My Chemical Romance - Teenagers

Any generation of teenagers would worship a band like My Chemical Romance. They seem to have an unfailing direct line to the most emotionally troubled of today's teens. This song is both a rallying cry and an explanation for those who are listening. Oh, and it's one of the catchiest singles of the year.

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The first thing you'll notice in listening to My Chemical Romance's "Teenagers" is the sure touch with old-fashioned pop-rock hooks in the song. It serves the song exactly how an irresistible hook should. You'll want to listen and, after the second or third time through, you become curious about those lyrics.

Gerard Way, lead vocalist of My Chemical Romance, says of the song in an interview with Kerrang:

"It's a commentary on kids being viewed as meat; by the government and by society. That's how I felt in school, and after 9/11 happened that's how I felt in general. It's very important that this song is here because I always viewed this as about these kids in the parade who had killed themselves, who had made a big mistake. It's a very powerful song."

In "Teenagers," My Chemical Romance depict current society as one in which teenagers are watched for any inkling of getting out of line with enforced norms. They are seen as simply fodder for advancing the goals of adults in power. The response, according to the song, is violence. It's a warning and explanation that have been made before, but rarely so directly in mass popular culture.

My Chemical Romance come forward as a band attempting to cast light into the dark corners of teenage experience and bring things forward to help keep kids from making big mistakes. At the same time, the music is often intense, catchy, and, yes, fun. Listen to "Teenagers" a few times and you may find yourself shouting along "Teenagers scare the living s**t out of me!"