SONG REVIEW: The Second After - "Tired"

“One of the best emo songs of the last decade with a beautiful video to match” 

by Jesse Smith

There are not many times where I can honestly say a song left me speechless, and even more seldomly I can say that I was moved and emotional by a video and song combination. Songs like these have had a lasting impression left on your heart. The North Carolina pop-punk outfit The Second After released a new single titled “Tired” and has crossed over to the emo genre and if I may say so, knocked it out of the park. This is one of the best truly emo songs I have heard in a very long time and it floored me. The band has been making music since 2016 and “Tired” is them taking a giant step and turning the page into a new chapter. 

The song is a roller coaster of emotions and heartfelt lyrics backed up by an incredible visual story. For a pop punk band to make the switch into a more vulnerable art form with such ease really makes me wonder who they truly are. Tired felt like it was written from the heart of someone who truly loves the music. While still having inklings of the pop punk sound, this was so much more. From a song writing perspective, this is miles above the past discography. Lines like “I’m tired, I’m overwhelmed and I’m missing you” are textbook emo lines and were delivered as if the top of the genre wrote and sang it themselves. Not only that, the music video is the bow on top. Warning, if you do not want to cry, be prepared. The video is one of the most beautiful and dark visuals I have seen in a long time. I won’t go into much detail and spoil but I will say it ties the emotional lyrics together and truly is a god tier representation.

I don’t say this often because it shouldn’t.. but this song is a 10/10 with the video makes it 11/10. It has been wrapped in my mind like my favorite movie. I really hope that they stick in this direction and make the transition to the more emo side of the scene. This song was beautiful and poetic and there needs to be more.