pop culture prophets - my chemical romance
DESCRIPTION
Religion Section 9-4TRANSCRIPT
- 1. Pop Culture prophets:My Chemical romancegerard waymikey way,
ray toro, and frank iero
Advocates for
self-acceptance and self-respect withstrong anti-suicide and anti-violence
messages.
2. POP CULTURE PROPHETS
According to definition, a prophet brings about a positive change
in society by speaking about the evils in their community openly
and breaking down barriers so people may see the truth.
My Chemical Romance came from rather dark beginnings, but blossomed
into self proclaimed saviors of the broken, beaten, and the
damned.
Their music has a uplifting and riotously powerful message with
inspirational lyrics. Apart from that, their personalities,
opinions, and interviews allow for a sight into the collective mind
of a band with solid messages of anti-violence, anti-suicide, and
above all else; self-acceptance.
3. Background and beginnings
Gerard Way, founder and front man of the alternative band My
Chemical Romance lived in a dangerous and crime-ridden section of
New Jersey, with his younger brother Mikey.He was criticized and
bullied to an extensive amount due to the way he looked, spoke, and
carried himself. In high school, Gerard and Mikey found themselves
depressed. This led to Gerards intense use of alcohol and drugs to
sedate his emotions.When they escaped the confounds of high school,
As Mikey finished high school, Gerard moved to New York City to
attend art school and work part-time in a comic book shop.
Everything changed on September 11th, 2001.
4. Background and beginnings
Gerardknew he was bound for greater things. He made it his personal
responsibility to help teenagers and young adults who felt
abandoned or hurt. He didnt want to simply throw his life away.
However, he witnessed one of the most violent terrorist attacks on
the United States.This led to an even bigger issue with depression
and anxiety.
Ray Toro, a childhood friend of the Way brothers, stepped up and
volunteered his skills as a guitarist. Mikey quit ideas of further
schooling to play base. Frank Iero, lead singer for the band Pencey
Prep decided to join the band that theyproclaimed had one
intention;
THIS BAND WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE.
5. Off to A rough start
The first two recorded albums by the newly formed My Chemical
Romance would seem rather dark upon first lessons. Their debut
album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love was full
of raw emotion and fueled with rage.
However, Way insisted that his fans stay positive; music was a
outlet and may seem angry at times, but the lyrics needed to be
understood.
Think happy thoughts and well fly home. Headfirst for Halos
Stand up tall, dont let them see your back, and take my hand and
never be afraid again. Our Lady of Sorrows
Youre not in this alone. Skylines and Turnstiles
6. Revenge
Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge was released in 2004. being hailed
as asoundtrack to the lives of teenagers everywhere. Their daily
lives were documented in videos such as Im Not Okay (I Promise),
which depicted the band as outcasts battling jocks and bullies at a
preppy high school. Again, the lyrics touched the heart strings of
many while staying true to punk-rock roots.
Well love again, well laugh again, well cry again, then well dance
again and its better off that way. I Never Told You What I Do For
aLiving
Things are better if I stay Helena
Ive lost my fear of falling Ill be with you. Its Not a Fashion
Statement, Its a Deathwish
Saints protect her now, angels of the Lord. Interlude
7. A new audience
While at first, My Chemical Romance only appealed to a small
demographic, their 2006 album The Black Parade exploded into the
mainstream and allowed for chart-topping hits. This concept record
followed the a cancer patient through his turmoil and conflicted
emotions. It dealt with the importance of life and memories above
all else.
I am not afraid to keep on living, I am not afraid to walk this
world alone. Famous Last Words
Youll never make me the world will never take my heart. Go and try
youll never break me! I wont explain or say Im sorry, Im unashamed
Im gonna show my scar! Welcome to the Black Parade
Youll never take me alive, do what it takes to survive and Im still
here. Kill All Your Friends
8. A break and a breakdown
The Black Parade was the first record after Mikey and Gerard Ways
pledge to sobriety.There was a four year gap between records, and
in November of last year, they released their most upbeat album yet
Danger Days; The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. Their hit
single Sing has some of the most inspiring lyrics to date, urging
young adults to Sing it for the boys, sing it for the girls, every
time that you lose it sing it for the world. Sing it from the
heart, sing it till youre nuts sing it out for the ones thatll hate
your guts.
See what tomorrow brings, gotta be what tomorrow needs Sing
Can I be the only hope for you? Because youre the only hope for me.
The Only Hope for Me Is You Alone
Get off the ledge and drop the knife not a victim of a victims
life. This aint a room full of suicides! Save Yourself and Ill Hold
Them Back
9. A heartfelt message
As victims of severe bullying and discrimination, these four men
had one message for the youth that listened intently to their
music; be yourself.In interviews, personal messages, and during
concerts,Frank Iero would often proclaim Love what you do and who
you truly are if you are true to yourself, you can never go
wrong..
As prophets, the band refused to sugarcoat anything. As bassist
Mikey Way explained, Kids are sick of the same old pop music.
Theyre sick of being lied to. The band desired to explain to youth
that life wasnt always a bowl of cherries but it was always worth
sticking out and making the absolute best of what is given to
you.
10. Self-acceptance
Growing up,
personal appearance
was a common
source of mockery
for the NJ natives.This
affectedGerard
heavily as he
wrote If you
look in the mirror and
dont like what you see
you
can find out first hand what its
like to be me.
11. Self-acceptance
Yet, the band constantly reminds the fans to ignore the medias
perceptions of beauty. When magazine NME commented on lead
guitarist Ray Toros weight, the band responded bycommenting Dont
EVER let the media tell you what to look like! YOURE BEAUTIFUL. So
stay beautiful, keep it ugly!
They protested the medias
discouragingremarks about the standards of beauty by performing at
NMEs award show in
balaclavas
proclaiming that beauty is a
little more than skin-deep.
12. Self-acceptance
As ahusband and father to a two-year old daughter, Gerard reminds
the female fans;
Hey girls you are beautiful.Dont look at those stupid magazines
with those sticklike models. Dont let anyone tell you youre not
good enough, You are good enough you are too good. Love your family
with all your heart and listen to it. Youare gorgeous, whether
yourea size three or a size fourteen. It doesnt matter what you
look like on the outside as long as youre a good person and you
respect others. Its true hey girls, youre beautiful.
Ways outlook on the female fanbase is one of respect and dignity.
They remind their fans to listen to their hearts and their heads,
and to never settle for anything less than respect and love.
13. Self-respect
Many put themselves down based on what others consider faults or
undesirable traits. However, My Chemical Romance urges fans to hold
onto their unique personalities and grasp the ability to stand
firmly in what you believe in.
All your quirks, all your problems even your depressions and
failures thats what makes you YOU.
Everyone should love themselves like we love you.
Embrace your originality you can and should do anything!
Never forget how perfect and beautiful youare inside and out.
14. Anti-suicide/anti-violence
Mikey Way, bassist and brother of front man Gerard Way,has openly
talked about his issues with suicide and self-harm..After a rather
dark period in life, he rose up from the ashes and decided to help
teenagers who were considering the same dark pathway,
Way reminded fans in a 2006 stint of the Black Parade tour that
NOTHING IS WORTH HURTING YOURSELF OVER AND NOTHING IS WORTH TAKING
YOUR LIFE OVER.
Gerard spoke out once again after claims that My Chemical Romance
promoted depression and death.In a concert, he told fans sternly
that you get hurt, you get depressed but you never ever EVER use
violence as a solution.
15. Anti-suicide/anti-violence
The band continued to release statements and live speeches at
concerts announcing their stance on suicide and violence.
If you ever find yourself depressed, hurt, or like an outcast.,
remember; were all outcasts in our own way, we all fit in this
world, we all belong in this world.
We all have something to say but we NEVER say it with
violence!
The world is an ugly place. Its not always pretty, peoples feelings
get hurt.but its a beautiful place and we all share it together, If
you ever feel depressed or hurt in any way, find someone to trust,
someone to talk to. A teacher, a parent, a best friend, a consular
at school. But no matter what happens to you, we never resort to
violence.
16. Anti-suicide/anti-violence
My Chemical Romance became a certain sort of safe-haven for many
teenagers. They found a set of men who had experienced their lives
first hand and could speak out against negative ideals.
The only thing that weve ever encouraged you to do is to BELIEVE IN
YOURSELF. AND BE YOURSELF. And dont listen to anyone who says
otherwise!
We wanna let these kids know that theyre not alone and theyre not
actually that messed up and that they can and should do whatever
they want- they can express themselves without being
persecuted.
Talk to your folks. Keep yourself alive keep fighting. Because the
world is beautiful and it actually isnt that bad.
17. Progression
While their live shows and albums were released in a very dark and
ominous point in their lives, their later work reflects a true zeal
and lust for life.The band addressed this with We started this band
thinking the world was ugly, but its more beautiful than we
thought. Take it from a band who used to think everything was
miserable.But weve found that its not.
There is a level of maturity and life in their music now that was
perhaps missing before. Yet, this is just another prophetic life
lesson for listeners; be who you are; take every chance you are
given; but never resort to hatred, violence, or
self-loathing.
18.
19. 20. Sources
April 22nd, 2011 Live at Terminal Five (MCR concert
experience)
Clip footage (quotes) The Black Parade is DEAD! Tour
(Documentary.)
Clip footage (quotes) Life of the Murder Scene (Documentary.)
I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
The Black Parade
Danger Days: True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
www.mychemicalromance.com
www.wikipedia.org
www.imnotokay.net