Like this, for instance…
If I have Van Morrison’s “Hymns to the Silence” in the disc changer, sometimes “Be Thou My Vision” comes on, and I’ll start crying right there in my car. His voice isn’t sweet, and the Chieftans are behind him kind of lumbering along like locals at a county fair. The whole thing feels just thrown together, really. And I’m not a religious man. But there I am, crying in my car.
What does it for you?
Anything by Mahaliah Jackson or Aretha Franklin gives me goosebumps. I grew up in a black baptist church that had a pentacostal-raised pastor, so old gospel hymns always move me in some way. But there’s just something about those ladies’ voices that makes me stop in my tracks, listen intently, and want to cry.
Amazing Grace played on the bagpipe… it give me chills. Somber/sad music with pan pipes (Celtic sounding music) really gets to me. The love song in Blade Runner (Rachel’s Song?) can make me cry but it’s also a great song to make out to (or have sex to). Jeff Buckley’s Grace CD moves me deeply but most of his work can affect me. I think about the fact he’ll never make any more beautiful music and it breaks my heart.
Movies like Braveheart, Leaving Las Vegas, and Dead Man Walking can make me cry, especially if I’m alone (Blade Runner can make me tear up depending on my mood). There are some obviously sad movies that don’t affect me much but some can really make me weep. Certain parts of LOTR (all three) can get me going. Watching those sad parts with my SO holding my hand in the theater was very sweet and I think it added to the emotion.