Dear Fall Out Boy

By Nicole V.

Sometimes it’s hard to explain to people why you love a silly band that you technically should hate. Maybe it’s easier to tell the band.

Dear Fall Out Boy,

I am finding it harder and harder to defend our relationship. I feel us growing apart and maybe writing this letter to you is selfish of me, but I need to remember the way things were; the reasons I fell in love with you, the band you used to be.

At first I didn’t even give you a second thought. Your name alone was so cutesy and deliberately referential , and in my mind you were merely part of the new breed of ultra-disposable “Internet bands” that had the right haircuts, clothes, and number of MySpace friends, but little else. I hated those bands. I still do.

It took me two whole albums to see that you weren’t masquerading; that unlike the countless other forgettable bands from this breed, you actually were forging a scene and changing kids’ lives and, most importantly (but sadly overlooked), were making music worth listening to. It took me so long to see that, Fall Out Boy, and I’m sorry, but I can’t change the past. I hope you understand the position I was in, having been inundated with meaningless crap and burned out on Alternative Press pop-punk. I have no one to blame but myself.

I don’t think I’ve ever told you this, but do you know the moment I felt something more? It was your breakthrough single, “Sugar, We’re Going Down.” I remember downloading it from a friend’s blog prior to From Under the Cork Tree‘s release because I was bored and generally shared the musical taste of said friend. Sure, the opening riff sounded like it could have come straight out of a Creed song, but hearing Patrick (Stump) sing Pete (Wentz)’s clever, older-than-your-perceived-audience lyrics intrigued me and made it worth repeated listens.

Then someone unexpected happened: it grew on me. I liked it. Then I loved it. Then I did a Limewire search and found more leaked songs from the upcoming album and was giggling at the song titles. Granted, they were cheeky and novel (like your name), but that started to seem appealing rather than annoying. Oh, infatuation. It does silly things to a girl. The song titles were just generationally appropriate for your median age (“Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner”)—which also happened to be my age—and you know what? Your video proved you just as visually entertaining. I bought the album as soon as it came out. I was smitten.

As you know, the next year and a half was a whirlwind of such intense infatuation. I think one of my best memories of that time together was reveling with another smitten pal in the online drama that Pete always found himself involved in. Here you were, this massive mainstream band, and your bass player had silly Internet nerd tendencies like the rest of us. He had a LiveJournal, got in fights on message boards, and, of course, had lewd pictures from his Sidekick leaked. (For the record, I never looked at the pictures. Honestly!)

I know, it was lame. All of it. But it was real, you know? It was part of who you were, and who your fans were. It was appropriate somehow, and contributed to the overall Fall Out Boy fan community. You were like a group of kids with a secret; in on a big joke and fooling everyone, seeing how much you could get away with. You even got Jay-Z and Babyface on your newest album (Infinity On High)!

I don’t know when my feelings started to change—probably when Pete was repeatedly being photographed in clubs with/dating young blonde socialites. It’s like you became the joke you were supposed to be in on. Sad.

I know things can’t stay the same forever. As much as my feelings may have changed, I still will only ever speak fondly of you. You taught me so much about giving bands second chances. You bridged so many genres for me: catchy, polished guitar pop and tougher (but still melodic) hardcore. You furthered my love of witty, literate lyrics that tread the fine line of bad puns. In fact, this is your biggest strength and I cherish it. You were probably the first band in this Internet music explosion to have one foot in the underground of online community/accessibility and the other in the world of international chart toppers.

You were having fun, fully aware of the position you found yourself in, and you seized it fully. It was urgent and exciting, and Fall Out Boy, you make me remember what it is to be a young, eager music fan. To quote your song “I Slept with Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me,” you’re my cure to growing older. I’ll always love you, I’ll always listen to you, and I’ll always be on your side.

I love you, Fall Out Boy. And I don’t care who knows it.

XO,
Nicole