Cheerful songs about death

 

I've been reading a book "A Tale for the Time Being"by Ruth Ozeki which has strong elements of life, death, suicide.  I keep hearing "The Great Exhale" by The Great Lake Swimmers in my head.  I wouldn't say that is a cheerful song about death but let's say hopeful.  Maybe I'm morbid but I like thinking about these things.  What comes next?  Will it be better or worse?  Is there even any next?  So here are a few songs to contemplate these questions.  It's an excellent book by the way.  I recommend it and I recommend these songs.  I'm just recommending all over the place this morning. 

By the way, I just love this band and I love the strings in this song. 

"Buried" by Family of the Year is absolutely a cheerful song about death. 

"Travelin' On" by Norah Jane Struthers.  My favorites song from her new album.

 

 



"Everybody you ever know is going to die, that's all right, there's a big white bed up in heaven"

 

"Big White Bed by Guster

The saddest sad songs...

So I'm having a bit of a bad, sad day.  Usually when I get in my moods, I want to listen to a happy song that will pick me up but some days I just want to wallow in my sadness.  Today is one of those days.  My sadness is named men disappoint.  So even though the songs where someone is lost are really sad that's not my flavor of sad today. 

This is my saddest sad song.  Beth Orton's cover of I wish I never saw the sunshine.  This is also a great example of how a cover can have so much more depth and emotion than the original. 

Gary Jules cover of Mad World is my son's saddest song.  It is very melancholy. 

Guster's The Empire State - I wish I could find the words to describe how this song makes me feel.  It makes me want to cry and gives me hope at the same time.  That's the best I can do.

Okay, enough wallowing in sadness for one day.  Maybe I will balance this with happy songs tomorow.  So my imaginary readers, what is your sadddest sad song?

Awesome Acoustic

I read an article on NPR about why unplugged recordings last and wanted to share some of my favorites acoustic songs. 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh how I love me some Avett Brothers.  They are one of my favorite bands and definitely in my top five greatest concerts.  I'm looking foreward to seeing them again at KXT summer cut.  

 

 

Alice in Chains Down in a Hole from Unplugged which was 17 years ago.  Life will pass you by.  I can't listen to AIC without being sad for Layne. 

 

 

Guster is my favorite band.  Mainly because at a time when I was incredibly sad, their music made me happy.  This isn't one of their most upbeat songs but it hits a certain place.  Check out their new acoustic album, cleverly titled, Live Acoustic.  I saw them at the Myerson Symphony Center with the Dallas Symphony in January.  I wish I could have followed them to Austin for their acoustic show there.  They're coming back in June with Barenaked Ladies and I forget who else, Ben Folds maybe.  

 

 

 

Love Tift Merritt and Sweet Spot is one of my favorite songs by her.  I missed her at the Kessler but I really would love to catch her show. 

 

Time to share.  Someday I'm going to ask a question and someone will shock me and comment.  It's going to be amazing.  lol.  So the question is what is your favorite acoustic version of a song?