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Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (by My Chemical Romance, Rock)

common sense media says

Way too dark for tweens and younger teens.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that nearly all of the material on this record romanticizes killing, suicide, and going down in flames with guns ablaze. The cover is representative of the content, showing blood-splashed lovers. My Chemical Romance can make violence and funeral homes seem sexy, especially to teenagers. Stories often revolve around Bonnie and Clyde-type themes. The lyrics are definitely too much for tweens and young teens. There's also cursing in four or five songs for dramatic effect.

Positive messages: Very anti-society. The protagonist of nearly every song is some sort of outlaw. Romanticizes killing, suicide, and going down in flames with guns ablaze.
Violence: Extreme. Many songs contain blood-soaked imagery, and there is a lot of focus on death.
Sex: Some vague "laying down with you," references. Nothing overt.
Language: Many songs use profanity.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: A couple brief mentions of drugs and alcohol.

More on Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about putting the stories in context, that they're fictional and not representative of real life. In what ways are these modern tales similar to classic romantic tragedies where love gets cut short needlessly? Why would anyone find "romance" in violence?

What's the story?

What's the story?
My Chemical Romance is a very powerful band, which explains why they're so popular with kids interested in guitar music. Too few bands actually bother telling vivid stories in their lyrics, while setting them to exciting music. THREE CHEERS FOR SWEET REVENGE is aimed squarely at teenagers who believe their lives are over with every breakup, or simply feel like outsiders. "To the End," deals with the protagonist taking cyanide, and mixes the imagery with a wedding becoming a tomb. "The Ghost of You," finds the protagonist pondering whether to join his dead girlfriend. "Cemetery Drive," mentions suicide and drinking in a cemetery.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The band makes loud, focused, driving music that's much better than most of the power-punk out there. There's the intensity and fashion sense of goth music, combined with the musical force of punk-metal. The language isn't gratuitous, but it can be severe. Nearly all the tracks are violent or deal with death (or both). Bottom line: This dark CD is NOT for kids.

Music themes & details

Music Details
Released on: June 8, 2004
Label: Reprise
Genre: Rock
Parental advisory: Yes

This review was written by Tony Hicks
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13

Most useful reviews by all members

Jacq426
adult
 
This Band Saves Life.
Here's the thing you have to understand about MCR: if you love them, and trust me...my love for them is near utter devotion, then you know that their message is not about death and blood soaked revenge and violence: it's about finding hope even in the darkest situations. Ask any devote fan of MCR and they will tell you: this band saved their life. It held their hand during their darkest hours and told them to just hold on a little bit longer. That's the real MCR message.

Venganza
teen, 14 years old
 
Honestly?
You've got to be joking. 17+? This band is absolutely amazing. Compared to the typical sex filled Z100 songs, I'm really horrified at the rating. Come on.

GeorgiaS
teen, 17 years old
 
Love, Love, Love it!
Very anti-society? Oh come on! Society is screwed and My Chemical Romance are one of the few bands that get that. Because of how society is screwed, people find life incredibly hard and this album has helped me get through some tough times. This is one of the best albums I have heard, period. It doesn't romanticise death, it provides messages of support to fans who are facing challenges in their lives weather it be depression, or bullying. They are the best.

EmiEss
teen, 15 years old
 
You need to CALM DOWN.
Ok, so, I found this band when I was 10. Anyone who says this isn't appropriate for that age is seriously trying to shelter their kids from reality. It's a CD, there's words, there's a story to it. It's not a guidebook for their lives. You just have to make sure your kid isn't completely stupid before you hand them a CD like this one. I mean, come on. 17+? Really? I had this CD at age 10! Did I turn out to be a horrible person? No! Infact had I not found this band, I think I'd be a brain dead product of the media begging to go to a Justin Bieber concert... Their new CD, Danger Days is also amazing. I think it's their best, really, and there's no dark tones to it. It's fabulous.

Peroxide Princess
teen, 14 years old
 
What. The. Hell.
What the hell? The reveiwer is an idiot. This music is fantastic.

DeNyS
teen, 14 years old
 
I love mcr

heartlessxsinner
teen, 16 years old
 
Seventeen and up?
Seventeen and up? What the heck? The dropped the f-bomb twice, and once it can't hardly be heard. I've been listening to them since I was like, eight, and other than having issues with depresssion, (from childhood deaths, not My Chem lyrics,) I'm perfectly fine. 'The Jetset Life Is Gonna Kill You,' does contain lyrics about killing oneself, but in the birdge he says, 'Pull the plug, but I'd like to learn your name. Holding on, I hope you do the same.' It's basically saying that they want that person to change their mind. And on the song 'Cemetery Drive,' in the second verse, it's incredibly hard to hear unless you have your headphones half in, but you hear him say, 'Don't do it,' a total of sixteen times, and they're saying that this album glamorizes suicide? It's about a guy trying to get his lover back. And the first song is about their grandma. I mean, come on! The second one is about teen pregnancy, third is a song about a short story called 'A Rose for Emily,' the fourth is about being in prison, the fifth is about being in high school, the sixth is about losing someone, the seventh, 'The Jetset Life is Gonna Kill You,' I already explained, the eighth is an interlude, the ninth is about feeling empathy, the tenth is a tribute to a Clint Eastwood movie, the eleventh is about revenge, yes, but also rising from your own ashes and standing up for yourself, the twelfth was also explained, and the thirteenth is about getting his love back and what he did to do so. Again, I mus say, seventeen and up?

RockMyWorld
teen, 15 years old
 
Perfect for tweens and up.
For younger kids, the songs are pretty catchy, and as teens, the words take on meanings. The opening song Helena is about the death of lead singer Gerards grandmother and how he misses her. The lyrics are very deep and have to deal with a lot of dark material, but many teens, young and old can feel like they have someone to relate to. The song Im Not Okay is pretty much telling kids that its okay to be a little different, maybe even a little messed up, but youll make it through. This album affected me so deeply (got a hold of it when I was 11 I think..), it got me through middle school and through all the torment I had to endure. It boosted myself esteem, and Im confident in my own skin. I believe this album is great for ANY kid as long as your kid knows that they cant just mindlessly take lyrics at face value and go kill people. But if your kid is THAT mindless and following of mere words, you already have a problem on your hands and this album is not at fault. The only concern is the song You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison, which is about prison rape, but most kids may not get the references made about it since it is never spoken, it is just assumed but at one point the singer screams 'they make me do pushups in drag' rather quietly though. Overall, great album, great concept, life changing band<3 Gerard Way is a great role model too.

ImNotOkay
teen, 14 years old
 
my favorite album EVER
well, okay, i'll admit, when i bought this i was twelve and i had to kind of take a deep breath after i finished listening to this album all the way through. it's just really heavy and fast. and before this, i was listing to Taylor Swift and Paramore. the themes and messages weren't an issue for me (i watch CSI and Criminal Minds). this album isn't really supposed to be taken seriously. it's supposed to be like a horror film. you should be smart enough not to take it seriously when they say stuff about killing and blood. it also teaches about the REAL world and how everything's not all "Love Story"s (Taylor Swift) and "Fairy tales" (also Taylor Swift). and that "can make violence and funeral homes seem sexy" part? "Helena" is about his dead grandma that he misses and how you shouldn't waste your life missing the people you lost, you should celebrate their life and move on because they wouldn't want you to be sad all the time. the language isn't all that bad. well, at least not for me. these people are WONDERFUL role models who talk about moving on and how it's okay to be a little messed up.

owenator1234
teen, 15 years old
 
FRIGGEN AMAZING!!!!!
its an amazing album, definitly worth buying, as long as there are no young children around. It has references to depression, suicide, and is slightly disturbing when the lyrics are looked over and de-"metaphorized". The lead singer and frontman started the band BECAUSE he had witnessed 9-11, and this may explain the messed up lyrics. Uses f--k sparsely, and s--t once, but is great music compared to J----- B-----.

kill joy mcr
kid, 13 years old
 
MCR 4 EVERYONE!
this album is fine not death obsessed kids hear cursing all the time at school. MCR saves peoples lives. i bet tony hicks never even listened to this and if he did and thought it was like he said he must only listen to classical jazz because this is fine. MCR helps people get through hard times and are funny loving guys. don't hate on them hate on tony hicks and his bad taste of music

DarkArcher
teen, 14 years old
 
Fine for some Younger Teens
A lot of references to death and suicide and it obvious that the band is emo/goth. A few uses of F--k but in some songs it's in the background and it's hard to hear. I listen to it all the time and I'm thirteen.

301TheAmazingS ...
parent of 12 year old
 
Romanticizing suicide?
None of what Tony Hicks said is true. This music has been a great outlet for kids and teens who are dealing with hard times. People don't hear this music and decide that suicide is fun, they relate to it and feel better knowing that they aren't alone. Very good, though I personally prefer their 2002 album.

chillded banana
kid, 13 years old
 
fine for mature children 10+
I borowed this off my brother when iwas 10 it didnt mentaly scare or upset me. 17+ is wayyyyy to extreme. Helena is a rare thing- a song that is catchy but deep and moving song

lexijolie
teen, 17 years old
 
Parents an honest review of MCR from a reformed suicidal teen.
Listen when I was 13 I became suicidal and started cutting myself due to my best friends suicide.When I discovered My Chemical Romance I realized I was not alone and that there IS hope.To be honest,yes maybe a little violent and profane but it is like therapy that actually works.Because of MCR I stopped popping Paxils,cutting,blaming myself,and drinking.Now i'm a National Junior Honor Society member who got into UCLA Berkley and Yale early acceptance(Misdid age-Forgive my grammar)It's helped me and made me realize i'm not alone.To be honest GREAT band and would you really rather they listen to Slipknot?!Oh and this album?About his Grandmother's death!So relax a bit and buy the CD!This CD tells a story,and a epic one at that!

Jadika
adult
 
Perfect for teenagers!
This album is perfect for teenagers! Some teens depended on this album to get them through their young years. Though the messages can seem outwardly negative, the perspective of a teenager can vary greatly from that of an older parent. This album may just be what your teen needs.

Dragynwulf
teen, 15 years old
 
As lexijolie pointed out, songs about suicide and death and pain can be life-saving to depressed teenagers. I was severely depressed and suicidal for two months but I never cut my self or tried to kill myself because the music I listened to made me feel as though I was not alone. Which I'm not. Making something romantic doesn't mean that people are going to do it. Just the way there aren't a bunch of tween girls asking their boyfriends to put on vampire teeth and suck their blood, as far as i'm aware. Same thing goes for this.

ThreeDaysGrace ...
teen, 15 years old
 
I love this song. To h*** with that review.

immortal.death
kid, 13 years old
 
mcr saves lives
i think that if your kid wants to listen to it and can relate to them they should be aloud to listen to them. MCR saves lives not ends them. NOT A CULT AN ARMY! THE MCRMY!

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