So I’ve always noticed when I’m as down as I can get, I find comfort is music that most people find super depressing all the way to unbearably depressing. Like slit-your-wrists depressing. Songs you’d expect to find someone hanging from a noose in their home on repeat to. These kinds of songs bring comfort because they make me feel like, ok, I’m not so alone with this shit.

And for context, really happy songs just seem the saddest, most devastating songs that there are, because you don’t have that, you don’t have that happiness, love, support, that glimmer of light everyone’s so happy about you know?

So gimme the saddest songs you can think of. I’m wearing Joy Division out.

Some other music/songs I’ve been listening to: Ren - Hi Ren (and some others of his), Elliott Smith, Micah P. Hinson, Portishead, Swans, Lykke Li - I Never Learn, Interpol, Chelsea Wolfe, Elton John - Rocketman, Matt Elliott, Savages - Adore

  • Candelestine@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    11 months ago

    Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails’ song Hurt, as performed by Johnny Cash:

    https://youtu.be/8AHCfZTRGiI

    I think in order to get to the true depths of musical pain, you often need two people. One who has the creativity and expression to write it well, and another whose soul has been crushed by their own guilt enough to perform it well. These two people cannot be the same, because the soul crushing process kills your creativity at its most extreme levels. But that extreme level is where you can perform mournful songs the best.

    So, it takes two people.

    • glimse@lemmy.world
      3·
      11 months ago

      another whose soul has been crushed by their own guilt enough to perform it well

      Sorry but did you just…not listen to the original? There is such a wide range of emotions and Trent Reznor CRUSHES it. There is so much depth compared to Johnny Cash’s warbling old man voice. You hear a man hitting his breaking point as he gets louder and angrier at himself. Meanwhile there’s no evolution in the cover, he sounds the same start to finish.

      I just don’t understand the massive praise of the cover. If it wasn’t Johnny Cash singing it, it would have never hit the radio. I don’t care if people like it but you’re massively downplaying the amazing performance of the original

      • Candelestine@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        Honestly, Reznor’s rendition struck me as oddly theatrical. That’s probably just me though, different people can hear different things in the same piece of music.

        • glimse@lemmy.world
          2·
          11 months ago

          I hear heroin addiction and depression in the original and boredom in the cover. Not to mention the self-aggrandizing music video…I don’t hear pain when he’s singing someone else’s story over clips of his successful, fulfilling life

          • Candelestine@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            11 months ago

            Reznor heard his pain. Perhaps the fact that his successful, fulfilling life still ultimately failed him, is what he’s trying to say. Also, he was an addict too.

    • brewbellyblueberry@sopuli.xyzOP
      2·
      11 months ago

      Sometimes, yes, I absolutely agree, maybe even often. Not all songwriters, as great of a performer they might be for most of their songs, are the best performers for so many of their own songs. Good examples are Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen (Cohen after the first 3-4 albums wasn’t IMO the best performer of his own songs) and Jeff Buckley’s version; lots of Isaac Hayes’ versions of other peoples’ songs, most of all By the Time I Get to Phoenix

      but the best example I can think of is A Song for You, written by Leon Russell, but Donny Hathaway takes it to a completely different fucking universe and makes it his own. That song is heartbreaking performed by him, Jesus.

  • lckdscl [they/them]@whiskers.bim.boatsEnglish
    6·
    11 months ago

    have a nice life (all of deathconsciousness but specifically who would leave their son out in the sun)

    a silver mt. zion (all of he has left us alone…)

    amenra (a solitary reign)

    planning for burial (all of below the house)

    lingua ignota (anything)

    uboa (anything)

    ex:re (all of S/T)

    mount eerie (all of a crow looked at me)

    panchiko (cut)

    sufjan stevens (should have known better)

    fugazi (I’m so tired)

    nine inch nails (hurt)

    midwife (all of like author, like daughter)

    psychonaut 4 (all of dipsomania)

    the whole genre of dsbm comes to mind

    • Flaky@iusearchlinux.fyiEnglish
      3·
      11 months ago

      Was going to recommend Lingua Ignota. All Bitches Die is a great but very rough listen. Last track on it is sombre(?) and beautiful.

    • novibe@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      Have a nice life is one of my favorite bands ever. On that note, Giles Corey by one of the guys in HANL is even more devastating I’d say.

      And for Sufjan, Casimir Pulaski Day always kills me.

  • miseducator@lemmy.world
    4·
    11 months ago

    Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens. Turns out childhood cancer makes for a beautifully gut-wrenching song.

    • Candelestine@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      11 months ago

      The thing about Gary Jules’ Mad World, is as hauntingly sad as it is, it also has this steady, subtle thread of defiance woven through it, that imo really elevates it to greatness. Makes it slightly less sad though, there’s some steel in there, where the whole song is rebuking the world.

      I’ve always really liked Alex Parks’ slightly popier cover, she pushes that defiant tone a bit harder, reminiscent of a little Sinead imo:

      https://youtu.be/ABFQOLZlfGU

  • Soppai@lemmy.world
    3·
    11 months ago

    The album Hospice by the Antlers.

    I’ll just steal from wikipedia: Set in New York City’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which the second track is named after, Hospice tells the story of a relationship between a hospice worker and a female patient suffering from terminal bone cancer, their ensuing romance, and their slow downward spiral as a result of the woman’s traumas, fears, and disease. The story of her deterioration also serves as a metaphor for an abusive relationship. Frontman Peter Silberman has been reluctant to divulge explicit details regarding the meaning of the record, and the extent to which it is autobiographical.

    Love it.

  • Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works
    3·
    11 months ago

    I have been preparing my entire life for this moment!

    Daughter - Shallows

    Placebo - Follow The Cops Back Home

    Lanterns on the Lake - Another Tale From Another English Town

    Amanda Palmer - Trout Heart Replica

    Joni Mitchell - The Magdelene Laundries (cw: abuse - if you’re not looking for that sad try Come in From The Cold)

    Secret Machines - 1000 Seconds

    Silversun Pickups - Circadian Rhythm

    Mogwai - Killing All The Flies

    Porcupine Tree - Heart Attack in a Layby

    Death Cab For Cutie - What Sarah Said

    Iron & Wine - Passing Afternoon

    Jimmy Eat World - Hear You Me

    Tusks - Dissolve

    The Flaming Lips - Mr Ambulance Driver

    Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes

    Manchester Orchestra - I Know How To Speak

    The Midnight - Brooklyn (not to be confused with “Brooklyn. Friday. Love” which is the exact opposite end of the emotional spectrum)

  • BraveSentry@feddit.de
    2·
    11 months ago

    If you don’ t mind not understanding the lyrics, try the album Kauan by the finnish band Tenhi.

    While were at finnish bands: some Nightwish songs are really great sad music: Away, Sleeping Sun and Deep Silent Complete come to my mind.

    Also have a listen to Songs by John Dowland. Baroque but magnificentky sad if well sung.

    • brewbellyblueberry@sopuli.xyzOP
      2·
      11 months ago

      Lol, almost mentioned Tenhi in my OP, but I figured since they’re Finnish no-one is gonna know them either way. One of my favorite bands.

      E: Also have to point out, they have “official” translations for their lyrics on their website all the way up to the previous to last album, done by the band themselves afaik. They’re not entirely a 100% accurate and they’ve taken some fairly big creative liberties in translating them, but close enough and since they’re official I give them a pass. Cool to see they get appreciated abroad, they’re not very well known over here back home.

      Love John Dowland as well.

      E2: Just in case anyone is interested:

      Tenhi - Varpuspäivä/Sparrow Day,

      Salain,

      Vastakaiun

      Varis Eloinen