When it comes to genres, there are few more unique than emo. Emo is simultaneously reviled and revered, misunderstood and proudly championed. As an indication, there are very few genres that music fans will actively and passionately deny their favourite bands being a part of, yet it happens all the time with supposedly emo bands. In reality, the label emo is nothing shameful at all: it merely signifies a particular sound or common lyrical theme. For this reason, compiling a list of the greatest emo songs ever written is particularly tricky, as many have a different opinion of what exactly emo is. For the purposes of this list, emo largely consists of songs that were popular in the early to mid 2000s, featuring rock instrumentation with passionate or melancholy vocals alongside angst-ridden lyrics that deal with loneliness or frustration. And for all the sneering, there were genuinely some great songs released that not only qualify, but which wave the flag high...
