So I’ve always noticed when I’m as down as I can get, I find comfort is music that most people find super depressing all the way to unbearably depressing. Like slit-your-wrists depressing. Songs you’d expect to find someone hanging from a noose in their home on repeat to. These kinds of songs bring comfort because they make me feel like, ok, I’m not so alone with this shit.
And for context, really happy songs just seem the saddest, most devastating songs that there are, because you don’t have that, you don’t have that happiness, love, support, that glimmer of light everyone’s so happy about you know?
So gimme the saddest songs you can think of. I’m wearing Joy Division out.
Some other music/songs I’ve been listening to: Ren - Hi Ren (and some others of his), Elliott Smith, Micah P. Hinson, Portishead, Swans, Lykke Li - I Never Learn, Interpol, Chelsea Wolfe, Elton John - Rocketman, Matt Elliott, Savages - Adore
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails’ song Hurt, as performed by Johnny Cash:
I think in order to get to the true depths of musical pain, you often need two people. One who has the creativity and expression to write it well, and another whose soul has been crushed by their own guilt enough to perform it well. These two people cannot be the same, because the soul crushing process kills your creativity at its most extreme levels. But that extreme level is where you can perform mournful songs the best.
So, it takes two people.
another whose soul has been crushed by their own guilt enough to perform it well
Sorry but did you just…not listen to the original? There is such a wide range of emotions and Trent Reznor CRUSHES it. There is so much depth compared to Johnny Cash’s warbling old man voice. You hear a man hitting his breaking point as he gets louder and angrier at himself. Meanwhile there’s no evolution in the cover, he sounds the same start to finish.
I just don’t understand the massive praise of the cover. If it wasn’t Johnny Cash singing it, it would have never hit the radio. I don’t care if people like it but you’re massively downplaying the amazing performance of the original
Honestly, Reznor’s rendition struck me as oddly theatrical. That’s probably just me though, different people can hear different things in the same piece of music.
I hear heroin addiction and depression in the original and boredom in the cover. Not to mention the self-aggrandizing music video…I don’t hear pain when he’s singing someone else’s story over clips of his successful, fulfilling life
Reznor heard his pain. Perhaps the fact that his successful, fulfilling life still ultimately failed him, is what he’s trying to say. Also, he was an addict too.
Sometimes, yes, I absolutely agree, maybe even often. Not all songwriters, as great of a performer they might be for most of their songs, are the best performers for so many of their own songs. Good examples are Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen (Cohen after the first 3-4 albums wasn’t IMO the best performer of his own songs) and Jeff Buckley’s version; lots of Isaac Hayes’ versions of other peoples’ songs, most of all By the Time I Get to Phoenix
but the best example I can think of is A Song for You, written by Leon Russell, but Donny Hathaway takes it to a completely different fucking universe and makes it his own. That song is heartbreaking performed by him, Jesus.
have a nice life (all of deathconsciousness but specifically who would leave their son out in the sun)
a silver mt. zion (all of he has left us alone…)
amenra (a solitary reign)
planning for burial (all of below the house)
lingua ignota (anything)
uboa (anything)
ex:re (all of S/T)
mount eerie (all of a crow looked at me)
panchiko (cut)
sufjan stevens (should have known better)
fugazi (I’m so tired)
nine inch nails (hurt)
midwife (all of like author, like daughter)
psychonaut 4 (all of dipsomania)
the whole genre of dsbm comes to mind
Was going to recommend Lingua Ignota. All Bitches Die is a great but very rough listen. Last track on it is sombre(?) and beautiful.
Have a nice life is one of my favorite bands ever. On that note, Giles Corey by one of the guys in HANL is even more devastating I’d say.
And for Sufjan, Casimir Pulaski Day always kills me.
Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens. Turns out childhood cancer makes for a beautifully gut-wrenching song.
Can’t believe no one has mentioned It’s A Mad World yet:
https://youtu.be/4N3N1MlvVc4?si=-7kTHbNDPsNBHFuh
Also
Belly - Stay
Regina Spektor - Field Below
Tori Amos - Marianne, Twinkle, I’m Not In Love, Strange
Seether - Fine Again
PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love
The thing about Gary Jules’ Mad World, is as hauntingly sad as it is, it also has this steady, subtle thread of defiance woven through it, that imo really elevates it to greatness. Makes it slightly less sad though, there’s some steel in there, where the whole song is rebuking the world.
I’ve always really liked Alex Parks’ slightly popier cover, she pushes that defiant tone a bit harder, reminiscent of a little Sinead imo:
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Damn that’s good, doesn’t scratch the itch I have, but great new artist found. Thanks.
I have been preparing my entire life for this moment!
Daughter - Shallows
Placebo - Follow The Cops Back Home
Lanterns on the Lake - Another Tale From Another English Town
Amanda Palmer - Trout Heart Replica
Joni Mitchell - The Magdelene Laundries (cw: abuse - if you’re not looking for that sad try Come in From The Cold)
Secret Machines - 1000 Seconds
Silversun Pickups - Circadian Rhythm
Mogwai - Killing All The Flies
Porcupine Tree - Heart Attack in a Layby
Death Cab For Cutie - What Sarah Said
Iron & Wine - Passing Afternoon
Jimmy Eat World - Hear You Me
Tusks - Dissolve
The Flaming Lips - Mr Ambulance Driver
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
Manchester Orchestra - I Know How To Speak
The Midnight - Brooklyn (not to be confused with “Brooklyn. Friday. Love” which is the exact opposite end of the emotional spectrum)
Blue Valentines - Tom Waits
107 Steps - Björk (this one is best after watching the movie “Dancer in the Dark”)
Gone Away - My Brightest Diamond
Gloomy Sunday - Billie Holiday Or Gloomy Sunday - Sinéad O’Connor No comparison vocally, but if you like Sinéad the second has a lot of emotion.
A Night Like This - The Cure
Traveling Light - Leonard Cohen
The album Hospice by the Antlers.
I’ll just steal from wikipedia: Set in New York City’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which the second track is named after, Hospice tells the story of a relationship between a hospice worker and a female patient suffering from terminal bone cancer, their ensuing romance, and their slow downward spiral as a result of the woman’s traumas, fears, and disease. The story of her deterioration also serves as a metaphor for an abusive relationship. Frontman Peter Silberman has been reluctant to divulge explicit details regarding the meaning of the record, and the extent to which it is autobiographical.
Love it.
Pearl Jam - Last Kiss
Leviathan - At the door of the tenth sub-level of suicide
Here, try some doom black metal
If you don’ t mind not understanding the lyrics, try the album Kauan by the finnish band Tenhi.
While were at finnish bands: some Nightwish songs are really great sad music: Away, Sleeping Sun and Deep Silent Complete come to my mind.
Also have a listen to Songs by John Dowland. Baroque but magnificentky sad if well sung.
Lol, almost mentioned Tenhi in my OP, but I figured since they’re Finnish no-one is gonna know them either way. One of my favorite bands.
E: Also have to point out, they have “official” translations for their lyrics on their website all the way up to the previous to last album, done by the band themselves afaik. They’re not entirely a 100% accurate and they’ve taken some fairly big creative liberties in translating them, but close enough and since they’re official I give them a pass. Cool to see they get appreciated abroad, they’re not very well known over here back home.
Love John Dowland as well.
E2: Just in case anyone is interested:
Tenhi - Varpuspäivä/Sparrow Day,
Fuck, two Tenhi fans in one place (make that three now). Not something to be expected. Glad to see it though.
@BraveSentry @brewbellyblueberry
Nice coincidence. Though it makes sense that someone asking for sad songs might know and like Tenhi. Kuolesi jokeen, Etäisyyksien Taa and Saapuminen are my favourites. Now that I listened some memories arose and now I have to listen to the newer stuff they made. Thanks for reminding me Tenhi exist!
Lots of good stuff in this thread. This one immediately sprung to mind
