That’s What Friends are For, Dionne Warwick. It used to be one of my favorite songs until it was played at a good friend’s funeral years ago. Now I can’t listen to it without thinking of him and I just can’t play it anymore.
And anything by Alan O’Day (Undercover Angel, Angie Baby), a onetime friend in his heyday, who just died in May 2013.
At the end of “Crimes and Misdemeanors” there is a montage of several scenes in the movie (which has a very depressing ending anyway) while in the background is playing a beautiful instrumental version of “I’ll Be Seeing You” as the blind rabbi (Sam Waterston) dances with his daughter at her wedding. The night I broke up with the first girl that I thought I would actually marry, I came home and watched that from start to finish and just bawled at the end.
Late at night my uncle used to stay up late with me and we would play Stratego or Battleship and I would munch on Doritos and drink Pepsi. My Uncle Richard would take swigs of his 40 oz. Olympia Beer and in the background the old time clock radio would play Henry’ Mancini Orchestra’s version of “Days Of Wine And Roses”; Ray Coniff Singers crooning “Invisible Tears”; Percy Faith’s rendition of “Theme From A Summer Place” or “Kentucky Rain” as sung by Elvis Presley. I still think of Uncle Richard (R.I.P.) and crave Doritos when I hear these songs, only now I’M the one swigging the beer.
There was a place near where I grew up called Pirone’s Bar & Grill. My father used to take the family there. The old jukebox had several 45rpms in the glass case, so I often heard “Last Date” by Floyd Cramer; “The Notre Dame Fight Song” and “Games People Play” My father and Mr. Pirone are gone but I still remember the music.
Finally, certain songs obviously remind of friends that I had way back when: “Long Time” and “Peace of Mind” by Boston; “The Music Box Dancer” by Frank Mills; and “Love Is The Answer” by England Dan & John Ford Coley remind me of a certain high school crush.
Ahhh…memories…
The Beatles’ *If I Fell. *I always got the Beatles albums the day they came out, and I remember listening to this song with my first real bf. Every time I hear it I think of him and the times we had back then.
A ton of songs. But Maria Maria by Mercedes Sosa makes me cry real tears sometimes. Always reminds me of a fallen friendship I used to have.
I love carlb’s story.
Hate Me Today by Blue October. Reminds me of my mom…
Hey, I forgot about Boston, good catch! Both of those songs get me teary eyed.
Can I get any love for Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas?
Clarence Carter singing Patches is also one that I have trouble staying dry-eyed for.
Can I get any love for Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas?
@Anthony Elite: Not only do I second that song, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve prayed to God about horrible situations in my life and that song would come on the radio. Perhaps I’m treading dangerous territory here, but I always felt God was playing the song for me. Same goes for “Ooh Child…” (by The Five Stairsteps if I remember right) and “Let It Be” by the Beatles.
Smile ~ Nat KING Cole
^:) Love that one. It was written by Charlie Chaplin.
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them…
“Empty Chairs” by Don Maclean
“Loving you is just and old habit” by Jim Weatherly
“One Lonely Night” can’t remember who
“Call Me” Denis D. Young
More McLean. Vincent…
Possibly the best pop song ever written. So good he kept adding verses to it–don’t try to sing them all, just pick your 4 favorites and go with those.
Lucky Man by The Verve was played at the funeral of a man I never met, who died in an industrial accident when he was only around 30. His daughter was 6 weeks old. I attended the funeral because at the time, I was married to a supervisor from the company he worked for. I never hear that song without feeling sad for him, his family and especially his baby daughter.
The Reason - Hoobastank
Lady in Red - Chris De Burgh
Songs associated with long-ago romances:
You Send Me
Three Times a Lady
Aaggh! <throat chokes up>
Songs that just cause waves of free-floating nostalgia:
Embraceable You
This song is way before my time, but for some reason it always just turns me into a puddle. One time I was in a restaurant in New Orleans with my (then) boyfriend and the roving musicians came to our table and I asked them to play this. I just sat there sobbing into my Shrimp Louis. If this Ella Fitzgerald version doesn’t make you fall to your knees weeping, you are made of stone. (Geez, what a voice that woman had… like butter melting on pancakes…)
Moon River Audrey Hepburn sitting on that windowsill singing… holy cow. That had to be the most beautiful face in the world.
One time it snuck up on me. In an episode of Sex and the City, Carrie comes back to Big’s empty apartment and finds the Breakfast at Tiffany’s soundtrack he left her. She walks away, out into the New York streets with autumn leaves falling and Moon River.
Creepy sad.
“Dance with Me” by Orleans. Takes me back to the summer of 1975 and the most intense relationship I’ve ever had in my life; in another universe, that girl has been my wife for the last 36 years.*
*Hi, Gina.
Waterloo sunset.