It’s not all rainbows, sunshine and unicorns here, people! I was in the throes of making mix CDs and noticed how many of my favorite tunes are about forbidden love/heartbreak – which isn’t difficult since so many songs are about that – and decided to share a selection with you. I think these are a very particular brand of forbidden love/heartbreak songs, don’t you?
1. Love Song (Tori Amos covering The Cure)
It just so happens that this one is my very favorite song of all time. Which is odd, considering I typically don’t have favorite anythings (although I am known to have favorite pants from time to time). Anyway, The Cure’s version is really great, but Tori’s version is transcendental.
2. With Every Heartbeat (Robyn)
Robyn was in my town this past weekend! I missed it because I was busy doing this, which makes me sound a lot cooler than I am.
3. Sophisticated Lady (Cat Power covering Duke Ellington)
Apparently I have a thing for covers that make you want to slit your wrists. I mean, seriously. They oughta outlaw this song it’s that good.
4. Bells for Her – Tori Amos (Trip Hop/Depressing Mix)
I really have no idea who remixed this. The “trip hop/depressing remix” is what it’s called in my iTunes library, which I named to differentiate it from the 12 gajillion other versions I have of the song Bells For Her. Rad song on its own, add slow remixiness and you get something great to drink to while sitting on your kitchen floor looking forlorn.
5. Siren – Tori Amos
Another Tori song! Aren’t I just a walking cliché? Technically this song may not really be about forbidden love or heartbreak. It could be about vanilla or teenage flesh or coquettes or… wait, no, I was right the first time.
6. St. Swithin’s Day – Dubstar covering Billy Bragg
I am apparently not allowed to own this song in the U.S., which is a bummer. And, what is it with me and covers anyway?
7. Romeo & Juliet – Amy Ray covering Mark Knopfler
You didn’t think I’d let you go without forcing you to listen to my favorite half of the Indigo Girls, did you? And that concludes this week’s edition of sad songs and covers!
What’s your favorite cover? What’s your favorite sad song? What’s your favorite song about forbidden love? Heartbreak? Share, share, share!
So there was this day, once … I was at Leeds Pride. It was a really hot beautiful day and i'd spent the day talking to lovely people and prancing about the streets, drowning myself in beer, but never getting silly drunk. I ended up in this beautiful bar which had an outdoor cobbled courtyard area with music blaring, and everyone up dancing, with their summer get ups and big gay Aviators. An incredible version of Robyn's 'heartbeat' came on and Andrea and I smiled lots, danced lots, and shared our first kiss. The next time I saw Andrea was at her house for a summer party, we were all socialising when she put this song on, I looked up and caught her watching me for my reaction – we gave each other a secret smile.This is why Robyn should have eggs thrown at her. As should we. Who chooses a song about heartbreak as their 'song' anyways? My contribution to a forbidden love song is one of my favourites of all time … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M8UxZDk56o"trying hard to think pure, bloody hard when I'm raw"
I think the song chose you, versus you two choosing it. My songs almost always wind up being about heartbreak, and that seems fitting somehow. It is always forever, until it isn't, isn't it? I knew a couple once who chose Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" as their song, which has the lyrics "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me!" screamed over and over in it – tooo funny.Anyway, I'd never heard Skunk Anansie until now and now I must rush off and listen to others of their songs. Thank you for sharing!
Oh nooooo! They so would have been on your mix CD if i'd known you didn't know of them – I couldn't think if they were English or not.Another 'interesting' story: X Factor (like your American Idol) always has it's final a week before chrimble, therefore the X Factor winner takes the christmas number one slot, and has done for years. A couple of years ago there was a massive facebook campaign for people to buy the RATM song you mentioned, so that they would be christmas number one. It worked! I loved it – power to the (facebook) people!
My favorite sad song is also a cover, David Bazan playing a Vic Chesnutt song called "Flirted With You All My Life." No video but you can hear it here: http://www.americansongwriter.com/2010/04/sessions-david-bazan/
There's more than one kind of heartbreak. I am in no sense religious but I can certainly relate to the remorse and anguish of knowing that out of cowardice and self-regard you've betrayed someone who loves you. Cf. Peter, in the Gospel; Bach sets his sorrowful prayer for forgiveness thus:http://youtu.be/ucg7l1g8G4gText:Erbarme dich, mein Gott,Um meiner Zähren Willen!Schaue hier, Herz und AugeWeint vor dir bitterlich.Erbarme dich, erbarme dich! Have mercy, my God,for the sake of my tears!Look here, heart and eyesweep bitterly before You.Have mercy, have mercy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nCMfoefQBY
Song to the Siren by This Mortal Coil (covering Tim Buckley)-Tarah
re: johnny cash covers… i would agree with you except for "hurt". not that his version isn't amazing, i just think the original is amazing, too. so, tied up.the same guy that did that cover of "flirted with you all my life" does a cover of "hallelujah" that i think blows leonard cohen and jeff buckley out of the water… http://vimeo.com/440898
Check your email for messages from iTunes–a couple of sad songs waiting to be downloaded.