10 emo songs from 2005 that never left your playlist
It’s hard to fathom that 2005 was 15 years ago, but it’s even harder to imagine that songs such as “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” and “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” have been spinning on repeat for one-and-half decades. 2005 birthed both classic emo anthems and killer debut albums from some of our favorite artists. Check out our list of emo songs below that are celebrating their 15th birthday this year.
1. Fall Out Boy – “Sugar, We’re Goin Down”
That’s right: You’ve been singing this Fall Out Boy anthem at the top of your lungs for 15 years. “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” was the first single heard from their second full-length, From Under The Cork Tree, and it single-handedly catapulted the Chicago pop-punk favorites into the mainstream light. It spent 79 weeks on the Billboard 200, engraving a loaded God complex disguised as one of the most popular emo songs of all time permanently in our minds.
2. Plain White T’s – “Hey There Delilah”
This Plain White T’s track is recognizable to music fans of any genre. “Hey There Delilah” appeared on their third album All That We Needed in 2005 and has been on your local rock radio station ever since. It eventually reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart two years later and has since been heard on popular television shows like Family Guy and Orange Is The New Black. It’s been every young Casanova’s anthem for years and has little to no interest in going away anytime soon.
3. Thirty Seconds to Mars – “The Kill”
Thirty Seconds To Mars gifted us with multiple bangers on their second album, A Beautiful Lie. From the title track to “From Yesterday,” the Jared Leto-fronted alternative act completed the package with “The Kill.” The haunting track came delivered with a Shining-inspired music video to match that would pull in any fan of the classic horror story.
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4. The All-American Rejects – “Dirty Little Secret”
The All-American Rejects gained traction with their debut album in 2002, but they began attracting mainstream success with their second full-length, Move Along, in 2005. The music video for “Dirty Little Secret” gave a unique spin on the popular PostSecret website as actors held notecards over their faces to represent their “Dirty Little Secret.”
5. Panic! At The Disco – “I Write Sins Not Tragedies”
In 2005, Panic! At The Disco released their debut album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, which launched one of their most-played singles to date. “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” had everyone talking about the then new act. It reached No. 7 on Billboard’s Hot 100, which was Panic!’s only Top 40 single in the U.S. until 2015’s hit “Hallelujah.” Additionally, the music video became famous for its iconic depiction of vocalist Brendon Urie as a ringmaster and a wedding that spirals into chaos.
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6. The Academy Is… – “The Phrase That Pays”
The Academy Is… dropped their debut album, Almost Here, in 2005, which was packed full of incredible songs such as “Checkmarks” and “Down And Out” from front to back. “The Phrase That Pays” introduced us to lead singer William Beckett and crew, who captured our hearts for two more full-lengths before their breakup announcement in 2011.
7. Jack’s Mannequin – “Dark Blue”
Following a hiatus from Something Corporate in the early 2000s crawled a new project from Andrew McMahon: Jack’s Mannequin. The band dropped their debut album, Everything In Transit, in 2005, charting at No. 37 on the Billboard 200, thanks to the hauntingly beautiful track “Dark Blue.” The song was played live on One Tree Hill and went certified gold in 2013, eight years after its release.
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8. Death Cab For Cutie – “I Will Follow You Into The Dark”
“I Will Follow You Into The Dark” was one of many moving tracks off Plans, the fifth full-length from emo favorites Death Cab For Cutie. The haunting track was certified gold, and it’s their best-selling single to date. Plans hit No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and earned Death Cab a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album.
9. Paramore – “Emergency”
All We Know Is Falling was the debut album from Paramore, and little did we know just how influential that Tennessee band would become. “Emergency” was one of three singles from the debut record, showcasing the unforgettable voice of lead singer Hayley Williams.
10. Flyleaf – “I’m So Sick”
“I’m So Sick” introduced Flyleaf frontwoman Lacey Sturm to the world with her mix of both clean and dirty vocals We’d already been introduced to Paramore’s Williams just months before Flyleaf unleashed their debut record, so having both of these women in the genre was equally refreshing and thrilling. Flyleaf’s debut self-titled album first appeared at No. 57 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified platinum.
What’s your favorite emo song from 2005? Let us know in the comments below!
