As you and I both know I stole the idea of gutwrenchers from J and M. Sometimes they like to watch an intense movie and by the end of it you have joined them in the room. If they want to enjoy your company for a bit longer they play some gutwrenchingly beautiful or sad songs and you stay to listen with them. Then they go to bed feeling emotionally cleansed. Life enhancing!
You, Sadness, make us feel more happy and alive when you visit us from time to time. We need you. Oh yes.
As you know, you and I don’t have quite the same relationship. I feel like you visit me a bit too often and I’m not going to lie, sometimes I simply want you to get out of my house. But hey, when you’re here, we try to make the best of it.
Sometimes all you want from me is to sit down for a while and have some tea and a biscuit and we’ll stare of out the window at the trees together. Then you leave. Fine.
But other times that’s not enough. Those times, when I feel like I’m carrying you like water in my heart, I play us some sad and beautiful tunes to help get some of that heavy water out of my heart through my eyes by, literally, bawling it out. Waaaaah!
So Sadness, here are some of our current favorite gutwrenchers. I tried to put them in a sort of order to build up to maximum howl. Some of them sound happy for sure. Me and you, we listen to the lyrics though so we know they are all your songs, Sadness. They are not Happiness songs. No way. Lyrically or musically they are all well sad.
Sufjan Stevens - Blue Bucket Of Gold (the Remix for extra gutwrenching echo effects) – why don’t you love me?
The Bravery - No Brakes – I am incapable please take over
Goldfrapp - A&E – all alone in a hospital gown and you didn’t even call. So alone.
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - Bats in the Attic (Unravelled) – we’ll all be dead soon
The National – Slipped – I really f^&*ed everything up
Efterklang - Monument - we used to love each other
Son Lux - Lanterns Lit – I’ll light my lantern (even though it’s hopeless)
I thought I was done and then I saw this video from Sigur Ros which makes me cry literally every time.
Come Sadness – let’s cry together!
Sigur Rós – Varúð – So alone! Yet not alone!
Hopefully that pile of tissues indicates that you’re about to leave.
If not, I’ll do the washing up and go for a walk and by that point you’ve probably gotten tired too and gone away. Finally!
You’re always welcome Sadness, and even when you’re not you come anyway so let’s enjoy some gutwrenchers together and feel alive!
Ok, you can really go now.
Love Kim