I have a question. Are there certain songs that consistently make you emotional, sentimental, cause tears to well up or flat out make you cry when you listen to them? If there is, why do you think that's the case. Is it primarily the lyrics, the music, your particular personality, or is it because of some personal situation you may be experiencing. Also, could you name some of the songs that make you feel a certain way.

If you can't relate to what I'm saying, what part does music play in your life. Is it just a casual thing?

A few days ago i was listening to the song Blues Away, by Wendy and Lisa and i got somewhat emotional. Tears were starting to well up and because i was in a public place and felt awkward, i switched songs. It wasn't like i was getting hysterical or balling my eyes out but i was feeling emotional. There are a few songs that get me like that. One is the song i mentioned plus the songs, If You Were Here Tonight by Alexander Oneal, I Hate U, Another lonely Christmas, and the acoustic guitar ending of Forever In My Life by Prince and Anytime by Brian McKnight.

For me, i think its a combination of things. Music has been such a big part of my life for so long, its like my brain's been permanently altered because of it. Certain Guitar(acoustic) chords, Synthesizer sounds and Piano notes really affect me on a deep level.

Also my life experiences cause me to react to music in a certain way. Ive seen the worst in humanity so i guess i escape some of the harsh realities of life thru music.

Can anybody relate ?

[Edited 7/23/12 20:21pm]

Yes, I can definitely relate to what you are saying. What's funny is, I was going to start a thread with the same thread title, but you beat me to it.

Songs that make me cry:

I had a difficult childhood, and this song is very moving and meaningful to me. This song tells me, "Hey, forget what other people think of you. You're beautiful, just the way you are. Believe that".

OMG, as soon as I hear the piano start in this song, my eyes instantly well up with tears. And watching the video to this song just makes me cry all the more. Especially the part where the wive is on a stretcher and the husband is holding her hand, then she suddenly lets go.

Another real tearjerker for me. It makes me think of my own dad, and I can picture myself dancing with my dad at my wedding (when and if that ever happens). But I probably would not pick this song, because I would be bawling like a baby the whole time.

A song that would be perfect for the first dance at my wedding. I can relate so much to the lyrics to this song; it's kinda scary.

"Come Back" by Prince always makes me cry too. Such a sad and touching song. I've always wondered if he wrote that song about the child that he lost. But I guess we will never know for sure.

"Adore" makes me cry too. Not the whole part of the song, but at the end when Prince starts singing in his high falsetto voice, the tears just start to flow.

I'm sure there's more that I'm not thinking of right now.

[Edited 7/24/12 18:19pm]

psychodelicide said:

Yes, I can definitely relate to what you are saying. What's funny is, I was going to start a thread with the same thread title, but you beat me to it.

Songs that make me cry:

I had a difficult childhood, and this song is very moving and meaningful to me. This song tells me, "Hey, forget what other people think of you. You're beautiful, just the way you are. Believe that".

OMG, as soon as I hear the piano start in this song, my eyes instantly well up with tears. And watching the video to this song just makes me cry all the more. Especially the part where the wive is on a stretcher and the husband is holding her hand, then she suddenly lets go.

Another real tearjerker for me. It makes me think of my own dad, and I can picture myself dancing with my dad at my wedding (when and if that ever happens). But I probably would not pick this song, because I would be bawling like a baby the whole time.

A song that would be perfect for the first dance at my wedding. I can relate so much to the lyrics to this song; it's kinda scary.

"Come Back" by Prince always makes me cry too. Such a sad and touching song. I've always wondered if he wrote that song about the child that he lost. But I guess we will never know for sure.

"Adore" makes me cry too. Not the whole part of the song, but at the end when Prince starts singing in his high falsetto voice, the tears just start to flow.

I'm sure there's more that I'm not thinking of right now.

[Edited 7/24/12 18:19pm]

Im glad somebody could relate.

Yeah, music is a powerful thing. Its a proven fact that it has an effect on the brain and on emotions.

For me, certain songs remind me of people or of past situations that had an influence on me(positive or negative). I might hear a certain song from the 1970's and it will remind me of my father. I can hear another song from the 70's and it will remind me of my pre-teen years, running around Golden Gate Park in the summer. Other times ill hear a song that i don't associate with anything specific and ill still feel emotional, sentimental, or teary eyed. It might just be a certain way the person sings a verse, the chorus, or some instrument of the song. Its like that with the Wendy & Lisa song i mentioned. The vocals and the music of the chorus get me every time.

Prince's slow jams get me thinking about things. Back in the 1980's i was going thru some hard times and i almost did something that there was no coming back from. I heard Prince was coming out with a new album so i decided to not do what i was thinking about doing until i heard that album. That album was Sign O the Times and im still here.

Anyways,

Its kinda a trip. Im this 220 pound bald headed black dude that can cry after listening to a song. Go figure.

Here's a few more songs i get weird over.

I listened to "Strawberry Swing" by Frank Ocean for the first time on the ride home on Friday after reading about the Aurora shooting all day. I have to say, the mood the song sets, longing for the past, really hit home in the face of what happened, and I felt like giving in.

My Dad passed away in 2001. A couple of years later, Luther released " Dance With My Father".

To this day, I still cannot listen to this track without crying. I defy anyone who has lost their Dad to listen to this without welling up. Not just the subject matter, but it's such a beautiful song too.

Coupled with the fact that was Luther's final album, makes it doubly heartbreaking.

Honestly, I usually do not cry at the song, if my emotional state does not have to do so. BUT there are songs that make the strongest impression on me and forced to fall into a particular state of melancholy.
Here are some:

Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
Scorpions - Send Me An Angel
Evanescence - My Immortal
MJ - Earth Song, One Day In Your Life
R.E.M. - Losing My Religion
Metallica - Nothing Else Matters
Queen - Who Wants To Live Forever
Lionel Richie - How Long
George Michael - Jesus To A Child
Lara Fabian - Je T'aime
Laleh - I Know We Could Live Tomorrow
Polaroid - So Damn Beautiful
etc .................

I don't shed tears over songs, but there are songs that makes me melancholy.

Michael Jackson Gone Too Soon (I used to hate this song, now it makes me sad for obvious reasons)

The Jacksons Be Not Always

The Commodores Zoom

The Isley Brothers Send a Message

Maze ft Frankie Beverly When You Love Someone

Luther Vandross Any Love

Isaac Hayes Walk On By & By The Time I Get To Phoenix

A lot of Donny Hathaways songs

Phyllis Hyman Living in Confusion

Stevie Wonder I Never Dream You Leave In Summer

Quincy Jones Oluwa

[Edited 7/25/12 2:37am]

Skycraper - Demi Lovato

Especially with this video.

So beautiful...

Every damn time...

JoeyC said:

psychodelicide said:

Yes, I can definitely relate to what you are saying. What's funny is, I was going to start a thread with the same thread title, but you beat me to it.

Songs that make me cry:

I had a difficult childhood, and this song is very moving and meaningful to me. This song tells me, "Hey, forget what other people think of you. You're beautiful, just the way you are. Believe that".

OMG, as soon as I hear the piano start in this song, my eyes instantly well up with tears. And watching the video to this song just makes me cry all the more. Especially the part where the wive is on a stretcher and the husband is holding her hand, then she suddenly lets go.

Another real tearjerker for me. It makes me think of my own dad, and I can picture myself dancing with my dad at my wedding (when and if that ever happens). But I probably would not pick this song, because I would be bawling like a baby the whole time.

A song that would be perfect for the first dance at my wedding. I can relate so much to the lyrics to this song; it's kinda scary.

"Come Back" by Prince always makes me cry too. Such a sad and touching song. I've always wondered if he wrote that song about the child that he lost. But I guess we will never know for sure.

"Adore" makes me cry too. Not the whole part of the song, but at the end when Prince starts singing in his high falsetto voice, the tears just start to flow.

I'm sure there's more that I'm not thinking of right now.

[Edited 7/24/12 18:19pm]

Im glad somebody could relate.

Yeah, music is a powerful thing. Its a proven fact that it has an effect on the brain and on emotions.

For me, certain songs remind me of people or of past situations that had an influence on me(positive or negative). I might hear a certain song from the 1970's and it will remind me of my father. I can hear another song from the 70's and it will remind me of my pre-teen years, running around Golden Gate Park in the summer. Other times ill hear a song that i don't associate with anything specific and ill still feel emotional, sentimental, or teary eyed. It might just be a certain way the person sings a verse, the chorus, or some instrument of the song. Its like that with the Wendy & Lisa song i mentioned. The vocals and the music of the chorus get me every time.

Prince's slow jams get me thinking about things. Back in the 1980's i was going thru some hard times and i almost did something that there was no coming back from. I heard Prince was coming out with a new album so i decided to not do what i was thinking about doing until i heard that album. That album was Sign O the Times and im still here.

Anyways,

Its kinda a trip. Im this 220 pound bald headed black dude that can cry after listening to a song. Go figure.

Here's a few more songs i get weird over.

Nothing wrong with a man that cries. I'm glad you didn't do anything to yourself, and that you are still with us.

Shafty said:

My Dad passed away in 2001. A couple of years later, Luther released " Dance With My Father".

To this day, I still cannot listen to this track without crying. I defy anyone who has lost their Dad to listen to this without welling up. Not just the subject matter, but it's such a beautiful song too.

Coupled with the fact that was Luther's final album, makes it doubly heartbreaking.

Sorry to hear about your dad passing away. "Dance With My Father" makes me want to cry too, and my dad is still alive.

Another song that I thought of today:

Still lovin' song 19 years later, even though it brings tears to my eyes. Love the gospel vibe to this song (especially the organ), the lyrics, plus these girls all had great singing voices.

psychodelicide said:

Nothing wrong with a man that cries. I'm glad you didn't do anything to yourself, and that you are still with us.

Yeah, the ideal that men should never show emotion or never cry is something i don't understand. If more men were willing to open up about their feelings, then maybe there wouldn't be so much violence in the world.

Thanks to you and to everyone that posted. Good stuff.

- title track of Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Even thinking about the song, i start getting tears in my eyes.
- Someday We'll All Be Free :: Edward Howard, of course performed by Donny Hathaway
- I Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer :: Stevie
- A Change is Gonna Come :: Sam Cooke
- Hear My Call :: Jill Scott
- Sometime I Feel Like a Motherless Child :: traditional spiritual
- Outside :: Mariah Carey (the girl got down in these lyrics...freal freal)
- Intro to Modern Day Marvel :: Mos Def

[Edited 7/27/12 8:23am]

This song is so off the hook, it makes me cry:

JoeyC said:

psychodelicide said:

Nothing wrong with a man that cries. I'm glad you didn't do anything to yourself, and that you are still with us.

Yeah, the ideal that men should never show emotion or never cry is something i don't understand. If more men were willing to open up about their feelings, then maybe there wouldn't be so much violence in the world.

Thanks to you and to everyone that posted. Good stuff.

I agree.

Thought of two more songs that turns on the waterworks every time I hear it:

OMG, this has got to be THE SADDEST song I've ever heard. Brian sings it with such passion and the lyrics are very sad too.

Another song that gets the tear ducts working. This song makes me think of my grandparents, and other people I knew, who are no longer with us.

[Edited 7/27/12 17:58pm]