Honey, we need to talk.

I know for the last seven years we’ve been a happy and honest couple, but recently I’ve lost all interest. You’re not who you used to be.

When we met you were so unique and sincere, you had an edge as sharp as a guillotine’s blade, you were daring and uncompromising – you were straight up dangerous. Sure, my parents hated you and my friends didn’t understand you, but I didn’t care – the more they hated you, the more appealing you became.

In those first couple years, you supported me through my major periods of growth and helped me become the person I am today. I could always count on you to be there for me and you knew there was next to nothing I wouldn’t have done for you. These past years have continued to be an intense and exciting journey, but I have to admit my excitement has turned to boredom.

So, to be blunt, my sweet hardcore, I’ve been cheating on you with someone else.

Her name is rock ‘n’ roll.

Well, to be perfectly honest, I’ve been cheating on you with a lot of different girls – pop, folk, grind, electronic – you name it and in the last few months I’ve probably fooled around with it.

I don’t know if it was me who changed or a combination of both of us, but I just got bored; you became so sterile and I just couldn’t bear it any more. All the traces of passion and sincerity you had when I met you have completely disappeared, you’ve sold so much of yourself I hardly recognize you anymore.

The blame, however, is not all on your sudden interest in monetary success; a lot of it has come from me as well. Maybe I’m just growing up, but I’ve wanted more out of this than you can give me. I want more out of this than any one girl can give me. I need more than just anger to get me through; I long for some creativity, something new because since I’ve met you it’s been anger, anger, anger.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still angry – sure, politicians are still liars, most Americans are ignorant and our treatment of the environment and the animals that live in it is appalling – yet I can’t help but feel screaming about it isn’t going to change anything. We need to be level-headed in our approach. Besides, since we met about seven years ago, you’ve been screaming for change and what have we changed outside of our scene? Almost nothing.

You became so watered down that most of the kids you’ve roped in recently couldn’t care less about any of our society’s ills. They seem to be after your music but not the message. I felt then, like I feel now, that any hardcore or punk movement that stands for nothing and is so safe that parents approve of it is a scary, scary thing.

On our last date I tried to feel that same intensity I was used to getting from you, but was left even more jaded than I had already become. It seemed everyone was dressed at the height of Hot Topic chic and cared much more about looking cool than actually being cool. I remember a time where our ideals were in style and we wore them on our sleeves, when the fight was what compelled us, not the clothes we were wearing or hair we were sporting.

So granted you’ve changed, some may say for the better, but for those who were around before your modern makeover – we’ll either stay faithful or move on.

Well babe, I’m sad to say I’m moving on – I don’t know where I’m going and that’s the best part. I’ll always keep the records and T-shirts as mementos of what you meant to me. Don’t worry either, I’ll revisit from time to time because I don’t want it to be weird between us – I mean, I still want to be friends.

– Dante Sacomani is a junior in journalism and mass communication from St. Charles, Ill. He is the Pulse editor for the Daily.