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.
White Winos from Loudon Wainwright III. Not my mom, but my best friend’s, who I considered my local mom.
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.
“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.
Considering that Meet Me in St. Louis was released towards the end of WWII in 1944, the lyrics
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.
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.
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]
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!
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.
I’ll add First Aid Kit honoring Emmylou Harris in 2015 in Sweden.
They made Emmylou cry!
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”!
