight?) If you were going to mention bands you should have mentioned Jimmy Eat World along with Dashboard Confessional. (Mark says: I did mention Dashboard Confessional but a couple of the writers above claim it's NOT emo. So WHO'S telling the truth!?) Secondly, emo doesn't just thrive in Chicago. It thrives in many different large cities in the United States. (Mark says: Uh, I never said that either. Perhaps you're confused by the fact I work for FOX News CHICAGO; the story was reported for FOX News CHICAGO, thus the local focus.) Third, if emo music is considered "writing and singing about what they feel," you would be grouping almost all songs, no matter what genre of music, as emo and that is not correct. You are generally labeling things as emo. Addison Park defined emo music as being "about relationships, family life, best friends." Heck, they are grouping many songs as being emo. They go on to say that emo songs are "Love lyrics that are negative and sad but the music contradicts that," Well, I'll agree with them a bit on that. (Mark says: Thank goodness we can all agree on something.) Fourth, you are grouping many people as being emo when they truly are not emo. Just to let you know, I am a 21-year-old female. I have naturally dark hair, side swept bags, tight jeans, I like being left alone (Mark says: So do I) , I write blogs that are, sometimes, emotional (Mark says: Me too!) , and I listen to Fall Out Boy, Green Day, Blink-182 and Dashboard Confessional. That must make me emo, huh? (Mark says: It sure sounds like you could be, Maybe I am too.) Fifth, Why would you have a band that proclaims to be, and I quote, "Alternative Rock and Pop-Punk" talk about emo? (Mark says: Because I'm clearly clinically insane.) I'm not even sure if they really are emo. They would be grouped under Pop-punk/Alternative along with Fall Out Boy. (Mark says: That sure is a lot of genres. I personally like the adult contemporary/polka/yodeling genre.) I will applaud you for not portraying emo as being a bad thing. (Mark says: Tell Brittany in Viera, Florida that, would you? See above.) Emo kids don't do anything to be looked at in a negative light. A large portion of the emo culture is made up of young middle school/high school kids. Kids who are struggling with trying to identify themselves and what makes them who they are. PS: You have many emo and non-emo people laughing at this video. (Mark says: Again, won't be the first time. I am rather hysterical.) Check out this site to see for yourself: http://www.buzznet.com/web/music/journals/ entry/1715111/fox-news-report-the-backlash-of-emo/?t=ho
me|hero|foxnewsreportthebacklashofemo

(Mark says: I'll take your word for it.)

From: John Healy III of Chicago at lpslipknot05@sbcglobal.net

No offense to everyone at FOX News but you need some more research regarding emo music. (Mark says: Here we go with the research demands again.) You were right about the band you were interviewing and Dashboard Confessional as being emo (Mark says: Am I now? Read some of the naysayers above.) Fall Out Boy is not emo, but you were correct in saying emo-esque. (Mark says: Finally, someone agrees.) You are, however, EXTREMELY incorrect in saying that Blink 182 and Green Day are emo music. (Mark says: Dang it, I was on a roll!) Both are punk rock music and.or pop punk. Even farther off than that is (the fact that you showed scenes from a concert of the band) Lamb of God. It's the FARTHEST thing from emo there is. They are heavy metal, plain and simple. Lamb of God is one of my favorite bands (Mark says: More so than Huey Lewis and the News?) and their being called emo is an ENORMOUS insult. (Mark says: Forgive me, Lamb of God for I have sinned.) I am just saying that you should study up a bit more or assign someone who actually knows the material they are reporting to do it. (Mark says: I can honestly say that absolutely no one at FOX News Chicago knows a darn thing about emo music. However, out of all of them, I know the most.)

From: Cynthia at alwaysacaligurl@yahoo.com

(Your story) makes us laugh every time we see something like this. (Mark says: I had no idea this story was so gosh darn funny.) But it also makes us upset when you get it ALL WRONG. And I just have to ask, what is it with you people (Mark says: there's that "you people" remark again) and talking about emo? In case you haven't noticed, you won't ever get an exact answer. (Mark says: uh yeah, I noticed.) It means many things to different people. But for the record, you have it completely wrong with Fall Out Boy. They are not emo they are pop-punk. In fact, all the bands you listed aren't emo. Blink-182?!?! They are punk! When you hear something on the radio it's how it sounds to you, such as 'oh that's a punk song' or 'oh its an R&B song'.(Mark says: you just contradicted yourself, Cynthia.) And the style, it changes. It uses to be vintage t-shirts and sweater vests with converses (Mark says: like the shoes?) Very few still dress this way. Now it's black hair to the side with a blonde streak, checkered vans slip on (Mark says: what the heck is a checkered vans slip on?), and band t-shirts. And just because you dress "the emo way", doesn't mean you are. (Mark says: I think my story said that) In my opinion and to most, the style has nothing to do with it, it's the music. (Mark says: story said that) And it's not always about heartbreak and love. It's just people relating to it, no matter what it is. (Mark says: story said that.) And in case you didn't know, every piece of music is emotional. (Mark says: Especially Celine Dion. She makes me cry.) As the years go by, I really doubt you can even call this emo per say. And just so you know, no band to this day will ever admit to being 'emo' or label themselves this way. I thought adults were supposed to teach us not to stereotype people? (Mark says: Adults sure could learn a thing or too from those wearing "checkered vans slips on".)

From: Chelsie and Emma in Hopewell Junction, New York at ChelsiexChaos666@aol.com

We just have to say that the video you just posted was wrong. (Mark says: I didn't post a video but I did put together a television news report, just so we're clear.) There is no such thing as emo and these people that are so called "emo" are just like other people. Yeah, we all like different kinds of music but that doesn't make us bad people. (Mark says: Again, never said that.) The kids who have to pick on others have no life (Mark says: I'll agree with you on that)  And yeah, there's depressed people in the world but it doesn't make them evil. (Mark says: Never said they were) It's just really rude how you people (Mark says: Again, "you people" would be me, MARK HAROLD SAXENMEYER (Harold was my grandpa's name, in case you're wondering) can actually make kids who dress differently than others look bad. (Mark says: As someone who uses a crowbar to get into his own jeans, I hardly think I made anyone look bad.)

From:  Brian Karakas at hearitsnap@gmail.com

I am 19 years old and live in New Jersey...Addison Park is NOT emo whatsoever. I've never heard of them nor do I want to listen to them. What they are a part of right now is a fad. They may love making music, I don't know. What I do know is that they're just jumping on the Fall Out Boy bandwagon and appealing to the endless (number of) teenagers who are obsessed with myspace.com. What everyone is labeling "emo" is very far from the true definition of emo music. Here is my definition and a short history of emo: In the spring of 1984, a band called RITES OF SPRING forms (in Washington D.C.). It has a punk music-sounding speed and frenzy but brings a new vocal approach. Singer Guy Picciotto keeps an out-of-breath punk style most of the time, at times delving into intensely personal lyrics dripping with emotion and sweat. His voice breaks down at climactic moments into a throaty, gravely, passionate moan. The summer of 1985 becomes known as "Revolution Summer" when a new wave of rock-tempo, melody based bands forms--bands like Three, Gray Matter, Soulside, Ignition, Marginal Man, Fire Party, Rain, Shudder to Think, etc. Few bands retain the fast hardcore punk-based sound with the new vocal approach--Dag Nasty being the exception. A singer named Ian MacKaye sings for a band called Embrace whose lyrics are emotional and deeply self-questioning, but still clear and unambiguous. Musically, the group writes midtempo, somewhat jangly music with a lot of pop guitar hooks. MacKaye's vocals contain bold enunciation, with only occasional sparks of emotive delivery. These bands' sound eventually becomes known as the classic "D.C. sound." Some of it is labeled "emo," as shorthand for "emotional." One account has this term first appearing in a Flipside interview with Ian MacKaye. Shortly thereafter DC bands acquire the tag "emo-core." These are the roots of "emo" music. Fall Out Boy and Hawthorne Heights, and any other band that sounds similar is NOT emo. It's a cry for attention. Back then people weren't wearing girls pants and dying their hair black and styling it the same way. That goes against everything that punk once stood for, and "emo" is a punk subgenre. What this (Fall Out Boy, etc.) is, is pop music, music that is radio friendly, music that is force-fed to kids to make money, and nothing else. it is embarrassing to me and to everyone else who knows the true meaning to be labeled something that is clearly not correct. (Mark says: Thanks for the rational and informed response to my story. Much appreciated.)

From:  Carlos Monroy

Hey Mr. Saxenmeyer, I just finished watching your report on emo and I have to disagree with a lot of what you said. First off, all those bands you mentioned, including Addison Park, are not emo. Blink 182 and Green Day have been playing since the early 90s (Mark says: I thought emo started in the 1980s. See Brian's and Sarah's remarks above.) And Blink 182 isn't  considered emo. If you do your research (Mark says: Here we go again...) on emo, all those bands listed, and bands that are actually emo have very little to no similarity in sound at all. As for the so-called "emo" kids, they're not emo at all. I guess they're called "scene kids" because they are following a trend that is much like the '80s glam rock trend (Mark says: When emo actually started, per Brian and Sarah above!) Emo is not the way you dress, it's expressing yourself. (Mark says: Can't you express yourself in the way you dress?) The people that dress like that are more closely related to the goth scene than anything else. (Mark says: Frankly , they all kinda look the same to me.) Oh, and by the way I'm a 20-year-old kid who once claimed to be emo when I was 15 before it was what people think it is now, I've done my research to a lest know enough about it, and sorry if I sound like a know-it-all (Mark says: No more than I sound like one) but I thought I should respond to it.

From: Tracey in Illinois at tcrdrb@hotmail.com

I'm 25, my husband is 26 and we are musicians and lovers of all kinds of music. Emo has been around since we were teenagers and it has slowly evolved into what teenagers now call "emo". It's a far cry from what it used to be. The style of clothing that the now "emo kids" wear seems to have evolved from an almost gothic punk '80s fashion tornado. "Emo" nowadays seems to signify, like was told in the newscast, a "way of life" more or less, and has less to do with the music it originally came from. It is an excuse to be depressed; it has made depression "cool", which totally lends itself to today's teenagers coming off all the ADD, ADHD, bi-polar, anti-depression "happy" drugs thjeir parents so eagerly fed them growing up so they wouldn't have to be real parents and actually talk to their kids. "Emo" today is so much more than clothes, it's so much more than music, it's a sad refelction of the lazy American society today. To even try to link kids who wear tight pants and have black hair and frowns on their faces to the music genre "emo" doesn't fit. They are completely different things, and unfortunately when the story was over I said to my husband, "That is why kids think their parents are idiots." (Mark says: I thought you liked my story up until your last two sentences. Then I became confused. Are you calling me an idiot, too, Tracey? I must be if can't figure this out.)

From: Karin Giffney from Illinois at karingiffney@discover.com

Loved your segment on emo music, and am so glad you shared "the other side" of this awesome music. Was really impressed with the maturity of Addison Park. They've got it going on. Maybe the next Fall Out Boy! You guys rock! (Mark says: Karin aren't you aware that I am an idiot? Get with it.)

OK, people, it's now YOUR turn to weigh in, sound off, and let me know just how little I know! (Of course, if you actually like the story I'd LOVE to hear that, too!