Scene Kids: A Fun Look Back at the 2000s Scene Era

If you were online in 2007, you remember the scene kids. The hair was teased so high it had its own weather system. The skinny jeans were neon green. Somebody had a Hello Kitty backpack, a studded belt and a Sidekick phone full of photos taken from above. It was loud, colorful, ridiculous and honestly a lot of fun.

Let's take a happy trip back to the scene era: what it was, what it sounded like, how it looked and why it's sneaking back into style.

What was the scene?

"Scene" was a youth style that took off in the mid-to-late 2000s. It grew out of emo but went in a much brighter direction. Where emo was mostly black, side fringe and heartfelt guitars, scene was neon, cartoons, synths and attitude.

The scene lived on the internet. MySpace, which launched in 2003, was its home base. Photo sites and forums turned some scene kids into early internet celebrities long before anyone said "influencer."

Scene style: the full starter pack

The hair

The hair was the main event:

• Teased crown with as much volume as physically possible
• Choppy layers and a long, heavy fringe swept to one side
• Bold colors: black with bright streaks, hot pink, electric blue, bleach blond
• Raccoon tails, also called "coontails," striped sections of hair in two colors
• Extensions for extra length and color
• Bows and clips for an extra cute touch

If you want to bring some of this back today, our guide to emo hairstyles covers modern takes.

The clothes

• Skinny jeans in neon, plaid or checkerboard
• Band tees, often cut, layered or in bright colors
• Studded belts, sometimes two at once
• Checkered Vans or high-top sneakers
• Hoodies with prints, ears or zips everywhere
• Tutus, tights and arm warmers
• Kandi bracelets, the colorful beaded bracelets people made and traded

The accessories

Scene kids loved cute and slightly creepy characters:

• Hello Kitty
• Domo
• GIR from Invader Zim
• Skelanimals
• Plush toys clipped to bags
• Giant headphones
• Snake bites and lip rings

Hot Topic was the go-to mall store for a lot of this, alongside thrift stores and DIY.

Scene music

Scene kids listened to a lot of different things, but some sounds defined the era.

Crunkcore and electronic pop punk

Synths, Auto-Tune and party energy:

• Brokencyde – the band most associated with crunkcore
• 3OH!3 – "Don't Trust Me" was everywhere in 2008
• Metro Station – "Shake It" was a scene anthem
• Cobra Starship – catchy, dancey and fun
• Breathe Carolina – synthy, screamy, very scene

Metalcore and "crabcore"

Heavier bands with breakdowns, screams and, in some cases, synths:

• Attack Attack! – the "Stick Stickly" video (2008) gave the world "crabcore," named after the squatting crab-walk guitar stance
• Bring Me the Horizon – their early albums were huge in the scene
• Asking Alexandria – metalcore with a party edge
• Black Veil Brides – theatrical, heavy and very eyeliner-forward

The emo and pop-punk overlap

Plenty of scene kids also loved Panic! at the Disco, Paramore, Fall Out Boy and other bands from the emo world. The line between emo and scene was always blurry. For the full story of emo itself, check our post on what emo is.

Scene culture: MySpace and beyond

The MySpace profile

Your MySpace page was your whole identity:

• The Top 8, where ranking your friends was serious business
• A profile song that autoplayed when someone visited
• Custom layouts with glitter text, sparkles and backgrounds that made pages almost unreadable
• The default friend, Tom, who was everyone's first friend

The profile song thing never really went away. On Alt Chat, every profile can have an Anthem, a song that plays when someone opens your profile. It's the same joy of picking the perfect track, minus the glitter cursor.

The angles

The scene photo was taken from above, with the camera held high, the head tilted and the fringe covering one eye. Bonus points for a peace sign or a duck face.

The slang

• "Rawr", often with the explanation that it meant "I love you" in dinosaur
• xD and :3
• <3 at the end of every message
• sparkly text and alternating CaPiTaL lEtTeRs
• "PC4PC", picture comment for picture comment
• "Thanks for the add"

Scene vs emo vs goth

Quick guide:

• Emo: guitar music rooted in hardcore punk, mostly dark colors, side fringe, heartfelt lyrics.
• Scene: brighter, louder offshoot of emo, neon colors, teased hair, electronic and metalcore music, very online.
• Goth: post-punk roots from the late 70s and early 80s, dark and romantic, atmospheric music.

Want the full breakdown? Read our post on emo vs goth.

Is scene coming back?

Yes, in its own way. Scene-inspired looks have been popping up again on social media, mixed with e-girl and modern alt fashion. People are teasing their hair, adding raccoon stripes and wearing neon again, usually with a little more ease than the 2007 versions. The nostalgia boom that brought back emo nights and 2000s reunions has also put scene music back on playlists.

If you love the newer take, our guide to e-girl and e-boy style shows how scene influences show up today.

Why scene kids were great

Looking back, scene was:

• Creative. People cut their own hair, made their own kandi and designed their own layouts.
• Social. It was all about friends, shows and showing off your style.
• Playful. It never took itself too seriously, even with all those breakdowns.
• A gateway. Lots of people who started out scene went on to discover punk, metal, goth and everything else.

So if you have an old photo of yourself with a neon fringe and three belts, don't hide it. Post it. Somebody out there had the exact same outfit, and they'd love to talk about it.

FAQ

What is a scene kid?

A scene kid was part of a mid-to-late 2000s youth style that grew out of emo, known for teased colorful hair, neon clothes, cute cartoon accessories and a big MySpace presence. Musically it leaned toward electronic-tinged pop punk, crunkcore and metalcore.

What is the difference between emo and scene?

Emo is a music genre with roots in 1980s hardcore punk, and the emo look is mostly black and moody. Scene came later and was brighter and louder, with neon colors, huge teased hair and a more playful, internet-driven vibe.

What music did scene kids listen to?

A mix of crunkcore, electronicore, synth-heavy pop punk and metalcore. Think Brokencyde, 3OH!3, Metro Station, Breathe Carolina, Attack Attack!, Cobra Starship and early Bring Me the Horizon.

Is scene style coming back?

Yes. Scene looks have been popping up again on social media, often mixed with e-girl and modern alt styles. The teased hair and bright colors are back, usually with a bit more ease than the 2007 versions.