# Singers who depress you
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [March 26, 2014, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585 "2014-03-26T04:28:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/1 "2014-03-26T04:28:36Z")
It can be for whatever reason: Their music, something about their lives, something they remind you of.
For me, Jim Croce hits the trifecta. Sad songs. Died extremely young. And he was one of the favorite singers of my first husband, who also died young (not as young as Croce). So every time I hear his voice, I turn into a blubbering mess. Okay, maybe not “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.” But otherwise!
Am I alone in having one specific artist do this to me?
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### Author:  [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/2 "2014-03-26T04:50:47Z")
Full disclosure: As has previously been revealed on these boards, I’m a huge fan of [Counting Crows](http://countingcrows.com/).
However, their lead singer, [Adam Duritz](https://www.google.com/search?q=adam+duritz&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=YVkyU7j0AqLCyQG6jYCgCA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1600&bih=799), is the most depressing son of a bitch on the face of the earth. Johnny Cash would have told him to cheer up.
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### Author:  [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/3 "2014-03-26T06:53:00Z")
James Taylor depresses the hell out of me. Even when his lyrics are upbeat, the tone of his singing tends to be melancholic.
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### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/4 "2014-03-26T10:56:16Z")
Joy Division - Ian Curtis, so much sadness.
Not every song, but as a package, totally.
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### Author:  [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/5 "2014-03-26T11:20:17Z")
Jeff Buckley
**Nick Drake**
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/6 "2014-03-26T11:37:28Z")
Morrissey. What a miserable bugger he is. But I guess that’s his intention.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/7 "2014-03-26T11:40:02Z")
The woman who is moderately drunk and has no sense of rhythm whatsoever thinking she could go pro as she karaokes, batting her maybelline eyes as she tries to connect with her audience. Extra points if she has a moment of realization during the chorus and begins to weep.
ETA: With Nick Drake a distant second.
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### Author:  [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/8 "2014-03-26T11:44:23Z")
Adele, when she does that “Someone like you” song. For God’s sake, go out and get drunk already, woman!
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### Author:  [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/9 "2014-03-26T11:51:31Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#):
>
> Morrissey. What a miserable bugger he is. But I guess that’s his intention.
I know that’s a lot of people’s impression of him, but oddly enough I never got that. I always felt as though he was (and is) a blink away from laughing out loud at the over-the-top kitsch of his whole persona. I take him as, in the words of Mark Prindle, “more snickering cherub than brooding artiste.” 😛
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### Author:  [@Bellhorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bellhorn)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/10 "2014-03-26T12:41:13Z")
Joni Mitchell
Beautiful voice, but sometimes it seems like there’s no beginning, middle or end to her songs. Perhaps it stems from being in college 40 years ago, when 8-track tapes were popular, and “Help Me I Think I’m Falling” played non-stop in the dorms.
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### Author:  [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/11 "2014-03-26T13:59:34Z")
> [@Tangent](#):
>
> James Taylor depresses the hell out of me. Even when his lyrics are upbeat, the tone of his singing tends to be melancholic.
He depresses me too, but not for the same reason. It’s the fact that this mediocre at best, overpriced at a dime a dozen singer is hailed as a legend when I’ve seen so many incredibly gifted singers who struggled and struggled and never got anywhere.
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### Author:  [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/12 "2014-03-26T14:09:56Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#):
>
> For me, Jim Croce hits the trifecta. Sad songs. Died extremely young. And he was one of the favorite singers of my first husband, who also died young (not as young as Croce). So every time I hear his voice, I turn into a blubbering mess. Okay, maybe not “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.” But otherwise!
Oh, yeah. “Time in a Bottle” just tears me apart - and it gets worse the older you get.
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### Author:  [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/13 "2014-03-26T14:54:02Z")
Elliot Smith. His life, his death, that song to his mother. ☹
_XO Mom, it’s okay, it’s all right, nothing’s wrong…
I’m never going to know you now
But I’m going to love you anyhow_
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### Author:  [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/14 "2014-03-26T15:23:19Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#):
>
> Elliot Smith. His life, his death, that song to his mother. ☹
>
> _XO Mom, it’s okay, it’s all right, nothing’s wrong…
> I’m never going to know you now
> But I’m going to love you anyhow_
Ever heard Ben Folds [eulogize](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XtfcjYaT6A&feature=kp) him?
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/15 "2014-03-26T15:40:42Z")
My answers have already been taken: Ian Curtis and Nike Drake.
I love The Smiths and Morrisey, but while his lyrics and delivery can be a bit mopey, I don’t find them depressing.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/16 "2014-03-26T16:06:29Z")
Billie Holiday. I can’t listen to more than a few of her songs at a time.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/17 "2014-03-26T16:08:54Z")
> [@panache45](#):
>
> Billie Holiday. I can’t listen to more than a few of her songs at a time.
Concurrently or successively?
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### Author:  [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/18 "2014-03-26T16:12:57Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#):
>
> It can be for whatever reason: Their music, something about their lives, something they remind you of.
>
> For me, Jim Croce hits the trifecta. Sad songs. Died extremely young. And he was one of the favorite singers of my first husband, who also died young (not as young as Croce). So every time I hear his voice, I turn into a blubbering mess. Okay, maybe not “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.” But otherwise!
>
> Am I alone in having one specific artist do this to me?
_ **Operator** _ does it to me.
My pick would be Sam Cooke.
Died way too young and unnecessarily.
Every time that I hear A CHange is Gonna Come I get inspired and depressed.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/nOYuhLNwh3A?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque
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### Author:  [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/19 "2014-03-26T16:13:43Z")
Definitely Jim Croce and James Taylor. And Sara McLaughlin – I think it’s just her voice. To me, it sounds so tragic and wistful.
Actually, I don’t listen to very much music because most of it either irritates me or depresses me.
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### Author:  [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-depress-you/684585/20 "2014-03-26T16:14:14Z")
> [@Superdude](#):
>
> Ever heard Ben Folds [eulogize](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XtfcjYaT6A&feature=kp) him?
☹
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