I want to know what song tears at your heart strings. Why does it make you break down?
This song. Every time. I'm not sure exactly why. Probably because it encompasses all my doubts and troubles in high school. Not suicide per say, but just hard things.
There is no song that "makes me weep every time I hear it," but there are several songs that "tear at my heart strings," and for different reasons.
Chris Bathgate's Serpentine made both me and my wife cry the first time we heard it together. A confluence of events in our lives coincided with a lovely song:
Shortly after my daughter was born, my wife went to the bathroom to clean up and while she was in there, I had a great moment with my daughter. While just me and my lil' girl were together for the first time, I sang this song to her. When my son was born, I carried on the tradition, as a result this song makes me very happy and brings forth the happy kind of tears:
Recently, as many of you know, my dog died. While I was digging his grave I listened to Beck's new album. I can't describe how sad this was and how much I cried. It was perhaps the saddest and most grief stricken I've ever been. I've lost some humans that were close to me, but nothing touches loosing my pal Hemingway. He was still alive, in pain while I was digging and I recall this song in particular bringing me to tears:
Thanks galen. Passenger is excellent, and I love this song.
I had frisson the whole time. The swelling of the strings in this piece was heart-wrenching. Thank you.
I have absolutely no idea why, but every time ...
Procol Harum, "Whiter Shade of Pale" :
Weird, never seen that video before.
There are many more, but usually I can find the reason for it - for example, "Imagine" or "Watching the Wheels" will always remind me of when I was a teenager, and John was shot down.
I find this song very sad, and if I think of why it was written I well up. I think of lost loved ones when this song plays.
Perhaps the most overrated guitarist and most underrated singer ever. This song is certainly an emotional one when you consider it's inspiration. That said, I heard it so much growing up that it's hard for me to still feel it's initial impact.
Great song though.
I've always loved Clapton. He's never been a great guitarist, but he's always been an expressive one.
I was arguing with my friend who really loves John Mayer. I can't stand the motherfucker. I explained how I thought Mayer is an incredible proficient guitarist, but a bad artist. No voice, so to speak, in his playing. It was boring. I used Clapton as the opposite, specifically using his covers of Robert Johnson. Not a great guitarist, but a fantastic artist, because what he can say with that instrument speaks so clearly and wonderfully.
That's exactly how I feel about Clapton too. I'm a John Mayer fan, although I get in a lot of shit if I admit that around certain people. He's amazing when he decides to ditch the pop songs he writes and write something of substance. Every so often he'll pull something like Covered in Rain out of nowhere and blow me away. If you haven't listened to that song, try and get through the entire thing. One of my favorite solos ever is in that song.
Buckethead used to be one of my idols growing up. His stage presence is so strange and he is extremely skilled. Maybe I'll pick up guitar again. His solo work is good, of course - but I think this collaborative album he did is one of the best in his discography. Especially the songs with Serj Tankian. That's the kinda stuff I wish I could do!
Waiting Hare:
Coma:
... are a couple of my favorites.
longstocking. You need to pick up the guitar again, or any instrument for that matter. The effect of playing an instrument on your brain is tremendous. Check out this video from TED on the subject. Plus it is really fucking fun. Also you can impress people, so that's a plus.
When I get the money, I'll go for it. Another inspiration of mine is Metric. Emily Haines has a great voice and she is also the keyboardist of the band. If I could play lead and sing... dang that would be a great feeling.
IOU:
EDIT: talking about this made me realize I still have a Les Paul Jr. from when I bought Rocksmith in my car trunk. Hell yeah!!
I stumbled on Metric by accident, and ended up loving it
A similar question was asked on hubski a while back, and this was my answer then - Alan Parsons Project, "Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)"
The tragic poignancy of regrets and lost chances.
I love the Minor keys and the cello in this bit. And to think that I am older than this piece of music. When I first heard it I assumed it was far older than 1982.
I was going to post Tears in Heaven, but someone already did.
A little Death Cab ditty will have to do.
There are tons of songs that make me cry. I connect to music more than any other art form.
Recently it's been Cosmia by Joanna Newsom, it was written about the death of one of her best friends. This is a really good breakdown of the song's meaning.
I can cry to almost any Regina Spektor song. She just has one of those voices. Eet, Sampson and Better are my go tos for tears.