Middle school is best defined in one word: angst. Everything makes you angry, it’s you against the world, and the only thing that “gets you” is music. I had my share of boyfriends in middle school, and along with that comes a lot of teenage heartbreak.
Music has always been an integral part of my life and middle school was where I found my first real attachment to it. Angry 90’s grunge (I reeked of teen spirit) and pop-rock of the 90’s and 00’s were the only things that made any sense in the dark, crazy world that society forces us to conform to. (I’m pretty sure I worked this into every sort of free-response outlet I was presented with. My teachers probably thought I was crazy.)
When it came to break-ups, Boxcar Racer’s self-titled debut album was my loud, angry escape. The first track “I Feel So” was one I would even loop about 3 or 4 times before listening to the rest of the album. Just the chorus emulated all of my emotions perfectly and the abrasive guitar riffs completed the mood; the entire album followed suit.
I would come home from school, slam the door to my bedroom, and blast my stereo until my parents came home, when I would just plug my headphones in and cry, cry, cry. This would last for days.
My boyfriend and I were shamelessly playing “Middle School Mix Tape Tag” and listened to all of the terrible jams that we used to live by and this album was a header for both of us, and I still consider it to be very good music, but I’m also a huge Blink-182 fan. All of this got me to thinking that everyone likely has a go-to break-up album, or at least had one at one point in time.
I’m curious;
what is your favorite break-up album or your favorite angsty music that got you through tough or “tough” times back when the entire world was your enemy?
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Comments (14)
lol that girl in the picture has really yellow teeth.
In my middle school/early high school "goth" and emo phase I really liked Linkin Park, Evanescence, Nightwish, Ramstein, and a bunch of screamo bands I forgot the names of. Thankfully that phase is over.
I had an actual mixed cd- "Swan Dive" by HeD PE, "Stupid Girl" by Cold, "Spiderwebs" by No Doubt are three of the ones I remember right off.
I never had a boyfriend in middle school, but I did in high school. I had some really bad breakups, others I didn't really care about. Like you, I was always constantly listening to Boxcar Racer and blink-182, and sometimes Matchbook Romance. I remember blasting it on the bus through my headphones on a morning I got dumped or the days when I had to deal with getting over the person. I always listen to blink and BCR when I feel depressed or stressed out and it seems like no one gets me. But luckily the relationship I am in has lasted a while, so the need to blast screamo is gone :)
The World is a Vampire...
When I got around to having a girlfriend (in high school), and we broke up and I was consumed by anguish and wallowing in self-pity, I listened to the albums Adore by Smashing Pumpkins and The Fragile by Nine Inch Nails a lot. It's easy to see now that those two albums are a lot more mature than my teenage emotions were, but that doesn't mean I couldn't relate to those feelings of loss and confusion.
Just finished with High School, had three boyfriends, all ended just fine...
But I had a lot of falling out's with friends.
I remember I used to love The Used.
I still do, though, haha. But I would play that CD over and over... At least now I mix my music haha.
Papa Roach was also super important. c:
I have an mix titled "2003" (its not from then, its from about a year ago). I was 14 that year. A lot of those songs I play when I'm really sad, because that was a really great year. I have Boxcar Racer's "There Is" on it, along with "Ocean Avenue"...and I can't remember what else. I also listen to it when I'm feeling happy, though.
Empty Apartment by Yellowcard
hahaha
Taking Back Sunday - Make Damn Sure
Taking Back Sunday - Liar
ahhh the angsty times..
I've never had a real breakup because I've only had one real relationship, and I'm still in it. But when I was upset I would listen to Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Yellowcard, Sugarcult, My Chemical Romance, etc.
I particularly remember Breaking Benjamin's "Firefly" and "Forget It" being go-to's.
xX Ame ~*` Hana Xx
Oh man middle school holds some seriously dark days for everybody it seems hahaha. I was all about Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Crossfade, and Slipknot. A few others included Good Charlotte and Unwritten Law *shudders* I remember listening to those as my angsty angst songs..
Oh god and lets not forget Evanescence.
I listened to Evanescence in middle school on the bus. It was a whole different kind of angst in my mind.
I was big into Evanescence when I was 11 through...now.
I suppose ages 12-14 were The Used, My Chemical Romance, Sum 41, Linkin Park, Taking Back Sunday, etc.
@LeeKymKween@xanga - I was at a party recently, and someone played Make Damn Sure and literally everyone there was singing along. Grown ass adults, Lol. It was nice.