[Thread] Recommend me devastatingly sad songs? Please?
So I've always noticed when I'm as down as I can get, I find comfort is music that most people find super depressing all the way to unbearably depressing. Like slit-your-wrists depressing. Songs you'd expect to find someone hanging from a noose in their home on repeat to. These kinds of songs bring comfort because they make me feel like, ok, I'm not so alone with this shit.
And for context, really happy songs just seem the saddest, most devastating songs that there are, because you don't have that, you don't have that happiness, love, support, that glimmer of light everyone's so happy about you know?
So gimme the saddest songs you can think of. I'm wearing Joy Division out.
I think in order to get to the true depths of musical pain, you often need two people. One who has the creativity and expression to write it well, and another whose soul has been crushed by their own guilt enough to perform it well. These two people cannot be the same, because the soul crushing process kills your creativity at its most extreme levels. But that extreme level is where you can perform mournful songs the best.
another whose soul has been crushed by their own guilt enough to perform it well
Sorry but did you just...not listen to the original? There is such a wide range of emotions and Trent Reznor CRUSHES it. There is so much depth compared to Johnny Cash's warbling old man voice. You hear a man hitting his breaking point as he gets louder and angrier at himself. Meanwhile there's no evolution in the cover, he sounds the same start to finish.
I just don't understand the massive praise of the cover. If it wasn't Johnny Cash singing it, it would have never hit the radio. I don't care if people like it but you're massively downplaying the amazing performance of the original
Honestly, Reznor's rendition struck me as oddly theatrical. That's probably just me though, different people can hear different things in the same piece of music.
Sometimes, yes, I absolutely agree, maybe even often. Not all songwriters, as great of a performer they might be for most of their songs, are the best performers for so many of their own songs. Good examples are Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen (Cohen after the first 3-4 albums wasn't IMO the best performer of his own songs) and Jeff Buckley's version; lots of Isaac Hayes' versions of other peoples' songs, most of all By the Time I Get to Phoenix
but the best example I can think of is A Song for You, written by Leon Russell, but Donny Hathaway takes it to a completely different fucking universe and makes it his own. That song is heartbreaking performed by him, Jesus.
The thing about Gary Jules' Mad World, is as hauntingly sad as it is, it also has this steady, subtle thread of defiance woven through it, that imo really elevates it to greatness. Makes it slightly less sad though, there's some steel in there, where the whole song is rebuking the world.
I've always really liked Alex Parks' slightly popier cover, she pushes that defiant tone a bit harder, reminiscent of a little Sinead imo:
I'll just steal from wikipedia:
Set in New York City's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which the second track is named after, Hospice tells the story of a relationship between a hospice worker and a female patient suffering from terminal bone cancer, their ensuing romance, and their slow downward spiral as a result of the woman's traumas, fears, and disease. The story of her deterioration also serves as a metaphor for an abusive relationship. Frontman Peter Silberman has been reluctant to divulge explicit details regarding the meaning of the record, and the extent to which it is autobiographical.
Lol, almost mentioned Tenhi in my OP, but I figured since they're Finnish no-one is gonna know them either way. One of my favorite bands.
E: Also have to point out, they have "official" translations for their lyrics on their website all the way up to the previous to last album, done by the band themselves afaik. They're not entirely a 100% accurate and they've taken some fairly big creative liberties in translating them, but close enough and since they're official I give them a pass. Cool to see they get appreciated abroad, they're not very well known over here back home.
Nice coincidence. Though it makes sense that someone asking for sad songs might know and like Tenhi. Kuolesi jokeen, Etäisyyksien Taa and Saapuminen are my favourites. Now that I listened some memories arose and now I have to listen to the newer stuff they made. Thanks for reminding me Tenhi exist!
Lots of loss in my family in the last 10 years or so. As a result things like this are the most devastating for me. These two in particular are just gutting.
The whole album, Asking for Flowers by Kathleen Edwards, but especially the song Alicia Ross, after you read the story behind it. That's weapons-grade sadness.
Tom Waits - Soldier's Things or Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis, or just throw on any Waits album and you'll find something unbearably sad among the bangers. Same with Nick Cave