A Loving Dedication To Simple Plan, The Diet Coke Of Emo Bands

If you were an emo growing up in the early ’00s then you probably have one of two opinions about Simple Plan: you love their music for providing a dose of high school nostalgia, or you can’t stand them.

In emo crowds, Simple Plan aren’t considered overly cool. Between hardcore emo fans who loved My Chemical Romance, AFI, and The Used, or those more into punk-rock music like Fall Out Boy, Paramore and Panic! at the Disco, the band Simple Plan sat as an outlier.

It was the kind of band that was on the softer side, but in Simple Plan’s defence their songs were the perfect gateway into emo music — they’re the Diet Coke of emo bands.

If you were just getting into emo music — aka not ready for the full sugar high of regular Coke — you may have dabbled in Good Charlotte, but you definitely listened to Simple Plan.

It’s unsurprising that they’re a Canadian group, as despite the often heavy subject material in the band’s songs, they were overall a very polite emo band. Debuting with ‘I’m Just A Kid’, and truly arriving with ‘Perfect’, Simple Plan released a string of hits from 2002 onwards.

Most of their beloved songs came off their first two albums, as Simple Plan’s later records saw them move in more of a pop direction with ‘When I’m Gone’, before dropping a sugary collab with Natasha Bedingfield called ‘Jet Lag’.

Tbh, this is not the Simple Plan I knew and loved in my youth.

It’s time to walk through Simple Plan’s most beloved tunes that have stood the test of time.

‘I’m Just A Kid’

Most emo lyric: “I think I’ve got a lot of friends, but I don’t hear from them. What’s another night all alone when you’re spending everyday on your own.”

This is the first Simple Plan song I heard and tbh, I wasn’t a huge fan. It kind of sounds like a song The Wiggles would sing if they were cosplaying as a bunch of emo teens — which is something I’d like to see tbh.

It’s a bit basic but the song/video clip was very of its time. It’s still a bit of a bop.

‘I’d Do Anything’

Most emo lyric: “Together we broke all the rules, dreaming of dropping out of school, and leave this place to never come back.”

I was a much bigger fan of this tune. It still slaps. It’s all about first love and the pain of losing it. And Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus makes an unnecessary cameo because… well, it’s 2002.

‘Addicted’

Most emo lyric: “Now it’s over, can’t forget what you said. And I never, want to do this again.”

I’m sorry but the opening line, “I heard you’re doing okay but I want you to know, I’m a dick… I’m addicted to you,” is still pure poetry. I wish my ex-boyfriends were this honest.

‘Perfect’

Most emo lyric: “Hey, Dad, look at me. Think back, and talk to me, did I grow up according to plan? And do you think I’m wasting my time, doing things I wanna do? But it hurts when you disapprove all along.”

Simple Plan have arrived! This was a teen emo anthem for kids with shitty dads, or at the very least those who liked to imagine they had a dysfunctional family for the length of this song.

This isn’t just a song for problematic parents though, it can be applied to many different circumstances. Who hasn’t screamed out “‘Cause we lost it all, nothin’ lasts forever, I’m sorry I can’t be perfecttttt,” in their bedroom at 9:45pm on a Thursday because your MSN crush just went offline? Just me??

‘Welcome To My Life’

Most emo lyric: “Do you ever want to run away? Do you lock yourself in your room? With the radio on turned up so loud that no one hears you screaming.”

If ‘Perfect’ was Simple Plan’s anthem then ‘Welcome to My Life’ was a peek into the band’s personal diary. Brimming with enough teen angst to fill a MCR stadium, the song’s lyrics relay all the perils of growing up and feeling misunderstood.

‘Shut Up!’

Most emo lyric: “You think you’re special. But I know, and I know, and I know, and we know, that you’re not.”

Shut up, Mum!!! Shut up, Dad!!! JUST SHUT UP!! The early ’00s saw two ‘shut up’ anthems released in quick succession, starting with the Black Eyed Peas’ ‘Shut Up’ in 2003 before Simple Plan dropped a song of the same title in 2004.

It’s a simple song but it sends a succinct message: shut up!!!

‘Untitled’

Most emo lyric: “How could this happen to me? I’ve made my mistakes. Got nowhere to run, the night goes on as I’m fading away. I’m sick of this life, I just wanna scream.”

Here we are: the emo ballad to end all emo ballads. Oh boy. The way this song and Evanescence’s ‘My Immortal’ had me in a chokehold in the early ’00s while feeling all my feelings.

‘Your Love Is Lie’

Most emo lyric: “I can’t bite my tongue forever while you try to play it cool. You can hide behind your stories but don’t take me for a fool.”

This was arguably Simple Plan’s last good song, but it still pales in comparison to their earlier hits. It came off the band’s third album which also featured the very poppy ‘When I’m Gone’, and while this song was far less rocking than tunes off Simple Plan’s first two albums, it still has some head-banging moments.

–

Thank you, Simple Plan, for dropping emo anthems you can play around your mum and dad without them asking too many questions.