The song “Dear Maria Count Me In” by All Time Low came out more than 13 years ago. Just a few months ago, the song, a pop-punk staple, became a newfound sensation on the social media app TikTok after a guy wearing a Vans beanie filmed himself rocking out to the song and proclaiming, “Mom, it was never a phase. It’s a lifestyle.”
It caught on. His video gained a couple of million views and others filmed their own versions. Even the lead singer of All Time Low made one.
And that phrase “Mom, it was never a phase. It’s a lifestyle.” became a sort of rallying cry for fans of emo music who never left behind their love of emo music.