Someone else writing about music on a video game website? Nah can't be. Well If you aren't a fan of music blogs I kindly direct you to the dozens of C-Blogs featuring Video Games and other JIBBA-JABBA but I decided to write this because the idea of 5 sad songs just came to me one day...that and I've already shared this with friends on Facebook. Maybe more music minded people might be interested so with that I give you.

5 Sad Songs


Depending on the why of it all we all take to music in varying ways. Some of us enjoy music for the emotional context that certain songs tag themselves with be it a feeling of pure joy (for example most of Coldplay's catalogue) or sadness (Radiohead anyone?). Then there are bands like Weezer who write songs that are just sheer fun and are meant to get you bouncing up and off the ground. Of course those are just the extreme ends of the spectrum and not the only emotion or feelings we as human beings attach to songs, be it because a certain important memory in our lives can be attributed to it or even just a simple feeling of something not quite tangible but definitely familiar and appropriate that we will always be brought back to when hearing that song from decades ago triggers your memory of a time either you long to return to or care to visit briefly in the 3 to 4 minutes your average song lasts.

Today however I wanted to via personal opinion share my top 5 sad songs, which of course means prepare to feel mellon collie and copious amounts of infinte sadness as I count down my personal top 5 saddest songs...ever....until something better comes along.


Number 5

Terry Reid - Seed Of Memory



This song is my newest discovery and thusly last on the list, but don't let that fool you. It's a great sad song. Sure I mostly associate it with the movie I discovered it on (The Devil's Rejects) as the credits roll and we see shots of desert mountains, but Terry Reid's mournful and honest voice behind the dusty and worn sounding acoustic guitar adds a flavour to it that makes it atleast to me a unique lone drifter feel to it. I just love how it evokes a sad feeling even with a bridge that sounds all happy as hell.


Number 4

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Tearjerker



Being not all that big a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers later years (cept maybe 'Can't Stop' and possibly 'Californication' this was always going to be a song that would score high on my saddest songs list, solely based on the fact that I've loved it since grade school with which I'd always associate it with whatever girl I had a crush on at the time. I guess by all means it's really not totally a 'sad' song but it definitely has a hint of tragedy in it and being a big Nirvana fan it's a shocker to just learn this song was dedicated to Kurt Cobain and not some girl. Even more Sadness :(


Number 3

Elliott Smith - Roman Candle



Elliott Smith (yes I'm one of those who has to make sure his name has two T's in it) was an amazing and gifted singer/songwriter/guitarist. Smith whose low whisper along with a great ear for melody is one of my generations greatest songwriters. Even with the time I've logged with a guitar I have trouble playing his stuff (admittedly I play electric more than acoustic). Roman Candle will always stand out as the first acoustic track of his I'd ever heard and definitely I think one of his stronger in terms of emotional impact, I'd suggest anyone who likes what they hear to check out his discography because writes more than stuff like this, songs with upbeat tempos great and simple acoustic guitar work and an unforgettable voice that oozes soul. But since this is about sad songs, all I got for you is Roman Candle.


Number 2

Smashing Pumpkins - Soothe



I've always had probably a bias towards Pisces Iscarot. Considering the Smashing Pumpkins are my favourite band of all time, I find it weird that I prefer this album to Siamese Dream. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love SD but I always seemed to appreciate this album more. I think part of the reason was the dynamic song writing as apposed to the SD's fluidity perhaps in my eyes Pisces strength considering it's a collection of B-Sides. Pisces opens with this soft "soothing" picking track and lulls you almost into a false sense of security before blowing you away with the following track "Frail and Bedazzled". I could have picked a multitude of sad songs from the Pumpkins but I probably love this one the best basically because of the way it changes from somber to downright despair before lifting you back up again...oh and the aformentioned album fondness but we'll forget it's all about me this one time right?


Number 1

Radiohead - Pyramid Song



What can I say, Radiohead's unused Kid A track "Pyramid Song" is the number one spot for a reason. It's off beat melody catches your attention instantly, but what happens here is that it's a slow build. Yes it is a pyramid melody which is part of the fun (or in this case SADNESS), up and down the scale again but I like how this beast with each bar begins to rear it's head more and more until it's a choir of violins echoing out the piano, with some breaks to start it all again...building pyramids see? Much like the Pumpkins there were alot of songs I could have chosen. I think "All I Need" was my original choice but once I remembered Pyramid Song existed I forgot that other song...what was it called..oh yeah All I Need. Not bad for a unused song, even if the rest of Amnesiac ain't so hot (don't kill me I do have atleast 3 other songs from that album on my iPod).

So that's it. if this inspires you to check out these songs or further discover some of these bands I'd say this blog wasn't all for naught.