I can only ever recall crying once while listening to music, and that was during moments (especially the finale: "I'm On My Way") watching a production of "Porgy and Bess" on PBS years ago.
I cry at music so easily it's embarrassing. Parades, church hymns, you name it. Apparently it's a family thing. My sister once claimed that she would cry when she heard a certain yogurt commercial. We're sort of like the John Boehners of music.
I never used to cry when I heard Neil Young's "Birds," but when I heard Dan Fogelberg sing it as the final track on his posthumous cd, I cried like a baby. Still do. The Barber adagio is a surefire tearjerker. Saddest music ever.
In this River, by Black Label Society. I was listening to this song over and over on the way to Arkansas to see my mom buried. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c37MleFUMLM
The country song TEDDY BEAR is bound to squeeze a tear or two out of most listeners, but it's usually not lyrics that make me cry (Bobby Goldsboro's HONEY has never caused a teardrop to fall from my eye despite the lyrics), it's the way the music and lyrics work together. I mentioned DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA, but what I didn't say is only Karen Carpenter's version can make me cry. Something about her voice (and her sad life story) along with the way she sings "but I chose freedom..." gets me every time. On the other hand, Madonna could sing it all day long and I wouldn't shed a single tear.
For me it is often just music. Funny how often it's what you're doing or where you are in your life that really makes it sad (or happy), Charles. Thanks, Jeff.
It's usually just the music for me too. "Mad About the Boy", the 1932 version by Phyllis Robins. "Remember My Forgotten Man" - above all the version in GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 though the version by Hal Kemp & his orchestra is also very good. There are some great soul ballads too, notably "Nothing Takes the Place of You" by Toussaint McCall. And just to mention something from Sweden, "Minns du den sommar" by Gunnar Wiklund is an incredible 1961 cover of "Greenfields".
There are songs I play when I'm sad, but not songs that make me sad when I play them, and that's a big difference, I think. Both Dan Fogelberg and Jackson Browne ("Late for the Sky" does it) sing some pretty sad songs.
I still haven't settled on what Barber I prefer to the Adagio, but I will eventually. Billie Holiday ("Strange Fruit"; "Gloomy Sunday"; others) and the Kinks ("Shangri-La"; "Big Sky"; others) might've done the trick for me the most, though Gene Clark's "Tried So Hard" was the key solace-song, particularly as recorded by Fairport Convention, for one of my more traumatic break-ups. Fairport might just have the final say here, so far, with "Farewell, Farewell" and "Meet on the Ledge" and their cover of "One Sure Thing" as well (the early tragedies the band faced play into that). Toshiko Akiyoshi's "Minamata" and K. Penderecki's "Threnody for the Victims of Hirosima" carry tragic weight, as does the Kindertotenlieder...Abbey Lincoln's "Africa"...
There's a section in The Nutcracker (which I've never watched or listened to all the way thru) that comes after some apparently clarinety scene, probly dramatically tense, in which the brass, mostly trombones and maybe a trumpet or two, erupts into a powerful celebration of something or other, probly the characters triumphing over whatever the tension was they were mired in, and without warning tears start squirting out and running down my cheeks. I have no idea what's going on other than the music itself has communicated something directly to me that works on my heart like a shot of adrenaline. I was driving around Christmastime several years ago listening to it on my truck radio, and had pulled into the parking lot of Tractor Supply where I was going to buy some Greenies for our dog. I could tell this part was approaching so I just sat there and let it happened. Cried like a baby. When it was over and I was back in control of my senses I dried my eyes and strode in a manly fashion into Tractor Supply and no one (I think) was the wiser.
"Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton about his son dying.
ReplyDeleteGod, yes.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to you....
ReplyDeleteOnly after a certain age. Before that it makes you happy.
ReplyDelete"Ode to Joy" in the 4th movement of Beethoven's 9th symphony. Also, quite a few hymns and Christmas carols.
ReplyDeleteJackie picks "You'll Never Walk Alone."
ReplyDeleteJackie picks "You'll Never Walk Alone."
ReplyDeleteTim Mcgraw's "Don't Take the Girl" brings me to tears every time I hear it.
ReplyDeleteOn the secular side of things, both "Don't Cry for Me Agentina" and ABBA's "Fernando" will make me tear up.
ReplyDeleteI have be4en fanning through lists and there are so darn many. SEVENTEEN by Janis Ian really does it.
ReplyDeleteMark S. said...
ReplyDeleteOld Shep tore me up as a kid.
don't know Old Shep.
ReplyDeleteI can only ever recall crying once while listening to music, and that was during moments (especially the finale: "I'm On My Way") watching a production of "Porgy and Bess" on PBS years ago.
ReplyDeleteThat entire score makes me cry.
ReplyDeleteI cry at music so easily it's embarrassing. Parades, church hymns, you name it. Apparently it's a family thing. My sister once claimed that she would cry when she heard a certain yogurt commercial. We're sort of like the John Boehners of music.
ReplyDeleteI never used to cry when I heard Neil Young's "Birds," but when I heard Dan Fogelberg sing it as the final track on his posthumous cd, I cried like a baby. Still do. The Barber adagio is a surefire tearjerker. Saddest music ever.
ReplyDeleteBarber "Adagio for Strings" is incredibly moving to me.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have several pieces of music that affect me that way, Patti. Some music just speaks to the soul.
ReplyDeletePatti, as far as "Old Shep" goes, think in terms of OLD YELLER.
ReplyDeleteIn this River, by Black Label Society. I was listening to this song over and over on the way to Arkansas to see my mom buried. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c37MleFUMLM
ReplyDeleteThe country song TEDDY BEAR is bound to squeeze a tear or two out of most listeners, but it's usually not lyrics that make me cry (Bobby Goldsboro's HONEY has never caused a teardrop to fall from my eye despite the lyrics), it's the way the music and lyrics work together. I mentioned DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA, but what I didn't say is only Karen Carpenter's version can make me cry. Something about her voice (and her sad life story) along with the way she sings "but I chose freedom..." gets me every time. On the other hand, Madonna could sing it all day long and I wouldn't shed a single tear.
ReplyDeleteFor me it is often just music.
ReplyDeleteFunny how often it's what you're doing or where you are in your life that really makes it sad (or happy), Charles.
Thanks, Jeff.
It's usually just the music for me too. "Mad About the Boy", the 1932 version by Phyllis Robins. "Remember My Forgotten Man" - above all the version in GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 though the version by Hal Kemp & his orchestra is also very good. There are some great soul ballads too, notably "Nothing Takes the Place of You" by Toussaint McCall. And just to mention something from Sweden, "Minns du den sommar" by Gunnar Wiklund is an incredible 1961 cover of "Greenfields".
ReplyDeleteThere are songs I play when I'm sad, but not songs that make me sad when I play them, and that's a big difference, I think. Both Dan Fogelberg and Jackson Browne ("Late for the Sky" does it) sing some pretty sad songs.
ReplyDeleteNPR has a music feature on sad songs if you're in the mood.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't settled on what Barber I prefer to the Adagio, but I will eventually. Billie Holiday ("Strange Fruit"; "Gloomy Sunday"; others) and the Kinks ("Shangri-La"; "Big Sky"; others) might've done the trick for me the most, though Gene Clark's "Tried So Hard" was the key solace-song, particularly as recorded by Fairport Convention, for one of my more traumatic break-ups. Fairport might just have the final say here, so far, with "Farewell, Farewell" and "Meet on the Ledge" and their cover of "One Sure Thing" as well (the early tragedies the band faced play into that). Toshiko Akiyoshi's "Minamata" and K. Penderecki's "Threnody for the Victims of Hirosima" carry tragic weight, as does the Kindertotenlieder...Abbey Lincoln's "Africa"...
ReplyDeleteThere's a section in The Nutcracker (which I've never watched or listened to all the way thru) that comes after some apparently clarinety scene, probly dramatically tense, in which the brass, mostly trombones and maybe a trumpet or two, erupts into a powerful celebration of something or other, probly the characters triumphing over whatever the tension was they were mired in, and without warning tears start squirting out and running down my cheeks. I have no idea what's going on other than the music itself has communicated something directly to me that works on my heart like a shot of adrenaline. I was driving around Christmastime several years ago listening to it on my truck radio, and had pulled into the parking lot of Tractor Supply where I was going to buy some Greenies for our dog. I could tell this part was approaching so I just sat there and let it happened. Cried like a baby. When it was over and I was back in control of my senses I dried my eyes and strode in a manly fashion into Tractor Supply and no one (I think) was the wiser.
ReplyDeleteLong Ago and Far Away, Helen Forrest
ReplyDeleteOld Man River, Paul Robson
Laura, (Johnny Mercer lyrics)
You'll Never Walk Alone
This Nearly was Mine, Ezio Pinza
Also, Kate Smith, God Bless America, recorded on the eve of World War Two.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnQDW-NMaRs
This Nearly Was Mine just crushes me. So too OLD MAN RIVER,
ReplyDeleteMatthew- see it this year!
ReplyDeleteI'd have to wear a disguise, Patti.
ReplyDeleteJust thought of a couple more: Amazing Grace and, by Eva Cassidy, almost anything, especially Over the Rainbow.
Laughing at Patti's take on Happy Birthday. I run when I hear it.
ReplyDelete