# What musical performance or recording of a performance makes you tear up? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 4, 2026, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616 "2026-06-04T13:44:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616/61 "2026-06-08T20:46:10Z")
There’s some really good ones here! Here’s something unusual that always makes me mist up a bit. It may not hit everyone the same way. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_ETBmGSjg2w/maxresdefault.jpg "Отава Ё - Посеяли девки лён (Otava Yo - Maidens Have Sown the Flax)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ETBmGSjg2w) ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616/62 "2026-06-08T22:55:17Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EXmW3bhLKs4/hqdefault.jpg "Loudon Wainwright III - White Winos") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXmW3bhLKs4) White Winos from Loudon Wainwright III. Not my mom, but my best friend’s, who I considered my local mom. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616/63 "2026-06-10T14:02:34Z")
Shortly after my son died, I heard the song Wherever You Will Go by The Calling. I hadn’t heard it in years, but this time it really hit me hard. Some of the lyrics could pertain to his fiancée and his kids, some could pertain to me. The lyrics that still make me cry: So lately, been wondering Who will be there to take my place? When I’m gone, you’ll need love To light the shadows on your face. And maybe I’ll find out A way to make it back someday To watch you, to guide you Through the darkest of your days. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616/64 "2026-06-10T21:20:43Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > the most recent Christmas memories are evoked by Kenny G … “Happy Birthday, Jesus…” (Norm MacDonald) . But I agree about Christmas music. The saddest is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” sung by the little sister in “Meet Me in St. Louis” as she laments having to move away. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616/65 "2026-06-11T03:51:31Z")
Considering that _Meet Me in St. Louis_ was released towards the end of WWII in 1944, the lyrics > [@](#): > > “Someday soon we all will be together, if the fates allow. > Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow” are even more sorrowful. Is my son / lover / husband going to be here next Christmas? Maybe not. I prefer those words to the vapid “Hang a shining star…” Plus it drives Trudi insane, causing her to burst outside and murder the snowman family. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616/66 "2026-06-11T07:14:52Z")
I’m pretty sure the first video was filmed at the gorgeous Kolomensk historic site and nature preserve in southeast Moscow. I’ve been there many times, and hope I can go back someday while I’m still relatively healthy and ambient. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616/67 "2026-06-11T16:00:00Z")
In 2012, Ann and Nancy WIlson (the rock group Heart) performed “Stairway to Heaven” at the Kennedy Center with the Obamas and two members of Led Zeppelin in the audience (no pressure!). They and the backing musicians absolutely nailed the song. Then you throw in the fact that the drummer was the son of the original drummer on the song, who died young, and it’s an emotional listen for sure. [Heart - Stairway to Heaven (Live at Kennedy Center Honors) [FULL VERSION]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFxOaDeJmXk&list=RDLFxOaDeJmXk&start_radio=1) ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616/68 "2026-06-11T21:54:11Z")
That is a gorgeous performance, but it does not make tear up. It makes me smile. Just watched it two times in a row, the second time was even better. Very well executed. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616/69 "2026-06-11T22:10:45Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > In 2012, Ann and Nancy WIlson (the rock group Heart) performed “Stairway to Heaven” at the Kennedy Center with the Obamas and two members of Led Zeppelin in the audience (no pressure!). They and the backing musicians absolutely nailed the song. Great performance. But of course I have to nitpick, even all three surviving members of Led Zep were present. But this reminded me of another moving performance at the Kennedy Center, also with Obama present, even shedding some tears, when Aretha Franklin was honoring Carole King with her “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”. I cried when I first saw and heard it. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/efIAM5dzuDs/maxresdefault.jpg "WATCH: Aretha Franklin sings "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efIAM5dzuDs) ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616/70 "2026-06-11T22:21:22Z")
I’ll add First Aid Kit honoring Emmylou Harris in 2015 in Sweden. They made Emmylou cry! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Hi5A9OCAyIk/maxresdefault.jpg "Emmylou Harris moved to tears by First Aid Kit at Polar Music Prize") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi5A9OCAyIk) ---
**Author:** ![cieskokid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cieskokid/32/5374_2.png) [@cieskokid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cieskokid)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616/71 "2026-06-16T01:44:12Z")
Johnette Napolitano, an expressive & evocative vocalist, she was also the songwriter & bassist for Concrete Blonde. This is from their 1986 debut album & always brings me to sad/happy tears, IYKWIM. Check out their rockers too, like “Still In Hollywood”! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gSGlWe1iSyw/maxresdefault.jpg "Concrete Blonde - Cold Part Of Town") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSGlWe1iSyw) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2026, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616/72 "2026-07-04T16:20:08Z")
The chorus in Diana Ross’s “Missing You”. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616/73 "2026-07-18T02:54:49Z")
Mum on the piano playing Chopin’s Third Etude in the early ‘70s just after my parents’ divorce, which is inextricably linked to the composition. After so many nights of this eight-year-old crying himself to sleep as she practiced and then basically nailed it, I had to request that she worked on it earlier in the evening. Didn’t mind her playing Scott Joplin stuff which I thought was pretty cool and peppy, but that Chopin piece…Heard it one time as muzak and fortunately I was alone so no one could see me tearing up. Listened to a number of performances on youtube and much preferred how mum played it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-performance-or-recording-of-a-performance-makes-you-tear-up/1030616.md?page=3)