Winter Kills was written by Alison Moyet and released by British synth pop duo Yazoo on their 1982 debut album Upstairs at Eric's. Unlike the group's upbeat singles, the track is minimal and sombre, which helped it endure as a mood piece rather than a chart memory. Clips from the original recording circulate online for edits needing that specific cold, early eighties atmosphere. Its continued use comes from how quickly the vocal and arrangement signal loss and winter, without needing lyrics explained or a full song playing underneath the video.