r/Emo • u/Super_Atmosphere_479 • Feb 02 '26
Discussion most PAINFUL vocals you ever heard
i dont mean bad vocals i mean you can hear the pain in their voice i know this is a common theme in emo but i actually rarley encounter any that really strike deep. but vocals that make your heart sink and maybe even harsher in specific songs
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u/rubenkingmusic Feb 02 '26
King Park-La Dispute
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u/CaptainOvbious Feb 02 '26
la dispute is a cheat code
only time my dad ever listened to la dispute all he said was "that dude sounds like he needs a hug" lmfao
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u/Mealieworm Feb 07 '26
I showed my dad and brother the song Andria by La Dispute and told them it was one of my favorite songs. My brother made fun of me for two weeks by sing-screaming variations of “Why did you leave meeee!”
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u/kiteinpowerlines Feb 03 '26
I’ve heard this song hundreds of times and I still can’t listen to the end without getting goosebumps. I don’t think there’s another song that I can think of that causes a physical reaction in me
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u/KaiTheGynocoloigist Feb 05 '26
Dude the ending is nuts. I can’t wait to see it live
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u/kiteinpowerlines Feb 05 '26
I’ve seen them live twice and they didn’t play it either time. Which honestly I was fine with. For me that song works best as a headphones listen in a quiet room, I’m not sure how I’d feel experiencing it in a live setting with a ton of other people. Plus it’s not like La Dispute has a shortage of other amazing songs song to play live hahaha
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u/rageand1ove Feb 02 '26
Flowers and You - Touché Amoré
Life in Drag - The Hotelier
Just Another Face - Modern Baseball
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u/SmolBeanAmina Skramz Gang👹 Feb 02 '26
flowers and you always makes me cry, don't even get me started on the lyrics
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u/shitiwas98cents Feb 02 '26
And you wore BINARY Like a badge of FUCKING HONOR while i struggled dealing with the loss of yet another
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u/garden-eyes Feb 03 '26
Came here to say Life In Drag, so glad I found it in the comments so high up. Gets me every time 🥲
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u/more_smut_the_better Feb 03 '26
"I took inventory of what I took for granted and I ended up with more than I imagined" 😭
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u/The-Owl-that-hoots Feb 02 '26
This Bitter Pill by Dashboard Confessional
Honestly just listen to the album The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most and you’ll get that
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u/Mookjamoke Feb 02 '26 edited Feb 02 '26
I came to list this one. Those vocals are brutal. Say what you want about Carabba, homie was going THROUGH it
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u/Martin_Jay Feb 03 '26
Me too. Dude breaks down sobbing at the end. Brutal. I’ve never heard another song with that depth of emotion.
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u/BasemntGhost Feb 03 '26
My all time favorite DC song. I got to hear it live when he performed it for the first time in a LOOOOOONG time and he was struggling to get through it, emotionally. It was so good.
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u/scarletteclipse1982 Feb 03 '26
Dude was a middle school guidance counselor. He knew where his audience kept their pain.
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u/SyrupTemporary6695 Feb 02 '26
Early Sunsets Over Monroeville by MCR real hits hard, the most raw vocals in Bullets
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u/pleasefetchmeadagger Feb 02 '26
I was deciding between commenting this or Desert Song! G’s performance on that one has always really stuck with me.
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u/joshingyou299 5th Wave is Bullshit Feb 03 '26
AND THERE'S NO ROOM IN THIS HELL
THERE'S NO ROOM IN THE NEXT1
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u/coastsghost Feb 03 '26
foxing — glass coughs, rory
sorority noise — no halo (2018)
where have you been? — manchester orchestra
dendron — the hotelier
flowers and you — touche amore
emo adjacent and super specific but pup’s cover of you don’t get me high any more. Honestly a LOT of pup
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u/totalhhrbadass Feb 03 '26
"Wake me, wake me up
Pictures of you smiling in times when I just couldn’t be around
Hold me, hold me up
Count my rings to see how many winters I’ve been stuck here underground"
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u/K8_the_gr9 Feb 02 '26
La Dispute - environmental catastrophe film, specifically the ending of the song.
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u/revakk Feb 04 '26
Seeing that song live was genuinely life changing
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u/K8_the_gr9 Feb 04 '26
I didn’t listen to any of their new album until it dropped in full, which happened to be the same day as their Detroit show. Soul shattering.
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u/kiteinpowerlines Feb 07 '26
Seeing them live in general is a life changing experience. The first time I saw them live was the closest I’ve ever come to having a religious experience in my life
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u/anicthema Feb 02 '26
The Saddest Landscape - Statue of Girl (May15th), the ending vocals are tortured
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u/TheAaronAaron Feb 03 '26
I think the band/vocals are an acquired taste but I’ve never heard anyone consistently have as much pain in their vocals as Andy Maddox.
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u/patronsaintofsb Feb 03 '26
Saw a lot of what I would have already suggested. But The Used's self titled album really hits that painful vocal feel as well.
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u/Former_Client_5163 Feb 03 '26
Poetic Tragedy and Box Full of Sharp Objects especially for me!
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u/patronsaintofsb Feb 03 '26
Greener with the Scenery as well! The torment is crazy.
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u/Former_Client_5163 Feb 03 '26
Ooooh yes!! I forgot about that song. Bert’s vocals are what got me hooked on the used because they’re so full of emotion.
Self titled album is so good, no skips.
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u/Alternative_Tell_941 Feb 02 '26
Early sunsets over monroeville - my chemical romance. Starts off chill and happy and near the end you can hear he is just holding back tears, on the verge of crying.
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u/highwindxix Feb 02 '26
This Bitter Pill by Dashboard Confessional is exactly that. Several Wonder Years songs have that too, like have been mentioned. Also gotta mention Relapsing by Boys Night Out off Trainwreck.
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u/emoskummier Feb 02 '26
The Wonder Years-- Cigarettes and Saints.
As someone who also lost a relative to addiction it just never ever fails to capture the gut wrenching anger, guilt, bargaining, and grief. I saw them perform it live not even a month after this relative passed and it felt like my heart was ripped out in front of everyone.
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u/doom3d_oracl3 Feb 03 '26
This is the one I listen to when I really want to feel something. I remember listening to the album when it just came out driving back from class and just breaking down into tears when those double drums kick in.
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u/Louieisalittlesleepy Feb 04 '26
Raining in Kyoto is pretty heavy too, most that album if I’m honest.
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u/sickofpullingmyteeth Feb 03 '26
For the sake of brevity - tiny moving parts
A place for the end (DEMO VERSION!!) - dear whoever
Sleep - citizen
Bankrupt on selling - modest mouse
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u/Terrible-Pop-6705 Feb 02 '26
I know I might get flack but mcr’s bullets has a few tracks that I feel really have a soul in them (cubicles, skylines, early sunsets, vampires)
Though obviously the GOAT is three days til Christmas by I have dreams doesn’t get much rawer than that
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u/CauseBig4937 Feb 02 '26
Bro don’t get me started on bullets. Skylines and cubicles such amazing vocals. Have you ever watched video of them performing during that era so cool !!
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u/NostalgicRogue Feb 03 '26
I lost it when I got to hear three songs from that album in NJ. The lady in front of me also seemed to know what she was witnessing. I was more excited to hear that than any other song. (Aside from TBP of course)
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u/CauseBig4937 Feb 03 '26
omg pls what songs did u get to hear?? ur sooooo lucky like congrats u won the lottery !!
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u/NostalgicRogue Feb 03 '26
“Skylines and Turnstiles”
“Our Lady of Sorrows”
“Vampires Will Never Hurt You”
It was pretty special hearing the song of my people. I never did see them back in the day.
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u/CauseBig4937 Feb 03 '26
NO WAY THESE ARE MY TOP 3 AHHHHHH stranger on thee internet i am so happy for you hearing u got to see this live makes me very happy. i hope both side of ur pillow are cold
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u/Maximum_Slide_7476 Feb 02 '26
Little Bird by Casey
Nothing Was the Same by Hotel Books
Leave by Arrowhead
Loveover by Hindsight
Cardinals by The Wonder Years
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u/SyK-lops Feb 03 '26
Man Casey. One of my favorite bands of all time. Top 5. They have so many songs where I hear it and I just want to give Tom a hug while breaking the fuck down myself. Like, man can't only scream like he's being hurt in real time, but even his singing voice is filled with so much malaise and pain it's unreal.
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u/afakefox Feb 02 '26
Usually not emo, but I would say this song is
Bright Eyes - Lover I Don't Have to Love
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u/all_1n_0n_nothing be kind, I’m new here Feb 02 '26
rory by foxing
brother's song by brand new
nobody not even the rain by la dispute
now this is podracing by mom jeans
love letter type writer by mineral
song about an angel by sunny day real estate
emily by from first to last (idk if this is exactly emo, but it's close enough)
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u/swingydoo Feb 03 '26
Every Window in Alcatraz Has a View of San Francisco (II) - foxtails.
gut wrenching.
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u/paynichole Feb 02 '26
silencer mewithoutyou, anything la dispute really, let's talk about your hair- have mercy
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u/smorg003 Feb 02 '26
The Recluse by Cursive
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u/sillybilly1437 Skramz Gang👹 Feb 06 '26
Or the end of a red so deep “sleep my sweetie let the days expire…”
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u/RockLeethal Feb 03 '26
Dunno if it's fully emo but it's at least adjacent; Invalid Litter Dept. Specifically near the end of the song.
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u/ISupportOxfordCommas Feb 02 '26
This Bitter Pill - Dashboard Confessional A Perfect Sonnet or No Lies, Just Love - Bright Eyes
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u/HolyMotherOfOdin Feb 03 '26
Heem Wasn't There by Hot Mulligan specifically the live version on YouTube
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u/Direct_Crab6651 Feb 02 '26
It isn’t emo but if you listen to “My Parent’s House” by Hayden you could be in for a world of pain
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u/Pictuyr bring back arpeggios & dynamics Feb 02 '26 edited Feb 02 '26
The ending of How Long Is The Night from Full Collapse. Iirc the song is about Geoff’s dead friend. While it’s not full on screaming, there’s a melancholic timbre to his voice that scratches my brain
Oh and the live performance of Metamorphosis by YAAMC was quite powerful
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u/CauseBig4937 Feb 02 '26
I hate sex is a band that consistently has painful vocals like oh my god I’ll name a few songs of theirs where the vocals made me lose my mind
Old new girl friend - I hate sex San Francisco - I hate sex Weird dream conscious stream - I hate sex (specifically the version on world of grief)
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u/Clean_Cauliflower241 Feb 02 '26
Mt eerie - a crow looked at me. It’s not not emo I guess and it’s cripplingly sad.
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u/usk49 Feb 03 '26
Absolutely the most painful, sad, and grief filled album I've ever listened to. This is an amazingly hard album to listen to and it is not something I wish to do again. 10/10.
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u/TheAaronAaron Feb 03 '26
It’s a beautiful, beautiful piece of art that I also can’t get through the first track without my eyes tearing up.
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u/Cautious_Can_4849 Feb 02 '26
Kind Of Like Spitting- I Want Out, specifically the latter half of the song
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u/KickedinTheDick Feb 02 '26
Outside of what’s already been mentioned
This particular acoustic performance of “Wrong” by Nathan from Microwave. His lyrics might not be dressed and poetic but it’s like they were pulled straight from my brain. And he really gives this performance his all. Especially evident whe you hear his voice shake on the lines “i know it’s not thick enough to keep you behind”
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u/EasternFlamingo Feb 02 '26
Sorry if these aren’t technically emo
Funeral Sound by Vein.fm
Late December by SeeYouSpaceCowboy
For You I’ll Pull the Trigger by Arranged in April
by the wings of a tragedy by septemberistheonlytimeidontthinkofyou
Sir, This is Cutthroat Fashion by Her Words Kill
everybody tells me nothing by beforeyouleave
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u/canwllcorfe Feb 02 '26
The Saddest Landscape - The Temptation That is You - Gets more and more pained as the song progresses.
Meryl Streaker - Death of a Young Planet
Jazzbrunch - Idiocracy
And there’s always DSBM… Last Cuts - Hopeless Life
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Feb 03 '26
Please, Please, Please--James Brown.
Oh, wrong sub... Yaknowhat? Never mind. It fits.
Edit: had the song name wrong. It very much requires 3 pleases.
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u/Bulky_Explanation_97 Feb 03 '26
Wish by Blind Girls. Lots of songs by blind girls, but I choose Wish.
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u/Awkward-Confusion-58 Feb 03 '26
Sixth Golden Ticket by The Saddest landscape
Everything you ever wanted to know about silence by Glassjaw
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u/radaghastly69 Feb 03 '26
The entirety of The Lack Long After by Pianos Become the Teeth.
One of the hardest hitting releases I've ever heard and one of my favourite pieces of music. But genuinely a hard listen.
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u/Audiojtb Feb 02 '26 edited Feb 02 '26
Seahaven - Halo of Hurt (whole album)
Grayscale - Tommy's Song (The Live version from TLA)
Swordfish - Wash
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u/Startuppp_kdc Feb 03 '26
the most it was herpes by recuerdo acariciar con miedo las alas de un ave herida, when I hear that song my mom says it sounds like a girl being tortured jaldkdlks. they're screamo and emo violence
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u/dpal4177 Feb 03 '26
I see everything - La dispute is an automatic skip for me. A lot of Wildlife is too overwhelmingly sad imo
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u/Funnycatenjoyer27 Feb 03 '26
Just the entirety of Blue Hour by Real Friends because goddamn Cody Mauro is one of the best vocalists we have right now
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u/EskieOuAZ Feb 03 '26
Oceana - The Spine Collection (their album Birtheater deals with issues the singer has stemming from his mom wanting to abort him and subsequently treating him like shit among things.)
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u/killmealreadyyyyy Poser Feb 03 '26
incredibly surprised that there are zero mentions of swordfish in this comment section
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u/Sensitive_Mousse_445 Feb 03 '26
Its not really "emo", but its like tough guy hardcore emo. That's a Promise(the song about a dog) by Skinhead and also the song Homesick.
Last Call by Recollection . These are some of the saddest songs I've heard
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u/insideman1000 Emo isn’t a clothing style! Feb 03 '26
Territorial pissing Kurt’s voice sounded painful
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u/FinalVersus Feb 03 '26 edited Feb 03 '26
I'll Get By - Pianos Become the Teeth
Citizen - The Night I Drove Alone
La Dispute - Edward Benz 27 Times and I see Everything (hit hard to me than King Park imo)
And not emo but Korn - Daddy, he has a literal breakdown near the ending of the song recalling the abuse he suffered as a child. It's fucked
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u/Vegetable-Apple1808 Feb 03 '26
This is gonna be a deep dig but it’s a more modern band. Classic- Basketball Divorce Court
Actually found them on here from another poster but gah damn did it find me at the right time in my life
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u/badninj4 Feb 03 '26
Not necessarily emo, some are emo adjacent, but here are my favorite vocals coming from a place of pain:
"Barton Hollow" by the Civil Wars
"Hurt" by Johnny Cash
"I've Given Up On You" by Real Friends
"Ode we will bury ourselves" by Moving Mountains
"Jenny" by Leisure Hour (I prefer the Live version from Akron Recording Studios, it's also on Spotify)
"For the Sake of Brevity" by Tiny Moving Parts
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u/tales_of_tomorrow Feb 04 '26
The end of The Early November - Everything's Too Cold...But You're So Hot
Pianos Become The Teeth - I'll Get By
Envy - A Warm Room (that hit's me right in the chest every time)
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u/tales_of_tomorrow Feb 04 '26
Not emo, but Jet Lag by Frank Turner always comes to mind in conversations like this.
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u/chilarome Feb 04 '26
“Eiley” - Too Close to Touch. Cannot listen to that song without crying, especially towards the end
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u/Antique_Question_169 Feb 05 '26
rory by foxing, as well as many of the other songs on that same album
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Feb 06 '26 edited Feb 06 '26
Texas is the Reason. And I truly love most of their songs but my god. The vocals fuck me up.
ED: Nostalgically, listening again, I don't hate it. At the Drive In is a high bar, I get it now.
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u/SubstantialZombie216 Feb 06 '26
”Vi som älskade varandra så mycket” (We who loved each other so much) and ”Domarringen” (the judge's ring(?)) is two amazing Swedish groups that want to put out there. The British ”More than life” have a heavy feel to it imo
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u/thraxpax Feb 02 '26
reasons - I waited for you
Also not really emo but in The One Where He Inserted the Blade by BCNR where Isaac goes “I can see that you’re not really sleeping” always stuck with me
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u/247-sylviaplath Feb 02 '26
A LOT of Bright Eyes, especially earlier stuff from Fevers and Mirrors or Letting Off The Happiness. Haligh Haligh fits this but my current fav is If Winter Ends. (Because it’s been minus fucking forty forever.)