Mad World was written by Tears for Fears and released in 1982, but the version most clips use is Gary Jules' sparse 2001 cover recorded for the Donnie Darko soundtrack. Its fragile piano and weary vocal made it a natural fit for emotional fan edits, and it spread across YouTube compilations before becoming a staple of sad TikTok memes and tribute videos. Years later it remains shorthand for melancholy online, instantly signalling that something bittersweet or heartbreaking just happened.