I Am The Antichrist To You by Kishi Bashi. My first time listening to it was in the Rick and Morty Episode with Planetina. I loved it and looked it up afterwards. Love the video too, still gets me a little sad every time.
The Gary Jules cover of Mad World, for the Donnie Darko soundtrack.
Similarly, the original song by Tears for Fears sounds really upbeat and happy, but you’d never know it was a sad song unless you paid attention to the lyrics. I love both versions!
That is such a great cover.
Agreed, in a similar vein I am reminded of Dear God by XTC.
Hurt by Johnny Cash.
As much as I admire and respect Johnny Cash, I prefer the original bij Nine Inch Nails . Paging /c/unpopularopinion
The different renditions tell slightly different stories IMO. There’s also a very fine bardcore version by Hildegard von Blingin’ that changes it to the story of a regretful immortal by only altering maybe 20% of the lines. I like all three versions for different reasons.
Deference for Darkness - Halo 3 ODST Soundtrack
There are a lot. I have a long playlist called “mope” But the first song that came to mind is:
“Blue Valentine” by Tom Waits. https://youtu.be/wsw0aWXufqM
Mad World - specifically the Gary Jules version. Even Tears For Fears like what he did with it.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day
Thats cheating.
Nine Inch Nails - “Leaving Hope” and “And All That Could Have Been”
Jolene as covered by Jack White. Dolly Parton singing it is also great, but to me it comes off as just another country song about infidelity. When Jack White covers it, it seems to take on a whole other perspective, but I guess that also depends on the listener too and what they project onto it.
Emmylou Harris wrote two of my tearjerker songs. Both amazing and so sad.
Red Dirt Girl, and Boulder to Birmingham.
Round Here by Counting Crows
The night we met - Lord Huron
Arms of an Angel, Sarah McLaughlan
Youth of the Nation - POD (kind of like Adam’s Song).
World at Large - Modest Mouse
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel (based on Anne Franke).
To Build a Home - Cinematic Orchestra
There were some others already mentioned. Very powerful.
The National - About Today
Radiohead - Pyramid Song
Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell (album)
Had a pretty rough year last year. Dear Agony - Breaking Benjamin was my sad song of choice.
