I cannot, of course, allow Denny’s accusation of hard-hearted curmudgeonlinessgo unanswered. So I present the following.
Breakup songs have got to be one of the most important and most abused genres in all of music. I had my first great musical awakening, somewhat tragically, in the early 70’s/late 80’s, an era the Whiney Love Songs were king. It was not until many years (and several sad breakups) later that I found that there are GOOD breakup songs out there.
Far and away my favorite breakup song is One More Minute, by Wierd Al Yankovic. It manages to capture the over-the-top emotion of heartbreak, and be completely hillarious at the same time. Mrs. Badger frequently requests this when I break out the geetar at the campfire.
Already Gone by Eagles is a distant second.in the “sour grapes” category.
In a more serious vein, At This Moment is lovely–it captures the sorrow but manages to be rather noble. (poor Alex K )
If you just need to cry, it’s hard to beat The Brownhaired Lad/Oh My Boatman by Bonnie Rideout (can’t find the full version for your listening pleasure, but it’s well worth the price of the download) and/or Barber’s Adagio for strings.
Personally, I am stupid-happy in love with my wife, so it’s all pleasantly irrelevant. In fact, I have to wrap this up because I have a date. But please share any great ones I might have missed.
Tom
One of my favorite songs by Christian singer-songwriter Rich Mullins is his song “We Are Not As Strong As We Think We Are.” I can’t find a good recording of it online that didn’t either almost crash my computer or wasn’t a you-tube video with scenes from Pirates of the Carribean.
The lyrics can be found here
I love the opening line:
Well, it took the hand of God Almighty
To part the waters of the sea
But it only took one little lie
To separate you and me
Oh, we are not as strong as we think we are
And it also has some of my favorite all time lyrics: When you love you can walk on the water
Just don’t stumble on the waves
We all want to go there somethin’ awful
But to stand there it takes some grace
'Cause oh, we are not as strong
As we think we are
My all-time favorite break up song, Boots of Spanish Leather, remade brilliantly by my all-time favorite band, Dervish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNFRvQrvLtM
Gives me chills every time!
YES! IZZ! The best! although I can see how the fellers maybe wouldn’t appreciate the sentiments voiced in the song… but wait…you didn’t post it and I need to hear it, this is an interesting version that I like, even though they did censor a bit - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M850l_WmcBw&feature=related
I really can’t think of a sadder mood invoking song than this vein opener…
That is a fantastic version…I LOVE LOVE LOVE the strings in it (especially the cello!!!). And no, the guys definitely wouldn’t get it, but I’d bet willing to be just about every girl here does
The finest collection of break up songs ever assembled in one place can be found on the Bobsters album “Blood on the Tracks”.
Do a you tube search on any title and you’ll find some lovely versions…none of which match up to the originals, of course.
Here’s two versions of some of the tracks.
Jerry Garcia Band - Tangled up in Blue.
KT Tunstall - Simple twist of Fate.
Another great breaky upper is from the delightfully named Slobberbone..
I still find it difficult to listen to that song because it doesn’t just speak of the break-up but what you feel when the woman you love is now with someone else. Probably something that everyone has gone through but that song was on heavy rotation during a previous break-up of mine.
)
In fact, I have to wrap this up because I have a date. But please share any great ones I might have missed.
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