Do you sometimes find yourself feeling sad and listless in the summer? In need of a good cry? Here are some specifically selected songs to give you the most pleasurable sadxperience. (Sad experience, pronounced "sadsperience.") Be prepared for the midsummer night's cry of the century.
1. "These Days" by Nico
The ever-classic, ever-emotional, ever-(a witty third adjective) Nico. Velvet Underground. An era you weren't a part of. Time to get nostalgic for a life you never had and probably never will have. It's sitting on top of a roof in NYC at 4 a.m., smoking a cigarette, the skyline in front of you, and your worries behind you.
2. "Middle Names" by Devendra Banhart
This song is pretty new (it's both pretty and new - it's a new release by Devendra Banhart-it's about a week old), and, quite honestly, when I heard it for the first time tears were brought to my eyes. It just reminded me of the feeling of waking up next to the person you love, but then remembering that you have to leave for a very long trip without them... y'know? (I'm speaking metaphorically, of course, because I've never been in love with anyone).
3. "Casimir Pulaski Day" by Sufjan Stevens
Honestly. I have no words, other than these: I cried myself to sleep to this song at least once a week throughout my entire high school career.
4. "Get Lonely" by The Mountain Goats
Flash forward a few years. You're in your 40s and wondering where your youth went. You're feeling mundane and only slightly-too-young for your midlife crisis. This song almost makes me feel sad for my future, if that makes any sense. It's like the pre-game cry for what's to come. Also, John Darnielle's voice just sounds like the epitome of sadness.
5. "True Love Will Find You In The End" by Daniel Johnston
Jeeze Louise, this song is supposed to be happy and uplifting, but for some reason it makes me wail like a baby. I think maybe it's almost happy tears for my hopelessly romantic heart, like the concept that true love exists.
6. "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver
No sob session can be complete without a little bit of Bon Iver to make the tears slide down your face even more. This song just takes you to being at a lake at nighttime, but not having any of your friends with you so you're just sitting with your toes in the water... forced to feel like a lonely indie-movie-esque ingenue.
I hope you find yourself awake and sobbing at 4 a.m. Crying is necessary, and it feels so good to let it all out.
P.S. If you're crying, remember to drink some Gatorade afterwards; losing all that salty eye water can't be too good!
***Yes, that is a photo of me as a baby crying while taking a photo of Santa. Even back then I was skilled in the art of sob.
