Bandom has entered the chat. It's time to channel my inner emo angsty teenager and delve into the world of Fall Out Boy. The rock band is most notable for their smash hits like 'Centuries', 'My Songs Know What You Did in The Dark', 'Sugar, We're Going Down' and many other head-banging, jumping up and down in your garage type of songs.

I feel like I missed this right of passage era where everyone was obsessed with Fall Out Boy, maybe I wasn't cool enough. Regardless, I am ready to become a Youngblood/ Overcastkid for the week and discover what I have been missing out on.

Day 1: Understanding Why

I knew Fall Out Boy had a massive fandom out there - hell they are a staple for so many people's teenage years. So I decided to first turn to the fans to find out what it was about FoB which attracted so many people.

'Of course, first is their music. Old music or new ones, those are really the first things that could attract anyone in, but I think one really becomes a Fall Out Boy fan the moment they got to know the members. Talented, passionate, creative, funny, dorky, meme-loving dads,' one fan told me, and this really got me thinking.

There are so many bands out there, but so few with hugely dedicated fan bases. And I think those bands which make it big are the ones in which the members have personalities which the fans feel like they can connect with. Personalities which feel genuine and authentic.

'I think that because of the heart they put into making their music the best it can be (they put off releasing a record cause they weren't satisfied with it for god's sake), and their fans can pretty much always trust that the Fall Out Boy  they grew to love however many years ago will still show the same devotion to music as today. In an interview, Patrick stump (lead singer) mentioned that if the band got to be such that they had run out of ideas they would simply quit making music,' another fan told me when I asked why the band were so universally loved.

There is something about a band who are so passionate about their music which shines through into their music, and when you listen to Fall Out Boy there is this quality that these words are coming straight from the heart.

Day 2: Meeting the Members

So let's start with Patrick Stump - our lead singer.

'He is known for being incredibly kind and also incredibly talented,' one fan gushed to me when I asked to describe the members. Notorious for his hat-wearing antics and meaningful lyrics, he has brought some of their songs to life with his versatile voice.

He is a dramatic, fabulous, and unafraid performer and isn't scared to wear some rather crazy outfits.

Next comes Pete Wentz - bassist and main lyricist.

You may have heard the name Pete Wentz before. I was stumped where I had heard it before in a non-Fall Out Boy context but turns out he hosts the TV show 'Best Ink' which jogged my memory. Pete is best known for his emotional and heartfelt lyrics, often playing with words and imagery to produce some really one-of-a-kind songs.

After reading into some of his lyrics I really loved this one:

"I'm just a notch in your bedpost, but you're just a line in a song." ("Sugar We're Going Down")

Then we have Joe Trohman - lead guitarist.

Known for his fabulous hair and bubbly personality, he stands as the backbone of every song with his guitar playing. He helps complete the distinct rock sound of the band with his playing.

And finally, Andy Hurley - the main drummer.

If you've ever heard a Fall Out Boy song you'll know that they nearly all have epic and loud drum sections - well this is the man behind them. Covered in tattoos, he is very distinguishable.

Day 3: The Music

So where to begin with the music? Fall Out Boy definitely have a target market. They focus on rock/punk sound, which is perfect for head banging and releasing anger.

Here are some of my favourite Fall Out Boy songs (but honestly I've been listening to their music for an hour now and I'll falling in love with every song I play just because the lyrics are so clever).

The Kids Aren't Alright

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I love this song so much, and it really makes me feel like I'm living inside a 90s American film in the suburbs every time I listen to it. It just makes me want to go and do stupid and exciting with my best friends because the sense of nostalgia in this song really gets to me.

My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark

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This is one of the songs I go to every time I want to let off some anger at a past lover, and I'm not even kidding - it's brilliant for getting rid of pent up emotion. It embodies the brilliant rock vibe of the band.

Centuries

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There was a period of time where I was pretty sure I wanted my coffin to be lowered to this song. Because it's so freaking powerful. It makes you feel like you can rob a bank/ conquer the world/ achieve all your dreams. Listen to this before any big interview or exam because I guarantee you're going to feel energised.

Wilson (Expensive Mistakes)

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I only found this a few minutes ago when going on shuffle on their Spotify but I fell in love with it just because of the line 'I'll stop wearing black when they making a darker colour'.

I really recommend reading into their lyrics because they are all filled with beautiful writing, and I have mad respect for them because all their songs are beautifully crafted.

Day 4: Fanfiction and Inside Jokes

So Fanfiction. I feel as though I am becoming an expert on why people write Fanfiction now. But I guess what is something that I've noticed about Fall Out Boy (and this is not meant to be offensive) is that the members are slightly older than other bands and so therefore I was interested in whether there was a difference in the Fanfiction written about them.

What I found was that there was a significant amount of smut books - as would be expected with a rock n roll band - and a surprising amount of 'Adopted by Fall Out Boy' books. I decided to speak to a fan about why she thought fans wrote Fanfiction.

'Everyone has their own scenario in their heads of meeting and forming a friendship/relationship with the people they look up to and I think that's the main reason. Some fans doesn't have the chance to see them live and fanfics help to cope up/ease that eagerness to see/meet the band. Also, in a way, it helps form this stronger relationship with the members - whether it's a 'I got adopted by the band', or 'member x reader', it gives off a sense of being close to the members.'

I guess I hadn't particularly thought about before. I guess with fictional characters, there's no chance of ever meeting that character, but when it's about a real person I guess there is always that feeling of unfulfillment knowing that you share the same earth as that person but can never meet them. Therefore, through Fanfiction people can meet their faves.

Day 5: Reflection

What I've mainly learned from this week is that I need to listen to more Fall Out Boy music because it slaps so hard. I've literally had them on shuffle for the past hour and every single one has been amazing.

I feel like people label Fall Out Boy as 'emo' and don't actually pay attention to the lyrics (myself included), and I wish that more people would listen to the craftsmanship which goes into the music because all the members are incredibly talented.

So, if you're interested in learning more about the band, just give them a listen. You won't be disappointed.

NEXT WEEK...

STRANGER THINGS

comment what other fandoms you want to see :)