You consider “Walk on the Wild Side” sappy?
What do you consider cynical?
I have three songs for this thread. Honestly, I have many more, but these are three that get me every single time.
I, too, have an inadvertent theme.
and…
Sappy is my middle name!! 
Aspenglow:
Let’s have it.
Really. Triggering conversations and memories was the other reason I started this thread.
I guess this one qualifies for me too. This song plus a whiff of Emeraude takes me back to December 1971 and Kate (who came before Gina).
This YouTube clip is just amazing.
Totally so! I first saw that clip a year or two ago. It reminds me, more than a little, of the meticulous work that went into all of the multi-tracking on “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Should’ve Been A Cowboy by Toby Keith
Wind Of Change by The Scorpions
Changes by Black Sabbath (Ozzy era)
The first time I heard Billy Joel’s, “Just The Way You Are,” I thought those back up ahhhhs sounded just like INIL. BJ, apparently borrowed the technique from 10cc.
Okay.
Back in Middle School, we would have a couple of dances a school year. This was a small town, and only one school, so you would have the same classmates from 4th grade through High School. So, that would be quite a few dances with the same folks over the years…
So, there was this one young lady that always managed to get that Horrible Song (and I’m pretty sure it was the album version, all three-weeks long. And, No. We had no idea about them lyrics, I assure you!) played and would always seem to corner me and get me to slow dance with her.
Now, one would think, “What’s so bad about that?” Indeed, a croumulant question. The girl was very nice, and actually when I think back, really pretty damn cute, too. Short little blond with blue eyes. And in hindsight, I think she must have kinda liked me! But I had NO CLUE! I digress…
Here’s the problem: I HATED that song! And it seemed to go on FOREVER! And then there is this:
She was much shorter than me. And ‘slow dancing’ back then was boy’s arms around the waist, girl’s arms around the neck. I don’t know if that was a rule, but it seemed to be followed fairly universal. Anyway, because of the differential in height, she had to raise her arms somewhat.
The poor dear had some pretty strong BO on a regular basis. So, there I was, stuck in a slow-motion spin-cycle of Pit Funk for what seemed like an eternity, while having to listen to Grace Slick croak “Oh, Baby! Oh, Baby!”
Here’s a memory I’ll share: when we were kids, our whole family would gather in front of the TV – in the club basement – on Saturday night and watch Sonny & Cher. They would do covers of the popular tunes of the day and several had cartoons backing them up (“A Cowboys Work Is Never Done” from above; “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” even, “One Tin Soldier.” There might have been more.). S&C were a little risqué for Dad, glamorous costumes for Mom and pop songs and some childish humor for the kids. A pleasant time is guaranteed for all. Then on to Carol Burnett.
And that’s how I met your mother! 
Sappy? Oh, hell, no. Provocative lyrics, especially for the 1970s? Yuppers.
But she never lost her head/Even when she was giving head
I met my kids’ mother when my dealer got sick of me hitting on his girlfriend .
I’m not sure Randy Newman’s I Think It’s Going to Rain Today is sappy, but his I Don’t Want To Hear It Anymore sure is, and intentionally so. A soap opera in 3 minutes, and when Dusty Springfield sings the schmaltz with zero irony, it tears my heart out. From Dusty In Memphis.
In my neighborhood
We don’t live so good
The rooms are small
And the buildings made of wood
I hear the neighbors talking bout you and me
I guess I heard it all
Cause the talk is loud
And the walls are much too thin.
He don’t really love her
Thats what I heard them say…
“Roll On (Eighteen-Wheeler)” – Alabama
“Love at the Five and Dime” – Kathy Mattea
“Dance Little Jean” – Dirt Band
“Fancy” – Bobbie Gentry
“Funny Face” – Donna Fargo
“One’s on the Way” – Loretta Lynn
Pete Seeger sings Bob Dylan’s Forever Young.
Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys.
I Lived by OneRepublic is trite as hell, and the video amps up the glurge factor to 11, but if and when the day comes, I swear it’s gonna be playing at my funeral.
Lots of a good ones here, lots of sappy songs I’ve loved and listened to.
No one has mentioned this one, yet:
I was best man (literally & figuratively) at my brother’s wedding. At the reception, I toasted the couple, reciting Forever Young in its entirety.
Not a dry eye in the house, except for my brother’s new MIL, who thought I was giving a speech I’d written. I found out later she told my brother that I shouldn’t quit my day job.