by Katherine J. Camberg, '2023

Major:  Global Affairs

 

The Black Parade, an album by My Chemical Romance, has received widespread acclaim for its distinctive sound and impactful lyrics within the emo rock genre. My Chemical Romance is a rock band that originated in New Jersey in 2001, composed of Gerard Way (lead vocals), Ray Toro (lead guitar), Mikey Way (bass guitar), and Frank Iero (rhythm guitar). The band is recognized for its emo and pop-punk style, as well as their theatrical live performances. The Black Parade, their third studio album, was released on October 20th, 2006 under the Reprise Records label, owned by Warner Records. The band collaborated with Rob Cavallo, who has previously worked with Green Day and the Goo Goo Dolls.

 

As a music lover, My Chemical Romance holds a special place in my heart as they were the first band I truly connected with. The haunting vocals, incredible guitar solos, and beautiful dark aesthetics of their music captured my attention from the start. In my upcoming essay, I will analyze The Black Parade through the lens of genre theory and argue that it stands out as one of the most impactful albums in the emo-rock genre. Genre theory delves into how media aligns with the audience's expectations based on the genre. The theory defines genre as "a set of rules that evoke and match a set of expectations in the viewers" (Stocchetti et al., 2011). The Black Parade is a defining album in the emo genre because it not only matches but also exceeds the expectations of its viewers. 

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The Black Parade is a deeply impactful album due to its powerful lyrics and storytelling. It follows the journey of a character called "The Patient," who is facing cancer and the afterlife. The album's themes of death, love, and loss are conveyed through raw and emotional lyrics that resonate with listeners. The opening track, "The End," sets the tone for the rest of the album with its haunting lyrics, "Now come one, come all to this tragic affair, wipe off that makeup, what’s in is despair," which builds up to a powerful chorus, "Cause I'll carry you home tonight." Another standout song is "The Sharpest Lives," which explores the Patient's attempts to find solace through binge drinking and escapism. The song is full of dark metaphors and gloomy imagery that convey the Patient's inner turmoil. These lyrics make The Black Parade a masterpiece that stands out among other emo albums and aligns well with the genre's emotional expectations.

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The Black Parade is an important album due to its distinct sound. My Chemical Romance masterfully fuses emo, punk, and pop genres to create a captivating and impactful sound. The title track of the album, "Welcome to the Black Parade," is a prime example of this fusion. It commences with a delicate piano melody and builds up to a powerful chorus with forceful chords and dynamic drums. The song concludes with a guitar solo, reminiscent of classic rock. A review lauds the execution and balance of instruments, which make the song a thrilling listen. This unique blending of genres sets My Chemical Romance apart from other emo bands and defies the expectations of the genre. The album successfully broadens the definition of emo music in a way that is both impressive and memorable.

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The unique production of the album makes it stand out from other emo albums and contributes to its iconic status. The band stayed at the haunted Paramour Mansion in Los Angeles while recording the album. The band members experienced disturbed sleep and a decline in their mental health during their two-month stay. The producer explained the impact this had on the music, saying, “The demo tapes are really crazy to listen to […] You can almost hear the haunted house in the background. You can almost see the ghosts flying around the room when we recorded those songs—especially that ‘Mama’ song” (CG, 2021). The record “Sleep” was based on this experience, and the band captures their torment in lyrics like “They're these terrors/ And it's like, it feels like as if somebody was gripping my throat”. Additionally, in the production, special attention was given to the aesthetics and costume design. The band worked with Academy Award-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood to create the marching band costumes they wore for their music video and on tour. The costumes became iconic, and the aesthetic commitment brought the album to greater heights.

 

The vocal performance on The Black Parade is truly exceptional, with Gerard Way's vocals shining through with clarity, power, and emotion. His impressive range allows him to hit both high and low notes with ease, making his vocal performance on "Famous Last Words" particularly noteworthy. Beginning with a gentle piano melody, Way's soft and vulnerable vocals build to a powerful climax, delivering a message of hope and perseverance. In "Cancer," Gerard's raw emotions capture the pain of a patient facing inevitable death in a heartbreakingly beautiful way. One review aptly describes Way's agony, as he sings "Turn away / If you could, get me a drink / Cause my lips are chapped and faded" and "I will not kiss you, because the hardest part of this is leaving you." The song's powerful lyrics and raw emotions combine to create a memorable and impactful track. Gerard Way's vocals elevate the already powerful lyrics, meeting the expectations of the emo genre's emotional style that sometimes veers into screaming. Overall, The Black Parade delivers an emotional performance that meets the audience's expectations for the genre.

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To summarize, Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance is an immensely important album in the emo rock genre. Its impactful lyrics, distinct sound, and exceptional vocals set it apart from other albums in the same category. This album secured My Chemical Romance's position in music history and still serves as an inspiration to current and future generations of emo and rock enthusiasts. Its influence on the music industry and the culture of the 2000s is immeasurable.

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References:

CG, K. (2021, November 29). The Black Parade Is Not Dead: 15 Years of a groundbreaking album. Soundigest. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://soundigest.com/2021/10/19/my-chemical-romance-the-black-parade/

Stocchetti, M., & Kukkonen, K. (2011). Media Theories. In Critical Media Analysis: An introduction for media professionals (pp. 47–56). essay, Lang.

Wong, M. (2012, May 25). Student Music Review: My chemical romance - the black parade. emo reviews. The Rockhaq Community. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://rockhaq.com/reviews/album-my-chemical-romance-the-black-parade/

Yadav, D. (2016, October 20). My chemical romance - the black parade. Immortal Reviews. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from http://www.immortalreviews.com/home/2016/10/20/my-chemical-romance-the-black-parad