Since the beloved lead singer of My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way, turned 44 on April 9, I figured it was a good time to turn my attention to the Grammy-nominated music group. Here are my top five My Chemical Romance songs.

5. “To The End” (2004)

When I first heard this song, I knew that it would be one of my favorites. The lines, “If you marry me / Would you bury me?” are haunting, summing up the entire song. There is not much to say on this song other than it’s an absolute bop and I would recommend listening to it.

4. “Welcome To The Black Parade” (2006)

The song I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for is No. 4 on the list. The song is recognizable within the first few seconds, making it an essential in any throwback playlist. Being arguably the “emo anthem,” the song has dark but hopeful lyrics that flow perfectly with the instrumentals. The first note in the piano opening is a G, making it a reminder to hardcore fans that My Chemical Romance has broken up.

3. “Teenagers” (2006)

If you’re the type who believes these are the golden years, this song is for you. The violent mood carried through while being super catchy is this track’s biggest strength. The lines, “The boys and girls in the clique / The awful names that they stick / You’re never gonna fit in much, kid” perfectly sum up most people’s experiences during their teenage years. The chorus “Teenagers scare … me / They could care less as long as someone’ll bleed” is catchy and fun to yell when you’re letting your emotions out.

2. “I’m Not Okay” (2004)

This song has a special place in my heart. The lyrics are super relatable and are somewhat optimistic unlike their other songs. The lines, “I never want to let you down / Or have you go, it’s better off this way / For all the dirty looks / The photographs your boyfriend took” set the tone for the song. The friends-to-almost-lovers lyrics remind me of “The One That Got Away” by Katy Perry and “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift. This song is bound to bring back memories you forgot you had. 

• “The Ghost of You” (2004)

This song is my No. 1 for many reasons, the main being it is the most relatable. The lyrics, “And all the things that you never ever told me, and all the smiles that are ever gonna haunt me” give an almost regretful tone, creating some sort of nostalgic feeling whenever you listen to it. The repeating line, “You are never coming home, never coming home” is heavy even without context, adding an extra layer of grief to the song. The song is able to be interpreted in many ways, making it relatable to most people one way or another. 

So whether or not you’re an old-school fan, or new to My Chemical Romance, I hope you can enjoy my list of their top five songs.