Yes, even this 6'5" ex-football player listens to sad music. Here are the songs that can instantly turn Nick into a total hug-needing wuss:
5. Tool - Sober
TOOL? A tearjerker? Yes, it's true, folks. I don't quite know what "Sober" does to me, but it's such a dark, desperate song that it's hard not to get lost in the pain of Maynard James Keenan's vocals and lyrics. Combine that with the imagery in the video, and you get something really depressing. At least that's what I see. Get me in the wrong mood, and you'll see me sharing the pain of Keenan as he screams with desperation in every chorus. It's a brilliant song, one whose raw emotion should not be disregarded in the name of blind loyalty. It should, at least, make the hairs on your arm stand up or cover your skin in goosebumps. That's the mark of a truly powerful song...it needs to wrap you up in its environment and all the emotion of the band performing it. If not, it's not getting its point across as effectively as it should be. Bravo, Tool. And thanks for making me shed a tear of saddened rage in my bleakest moments.
4. The Cranberries - Ode to My Family
Dolores O'Riordan's vocals may not be everyone's cup of tea, but there's no doubt she's one of the most powerful frontwomen of the past few decades. If anything, her trademark style is totally hers. In a musical landscape of similar-sounding "divas", Dolores shines through as an empowered woman, a mature voice who isn't afraid to step up to the microphone and speak her mind. "Ode to My Family", thanks to its sparseness and orchestral backing, as well as O'Riordan's delicate lyrics and powerful vocals, stands as an example of the powerful work the Cranberries are known for. Although SongFacts.com states that the song is about O'Riordan's decision to leave Irish tradition behind to become a rock musician, this could also be about every "lonely girl" in the world. And that's what makes the song so powerful, the tenderness of its lyrics and music is enough to evoke the most primal of emotional reactions.
3. Björk - All is Full of Love (Single Version)
I am no Björk fan. Her music has always interested me, and her videos have equally transfixed me, but never has she captivated me enough to consider buying one of her records. As a listener, however, I have to respect the great diversity she shows in her work. Her vocals, regardless of being criticized as "too mousy", show equal amounts of delicacy and power. This version of "All is Full of Love" is a great example of this. Musically, it's sparse...artificial and natural strings, a lone electronic drumbeat, deep bass, an occasional synth and Björk's voice categorize it, allowing the listener to be drawn in through a minimalist, haunting introduction. The song slowly begins to increase its intensity, as does her voice, and what results is truly beautiful. Chris Cunningham's amazing video clip is just as remarkable and emotional as the song is, allowing viewers to equally bask in the beauty of what's on screen as well as to simultaneously question just what it is they're watching. Like the song, it's brilliantly structured, orchestrated and beautifully executed. A tearjerker indeed.
2. The Tragically Hip - World Container (note: studio audio could not be found on YouTube, live version used instead)
The Hip, whose 1992 song "Wheat Kings" gave this blog its name, aren't necessarily a band known for "tearjerkers", but possess a back catalog of some pretty dark, brooding music ("Pigeon Camera" from their Fully Completely album comes to mind, as well as most of their Day For Night album). And a lot of their music has been quite beautiful ("Bobcaygeon", "Ahead by a Century"). However, it wasn't until 2006 that The Hip hit the proverbial "right buttons" with "World Container", the final track off their album of the same title. Here's a song that references Nazi Germany, John Lennon's "Imagine", nuclear annihilation, personal failure and the cruel world of the music business in its first verse. Not exactly sunshine and rainbows. Lead singer Gordon Downie (again, an acquired taste to the untrained ear on vocals) wields his masterful poetry over a powerfully delicate backing. "What we have here are all flaws in progress, where all songs are one song and that song is, 'Don't Forget'"...it's Earth in Gord Downie's eyes. And it makes for a heartwrenching, emotional experience. See those lighters in the video? They're well-deserved. Bravo, Gord. Bravo, Hip.
1. Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
I don't know why I listen to this song. I know a few songs from the band, but they don't perform the kind of music I normally listen to. With that being said, I can't get through this song without feeling *something*. I've had my fair share of loneliness and regret in-between relationships, and this song simply nails home that feeling to a "t". The lyrics, their delivery and the musical accompaniment combine to create a haunting melancholy. It's almost as if lead singer Tom Chaplin is reflecting on a lover who passed away, conveyed by the sadness in his voice during the song's opening verse. It's this moment that "does it" for me...everything that follows is tearjerker-worthy. As said when I opened the countdown with Tool, Keane knows how to orchestrate emotions. And while this song certainly isn't "alpha male" material, nor is it the kind of song you tell your metalhead friends about, it certainly does its job: it captures you in its intended emotion, allows you to reflect on how the lyrics relate to your life, and holds you in its grasp until the uplifting notes end the song on an optimistic note. If listened to within the context of a loving relationship, I'm sure it's amazingly beautiful. Don't listen to this song in-between relationships, however, as its impact will surely floor you and send you crying into your pillow for nights to come. It turns me into a total wuss every time.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to pop in Evile's "Infected Nations" album and thrash 'til the cows come home in order to evaporate these tears from my ducts with great vengeance and furious anger.
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