History TearJerker / TwentyOnePilots

-->You won't mourn a day and you'll move on to someone else.
* "Legend" is a tribute to Tyler's grandfather, Bobby, who is featured on the cover of ''Vessel'' and passed away during the writing of the album. While the song is SugarWiki/{{heartwarming|Moments}} in that it's an upbeat celebration of the man's life, it still contains sad details of the circumstances of his death. On the song, Tyler expresses regret that he couldn't bear to visit his grandfather once he no longer recognized him, mourns that his wife never got to meet him as he was prior to his diagnosis with dementia, and reveals that he recorded his last vocals for the song on the day that he died.

*** The hosts also request a performance of "Stressed Out". Tyler just stares into the camera, looking as if [[RealitySubtext he's about to cry]].

** Near the end of the stream, the Banditos manage to breach the city, and [[HopeSpot it seems like Tyler is finally going to be rescued]]. After a performance of "Never Take It", Tyler quietly puts down his guitar and walks off set -- and back onto the set of the talk show, where the show's hosts are frozen in the same positions from the stream's beginning. The [[ImagineSpot concert]] ends as Tyler resumes his spot on the couch, [[ThousandYardStare staring blankly into the camera]] while he sings the chorus of "Choker":

* As mentioned under NightmareFuel, "Heathens" from the ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' soundtrack is this when it isn't being terrifying. Between Tyler's dreary voice, the haunting production and the dark lyrics, it sounds like the musical equivalent of a loss of innocence.
** The ending of the music video, showing Tyler in a prison outfit all alone as prison guards surround him with rifles.

* The 2016 Emotional Roadshow stopped in Dallas the day several local police officers were killed at a protest over the killings of innocent black civilians by police elsewhere in the country. At the concert the next day, Tyler expressed hope that music could help inspire kindness and a sense of community, but he also voiced frustration over his feelings of helplessness to ''really'' do anything to stop future violence. (The full speech [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ6Ip1ImL18 here]].)

* [[BrokenBase Argument over who's to blame aside]], the 2016 Reading Festival incident (in which Tyler attempted to crowdsurf to a platform only to be manhandled by the crowd) was a distressing sight, with most of the Clique reacting in horror. On top of that alone, there was the theory many took to regarding Josh's behavior during the incident -- that he was playing his drums harder than normal, which he's said he does when he's nervous.
* A majority of the fanfics people write about the band.
** '''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/1822504?view_adult=true The Forest fic]]''', which grew a huge following and a lot of notoriety among the Clique for its heavy and emotionally intense subject matter. If you can't or won't read it, here's a summary: [[spoiler:Josh is initially portrayed as a figment of Tyler's imagination. [[YouHaveToBelieveMe He tries convincing his family and doctor that he's real, but to no avail]], and they try to stop his thoughts. Eventually, Tyler and Josh confess their love for each other and have sex. Tyler ends up having a breakdown, trying to proclaim that Josh isn't real, only for Josh to hit him in response. Later, he and his mother visit his doctor, where Tyler tells his doctor about his sex with Josh, eliciting a similar reaction of bewilderment. It's then [[TheReveal revealed]] that [[RapeAsDrama Tyler was sexually abused as a child by another doctor]], and Josh was merely a coping mechanism. He blacks out, wakes up at home, and runs into the woods, crying out for Josh while simultaneously recognizing his own declining mental state. Tyler goes into the treehouse that he and Josh used to hang out in, picks up Josh's lighter, and commits suicide by lighting the treehouse on fire and falling asleep inside. And then, at Tyler's funeral...]]
--->[[spoiler:The priest conducting the ceremony asks if anyone would like to say a few words. [[WhamLine A boy with bright blue hair and mocha eyes (and C major lips and blue-sky hands and tiger-growl teeth)]] [[RealAfterAll stands up.]]]]

* "Legend" is a tribute to Tyler's grandfather, Bobby, who is featured on the cover of ''Vessel'' and passed away during the writing of the album. On the song, Tyler expresses regret that he couldn't bear to visit his grandfather once he no longer recognized him and mourns that his wife never got to meet him as he was prior to his diagnosis with dementia.

** Late in his life, Bobby constantly asked what his grandson was doing. When Tyler's dad replied that he made music, Bobby asked to hear one of his songs. Tyler's dad didn't have any copies in the car, but he didn't need any; he was able to just turn on the radio and find one in moments. (Full story [[https://www.nme.com/twenty-one-pilots-interview-nme-big-read here]].)

* "Stressed Out" has grown a negative reputation among the Clique due to how overplayed it got and the HypeBacklash it caused as a result, which Tyler finds saddening since it was a song he wrote for the fans and when it's played live, the reaction is far less enthusiastic than with other songs. All of these feelings culminated in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akEnJ3lGhl8 a live performance of the song in Cleveland]] where Tyler changed the lyrics to voice his thoughts (people have grown sick of the song, but he hopes his fans still enjoy it). A lot of fans saw it as an act of TranquilFury and were generally saddened by how [[CreatorBacklash he had grown to dislike the song]].

* Despite having a far [[LighterAndSofter lighter, more upbeat look and tone]] than the previous two albums, ''Scaled and Icy'' is one in concept: Tyler (and maybe Josh) is still a prisoner in Dema, and being forced to produce and perform material to entertain the masses. The cheerful tone of the album is implied to be either [[HappinessIsMandatory forced]], or the result of [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul Dema brainwashing]].

* Twenty One Pilots Livestream Experience, the May 21, 2021 concert, has a few:

* Their cover of MCR's "Cancer" in all of its beautiful yet sad glory.
* Some of Tyler's old songs, such as "Save" and "Drown", to this day are powerful listens because it's very obvious that he was in a dark place and desperate for help.

** '''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/1822504?view_adult=true The Forest fic]].''' It's quite intense, and has had such a huge following that it basically became an emotional trigger for the entire Clique. If you can't or won't, here's a summary: [[spoiler:Josh is initially portrayed as a figment of Tyler's imagination. [[YouHaveToBelieveMe He tries convincing his family and doctor that he's real, but to no avail]], and they try to stop his thoughts. Eventually, Tyler and Josh confess their love for each other and have sex. Tyler ends up having a breakdown, trying to proclaim that Josh isn't real, only for Josh to hit him in response. Later, he and his mother visit his doctor, where Tyler tells his doctor about his sex with Josh, eliciting a similar reaction of bewilderment. It's then revealed that [[RapeAsDrama Tyler was sexually abused as a child by another doctor]], and Josh was merely a coping mechanism. He blacks out, wakes up at home, and runs into the woods, crying out for Josh while simultaneously recognizing his own declining mental state. Tyler goes into the treehouse that he and Josh used to hang out in, picks up Josh's lighter, and commits suicide by lighting the treehouse on fire and falling asleep inside. And then, at Tyler's funeral...]]

* [[https://vine.co/v/OxlUU06X9Fp "No one really cares about the drummer, but that's okay."]]

* As mentioned under NightmareFuel, "Heathens" from the ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' soundtrack is this when it isn't being terrifying. Between Tyler's dreary, depressed-sounding voice, the haunting minimalist production and the [[LyricalDissonance threatening lyrics]], it sounds like the musical equivalent of a loss of innocence.
** The ending of the music video is sad to watch as it shows a slumped and dreary Tyler in a prison outfit all alone as prison guards surround him with rifles.
* "I Need Something", [[https://youtu.be/XVnjATSeok0?t=1m9s the 30-second unreleased song]] from the sixth episode of the ''Regional at Best'' webseries, may very well be one of their saddest songs despite being the shortest. You can tell that Tyler was obviously in a very bad place when he made it; his vocals bleed with despair and fragility, not to mention the lyrics:

--->[[RealityEnsues I know it's over]]

* During their performance at Reading Festival, while they were playing "Car Radio", security guards wouldn't let Tyler get to his platform, so he had to crowdsurf to it. The crowd then proceeded to almost completely tear off his shirt, steal his shoes and mask, drop him multiple times, and refuse to let him go. At one point, you can even hear him cry out for Josh. Once he finally got to the platform, long after the song finished, he immediately ended the show.[[note]]The show had also gone on well past their time slot due both to the crowdsurfing incident and numerous prior technical difficulties.[[/note]] The Clique has reacted with a general horror to this news. However, there is a silver lining: [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments "#RespectTylerJoseph" became the #1 top trending hashtag on Twitter]].

** '''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/1822504?view_adult=true The Forest fic]].''' It's extremely emotional, intense, and well-written, and has had such a huge following that it's basically an emotional trigger for the entire Clique, and once you read it, you'll know why. If you can't or won't, here's a summary: [[spoiler:Josh is initially portrayed as a figment of Tyler's imagination. [[YouHaveToBelieveMe He tries convincing his family and doctor that he's real, but to no avail]], and they try to stop his thoughts. Eventually, Tyler and Josh confess their love for each other and have sex. Tyler ends up having a breakdown, trying to proclaim that Josh isn't real, only for Josh to slap him in response. Tyler runs home crying. Later, he and his mother visit his doctor, where Tyler tells his doctor about his sex with Josh, eliciting a similar reaction of bewilderment. It's then revealed that [[RapeAsDrama Tyler was sexually abused as a child by another doctor]], and Josh was merely a coping mechanism. He blacks out, wakes up at home, and runs into the woods, crying out for Josh while simultaneously recognizing his own deteriorating mental state. Tyler goes into the treehouse that he and Josh used to hang out in, picks up Josh's lighter, and commits suicide by lighting the treehouse on fire and falling asleep inside. And then, at Tyler's funeral...]]

* While the ''Blurryface'' album's ending insinuates the defeat of the titular character, some disconcerting information began to surface around the end of the album's era that suggests the character [[NotQuiteDead will always still be around]]. Primarily, a magazine interview with Tyler was released where he was quoted saying "Blurryface won't leave until I'm in the ground", and his pre-"Trees" speech at the final ''Blurryface''-era show ever [[https://youtu.be/3lqwQzUXs-U?t=3m implied at one moment]] that although Tyler would stop dressing as Blurryface, it probably wouldn't be the last time he'd ever see him. It's equal parts haunting and sad.

''"You can close your eyes if you want. Sometimes things are less scary."''

* [[https://youtu.be/lMrCTHngMgc Twenty One Pilots Livestream Experience]], the May 21, 2021 concert, has a few: