To the unaware, Joji seemingly appeared out of nowhere and took the music world by storm in one fell swoop. His emotional trap beats and depressive yet romantic lyrics were an intoxicating concoction that was quite unexpected from this young artist given his background.
Joji has been on the scene for some time, just not in the same capacity as his trap career. He was an immensely popular (yet simultaneously niche) YouTuber in his heyday, going by the name of Filthy Frank and running a skit show. His content was offensive, yet a golden moment in meme culture for many, and after it ran its course, Joji was born.
So without further ado, here is my list of the saddest Joji songs of all time!
1. Will He
Album: In Tongues
Released: 2017
When it comes to sad songs about love, I think few hit the mark quite as hard as Joji’s “Will He”. There’s something so painful about both Joji’s lyricisms and the delicate intricacies of this subtle beat that it strikes into the hearts of many.
This song is about recognizing that your ex has moved on with someone else, but still wishing him well. Despite the acceptance, a part of him still wishes that she never left in the first place, and hopes she never forgets about him.
2. Demons
Album: In Tongues
Released: 2017
When you listen through Joji’s discography, it quickly becomes clear that he’s been through some tough times, to say the least. “Demons” is an ode to this, reflecting on his past trauma and the impact they have had on him going forward.
Not only have the ‘demons’ affected him, but he also sings of the impact his past has had on people in his present trying to understand him. It appears he is with someone in the context of this song, and she doesn’t understand him.
3. Slow Dancing In The Dark
Album: Ballads 1
Released: 2018
Being someone who followed Filthy Frank for several years before Joji eventually began his music career, it still blows my mind that he can create such gorgeous soundscapes. The majority of his songs are stunning in one way or another, but “Slow Dancing In The Dark” is quite possibly his best-produced track thus far.
This is all about a failing relationship, where Joji compares it to dancing with someone in the dark; unsure, incomplete, and with no vision. He begs for company and love, yet acknowledges it’s not the love he needs.
4. Bitter Fuck
Album: In Tongues
Released: 2017
When you consider the nature of Filthy Frank, it’s not out there to imagine that he received a fair amount of negative attention as a result. This can have an equally negative impact on anyone, especially if they begin receiving hate online.
While “Bitter Fuck” can be understood as a breakup song – describing how someone has changed him into a ‘bitter fuck’ – I think it makes more sense as a breakup song from Filthy Frank as a character and persona. People see him differently because of this character, and in this track, he’s had enough.
5. Can’t Get Over You
Album: Ballads 1
Released: 2018
So far on this list we’ve had Joji’s slower ballads which are incredibly powerful and mostly sad. What caught me off guard, however, was his ability to make a cheery, upbeat song that is rather sad.
In this track, the chirpy chimes and bouncy drum hits disguise the fact that Joji is struggling to move on from an old lover.
6. Yeah Right
Album: Ballads 1
Released: 2018
As the album title suggests, we’ve now returned to where Joji excels: his rap ballads. “Yeah Right”’s slow, relaxing lo-fi beat is a stark contrast to the bleak lyrics within that Joji uses as a release from a heartbreaking event.
In this track, Joji raps and sings of a lifestyle of partying in the evening to forget and move on from a traumatic breakup. It appears to have been a case of his partner cheating on him based on the slight anger in the lyrics, but this is open to interpretation.
7. Window
Album: In Tongues
Released: 2017
Most of Joji’s music has somewhat of a dark element to them, but it’s usually disguised through some form of elevated instrumentality. That’s where “Window” stands out from the rest of his discography, as this solemn track is not disguised in the slightest.
In “Window”, Joji feels isolated and disconnected from the rest of the world and many of his lyrics seem to point to death or suicide. He also sees ‘nothing out the window’, meaning he may be feeling hopeless.
8. Plastic Taste
Album: In Tongues
Released: 2017
While this is an incredibly short and simple song from Joji, “Plastic Taste” has been pondered over its meaning by the rapper’s online community for quite some time.
I believe its solemn, melancholic tones and Joji’s apologizing for a ‘plastic taste’ seem to suggest that he either wronged his partner in a relationship or broke up with them over text instead of in person. Either way, this is self-deprecation at its finest.
9. I Don’t Wanna Waste My Time
Album: In Tongues
Released: 2017
Here we have what could be Joji’s most mature track to date in terms of its instrumentality and composition. It has a relaxed, lounge-like vibe to it yet it also radiates R&B in a heartbreaking ode about cheating.
This track was inspired by a friend of Joji’s, who confided that he was thinking of cheating on his partner. Joji created this song to explore the concept of cheating from the perspective of someone loyal.
10. Pills
Album: In Tongues
Released: 2017
In this article, we’ve covered all sorts of sad content, from breakups and heartache to the feeling of isolation and disconnect. But to me, nothing is sadder than the second track of Joji’s In Tongues EP: “Pills”.
Put simply, this track explores the abuse of pills – Zoloft and Xanax – to escape the feeling of loss after a breakup. There is a distinct cry for help from Joji in this track, and a strong desire for him to feel love and companionship. To me, that’s more sad than anything else on this list.
Alex is a man of many talents. He’s been playing music since he was young, and has been the main content writer at Tone Start for the past few years. Alex loves to play around with different styles of music and enjoys listening to anything from country to classical.