I was a bit depressed lately, and I was listening to some sad, sad songs. I got to thinking, what makes a sad song? Some of them really hit you on the inside but if you look at the lyrics and the messages behind them, they can be really irrelevant, some even up-lifting. So here goes:
Also I was thinking about how many people are missing out on this brilliant music. What do the people with their music libraries full of Limp Bizkit/Linkin Park/Slipknot/Blink 182 do when they’re down? And how are you supposed to contemplate life, the universe and everything listening to Mr Durst egotistically ramble on about “my way or the highway”…
Of course, it could be that the only reason I like this music, the only reason I need this music, is because I’m a sad old bastard. You could say it’s a very chicken-and-egg situation concerning sad music. There’s a great quote from the Nick Horby novel, High Fidelity, where the main character says something like “Are people who listen to pop music sad? Or are people sad because they listen to pop music?”
And I really don’t know the answer. But I do know that I’m kinda addicted to the stuff. And the interesting thing is that it is generally a good yardstick to measure on how “commercial” a band is. Generally, with the exceptions of possibly Travis and JJ72, the makers of sad music really do seem to be in it for the music. You hardly ever see bands that make this music in videos looking fresh-faced and blemish free (again, except for JJ72). This is a good thing, I assure you. In fact, most of the makers of sad songs hardly ever have videos anyway, as it’s really just an aural experience (I find the best way to listen is lie down, turn the lights off, and have a think…).
Speaking of ‘having a think’, this music is really good for just contemplating life. I find that these artists seem to have a really good grip on the average person’s emotions, and explore them really well. And the theme of rejection or depression lasts all the way through your life (cynical? Moi?) so it has a wider appeal and is more accessible than, say, nu-metal/angst rock, which is basically only catering for the teenage-rebellion crowd (come on, you’re gonna tell me you’ll still like Linkin Park in ten years?).
Well, that self-indulgent article has cheered me right up. Thanks for listening…
All of these songs have at some point made me want to cry. Although I haven’t as yet (I’m not a bloody pansy!), I still get that feeling inside by listening to them. Not all are supposed to be sad songs – Coldplay in particular write optimistic songs in a sad way, and the likes of Massive Attack and Portishead are just beautiful.
Roads – Portishead
No distance left to run – Blur
Everything’s not lost – Coldplay
Trouble – Coldplay
Everybody Hurts – REM
Nightswimmer – REM
Sylvia - Pulp
Teardrop – Massive Attack
Protection – Massive Attack
Bullet proof… I wish I was – Radiohead
Exit music for a film – Radiohead
Bring my family back – Faithless
Shipbuilding – Suede
This mess we’re in – PJ Harvey (feat. Thom Yorke)
Please do not go – Violent Femmes
Confessions – Violent Femmes
Good Feeling – Violent Femmes
Boys don’t cry – The Cure
Playground Love – Air
It’s a motherfucker – Eels
Jeannies Diary – Eels
Johnny – Violent Femmes
I started a joke – Faith no more
Rhythm and blues alibi – Gomez
Revolutionary kind - Gomez
Guitar flute and string – Moby (so much for my non-commercial argument…)
Moscow Snow – Pluto (hey! NZ track!)
P.s. Happy birthday Bob Dylan! To celebrate go out and buy his best of. I did and it’s absolutely brilliant…
