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December 12, 2006

Sad Songs Say So Much

Nokia UK commissioned music and physiology "expert" Dr. Harry Witchel to scientifically determine the world's saddest, happiest, and most exhilarating songs. (This shouldn't piss people off.) So, Dr. Smarty Pants, how did you "scientifically" measure sadness? Witchel determined listeners' "'tune trigger quotient,' measuring heart rate, respiratory response and skin temperature to find the saddest, happiest and most exhilarating tracks" (via). To measure "happy," Witchel wanted a high number of sighs and a low level of boredom. "Sad" tunes were identified by decreased heart rate, and "exhilarating" by a spike in breaths per minute. And the good doctor let us in on the recipe for an emotional tune:

Music is undeniably powerful at triggering different emotional states. Changes in tempo and frequencies induce profoundly different emotional states.
Here are his laboratory results:
Happy
1. "LDN" - Lily Allen
2. "Dancing Queen" - ABBA
3. "Shiny Happy People" - R.E.M.

Exhilarating
1. "Song 2" - Blur
2. "Love Machine" - Girls Aloud
3. "Somebody Told Me" - The Killers

The findings on the sad songs were more thoroughly reported. Said Witchel:
A slow tempo song like the Verve's The Drugs Don't Work slows down the heart compared to most of the other songs and compared to white noise - in other words, it works like the emotional state of sadness.
Here's the Top 10 (via RS):
Sad
1. The Verve - "The Drugs Don’t Work"
2. Robbie Williams - "Angels"
3. Elton John - "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word"
4. Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You"
5. Sinead O’Connor - "Nothing Compares 2 U"
6. Will Young - "Leave Right Now"
7. Elvis Presley - "Are You Lonesome Tonight"
8. Christina Aguilera - "Beautiful"
9. James Blunt - "Goodbye My Lover"
10. Radiohead - "Fake Plastic Trees"
We vote James Blunt for the top of that list, but our criteria for "sad" -- and it's resultant effects on our physiological state -- are entirely different. But we've never been good at science. All time saddest tunes? Go.

Posted at 2:00 PM in
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173 Comments

I stand by my theory that "Song 2" is so called because it turned out exactly 2 minutes long.

Posted by: B at 12/12/06 3:14 PM  | Reply
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Trim the crap out of the sad category (leaving, I'd say, Radiohead, Elvis, and the Verve as the top three) and this actually seems fairly right on. Who can honestly say Dancing Queen doesn't make them feel a little fluffier?

Posted by: KS at 12/12/06 4:02 PM  | Reply
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Enough already with these terrible song lists (or should I say the SHIT LIST folder). I'm beginning to think that people come up with these just so you can post them on Stereogum.

Posted by: Len at 12/12/06 4:03 PM  | Reply
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I can honestly say I don't feel fluffier (?) listening to Dancing Queen. The song has always seemed bittersweet, to me.

Posted by: Memememe at 12/12/06 4:23 PM  | Reply
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I think dancing queen is the only abba song that doesn't have depressing lyrics like "where are those happy days they seem so hard to find" or "no more carefree laughter science ever after" Also, fake plastic trees is sad?

Posted by: ian at 12/12/06 5:13 PM  | Reply
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wow, these people know nothing about sad songs... apparently they have never heard any elliot smith or will oldham....

Posted by: fred at 12/12/06 5:37 PM  | Reply
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Sad songs are like nature's onions.

Posted by: Wesley at 12/12/06 5:40 PM  | Reply
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Damn, Wesley. Beat me to it.

Posted by: kyle at 12/12/06 6:05 PM  | Reply
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Shiny happy people? I can't think of a song that pisses me off more. Oh wait... Love Shack. That song infuriates me.

Posted by: HearYa at 12/12/06 6:09 PM  | Reply
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okay, so my vote for saddest song goes to "Mad World" by Tears for Fears, the lyrics are so depressing, but if you listen to the Gary Jules/Michael Andrews version, its even more depressing...

Posted by: whitney at 12/12/06 6:33 PM  | Reply
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I think the exhilerating songs missed out big time. Popozao by KFed duh...

...

ahem ahem...

anyways, sad song MOST definetly is Hyper Chondriac Music by Muse. 9 crimes by Damien Rice makes me... hollow ahah

Posted by: ian at 12/12/06 6:37 PM  | Reply
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holy crap i forgot all about Mad World. Whitney's right. she gets my vote.

Posted by: ian at 12/12/06 6:48 PM  | Reply
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yo, son. i can't even read!

Posted by: chongo at 12/12/06 6:51 PM  | Reply
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song 2 is the most exciting cause its the soundtrack to every 'greatest sports _____' clip.

and man, are those awesome

Posted by: jl3969 at 12/12/06 6:54 PM  | Reply
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sad songs: sea anemone - jets to brazil
poison oak - conor oberst and co.
the late for the sky album - jackson browne
anything by james and i

Posted by: chucky p at 12/12/06 7:38 PM  | Reply
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black star is the saddest song i know.

ben harper's walk away is up there too.

Posted by: elle at 12/12/06 7:39 PM  | Reply
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Oh! I love music lists!

OK, If I had to choose 1...this is it:

Happiest song on my playlist:
Best Of My Love by the Emotions (seriously, who doesn't feel like having a great time when this song is played?)

Most Exhilarating:
Shut Me Up by Mindless Self Indulgence (All I can picture while this song plays is donning a leather outfit and practicing roundhouse kicks on some bad villianous person)

Saddest:
Sundrenched World by Joshua Radin (I can literally feel the sadness seeping into me when I hear this song. Kinda makes me wanna gouge mye eyes out in a slow, poetic kind of way)

Posted by: Erin at 12/12/06 7:48 PM  | Reply
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I don't know about saddest of all time, but "I know it's over" by the Smiths pretty much makes me wanna drive off a bridge.

Posted by: rosemary at 12/12/06 7:52 PM  | Reply
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i vote `music when the lights go out` the libertines for saddest song.

Posted by: emi narasaki at 12/12/06 8:04 PM  | Reply
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Happy Songs: "Hot Fun in the Summertime" (Sly & The Family Stone); "Maybe I'm Amazed" (McCartney); "Hey Jude" (Beatles); "Ooh, Child" (The Spiral Staircase).

Exhilarating Songs: "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Nirvana); "Mississippii Queen" (Mountain); "Black Dog" (Led Zeppelin); Agua de Marcos (Elis Regina & Tom Jobim); Army of Me (Bjork)

Sad Songs: "You Are My Window" (Todd Rundgren in his days with Nazz); "Expecting to Fly" (Neil Young w/ Buffalo Springfield); Joga (Bjork).

Posted by: Syrinx at 12/12/06 8:52 PM  | Reply
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Happy Songs: "Hot Fun in the Summertime" (Sly & The Family Stone); "Maybe I'm Amazed" (McCartney); "Hey Jude" (Beatles); "Ooh, Child" (The Spiral Staircase).

Exhilarating Songs: "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Nirvana); "Mississippii Queen" (Mountain); "Black Dog" (Led Zeppelin); Agua de Marcos (Elis Regina & Tom Jobim); Army of Me (Bjork)

Sad Songs: "You Are My Window" (Todd Rundgren in his days with Nazz); "Expecting to Fly" (Neil Young w/ Buffalo Springfield); Joga (Bjork).

Posted by: Syrinx at 12/12/06 9:12 PM  | Reply
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Saddest song: 'The Tigers Have Spoken' by Neko Case.
A big cat, driven crazy from walking in circles as a result of being chained up in a field behind the cages, remembers that brown haired lady who bottle-fed him as a baby cub... then Neko repeatedly sings "They shot the tiger on his chain."

Posted by: Blu at 12/12/06 9:51 PM  | Reply
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I've never posted here before, but seeing the last comment about the Neko Case song reminded me of one of the saddest songs I've personally ever heard. "Small Black Flowers That Grow In the Sky" by the Manic Street Preachers. I hope you guys check it out.

Posted by: Jack D at 12/12/06 10:00 PM  | Reply
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What about this:
SAD SONGS:
Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Follow You Into The Dark
Radiohead - Creep
Coldplay - Fix you
No Doubt - Don't Speak
Metallica - Fade To Black
New Radicals - Someday We'll Know

What d'you think?

Posted by: Leandro at 12/12/06 10:47 PM  | Reply
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Song 2 is called so because it's the second song on the album it appears.

Posted by: Kruger at 12/12/06 10:50 PM  | Reply
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Fuck off, how could disappointed and I know it's over not figure. Retards, Ugggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhh
hhhhhhh
hhhhhh
hhhhh
hhhh
hhh
hh
h

Posted by: James at 12/12/06 10:55 PM  | Reply
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What about this:
SAD SONGS:
Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Follow You Into The Dark
Radiohead - Creep
Coldplay - Fix you
No Doubt - Don't Speak
Metallica - Fade To Black
New Radicals - Someday We'll Know

What d'you think?

Posted by: Leandro at 12/12/06 11:04 PM  | Reply
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i'd have to go with...
long long long (the beatles)
or
svefn-g-englar (sigur ros)
or
needle in the hay or everything means nothing to me (elliott smith)
or perhaps
daisies of the galaxy (eels)

just a few i could think of quickly.
real depressing.

Posted by: will at 12/12/06 11:21 PM  | Reply
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What about this:
SAD SONGS:
Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Follow You Into The Dark
Radiohead - Creep
Coldplay - Fix you
No Doubt - Don't Speak
Metallica - Fade To Black
New Radicals - Someday We'll Know

What d'you think?

Posted by: Leandro at 12/12/06 11:22 PM  | Reply
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i'd have to go with...
long long long (the beatles)
or
svefn-g-englar (sigur ros)
or
needle in the hay or everything means nothing to me (elliott smith)
or perhaps
daisies of the galaxy (eels)

just a few i could think of quickly.
real depressing.

Posted by: Will at 12/12/06 11:25 PM  | Reply
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These lists always back up in my throat like bile. Off the top of my head i can think of three songs that are more heartbreaking:

The Smiths "Please Please Please Let Me Get What i Want"
Nine Inch Nails "Dirt"
Mazzy Star "Into Dust"

Posted by: Jamie at 12/13/06 12:07 AM  | Reply
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Sad: Nick Drake-Things Behind The Sun

Happy: Beck-Beercan

Exhilarating: Oukast-Bombs Over Baghdad

Scientific/Biographical: Life In A Blender- Asshole From Menlo Park

Economic Theory: The Beatles-Taxman


Posted by: virgil at 12/13/06 12:30 AM  | Reply
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"I know it´s over" is the saddest song, years ago I listened it 8 uninterrupted hours, I knew something bad was about to happen.. I was rejected for a most conventional choice.

"Well I wonder" is sad too, beautiful and sad.

Posted by: goldend at 12/13/06 1:08 AM  | Reply
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saddest song i can think of:

the world i know by collective soul

Posted by: jesika at 12/13/06 1:36 AM  | Reply
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the saddest song i can think of:

the world i know by collective soul.

Posted by: jesika at 12/13/06 1:40 AM  | Reply
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The saddest song is the version of "Fields of Gold" performed by Eva Cassidy. The Sting version is just annoying. The Eva Cassidy version makes me cry every time.

Posted by: satan at 12/13/06 4:34 AM  | Reply
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One of the happy songs mentions having to ride a bike because the cops took away her license, viewing a pimp and crack whore, and seeing an old lady get mugged. . .and the worst is that I had to deal with that song every 10 minutes in Milan. . now I have to deal with it in Amsterdam. . .I want to go home now.

Posted by: Laura at 12/13/06 5:12 AM  | Reply
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One of the happy songs mentions having to ride a bike because the cops took away her license, viewing a pimp and crack whore, and seeing an old lady get mugged. . .and the worst is that I had to deal with that song every 10 minutes in Milan. . now I have to deal with it in Amsterdam. . .I want to go home now.

Posted by: Laura at 12/13/06 5:15 AM  | Reply
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you gotto go with the donny darko/gary jules version of " Mad World" that song makes me want to slit my wrist , and not in that get attention from daddy sort of way. I'm talking up the road, not across the street.

Posted by: curt at 12/13/06 7:01 AM  | Reply
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I'm just glad to see "Smells Like Teen Spirit" didn't actually make it to the lists. Although I see it made it into the comments (it's a great song, though).

How about some Ryan Adams love?

Posted by: Meg at 12/13/06 7:14 AM  | Reply
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its good that the military draft will be back in less than 2 years-some of your members need it

Posted by: jim at 12/13/06 8:04 AM  | Reply
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Nothing but nothing is sadder than "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro. Listen to it on youtube at:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=P67A0lTj_9s&mode=related&search=

Posted by: Larry at 12/13/06 8:16 AM  | Reply
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Larry you are so right! Honey by Bobby Goldsboro used to make me cry every time I heard it!! See the tree, how big it grows....OMG!

Posted by: Karin Buchanan at 12/13/06 9:07 AM  | Reply
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Sad song:
Tom Waits - Flower's Grave

Posted by: Nicole at 12/13/06 9:12 AM  | Reply
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I know - Fiona Apple

Posted by: aksfj at 12/13/06 10:15 AM  | Reply
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EXHILERATING
"I Saw Her Standing There" - The Beatles
"Synchronicity II" - The Police
"American Girl" - Tom Petty
"Born to Run" - Bruce Springsteen
"Shout"

SAD
"Somewhere" - Tom Waits
"Comfortably Numb" - Pink Floyd
"Goodbye" - Elton John
"Sad Lisa" - Cat Stevens
"Blame it on the Sun" - Stevie Wonder
"Long and Winding Road" - Beatles

HAPPY
"Saturday in the Park" - Chicago
"Take it Easy" - Eagles

Posted by: Jacquie at 12/13/06 10:18 AM  | Reply
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"Nothing Compares 2 U" definitely brings a tear to my eye but what about "If You Leave Me Now" by Chicago? So sad!

Posted by: Sara at 12/13/06 10:20 AM  | Reply
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"Nothing Compares 2 U" definitely brings a tear to my eye but what about "If You Leave Me Now" by Chicago? So sad!

Posted by: Sara at 12/13/06 10:23 AM  | Reply
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Sad songs
"Alone Again Naturally" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
"When the Tigers Broke Free" Pink Floyd
"Bring the boys back home" Pink Floyd
"Seasons in the sun" Terry Jacks
"The Show Must Go On" Queen

Posted by: S at 12/13/06 10:42 AM  | Reply
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Sad Songs: "How to Disappear Completely" by Radiohead and the "Flint, Michigan" song by Sufjan Stevens

Happy Song: "Ce Matin La" by Air

Posted by: john at 12/13/06 11:29 AM  | Reply
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You can all stop now. Addest song is "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton. If this doesn't make you cry, you have a rock for a heart. I'm just saying.

Posted by: Rhonda at 12/13/06 2:09 PM  | Reply
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"hope theres someone" or "you are my sister" from antony... the latter is a really positive song actually but i always feel like bawling when i listen to it

Posted by: marsh at 12/13/06 2:21 PM  | Reply
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elliott smith - sweet adeline.
the smiths - asleep.

waaaay more depressing than "i will always love you."

Posted by: annie at 12/13/06 2:33 PM  | Reply
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Saddest: "At 17"- Janis Ian
"Whiter Shade of Pale"- Procol Harum
"Raining in Baltimore"- Counting Crows

Happiest: "Center Field" -John Fogarty
"Good Morning Good Morning"
- The Beatles
"Heebie Jeebies" - Louis Armstrong

Posted by: Pete at 12/13/06 9:37 PM  | Reply
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Happiest song: "Sweetness" by Jimmy Eat World

Exhilirating song: "Rose of Sharyn" by Killswitch Engage

Saddest song: "Hurt" by Johnny Cash (NIN version is too)

Posted by: skruffy at 12/13/06 10:30 PM  | Reply
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Happiest song: "Sweetness" by Jimmy Eat World

Exhilirating song: "Rose of Sharyn" by Killswitch Engage

Saddest song: "Hurt" by Johnny Cash (NIN version is too)

Posted by: skruffy at 12/13/06 10:34 PM  | Reply
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"Goodbye Cruel World" by Pink Floyd is the saddest. most depressing song ever written.

Posted by: Matt at 12/14/06 2:10 PM  | Reply
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Why would somebody deliberately choose to listen to sad music? And what exactly is sad music, anyway? Music that makes people cry? WHY WOULD ANYBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO SUCH MISERY? Oh, I just realized, these people cannot be considered to be in their right mind, can they? Well, there's enough misery, depression and sadness in the world - if you don't think so, just watch the news tonight. No matter under which particular rock you live, there will be something bad going on - they're not called News anymore, but Bad News. Come on people, does anybody have anything positive and uplifting to talk about anymore?

Posted by: annmarie at 12/14/06 2:19 PM  | Reply
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Exhilerating: Theme from Rocky, tell me you don't wanna run up the steps!
Happy: Walking on Sunshine.
Sad: In Your eyes, still touches me everytime I hear it

Posted by: Liano at 12/14/06 3:55 PM  | Reply
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I think the saddest song at the time that it was song live was "skyline pigeon" by elton john at ryan white's funeral. I'm sorry, nothing can top that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: nick fratelli at 12/14/06 4:20 PM  | Reply
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I can't believe no one's mentioned "Hallelujah." Could be by anyone, but the most by Jeff Buckley for me.

Also, "No Distance Left to Run" by Blur.

Also, Exhilarating: "Walkin' on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves. I mean, COME ON.

Posted by: Ebeth at 12/14/06 6:08 PM  | Reply
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How about for the saddest
When the childern cry / White Lion
House of pain/ Faster Pussycat
Adam's song/ Blink 182

Posted by: christie at 12/14/06 9:04 PM  | Reply
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My picks for the saddest songs:

"Inmates"- The Good Life

"...Gotta Get a Message to You"- The Bee Gees

"2:45"- Elliott Smith

"I Will Come To You"- Hanson

I'm only half-kidding about that last one.

Posted by: Milly at 12/14/06 9:45 PM  | Reply
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Christina Aguilera's newest song "Hurt" beats her "Beautiful" as the saddest song - makes me cry thinking about my late brother.

Posted by: ME at 12/14/06 9:51 PM  | Reply
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I remember a song in the 40's called "Will Santy Come to Shanty Town This Year?". A very sad song.

Posted by: Ron Chalmers at 12/15/06 7:33 AM  | Reply
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Hmmm...can't argue with "Dancing Queen" being exhilarating...also The Grateful Dead "I Will Get By." But for real wrist-slitters, "Forever Young" by Alphaville. Speaking of which-- I seem to recall that there was a song in Hungary(?) c. 1940's(also ?) that allegedly caused a rash of suicides and was banned...

Posted by: fin at 12/15/06 7:56 AM  | Reply
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Okay People....listen up...Dont Take The Girl-Tim McGraw...yes to the above..Hurt,by Christina Aguillera...I MIss You by Avril Lavigne, Runway Love by Ludacris and Mary J Blige and The Christmas Shoes..I dont know who wrote it but thats some sad shit there...when people leave us ,its just sad...who can deny that?
Happy...Baby Baby by Amy Grant, Cool...Gwen Stefani..Dreams...the cranberries...

Posted by: Dee-Dee at 12/15/06 8:00 AM  | Reply
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Saddest song: Sweet Scarlet, by Cat Stevens
Happiest: Born to Run, Springsteen

Posted by: Lisa at 12/15/06 8:39 AM  | Reply
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I've always thought the saddest song ever is "Mary Jane's Last Dance," by Tom Petty.

Posted by: Dani at 12/15/06 8:59 AM  | Reply
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I can't believe no one's mentioned "Hallelujah." Could be by anyone, but the most by Jeff Buckley for me.

Also, "No Distance Left to Run" by Blur.

Also, Exhilarating: "Walkin' on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves. I mean, COME ON.

Posted by: Liz at 12/15/06 9:38 AM  | Reply
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I can't believe no one mentioned:

SAD SONGS - "Honey" - Bobby Goldsboro - About his dead wife.

"Seasons in the Sun" - Forget Name - About death

"Seventeen" - Janis Ian - About being butt ugly teenager and suicide

"Russians" - Sting - About nuclear annihilation.

But on the flip side, who can quarrel with these exhilirating songs:

Anything by LED ZEP

"Barracuda" - Heart

Anything by JAMES BROWN

MY TWO CENTS.... I do not consider anything out of 90s as music, sorry. Hey, I just remembered, when your talking about sad songs in 90s look no further than NATALIE MERCHANT.

Posted by: Al at 12/15/06 11:34 AM  | Reply
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For exhilarating, I have to go with Whitney's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody." Sad, is a really old one, from 1969, "Southbound Jericho Parkway" by Roy Orbison. And yet, it always cheers me up.

Posted by: Sammy at 12/15/06 12:10 PM  | Reply
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patches - clarence carter 1968

Posted by: vicki at 12/15/06 2:27 PM  | Reply
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Song Song Blue, everybody knows one.....

Posted by: Neil at 12/15/06 3:07 PM  | Reply
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Kris Kristofferson wrote a dozen songs sadder than all of this all by himself, my two three to listen to are:

Billy Dee
Long Way from Home
Caseey's Last Ride (perhaps the saddest song of all time)

Not to mention Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks album is both sad and just depressing, every song.

Posted by: Marty at 12/15/06 3:35 PM  | Reply
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Saddest song (ever)
Casey's last Ride Kristofferson

Posted by: Marty at 12/15/06 3:41 PM  | Reply
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I kind of stumbled on this page..but I thought I'd toss in my opinion.

As for sad music, I found it rather interesting that no one mentioned "Who Wants to Live Forever" by Queen. And for sentimental reasons, though I have never been much of a fan of the band, I find Linkin Park's "My December" to be rather morose.

Posted by: Lex at 12/15/06 4:11 PM  | Reply
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Sad songs- Time by Alen Parsons Project, Wildfire by Michael Martin, Major Tom by David Bowie

Posted by: Sprite at 12/15/06 5:18 PM  | Reply
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Hey Neil. You mean Song Sung Blue?

Posted by: Sprite at 12/15/06 5:21 PM  | Reply
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I have always found "Vincent" by Don MacLean to be very sad & touching, and there are several by Harry Chapin that easily compete with those mentioned, but my favorite would be "Mr. Tanner."

Posted by: The Friggin Falcon at 12/15/06 6:24 PM  | Reply
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I have always found "Vincent" by Don MacLean to be very sad & touching, and there are several by Harry Chapin that easily compete with those mentioned, but my favorite would be "Mr. Tanner."

Posted by: The Friggin Falcon at 12/15/06 6:37 PM  | Reply
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There's been a LOT of good choices listed, but here's my two cents worth:

Exhilerating: Led Zepplin published a 3-CD set called How the West was Won (a collage of two live concerts in LA in 1972). On CD#3 the 23 minute cut of "Whole Lotta Love" has Led Zep's rendition of Ricky Nelson's early R&R hit, "Hello Marylu (Goodbye Heart)". WOW! Turn it UP! Also on the same CD#3, the live cut of "Rock and Roll"! WOW! AGAIN!

The saddest song for me is the Eagles' "Best of My Love". Sad songs are like that, though. You have to relate to them in some way for them to be profoundly sad.

Posted by: D. B. Cooper at 12/15/06 9:21 PM  | Reply
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Sad---Ryan Adams & Norah Jones-"Dear John"

Posted by: juano at 12/15/06 10:12 PM  | Reply
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For me, the saddest songs would either be "The Dance" or "The Change", both by Garth Brooks..

Posted by: Carrie at 12/17/06 12:19 AM  | Reply
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Here's one for happy and/or exhilarating I LIKE BIG BUTTS!! Who is that by? Sir Mix-A-Lot or something like that? Even my 4 year old knows the first verse! Who can't tap a foot to that song? LOL that song just cracks me up!!!!

Posted by: Jill at 12/17/06 1:51 PM  | Reply
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most of these are pretty good but heres what i think-
2 saddest songs:
emotion by destiny's child (i know the beegees originally sang it but i happen to like dc's version better)
concrete angel by martina mcbride
(also angel by sarah mclauchlan)
2 most exhilarating : TWIST AND SHOUT by the beatles. cmon how could you possibly overlook that?
and party up by dmx
both fantastically exhilarating.
happiest:
good day sunshine by the beatles
and love generation by bob sinclair

Posted by: eli at 12/17/06 3:31 PM  | Reply
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most of these are pretty good but heres what i think-
2 saddest songs:
emotion by destiny's child (i know the beegees originally sang it but i happen to like dc's version better)
concrete angel by martina mcbride
(also angel by sarah mclauchlan)
2 most exhilarating : TWIST AND SHOUT by the beatles. cmon how could you possibly overlook that?
and party up by dmx
both fantastically exhilarating.
happiest:
good day sunshine by the beatles
and love generation by bob sinclair

Posted by: eli at 12/17/06 3:33 PM  | Reply
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SAD SONG " TELL LAURA I LOVE HER"

Posted by: RICK BASSETT at 12/17/06 8:48 PM  | Reply
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saddest: I'll be there by Escape Club
"I may have died,
but I've gone nowhere.
Just think of me
And I'll be there."

Posted by: bren at 12/17/06 9:52 PM  | Reply
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Sad: A few of my choices, which will give away my age...uh, not young...
- "Why" by Annie Lennox? Ladies - play this over & over after a break-up. Just the right tone of self-recrimination to be highly satisfying.
- Clapton's "Tears in Heaven". I agree with Rhonda - this is a heart-breaker.
- Luther Vandross doing "Dance With My Father." Corny? Just try not to cry as you're regretting missed familial opportunities.

Posted by: diane at 12/17/06 10:18 PM  | Reply
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Sad: A few of my choices, which will give away my age...uh, not young...
- "Why" by Annie Lennox? Ladies - play this over & over after a break-up. Just the right tone of self-recrimination to be highly satisfying.
- Clapton's "Tears in Heaven". I agree with Rhonda - this is a heart-breaker.
- Luther Vandross doing "Dance With My Father." Corny? Just try not to cry as you're regretting missed familial opportunities.

Posted by: diane at 12/17/06 10:20 PM  | Reply
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I was sitting in my car one day & my friend had put on a country & western station while he ran into a store and this song came on about an abused little girl that died called "Concrete Angel" by Martina McBride...I was sobbing when my friend came back out & i told him don't ever put that station on again. Then my 75 year old grandmother asked me to download a song for her that was sung by Harry Belafonte called..."Take My Mother Home" If you ever wanna cry...just listen to the both of those songs.

Posted by: maggie at 12/18/06 12:43 AM  | Reply
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happy - you can't listen to "walking on sunshine" and be in a bad mood
also "does you mother know?" (by ABBA)

exhilerating - "thunderstruck" by AC/DC...c'mon!
"wherever i may roam" by Metallica

sad - "Last Kiss" (by STP (and an older group)) "Tell Laura I Love Her" (by ??) "Borderline" (by Chris Deburg)
"Teddy Bear" (by ??) "The Night I Fell Asleep at the Wheel" (by Barenaked Ladies) "Dreaming While You Sleep" (by Phil Collins) "The Lighthouse Song" (by Nickel Creek) "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" (by Gordon Lightfoot)
"Please Come to Boston" (by ??) "Seasons in the Sun" (by Terry Jack)

Posted by: Mickey at 12/18/06 12:47 AM  | Reply
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What about REM's "Everybody Hurts?" What is sadder than THAT song?!?

Posted by: Amanda at 12/18/06 9:02 AM  | Reply
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Sad: "Pictures of You" by The Cure

Posted by: phred at 12/18/06 9:32 AM  | Reply
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There are alot of really great sad songs but no one mentioned,

"Sometimes It Snows in April" by Prince

"The Baby" (country song dont remember the guys name who sings it)

Anything by Portishead will make you wanna slit your wrists ...

ALSO I think that the song that someone mentioned that made people commit suicide is called Gloomy Sunday ... it has been covered a million times by all kinds of artists. It was banned in the US for a while because alot of people committed suicide after listening to it. Spooky!

Try the original its by Nina Simone .. (I think)

Posted by: Michelle O at 12/18/06 9:35 AM  | Reply
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Seems to be subjective, really.

Happy: Can't Get Next to You - The Temptations
(The beat and the silliness always make me smile)
Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder

Exhilirating: What I Got - Sublime

Sad: Thank You - Led Zep, Send in the Clowns - Sinatra, Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters - Elton John, Tangled Up In Blue - Bob Dylan, Tell Me What It Takes - Aerosmith.

Posted by: Rae at 12/18/06 9:58 AM  | Reply
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Seems to be subjective, really.

Happy: Can't Get Next to You - The Temptations
(The beat and the silliness always make me smile)
Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder

Exhilirating: What I Got - Sublime

Sad: That's The Way - Led Zep, Send in the Clowns - Sinatra, Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters - Elton John, Tangled Up In Blue - Bob Dylan, Tell Me What It Takes - Aerosmith.

Posted by: Rae at 12/18/06 9:59 AM  | Reply
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Allison Krausse " stone angles" it's about child abuse.The video is very poweful.

Celine " good bye is the hardest word" about a daughter saying good bye to her mom.

Posted by: Laura at 12/18/06 10:00 AM  | Reply
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I'm a huge Led Zeppelin fan, so after the 3:45 mark of "In My Time of Dying" strikes me as the most exhilirating 7 minutes caught on record. But the song that makes me happiest is "Cherry, Cherry" by Neil Diamond....or pretty much any of his Monkee hits.

Posted by: Brad at 12/18/06 10:28 AM  | Reply
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The most sad song in the world is "I Can't Make You Love Me" (the Bonnie Raitt version). You can't get any more sad than just the title itself. So many who have been in failed relationships can relate to it. Unfortunately, it is also my most favorite song ever just because of the musical composition and production so I can only listen to it occasionally or else I'd be depressed.

Fragile by Sting is another one.

Sade has a million truly sad songs. This is another artist you don't want ot listen to on a rainy day.


Posted by: D at 12/18/06 12:23 PM  | Reply
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Saddest Songs:

Beatles - Long and Winding Road
Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge over Troubled Water
Rolling Stones - Wild Horses

All old stuff I know, but those songs really hit you emotionally.

Posted by: Dood at 12/18/06 12:56 PM  | Reply
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Nearly every poster here refers to recent pop songs. The list blows: "I will always love you" a lovely parting thought, nearly a lullaby, covered (via bombast & hystrionics) by Whitney Huston isn't nearly as touching as the original, by the writer: Dolly Parton.

Do a little music history 101, there are hundreds that render Dr. Witchel's findings irrelevant at best. But, since we're talking about "pop" songs, here's three...

Happy: Chattanooga Choo-choo, Glenn Miller

Exhilarating: Magic Bus, the Who

Sad: The Damage Done, Neal Young

Posted by: rutz at 12/18/06 1:39 PM  | Reply
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saddest:
asleep, the smiths
stay or leave, dave matthews
the promise, tracy chapman
inflatable, bush
goodbye my lover, james blunt
kissing you, des'ree
the luckiest, ben folds
hear you me, jimmy eat world

Posted by: chelsea at 12/18/06 1:42 PM  | Reply
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hurt by johnny cash is sadder than the NIN version. but "A Long December" by Counting Crows (A band I truly loathe) has made me cry several times. nothing more pathetic than hope with no cause. I make myself listen to it whenever i have to go to a funeral so it will hurt more. another worthy sad song is anything by mazzy starr or the sundays with "My finest hour" or any of their first two cds. Aint nobody's business if I do" by bessie smith is also saddening
Ministry is very exhilarating. All of "the land of rape and honey" makes me wanna dance every time. The Beastie boys have been sadly neglected for exhilarating. no one wants to break stuff when listening to Sabotage? no one is happy when hearing "So whatcha want" or Live at PJ's"? thats awful.

Posted by: catdaddy at 12/18/06 1:52 PM  | Reply
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hurt by johnny cash is sadder than the NIN version. but "A Long December" by Counting Crows (A band I truly loathe) has made me cry several times. nothing more pathetic than hope with no cause. I make myself listen to it whenever i have to go to a funeral so it will hurt more. another worthy sad song is anything by mazzy starr or the sundays with "My finest hour" or any of their first two cds. Aint nobody's business if I do" by bessie smith is also saddening
Ministry is very exhilarating. All of "the land of rape and honey" makes me wanna dance every time. The Beastie boys have been sadly neglected for exhilarating. no one wants to break stuff when listening to Sabotage? no one is happy when hearing "So whatcha want" or Live at PJ's"? thats awful.

Posted by: catdaddy at 12/18/06 1:54 PM  | Reply
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I THINK TISSUES REQUIRED, BY: FOREST ROBIN HAS "O" BEAT FOR SADDEST SONGS CHECK IT OUT @ CDBABY.COM

Posted by: DOLPHIN at 12/18/06 2:19 PM  | Reply
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Nearly every poster here refers to recent pop songs. Was the survey commissioned strictly for the 14-24 yr. old demographic percieved as most important to Nokia? The list blows: "I will always love you" a soft heartfelt lament, nearly a lullaby, covered (via bombast & hystrionics) by Whitney Huston, sucks. The original, by Dolly Parton was written for her mentor Porter Wagoner when she broke out on her own. It is lovely.

Please, people: a little music history 101, there are hundreds that render Dr. Witchel's choices irrelevant at best. The emotional impact of music has been understood and exploited since we could communicate with a voice. But, since we're talking about "pop" songs, here's just a few gems... go forth, and listen.

Happy:
Chattanooga Choo-choo, Glenn Miller
Ob-la-di, Ob-li-da, The Beatles
Hey Good Lookin', Hank Williams
One Love, Bob Marley

Exhilarating:
Magic Bus, the Who
Jump Into The Fire, Harry Nilson
London Calling, the Clash
Voodoo Child, Jimi Hendrix

Sad:
The Damage Done, Neal Young
Hurt, Johnny Cash
You Stay Here, Willy Porter
A Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong

As stated earlier, there are HUNDREDS of songs that meet the study criteria, and my choices are songs that will be in the musical lexicon for a long time. It's doubtful the same can be said for much of Dr. Witchel's list.

Posted by: rutz at 12/18/06 2:21 PM  | Reply
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Nearly every poster here refers to recent pop songs. Was the survey commissioned strictly for the 14-24 yr. old demographic percieved as most important to Nokia? The list blows: "I will always love you" a soft heartfelt lament, nearly a lullaby, covered (via bombast & hystrionics) by Whitney Huston, sucks. The original, by Dolly Parton was written for her mentor Porter Wagoner when she broke out on her own. It is lovely.

Please, people: a little music history 101, there are hundreds that render Dr. Witchel's choices irrelevant at best. The emotional impact of music has been understood and exploited since we could communicate with a voice. But, since we're talking about "pop" songs, here's just a few gems... go forth, and listen.

Happy:
Chattanooga Choo-choo, Glenn Miller
Ob-la-di, Ob-li-da, The Beatles
Hey Good Lookin', Hank Williams
One Love, Bob Marley

Exhilarating:
Magic Bus, the Who
Jump Into The Fire, Harry Nilson
London Calling, the Clash
Voodoo Child, Jimi Hendrix

Sad:
The Damage Done, Neal Young
Hurt, Johnny Cash
You Stay Here, Willy Porter
A Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong

As stated earlier, there are HUNDREDS of songs that meet the study criteria, and my choices are songs that will be in the musical lexicon for a long time. It's doubtful the same can be said for much of Dr. Witchel's list.

Posted by: rutz at 12/18/06 2:22 PM  | Reply
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saddest song ever is Boz Scaggs' "high sierra".

Posted by: kristen at 12/18/06 2:54 PM  | Reply
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"Sunday morning comin' down" Johnny Cash. SAddest song ever. His pain is tangible.

Posted by: Bonnie at 12/18/06 3:56 PM  | Reply
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George Michaels "Praying For Time" is much more sad than any of those songs. John Lennon's "Imagine" also beats them hands down. Another stupid list. I love Elton...but that song is just not sad. Just because it has the word sad in the title. whopeee

Posted by: kurt at 12/18/06 4:03 PM  | Reply
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My vote for saddest songs would include ... "Dance With My Father" Luther Vandross ... "To Where You Are" Josh Groban ... and "Christmas Shoes" ...and "Hello-Goodbye" by Michael W. Smith

Posted by: Lori at 12/18/06 5:10 PM  | Reply
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My vote for the saddest songs would include:
"Dance With My Father" Luther Vandross ... "To Where You Are" Josh Groban ... "Christmas Shoes" ... and "Hello-Goodbye" Michael W. Smith.

Posted by: Lori at 12/18/06 5:15 PM  | Reply
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My vote for saddest songs: "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John and "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor

Posted by: Julia at 12/18/06 5:55 PM  | Reply
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When I was a teenager (a long time ago) there was a song about a plane crash...DOA. How can that not make the sad list? (Except that it was stupid since the person singing sings about dying so they must be dead so how are they singing)

Posted by: Wendy at 12/18/06 6:49 PM  | Reply
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Sinead O'Conner?!? Oh! Please!
She's the sad one, isn't she? She wrecked her career by accusing one of the more revieriered figures in christinanity of murder in front of a huge crowd in Times Square, and now she is on faggot lovin' Catholic bashing AOL trieing to what? get us to feel sorry for her?

PLUUUZZZZZZZEEEEEEE!

Posted by: BgSteve2169 at 12/18/06 7:08 PM  | Reply
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REM Sings "Everybody Hurts Sometime"??? Geezz..I Thought It Was Sung By: Simply Red..LOL! Does Sound Like Him An Awful Lot I Must Say.(To:Amanda)Anyone REALLY Know For SURE Who Sings That Song? Well...Either Way? I Think It's A Sad But Yet Awesome Song. I Think That "In The Arms Of An Angel" And Till Tuesday's Song "Voices Carry" Are Also Sad. And Nelly Furtado's Newest Song "Say It Right" Is Too. Kinda'..........But The Video WITH That Song Has Got Me HOOKED For Sure. Kinda' Sad Yet A Good Tune To Sing Along With & Dance To. I Wished She Had Made That Song ALOT Looooonger! "Pappa Don't Preach" (For Personal Reasons) And "This Used To Be My Playground" Both By Madonna Are Sort Of Sad. "This Used To Be My Playground" Is TRULY & VERY SAD Especially For Me Cause My Sister(Younger) Just Died Totally Unexpectedly & Very Suddenly A Month & A Half After JUST Turning Age 44 & ONLY 17 DAYS AFTER She Had Just Got Married. Leaving Behind A 9 Year Old Daughter & 13 Year Old Son. It Makes It Bittersweet Rather To Listen To That Song Because I Play A Video Type Memory FILLED With Memories Of Me & My Sisters Growing Up & Playing & Hanging Out In Playgrounds & How We Depended On One Another Cause We Could NOT Depend On OUR PARENTS To BE Parents Resulting In Me Raising & Looking Out For My Siblings & Myself(More Them,Really) At Such VERY Young Ages(Less Then 9 Years Old As Far Back I Can Recall This Began) & We Were All Very Close But Oddly We Sorta Branched Off & Did Our Own Thing & Raised Our Own Families & Children,So Caught Up In That We Lost Contact With Our Sister Who Just Died(In July Of 2006) & She Had JUST Moved Out Of State To Texas Less Then 2 Months Before Dying. :0( She Died Of Something Rare Called Cehebral "Berry" Anurysm In Her Brain. She Died Instantly & She Never Even Knew She Had 2 Of These In Her Brain, Even Though Only 1 Exploded,Killing Her. I Miss Her So Much! Her Hubby Of ONLY 17 Days Is A Real JERK Though! Met Him For The FIRST Time When Me & My Father Went Out To Texas(Drove To & From) And I Do NOT Like Him 1 Bit! REFUSED To Let Us Bring Even A Small Amount Of HER Ashes Back To Our State Where SHE Lived ALL Her Life So We Could Scatter Them Here, REFUSED To Give My Sister Her Ring Back That She Gave Our Sister, We All Have Matching Rings That Say SISTERS On The Bands, Refused To Let Us Have ANY Keepsakes For OUR Family To Bring Home To Have Of My Sister's To Keep For Memorial Purposes,Etc! He Has Our Niece & Nephew & Actually BEGGED My Family To NOT Put An Obituary In The Newspapers Here, For Fear Their 2 Dad's Might See It & Go Seek/Get Custody Of THEIR OWN Children...We Told HIM Flat Out NOPE! It IS Going In The Newspapers Here! Course My Deceased Sister Left The 2 Children 2/3rds Of The Home, And It's Contents And Their 53 Acres Of Land The House Is On. We KNOW That This Is The ONLY Reason He Is Keeping OUR Sister's Kids! Cause If Their Dad's OR Our Family Gets/Seeks Legal Custody Then He Is SCREWED! Property & Land Wise! Anyways Thank You For Letting Me Ramble/Vent/Get This Off My Mind Some. Take Good Care & Have A Great Christmas(Whichever Way You Celebrate It OR Not) & Happy New Year 2007. L8TR All.

Posted by: MammaSweetMammaohhhyeahh at 12/18/06 7:13 PM  | Reply
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Sad: last good-bye, Jeff Buckley
Exhilarating: Feels so good, Sonique
Happy: Me, Myself and I, Billie Holiday

Posted by: Carmelita at 12/18/06 8:57 PM  | Reply
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I will always love you is my vote for saddest song based on my own life.

Posted by: Fred at 12/18/06 9:26 PM  | Reply
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Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone
best by Bill Withers

Landslide
by Fleetwood Mac

Posted by: Chris at 12/18/06 10:50 PM  | Reply
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Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone
best by Bill Withers

Landslide
by Fleetwood Mac

Wild Horses
by The Rollingstones

Vincent
by Don Mclean

Posted by: Chris at 12/18/06 10:54 PM  | Reply
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i think a few of the saddest songs ever are "i've been loving you too long to stop now" by Otis Redding, "lord granville" by Al Stewart, "babe, i'm gonna leave you" by Led Zeppelin and "letter to elise" by The Cure...happiest songs, like "listen to the music" by The Doobie Brothers or "elderberry wine" by Elton John or what about songs that are happy and sad at the same time, like "wonderful world" by Louis Armstrong or "city of new orleans" by Arlo Guthrie or "reminicsing" by Little River Band, most exciting songs maybe "rock n' roll" bye Led Zeppelin, "razamanaz" by Nazareth or "runaround" by Blues Traveler....just my input

Posted by: steve at 12/18/06 10:59 PM  | Reply
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I'm sorry...seems we're having some tech difficulties. Those are my sad song selections. Oh yeah..and that song Mrs Sullivan.

Posted by: Chris at 12/18/06 11:00 PM  | Reply
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Sad songs that I don't see:

Run- Snow Patrol
Leaving on a Jet Plane: Janis Joplin
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room: John Mayer
Dreaming with a Broken Heart: John Mayer
Hold On: The Starting Line
Dusk and Summer: Dashboard Confessional
Best I'll Ever Be: Sister Hazel

also, really really sad song that has been mentioned- Hallelujah: Jeff Buckley

Posted by: sam at 12/18/06 11:24 PM  | Reply
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SAD SONGS
Strangefruit By Billie Holiday
If Tomorrow Never Comes Garth Brooks
I Can't Make you Love Me Bonnie Riatt

Posted by: stacey at 12/19/06 1:32 AM  | Reply
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More sad songs:
You Raise me Up Josh Groban
Pictures of You & Letters to Elise The Cure

Posted by: Stacey at 12/19/06 1:36 AM  | Reply
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I think the saddest song (but pretty) is Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World..I cry everytime I hear it..Second to that would be "Wind Beneath My Wings" Perry Como did it originally; however, Beth Midler Did it even sadder

Posted by: Andrade at 12/19/06 5:06 AM  | Reply
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Hey! These people know nothing about sad songs. Where's Morrissey's "Every Day Is Like Sunday"?

Posted by: Tom at 12/19/06 12:18 PM  | Reply
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"Death's Door", by the great Depeche Mode has literally made my cry like a baby. It is one of the saddest and most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

"Bother" by Stone Sour is a really morose song; it damn near makes you want to kill yourself.

Posted by: Kelsie at 12/19/06 12:20 PM  | Reply
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Here goes my subjective (and eclectic) list of "best of":

SAD:
"Time of Your Life" (Good Riddance) by Green Day
"Streets of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen
"Purple Rain" by Prince
"Time After Time" by Cindi Lauper

HAPPY:
"I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash
"Summertime" by Will Smith

EXHILERATING:
"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cindi Lauper

Posted by: Anthony at 12/19/06 1:29 PM  | Reply
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Here goes my subjective (and eclectic) list of "best of":

SAD:
"Time of Your Life" (Good Riddance) by Green Day
"Streets of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen
"Purple Rain" by Prince
"Time After Time" by Cindi Lauper

HAPPY:
"I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash
"Summertime" by Will Smith

EXHILERATING:
"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cindi Lauper

Posted by: Anthony at 12/19/06 1:33 PM  | Reply
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Here goes my subjective (and eclectic) list of "best of":

SAD:
"Time of Your Life" (Good Riddance) by Green Day
"Streets of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen
"Purple Rain" by Prince
"Time After Time" by Cindi Lauper

HAPPY:
"I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash
"Summertime" by Will Smith

EXHILERATING:
"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cindi Lauper

Posted by: Anthony at 12/19/06 1:33 PM  | Reply
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Here goes my subjective (and eclectic) list of "best of":

SAD:
"Time of Your Life" (Good Riddance) by Green Day
"Streets of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen
"Purple Rain" by Prince
"Time After Time" by Cindi Lauper

HAPPY:
"I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash
"Summertime" by Will Smith

EXHILERATING:
"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cindi Lauper

Posted by: Anthony at 12/19/06 1:33 PM  | Reply
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REM's album Automatic for the People just rips me to shreds!!! The last three songs culminating in "Find the River" are fantastic, yet so incredibly sad.

Posted by: Richard at 12/19/06 2:38 PM  | Reply
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Everyone knows that "late for the sky" by jackson brown is the saddest song of all time.

Posted by: Jim at 12/19/06 6:15 PM  | Reply
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I find "Concrete Angel" a rather sad song :(

Posted by: Taylor at 12/19/06 10:02 PM  | Reply
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I find "Concrete Angel" a rather sad song :(

Posted by: Taylor at 12/19/06 10:03 PM  | Reply
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I find "Concrete Angel" a rather sad song :(

Posted by: Taylor at 12/19/06 10:03 PM  | Reply
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Saddest Songs:

- Tears In Heaven....Eric Clapton
- Everybody Hurts.... REM
- I will remember You ..... Sarah Maclachlan
- Love Hurts ...... Nazareth
- One sweet Day ..... Mariah Carey/Boyz to Men
- The Living Years ..... Mike and the Mechanics
- Against All Odds ..... Phil Collins
- When a man loves a woman ..... Percy Sledge
- Angel ..... Sarah Mclachlan
- Picture ..... Kid Rock
- Fix You ..... Cold Play
- Open Arms ..... Journey
- My Immortal ..... Evanescence
- The Reason ..... Hoobastank

Posted by: Peterson at 12/20/06 2:08 AM  | Reply
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You want to know what song makes me cry every time I hear it? ..... Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton. You can't forget about that one.

Posted by: Paige at 12/20/06 4:20 PM  | Reply
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This man obviously has never heard of Elliott Smith...

Posted by: Katie at 12/20/06 4:52 PM  | Reply
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i think " Summer of 69'" is really sad! wat do u think.

Posted by: Taylor at 12/20/06 6:12 PM  | Reply
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OMG!!- no one, not ONE(!!), mentioned the live acoustic version of "Breakin' Me" by Jonny Lang. Dear Gawd in heaven if I could live without crying any time I hear that tune! I have had to shut it down and/or leave places when I hear it if I don't want people to think I am having a break-down right in front of them!
As far as others there are many and I agree with many posters here. I think that Stevie Ray Vaughan's "The Sky is Crying" is also a deeply sad song. I saw no mention of either of these artists...did I miss it!?!?

Posted by: SexyRaquelBlueyes at 12/20/06 6:46 PM  | Reply
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OMG!!- no one, not ONE(!!), mentioned the live acoustic version of "Breakin' Me" by Jonny Lang. Dear Gawd in heaven if I could live without crying any time I hear that tune! I have had to shut it down and/or leave places when I hear it if I don't want people to think I am having a break-down right in front of them!
As far as others there are many and I agree with many posters here. I think that Stevie Ray Vaughan's "The Sky is Crying" is also a deeply sad song. I saw no mention of either of these artists...did I miss it!?!?

Posted by: SexyRaquelBlueyes at 12/20/06 6:48 PM  | Reply
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OMG!!- no one, not ONE(!!), mentioned the live acoustic version of "Breakin' Me" by Jonny Lang. Dear Gawd in heaven if I could live without crying any time I hear that tune! I have had to shut it down and/or leave places when I hear it if I don't want people to think I am having a break-down right in front of them!
As far as others there are many and I agree with many posters here. I think that Stevie Ray Vaughan's "The Sky is Crying" is also a deeply sad song. I saw no mention of either of these artists...did I miss it!?!?

Posted by: SexyRaquelBlueyes at 12/20/06 6:50 PM  | Reply
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OMG!!- no one, not ONE(!!), mentioned the live acoustic version of "Breakin' Me" by Jonny Lang. Dear Gawd in heaven if I could live without crying any time I hear that tune! I have had to shut it down and/or leave places when I hear it if I don't want people to think I am having a break-down right in front of them!
As far as others there are many and I agree with many posters here. I think that Stevie Ray Vaughan's "The Sky is Crying" is also a deeply sad song. I saw no mention of either of these artists...did I miss it!?!?

Posted by: SexyRaquelBlueyes at 12/20/06 6:52 PM  | Reply
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OMG!!- no one, not ONE(!!), mentioned the live acoustic version of "Breakin' Me" by Jonny Lang. Dear Gawd in heaven if I could live without crying any time I hear that tune! I have had to shut it down and/or leave places when I hear it if I don't want people to think I am having a break-down right in front of them!
As far as others there are many and I agree with many posters here. I think that Stevie Ray Vaughan's "The Sky is Crying" is also a deeply sad song. I saw no mention of either of these artists...did I miss it!?!?

Posted by: SexyRaquelBlueyes at 12/20/06 6:54 PM  | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

OMG!!- no one, not ONE(!!), mentioned the live acoustic version of "Breakin' Me" by Jonny Lang. Dear Gawd in heaven if I could live without crying any time I hear that tune! I have had to shut it down and/or leave places when I hear it if I don't want people to think I am having a break-down right in front of them!
As far as others there are many and I agree with many posters here. I think that Stevie Ray Vaughan's "The Sky is Crying" is also a deeply sad song. I saw no mention of either of these artists...did I miss it!?!?

Posted by: SexyRaquelBlueyes at 12/20/06 6:57 PM  | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

OMG!!- no one, not ONE(!!), mentioned the live acoustic version of "Breakin' Me" by Jonny Lang. Dear Gawd in heaven if I could live without crying any time I hear that tune! I have had to shut it down and/or leave places when I hear it if I don't want people to think I am having a break-down right in front of them!
As far as others there are many and I agree with many posters here. I think that Stevie Ray Vaughan's "The Sky is Crying" is also a deeply sad song. I saw no mention of either of these artists...did I miss it!?!?

Posted by: SexyRaquelBlueyes at 12/20/06 6:59 PM  | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

OMG!!- no one, not ONE(!!), mentioned the live acoustic version of "Breakin' Me" by Jonny Lang. Dear Gawd in heaven if I could live without crying any time I hear that tune! I have had to shut it down and/or leave places when I hear it if I don't want people to think I am having a break-down right in front of them!
As far as others there are many and I agree with many posters here. I think that Stevie Ray Vaughan's "The Sky is Crying" is also a deeply sad song. I saw no mention of either of these artists...did I miss it!?!?

Posted by: SexyRaquelBlueyes at 12/20/06 7:05 PM  | Reply
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I regret to inform.... the saddest song was E. Clapton's son's day of demise.

Posted by: wally at 12/20/06 9:40 PM  | Reply
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The song "Black" by Pearl Jam moves me every time I hear it. The passion in his voice makes you feel his pain. "I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be the sun in somebody else's sky but why..why..why.. can't it be mine...."

Posted by: KK at 12/21/06 12:37 AM  | Reply
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I think that "On the Turning Away" by Pink Floyd is a very sad, tragic song. I've never even heard several that were on that list....

Posted by: Chelsea at 12/21/06 8:46 AM  | Reply
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You know it's hard for me to understand the mentality of some of you people that write comments here. I live in the Sane Society and some of you live in the Insane Society that write here. The world is sick enough and enough crap going on without the crap printed here. Today's youth, tomorrow's leaders need to read good stuff and be influenced in a good way, not head banging crap like some of you dudes here that never grew up in a normal setting, don't have it on the ball. Your slant on life is to screw your fellow man, cheat society anyway you can and get every feeby in the book anyway you can. You lie, cheat, steal, drink or take drugs or both. You should set an example for our youth? Not in your lifetime. The only one you influence is another degenerate like you. This planet would be a nice place to live if it wasn't for the people. Sad songs? Life is a sad song! I could probably going on for a week w/o stopping but I won't. Your motto,"Do unto others as you would want others to do unto you".......but do it first! God helps those who help themselves, but God help those who get caught helping themselves. Now I'm getting like you and rambling so I'll quit while I'm behind...

Posted by: Gabe at 12/21/06 9:42 AM  | Reply
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He stopped loving her today,,, George Jones

Posted by: Ed at 12/21/06 1:17 PM  | Reply
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gabe, your a fuckin idiot !

Posted by: darren at 12/21/06 5:13 PM  | Reply
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well first off... practically anything by Dragonforce rocks the socks off those exciting songs
I had a heart attack the first time I heard Through the Fire and Flames, no lie

happy song... King without a Crown by Matisyahu
I know there are tons of classics out there, but I've never heard anything as feel good as Jewish reggae

and sad songs...
what about Lick My Love Pump by Spinaltap?
practically makes you weep instantly hahaha
I'm dead serious

Posted by: Sam at 12/21/06 7:37 PM  | Reply
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I dunno, there's too many out there, but how about

Exhilirating:
'Beautiful Day' - U2 (this could fit in happy too, but I'd say it's a little more exhilirating)
'I wanna Hold Your Hand' - the Beatles
'3rd Planet' by Modest Mouse, but you have to listen a few times (at least I did)
and freaking 'Inertiatic ESP' and 'Roulette Dares (the haunt of)' by the Mars Volta make me want to... I don't even know, they're damn
exhilirating.

Sad:
'Hallalujah' (probably the Rufus Wainright)
I'll stick with 'Fake Plastic Trees' - Radiohead,
but if you've ever heard 'Casimir Pulaski Day' by Sufjan Stevens you probably know what I mean, that's a tearjerker every time. I've heard a lot of people mention Elliott Smith, and I guess I'd consider 2:45 a sad song, but he's more... dark and/or grim than sad. I mean he leaves me wanting to kill myself more so than wanting to cry. If anything by him I'd have to 'Already Somebody's Baby.'

Happy:
this one is the hardest... That song at the beginning of Napolean Dynamite "We're Going to be Friends" I think it's by the White Stripes makes me smile, and so does 'Here Comes the Sun' by the Beatles. oh damn, and 'Pink Moon' by Nick Drake... but that one could almost fit in any of the categories depending what mood you're in. Alright, I'm no expert and a million songs could go on these lists, but these ones meet the criteria admirably.

Posted by: Joe at 12/21/06 11:33 PM  | Reply
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"Knocking on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan (not by anyone else!)? No one thinks that is sad? Want really depressing? Listen to "Twlight and Shadow" sung by Renee Fleming.

Posted by: Moi at 12/22/06 1:22 AM  | Reply
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"Knocking on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan (not by anyone else!)? No one thinks that is sad? Want really depressing? Listen to "Twilight and Shadow" sung by Renee Fleming.

Posted by: Moi at 12/22/06 1:23 AM  | Reply
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Saddest Songs I did not see mentioned..

Porcelain Heart- Barlow Girl
Cut- Plumb
Hush- Juliet Simms
Amazing- Blue October
Color Blind- Counting Crows
Heaven- Dominique Van Hulst
Missing- Evanescence
Better Than Me- Hinder
Im not alright- Sanctus Real
Numb- Sia
Vermillion, Part 2- Slipknot
It can't rain all the time- Jane Sibbery (the crow sndtrk)
Singing me to Sleep- Waking Ashland
Flames- VAST

Posted by: Wykitt23 at 12/24/06 8:15 AM  | Reply
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sad: aqualung - strange and beautiful (i'll put a spell on you)

happy: ben lee - catch my disease

EXHILERATING:Arctic monkeys - i bet that you look good on the dance floor

Posted by: jazz at 12/30/06 1:24 AM  | Reply
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run-snow patrol!!! i love this song...it gives me a sad mood-->like i want to cry but i just can't:((

Posted by: crazyk at 01/21/07 2:15 PM  | Reply
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saddest song would surely be (you cant disagree) HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY...

Posted by: lechuga at 02/14/07 9:55 PM  | Reply
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true love will find you in the end - daniel johnton
one foot in front of the other - bright eyes
no child of mine - marianne faithful
trios gymnopedies - eric satie
after laughter (comes tears) - wendy rene
midnight radio - headwig and the angry inch
abegail anne - jeremy enigk
west - pinbck
lover you should of come over - jeff buckley
cars and telephones - arcade fire
can we pretend - bill withers
happy happy happy - poor rich ones
beautiful child - fleetwood mac
crowds - bauhaus
hounds of love - kate bush

Posted by: nathan at 02/24/07 12:12 AM  | Reply
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daniel johnston - sad

Posted by: nathan at 02/24/07 12:18 AM  | Reply
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has anybody ever heard till i get over you from michelle branch i think its sad.

Posted by: maggie at 04/26/07 2:02 AM  | Reply
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Lifeless And Irreversible Catastrophe

Today’s the day I never dreamed would happen
I didn’t think from you it would be possible
Your painful words stabbed my heart like a knife
Now it’s bleeding love in the emotional hospital

Reading your E-mail to me in sheer disbelief
Gave me a feeling of hopelessness making me distraught
For you I thought who loved me to send me that
Overwhelmed my emotions to make me think this thought

What once made me feel life was incredibly magic
Almost made me do something horrifically tragic
Had time gone on just a little bit longer
My heartbeat would have become increasingly weaker
Rather than becoming life-savingly stronger
My last few moments of me being alive
Could have been a dark and empty disaster for me
While for you and me it could have been for us
A Lifeless And Irreversible Catastrophe

Somewhere back in our lives you once asked me
If I was tempted to create a permanent forever place
Little did you know when you had asked me that
I had waterfall tears falling from my face

While you knew it could very well happen
Within myself I would seriously doubt it
But when you knew damn well of my intentions
You cared less to stop me or do anything about it

Lyrics by S. Gustafski

Lifeless And Irreversible Catastrophe
2006 S. Gustafski’s Songs, Ltd.

Posted by: Scotty Gustafski at 04/30/07 3:31 AM  | Reply
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Aboslute crap. Those lyrics mean nothing to anyone but yourself.
Do yourself a favor and kill yourself

Posted by: Chuck U Farley  in reply to Scotty Gustafski's comment at 04/06/09 4:10 PM  | Reply
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Any song by Keri Noble although A Dream About You is one of her very saddest songs. Here are the lyrics ...

I had a dream about you last night
I dreamed that you were dead
When I woke up I wanted to call
And get it out of my head
But we don't talk anymore
I made sure of that
But I'd give anything to hear your voice
I would do better if I could go back
I'm sorry for your tears
I'm sorry I never told you in all of these years
I didn't leave you like I should
I hope you found someone to love you like I tried to
But never could

I always knew that it wasn't right
To get involved with you
But I never thought that you would fall so fast
Got me to thinkin', what the hell am I gonna do?
But now you seem like you're fine
Like you've moved on with your life
But I'd give anything to talk to you
And tell you I know I didn't treat you right

You live and you learn
You build and sometimes you just watch it all burn

I had a dream about you last night
I dreamed that you were dead

Here's a link for the song if anyone would like to hear it ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI5h5Ozy7_g

Posted by: CJ at 09/17/07 9:29 PM  | Reply
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killswitch engage - the arms of sorrow
saddest
lol

Posted by: moshxcore at 10/01/07 4:27 AM  | Reply
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In no particular order:

Asleep- The Smiths
Hurt- NIN
Pennyroyal Tea- NIRVANA
Black- Pearl Jam
No Surprises- Radiohead
Purple Rain- Prince
Poison Oak- Bright Eyes
SRXT- Bloc Party
Wonderful- Everclear
Human- The Cinematics

Posted by: Spyke at 11/11/07 3:52 PM  | Reply
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