The Flaming Lips - "Suddenly Everything has Changed" and "It's Summertime" Gillian Welch - "Elvis Presley Blues" Nick Drake - "Parasite" Belle & Sebastian - "Slow Graffiti" Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Fitzgerald's version of "Summertime"
When I was like nine, this pearl jam song would come on the radio. Its a cover about a guys girlfriend dying in a car crash. I just cant remember what it's called.
Surprised more ppl haven't mentioned the effect of particular chord progressions rather than just downbeat songs often with sad lyrics. I grew up with a proggie Dad so Yes' Going for the One has some builds that are overwhelmng if, now in hindsight, grandiose to the point of vomit-inducing.
Oh man, a few years ago when i was really into yes, i thought all those songs were so emotional. Turn of the Century, Starship Trooper, all those songs.
Originally posted by SoftBulletin: When I was like nine, this pearl jam song would come on the radio. Its a cover about a guys girlfriend dying in a car crash. I just cant remember what it's called.
Originally posted by mark f: My wife, daughter and I all AGREE WITH YOU, but many people say that the other versions are better. Art is VERY subjective.
I wouldn't one of the other is better, theyre different. Loeanrd Cohens orginal is soo differnet from Buckley's cover, you can't really compare the two..Theyre both amazing tho. Perosnally I perfer Jeff's, it's much quieter, and much more stripped down.
I generally need some sort of visual image to accompany music to 'bring on the tears' so to speak. I've cried a few times in movies and certain TV shows, but never after listening to a song I think.
That's not to say that there aren't some songs that make me feel sad as hell, mainly from particular lyrics. A few of my favourites:
* Waltz #2 by Elliott Smith ("I'm never going to know you now / but I'm gonna love you anyhow"... amazing)
* The cover of Mad World by Michael Andrews & Gary Jules that plays at the end of Donnie Darko
* John Wayne Gacy, Jr by Sufjan Stevens,
... and pretty much every song Antony and the Johnsons have ever put out, with Paddy's Gone probably the best/worst in this regard ("My wrists hurt/My heart's empty/Paddy's Gone for a long time")... Holy shit. Talk about a downer.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sina,
Oh have a heart brisby. We are all amigos here. Some of the songs on Sol Seppy's album certainly point me in quite a beautiful, emotional direction. "Don't look down..." indeed...
The first several times I heard this song, it was the swelling orchestration combined with the lyrics that brought tears to my eyes. This was when I thought the lyrics were "Back when angels swam with me" instead of "Black-eyed angels swam with me." What I originally thought the lyrics were are much sadder than what they really are, I think; songs about past loves and nostalgia are what really get me.
Weepy songs that didn't make me cry, but got pretty close: An Ending (Ascent): Brian Eno, Apollo 2:45 A.M.: Elliot Smith, Either/Or NYC: Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights (there's something so very sad about this song...) La Mer/Into the Void: Nine Inch Nails, The Fragile Duk Koo Kim: Sun Kil Moon, Ghosts of the Great Highway (14 minute-long weeper)
The songs that really get me weepy, though, are almost always movie scores/soundtracks. When a particularly sad song combines with a particularly sad movie or sad ending, I'm a blubbering mess. (case in point: the scoring at the ending of Titanic).
"Be yourself. Unless you suck." -Buffy, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
Duk Koo Kim: Sun Kil Moon, Ghosts of the Great Highway (14 minute-long weeper)
Man, I liked that song to begin with, and I just keep falling more and more in love with it every time I hear it. I wouldn't say it's a song that makes me sad though. More like one that leaves me slackjawed at its tremendous beauty.
I kind of like "back when angels swam with me" too, Drogan. And speaking of misintrepreted Amnesiac lyrics, I used to think that on the opening track Thom Yorke was saying, "I'm a miserable man, get off my case, get off my case, get off my case" instead of "I'm a reasonable man..." I like "miserable man" better. It seems to fit the mood of the album more.
-------------------------------------------------- Anatomy to me is a homesick stomach and a broken heart
Originally posted by HappyTimeHarry: Miles Davis "Blue in Green" Talk Talk "New Grass" Tom Waits "Time"
New Grass is a brilliant call, I would also add Astral Weeks by Van Morrison: Get's me everytime.... In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel, No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley, Desolation Row by Bob Dylan!
Originally posted by L. R. William Spencer: "Two-Headed Boy, Pt. 2"
I think that song is especially affecting at the end of that album, a sign of a true closer. But there is already an entire thread dedicated to that album, so I'll move on.
From Astral Weeks I would also add "Ballerina" and "Sweet Thing." Van Morrison writes very strange love songs, but once again, quite affecting.
"Wish you Were Here" by Pink Floyd (obviously not the Incubus song.) I think it's a song everyone can relate to in some way - missing an old friend who you just grew apart from. It becomes more affecting the older I get, and the more my good friends move on. I think especially the part where the drums first come in, and Waters sings "Did they get you trade your heroes for ghost?" It's just the whole combination for that song - the subject matter, the chord progression, Waters' voice sounding so sincere.
Originally posted by less_success: "Wish you Were Here" by Pink Floyd (obviously not the Incubus song.) I think it's a song everyone can relate to in some way - missing an old friend who you just grew apart from. It becomes more affecting the older I get, and the more my good friends move on. I think especially the part where the drums first come in, and Waters sings "Did they get you trade your heroes for ghost?" It's just the whole combination for that song - the subject matter, the chord progression, Waters' voice sounding so sincere.
I can think of two instances where I have been brought to tears by songs.
One was at a funeral when the family had 'Mad World' played and that crushed me. It was the funeral of a family friend who had just slowly expired from Motor-Neuron's disease, very sad to witness. His quality of life slipped away and those lines about "the dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had" just caught me.
Second was 'Hallelujah' by Jeff Buckley. Sitting at about 3am after writing for God knows how long and then listening to that in near darkness. Too beautiful to take coupled with spiralling emotional control through tiredness.
As a P.S, Johnny Cash and the 'Hurt' video always brings me to tears.
Art is VERY subjective. 
