When someone does a song cover that is infinitely better than the original. Comes from the cover of Tears for Fears "Mad World" by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules. Anyone who's seen the film Donnie Darko can testify it's awesomeness.
Jay Brannan's cover of The Verve Pipe's "The Freshmen" is another good example of Mad World Syndrome.
by Zebrafist_JC December 12, 2010