30 Emo Songs to Send Your Crush

There's a long, proud tradition of saying "I like you" through someone else's song. It's how a whole generation flirted on MySpace, and honestly, it still works. So here are 30 emo songs for your crush, sorted from "subtle hint" to "I am basically confessing."

No lyrics here, just the songs, what they feel like and when to send them. You'll have to press play yourself.

Before you hit send

A few quick rules from people who have done this and lived:

• One song at a time. A 40-song playlist on day two is a lot. A single track says more.
• Keep the message short. "This made me think of you" or "you'd like this one" is plenty.
• Know your crush's taste. If they live for Midwest emo, a twinkly deep cut will hit harder than a radio hit.
• Don't quiz them on it. Let them listen in peace. If they reply with their own song, congratulations, you're now in a song-trading situation, which is the best situation.

Subtle hints (low risk, high charm)

Good for early days, when you just want them to think of you while they listen.

1. "Such Great Heights" – The Postal Service (Give Up, 2003). Bright, bleepy and quietly devoted. Ben Gibbard's side project became a crush classic for a reason.
2. "Sweetness" – Jimmy Eat World (Bleed American, 2001). Pure energy and a chorus made for car windows down. Easy to send, easy to love.
3. "Dizzy on the Comedown" – Turnover (Peripheral Vision, 2015). Dreamy and hazy. Perfect for the crush who's into newer, softer emo.
4. "Ocean Avenue" – Yellowcard (Ocean Avenue, 2003). Nostalgic, summery and violin-powered. It feels like a memory you haven't made yet.
5. "My Favorite Accident" – Motion City Soundtrack (I Am the Movie, 2003). Quirky, synth-squiggly and fun. The title alone does a lot of work.
6. "Ten Minutes" – The Get Up Kids (Something to Write Home About, 1999). A fast, giddy blast from one of the defining '90s emo records.
7. "In Circles" – Sunny Day Real Estate (Diary, 1994). For the crush who knows their emo history. A classic of the Midwest-era sound.

Sweet and sincere

When you're past the hinting stage and want something warm.

8. "The Only Exception" – Paramore (Brand New Eyes, 2009). The gentlest song on this list and maybe the safest bet. Hayley Williams at her softest.
9. "Best of Me" – The Starting Line (Say It Like You Mean It, 2002). An earnest pop punk love song that every 2000s kid can hum.
10. "Jamie All Over" – Mayday Parade (A Lesson in Romantics, 2007). A fan favorite with a huge, fond chorus.
11. "Transatlanticism" – Death Cab for Cutie (Transatlanticism, 2003). Slow-building and gorgeous. The ultimate long-distance crush song.
12. "Honestly" – Cartel (Chroma, 2005). Big, polished pop punk with a chorus that sticks for days.
13. "Into Your Arms" – The Maine (Can't Stop Won't Stop, 2008). Exactly as yearning as the title suggests.
14. "Why Did Ever We Meet" – The Promise Ring (Nothing Feels Good, 1997). Bouncy, jangly '90s emo. Send it to someone who owns a lot of vinyl.

Full confession mode

No more hints. These say it out loud.

15. "Hands Down" – Dashboard Confessional. Chris Carrabba's ode to one perfect night is maybe the most sent emo crush song of all time. The bar for sincerity is very high.
16. "Here (In Your Arms)" – Hellogoodbye (Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!, 2006). Synthy, sugary and impossible to misread.
17. "If I'm James Dean, You're Audrey Hepburn" – Sleeping With Sirens (With Ears to See and Eyes to Hear, 2010). Kellin Quinn's high vocals and a very romantic title.
18. "Bulls in the Bronx" – Pierce the Veil (Collide with the Sky, 2012). A Latin-guitar-flavored love story that found a whole new audience online years after release.
19. "I Caught Fire (In Your Eyes)" – The Used (In Love and Death, 2004). Dramatic, soaring and very 2004 in the best way.
20. "Alive with the Glory of Love" – Say Anything (...Is a Real Boy, 2004). A frantic, fist-pumping love song with real heart behind it.
21. "Thunder" – Boys Like Girls (Boys Like Girls, 2006). Big-chorus pop punk about falling for someone. Zero subtlety, maximum feeling.

Happy, dancey, kitchen-floor songs

Emo isn't all heartbreak. These are for the crush who makes you grin.

22. "Still Into You" – Paramore (Paramore, 2013). Bouncy, bright and made for dancing around your room.
23. "Summertime" – My Chemical Romance (Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, 2010). MCR's sweetest song. Proof that the black parade guys had a soft side.
24. "Nine in the Afternoon" – Panic! at the Disco (Pretty. Odd., 2008). Sunny, Beatles-ish and impossible to be sad to.
25. "The Mixed Tape" – Jack's Mannequin (Everything in Transit, 2005). A song literally about making a mix for someone, so it's a very meta thing to send.
26. "El Scorcho" – Weezer (Pinkerton, 1996). Awkward, funny, loud and the blueprint for a lot of nerdy emo crush songs.
27. "Hit or Miss" – New Found Glory. A late-'90s pop punk staple about putting yourself out there. Fast and fun.

Dramatic picks (send at your own risk)

These are technically not crush songs, but every emo has sent one anyway.

28. "Sugar, We're Goin Down" – Fall Out Boy (From Under the Cork Tree, 2005). A legendary chorus about wanting someone you maybe shouldn't. Fun to send if you're both in on the joke.
29. "Cute Without the 'E' (Cut from the Team)" – Taking Back Sunday (Tell All Your Friends, 2002). Pure jealous drama. Send it if your crush appreciates a dual-vocal scream-along.
30. "Never Meant" – American Football (American Football, 1999). It's a breakup song, but if your crush is a Midwest emo fan, sending it is basically a secret handshake.

Make it your profile song

If one of these songs sums you up, put it where people will hear it. Your music says more about you than a bio ever will, and our guide on how to pick a profile song explains why. On Alt Chat, every profile can have an Anthem, a music video that plays when someone opens your profile. Setting "Hands Down" as yours is a pretty clear signal.

More for the playlist

Want more romantic picks from the darker side of the record shop? Our list of alt love songs covers goth, post-punk and metal love songs too. If you're building the whole collection, start with the best emo albums, and if your crush becomes something more, check out our guide to emo dating.

And if they send a song back? Don't overthink it. Just press play.

FAQ

What emo song should I send my crush?

Start subtle with something sweet like "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service or "The Only Exception" by Paramore. If you're ready to be obvious, "Hands Down" by Dashboard Confessional or "Here (In Your Arms)" by Hellogoodbye do the job.

Is sending a song to your crush cringe?

Not if you keep it light. Send it with a short, casual line like "this reminded me of you" and don't demand a review. Music is one of the easiest ways to show someone who you are.

What are some emo songs that aren't sad?

Plenty. Try "Nine in the Afternoon" by Panic! at the Disco, "Thunder" by Boys Like Girls, "Still Into You" by Paramore or "Summertime" by My Chemical Romance. Emo is about big feelings, and happy ones count too.