Melancholy Music

[Dr_Strabismus]

Harry Nilson's cover of "Can't Live." (See Perfect Christmas Song thread.) Lyricist Pete Ham hanged himself. If there's a competition for the title, "Suicide Song," there should be extra points for songs whose lyricists killed themselves.

I love this report from the NY Times of the writer of "Gloomy Sunday"'s death:


Budapest, January 13. Rezsoe Seres, whose dirge-like song hit, "Gloomy Sunday" was blamed for touching off a wave of suicides during the nineteen-thirties, has ended his own life as a suicide it was learned today.

Authorities disclosed today that Mr. Seres jumped from a window of his small apartment here last Sunday, shortly after his 69th birthday. The decade of the nineteen-thirties was marked by severe economic depression and the political upheaval that was to lead to World War II. The melancholy song written by Mr. Seres, with words by his friend, Ladislas Javor, a poet, declares at its climax, "My heart and I have decided to end it all."

It was blamed for a sharp increase in suicides, and Hungarian officials finally prohibited it. In America, where Paul Robeson introduced an English version, some radio stations and nightclubs forbade its performance.

Mr. Seres complained that the success of "Gloomy Sunday" actually increased his unhappiness, because he knew he would never be able to write a second hit.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

A lot of classical, the harpsichord always does it too.

When I'm Gone - Eminem
Miss You - Aaliyah
Landslide - any version...it's just the lyrics
You - Amy Lee

 

[shereads]

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.

Your tale of woe sounds a bit like lyrics from that country music classic, "You Never Called Me by My Name" by David Allen Coe.

I was drunk, the day my mom got out of prison,
And I went to pick her up in the rain.
But before I could get to the station in my pick-up truck,
She got runned over by a damned old train.

Rumple "redneck" Foreskin

Don't make me start up with Little Drummer Boy, pal.

Pah-rum-pum-pum-pum...

 

[shereads]

Mr. Seres complained that the success of "Gloomy Sunday" actually increased his unhappiness, because he knew he would never be able to write a second hit.
[/i]

Now, that made me laugh.



Reminds me of this scene from "The Young Ones." In the cockpit of a 747, co-pilot says to pilot, "Gosh. I hope we don't have a crash." Pilot says reassuringly, "Statistically, we're in a lot more danger driving home from the airport."

Co-pilot replies, "Yes. And we have to do that too!"

 

[shereads]

From the "Go" album, a Peter Gabriel ditty called Mercy Street.

It's not fun to dance to, but if you're planning to hurl yourself in front of a truck, this could create the right ambiance.


nowhere in the corridors of pale green and grey
nowhere in the suburbs
in the cold light of day

there in the midst of it so alive and alone
words support like bone

dreaming of mercy street
wear your insides out
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy's arms again

dreaming of mercy street
'swear they moved that sign
looking for mercy
in your daddy's arms













"Shoot me! Shoot me! I demand that you shoot me now."

~ Daffy Duck

 

[Adrenaline]

I agree with Rumple Foreskin's pick of Eva Cassidy's "Fields of Gold". I would add

Hallelujah - Rufus Wainwright (Leonard Cohen cover)
Tecumseh Valley - Townes Van Zandt
Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Sarabande - Bach
Blue - Kanno Yōko

 

[shereads]

Hallelujah - Rufus Wainwright (Leonard Cohen cover)

Second that.

 

[TE999]

[Still on the sadness tangent I see]

'One More Night' Phil Collins.

The sax solo at the end is the kicker.

Peace.

 

[Misty_Morning]

........

 

[SweetPrettyAss]

I'll Never Get Out of this World Alive by Hank Williams

 

[past_perfect]

Several Chopin nocturnes, Mozart's Requiem (particularly the Lacrimosa), Mahler's 5th symphony.

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

When certain passages make the hairs on my arm stand on end, I watch them and ask myself: "What the fuck's that's all about, as a Darwinian adaptation?".

I can't explain musical goose-bumps. Why do we get them?

 

[TE999]

When certain passages make the hairs on my arm stand on end, I watch them and ask myself: "What the fuck's that's all about, as a Darwinian adaptation?".

I can't explain musical goose-bumps. Why do we get them?

Good question, Doc S.

I think it has to do with music bringing your emotions to the surface, a conduit, as it were, to your inner feelings.

A really cool guitar riff, a strong base line or a sax solo gives me the bumpies every time.

Just the right pitch in a vocal does the same thing.

Music hath charms and all that.

It's a big part of my life, that's why I enjoy it so much.

Maybe yours too.

Peace.