I’m almost embarassed to admit it, but the songs that make me cry these days are from commercials or TV series.
The new “I love New York - now, more than ever” ad campaign gets me all weepy.
The other one that sets me off is this show on Life network called “Life’s Little Miracles” about patients and their families at Sick Children’s Hospital in Toronto. Since my daughter was born, I cry each time I watch this show. Just seeing the kids leaving their parents in the arms of a nurse makes me blubber. Crying with the theme music must be some kind of Pavlovian response.
The-Band-Formerly-Known-As-Anthrax’s “In My World” still touches a chord of nostalgic rage and alienation in me. It’s a speedier, more pissed-off variation on the theme of Simon & Garfunkle’s “I Am a Rock,” which song a special lady once informed me that, when I listened to it, I looked like an ex-smoker regarding a carton of my old favorite brand of coffin nails.
Speaking of pissed-off, Nefilim’s “Xodus,” off of the incredible “Zoon” album always makes me want to scream my best guess along with whatever the heck Carl McCoy is actually yellgrowling for the lyrics. From the same album, the refrain to “Shine” sends chills through my spine. “Shine…enlighten me, shine. Shine, awaken me, shiiiine. Shine for all your suffering…” Love that track.
Cheerfully goofy energy: “Jesus Built my Hotrod,” by Ministry.
Just thinking of Wesley Willis’ signature–ritual?–song coda-phrase “rock over London, rock on Chicago, <random product slogan>!” makes me grin.
Dead Can Dance has been mentioned earlier. “Towards the Within” has some excellent tracks on it. There’s one in particular, one of the fastest-tempoed ones on the disc, whose title escapes me entirely right now. I’ve no idea what it’s about, since it’s in Arabic or something equally Greek to me, but damn do I perk up when it comes up.
Christina25 - I’m glad SOMEONE finally mentioned my favorite, “Asleep” by The Smiths.
Throw these on the list (Britpop alert):
I Know it’s Over - The Smiths
The Living Dead - London Suede
You’re So Great - Blur
It’s All Changed Forever - Embrace
Fighting Fit - Gene
My Love Life - Morrissey
And the North American entries:
Dead - They Might Be Giants
Beautiful Blood - The Waiting (it’s a Christian song, don’t worry :p)
Don’t Be There - Switchfoot
I’ll probably roll around in bed thinking of more tonight… but that’ll do for now :).
Suck My Kiss - Red Hot Chili Peppers Rest in Peace - Extreme Evenflow or Animal - Pearl Jam Return of the Post Moderns - Better Than Ezra
Make me smile songs:
Don’t Stay Home - 311 Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice Life is a Highway - Tom Cochran I Want it That Way - Backstreet Boys
Make me cry songs:
Jack and Diane - John Cougar (Back in highschool my best friend and I were obsessed with this song. It makes me think of her every time I hear it…she was killed in a car wreck 10 years ago) Time and Tide - Basia (Unfortunately this one also makes me cry because the death of a friend. This was our favorite song, it gives me chills every time I hear it. I don’t even think I have listened to it in about 2 years because it makes me miss him so much)