revid | Some "Old School" Emo Music...

Inspired by

tasyfa's (among others) recent post, here are a few of my favorite emo songs. Just to be a little different, the newest of these dates to 10 years ago, the oldest, River, is 35 years old--1971. (Which amazes me to realize that!) Just goes to show that emo wasn't invented with Jimmy Eat World. :-)

Edit: OK, I added a Green Day Song from 1998.

River - Joni Mitchell The saddest Christmas carol ever written, but so beautiful. If you only download one, this is it.

Backstreets - Bruce Springteen A deep, layered song about a relationship ended by infidelity, made more poignant by Bruce's tortured growling voice.

A Long December - Counting Crows I listened to this song over and over one December when I was in a bit of a sub-clinical depression a few years back. But my favorite line was always ...maybe this year will be better than the last...--a glimmer of hope.

Lightning Crashes - Live How can a song about a woman dying in childbirth not be sad? But even more than the lyrics, the melody is just so evocative by itself.

Driving With The Brakes On - Del Amitri Del Amitri was a Scottish pop/folk/rock group from the 90s that only achieved cult status in the US. Have you ever known that you should break up with someone, but you just can't? I always loved Justin Currie's beautiful throaty voice, but even more so on this song.

Heart of the Matter - Don Henley Most you are familiar with this actually uplifting song about finally coming to terms with a relationship that ended badly.

Alison - Elvis Costello Perhaps my favorite song about unrequited love. Billie Joe Armstrong will be performing at a tribute show for EC in May and I am praying he does this song (and we get a recording of it of course).

Redundant - Green Day I didn't see any Green Day on anyone's list. This is, to me, the song that fits in this category the best.