(an abbreviation of "emotional") is a term now broadly used to describe almost any form of guitar-driven alternative rock that expresses emotions beyond traditional punk's limited emotional palette of alienation and rage. It is also used to describe fans of this genre, most commonly teenagers. (e.g., emo kid). The actual term "emo" originated in the mid-1980s D.C. scene, with the band Rites of Spring. The term addressed both the way the band connected with its audience, as well as its tendency to deal more with topics of personal and relationship politics than with the standard themes of rock music.
Emo is a subgenre of hardcore punk music. Since its inception, emo has come to describe several independent variations, linked loosely but with common ancestry. As such, use of the term has been the subject of much debate.
Emo is a somewhat ambiguous, controversial slang termhttp://www.knotmag.com/?article=885 Knot Magazine - "In Defense of Emo" most frequently used to describe a fashion or subculture which is usually defined to have roots in punk fashion and subculturehttp://www.incendiarymag.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=43 Incendiary Magazine - "EMO: What Is It?", as well as some attributes of gothic fashion and subculture.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=400953&in_page_id=1770#StartComments Daily Mail News - "EMO cult warning for parents". It is loosely defined, and its meaning varies by region, but most definitions share a number of similarities.