When I saw NME had put together a list of 50 Beautifully Sad Songs I was excited to take a look as I truly love a good and depressing song. I didn't recognise most of them, however, so was prompted to make my own playlist, of songs from all genres, decades and artists that give you that sad-in-a-good-way kinda feeling.
Go and have a listen on 8tracks and tell me what you think, have I missed anything crucial?
I hope you enjoy listening to tear-jerkers whilst gazing at Sophia Loren crying tears of glitter.
click Read More for the full track-listing…
1. With or Without You - Keane (U2 Cover)
I love this cover: the simple keyboard, the shaker coming in after the first chorus, and the lack of Bono's distracting glasses make the song all-the-more gut-wrenching. Also better than the original as it reminds you less of the Ross and Rachel break-up (it still hurts too bad).
2. In The Sun - Joseph Arthur
3. Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
4. Goodbye Kiss - Lana Del Rey (Kasabian Cover)
The original by Kasabian is nice but Lana makes it beautiful with that soulful voice and that face...it's just so sad-looking!
5. Somewhere Only We Know - Keane
6. The Animals Were Gone - Damien Rice
Damien Rice is my favourite sad song-writer ever. He's so good I don't allow myself to listen to him very often for fear of full-blown depression; it's that powerful. "Woke up and for the first time the animals were gone" - what does that even mean? I don't know, but it makes me feel sad.
7. Skinny Love - Bon Iver
Do I need to elaborate?
8. Signs (Acoustic Version) - Bloc Party
Kele's soulmate has died, but he keeps seeing signs, "signs that you're not dead, you're sleeping". The simple line "at your funeral I was so upset" really gets me.
9. Love Is Just A Game - The Magic Numbers
10. World Spins Madly On - The Weepies"I woke up and wished that I was dead" - they're not called The Weepies for nothin'.11. Last Request - Paolo Nutini12. The Scientist - ColdplayColdplay's older music was perfect for broken-hearted 16-year-olds to doodle in their diaries. Then he met Gwyneth and stopped feeling sad I guess, so I cling to classics like this one.13. I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab For Cutie14. My Good Girl - Old Crow Medicine ShowThis one really appeals to the country-bumpkin in me. Poor Mr Crow's girl ain't no good to him, "she don't have the courtesy to shut the door when she's been playin' whore, I don't wanna see his rags piled on the floor"- doesn't sound like a very good girl to me, my friend. In the end he wins though by killing her (in true Country style) but, alas, "my good girl ain't no good to me, not even in her memory".15. Burn - UsherWe all know that sad feeling, you know the one, when the party ain't jumpin' like it used to. You gotta let it burn.16. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley17. Love Is A Losing Game - Amy Winehouse18. Send In The Clowns - Barbara Streissand"and where are the clowns? There ought to be clowns" I love to ask the universe this when I'm feeling melodramatic.19. I Miss You - Blink 18220. Drugs Don't Work - The Verve21. Warning Sign - Coldplay22. The End Of The Movie - StornowayI already advised you to give this song a listen. Hear a boy's tale of waiting for the credits to appear as it's the end of the movie (i.e. he's been dumped).23. Whatever (Some Folk Song In C) - Elliott Smith24. A Lack Of Colour - Death Cab For CutieAnother group with a knack for lyrics "All the girls in every girl-y magazine can't make me feel any less alone, I'm reaching for the phone…and on your machine I slur a plea for you to come home", poor guy.25. If I Have To Go - Tom WaitsWaits' gravelly voice plus a simple piano melody creates the mental image of the last man at the bar, drunk and singing the sad tale of having to leave his love behind. "I'll leave my jacket to keep you warm, that's all that I can do"26. Last Kiss - Pearl JamThe story of a couple in a terrible car crash. She doesn't make it but he does get to hold her close and "kiss her our last kiss".27. Mad World - Gary Jules28. Sad Song - OasisClue's in the name29. My Hallelujah - Sweet Talk RadioWho knew a banjo could be so sweetly sad? "Loved my baby, ain't that enough? Why'd you have to go and make a widow of [me]" she sings to God, the big meanie who took away her husband.30. Ode To My Family - The Cranberries31. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division32. Rewind - Paolo Nutini33. Slow Dancing In A Burning Room - John MayerI feel like I'm not supposed to like John Mayer, but I don't know why, do you? Well, I'm saying it now; I think he's got some great songs. Phew. Now I've got that off my chest I can listen guilt-free to this story of a dying love.34. Jolene - Ray LaMontagneHe loves Jolene but he's too into drugs to get it together. "I've been living out of this here suitcase for way too long" - I know the feeling, Ray, it sucks, but I can't relate on the whole "I found myself face down in a ditch, booze in my hair, blood on my lips" part; probably a good thing.35. Set Fire To The Third Bar - Snow Patrol36. Stop Crying Your Heart Out - Oasis37. Nothing Better - The Postal ServiceMaybe the dramatic description of heartbreak ("will someone please call the surgeon who can crack my ribs and repair this broken heart") is a bit much, but the harsh female voice cutting him off and telling him to get a grip pulls at my heart-strings (but only gently, no surgery needed).38. Ashes Everywhere - Joseph ArthurJoseph has a gift for descriptive and oddly beautiful lyrics. "Your ashes must be blowing everywhere 'cause I can still feel you when you're nowhere near" he sings to his lover who killed herself. Also "Oh Darling since you've been away from me I know how the pins feel in the bowling alley" - lovely!39. Lua - Bright Eyes40. Against All Odds - The Postal Service41. We Get On Kate NashSome find Kate's simplistic lyrics annoying but this track is just so accurate and sweet. The story of her going to a party only to find the boy she fancies getting off with someone else ends with her staying in on a Saturday night singing "I don't ever dream about you and me, I don't ever make up stuff about us that would be considered insanity…I don't know your timetable, I don't know your face off-by-heart".42. Tonight - Lykke Li43. Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton44. Never Ever - All Saints45. Do You Remember The First Time - Pulp"I don't care if you screw him just as long as you save a piece for me" pleads poor Jarvis, caught in a love-triangle.46. Rainy Days And Mondays - The CarpentersSure, rhyming "some kind of lonely clown" and "nothing to do but frown" sounds a bit silly, but oh boy, it works. Who doesn't get down on rainy days and Mondays?47. Strange Fruit - Billie HolidayBillie Holiday describes the "strange fruit" hanging on the trees down South; "blood on the leaves and blood at the root". This metaphor-filled song conjures a heartbreaking image of "black bodies swinging in the southern breeze" (if you still don't get it she's singing about people being hanged)48. Transluticism - Death Cab For Cutie49. Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor50. Angie - The Rolling Stones"Angie, you're beautiful, but ain't it time we said goodbye?". Grown-ups used to sing this to me when I was little, cleverly changing 'Angie' to 'Andie'.
Please feel free to send me suggestions of songs I might've missed!
