There are some days where a positive attitude and self-care isn't enough to satiate our sorrows. The reasons are as numerous as are the tears; stress, hardship, hormones, exhaustion, frustration, the list is endless. Sometimes, people need to have a good, heavy cry in order to feel a bit more refreshed and ready to move forward and face the future.
While at times it can be easy enough to plop down and release this emotional dam, there are instances where it can take a bit of coaxing. The following songs are to help aid those who, like myself, heal by crying.
1. "Johnny Guitar" by Peggy Lee.
Peggy Lee sings with a resigned melancholy that swells with an old hurt. It's a piece that haunts and demands a second listen.
2. "Kettering" by The Antlers.
Peter Silberman sings in a whisper about a relationship between a bone cancer patient and hospice worker. The song was written as a metaphor for an abusive relationship, but Silberman has been hesitant to publicly share details of the autobiographical piece. The echoing harmonies resonate in the mind of the listener long after the song ends.
3. "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" by Nancy Sinatra.
I first heard Nancy Sinatra sing this in the opening sequence of Quentin Tarantino's movie "Kill Bill." The feelings of isolation and abandonment she touches on the grip the hearts of listeners with a lonely sadness.
4. "Retrograde" by James Blake.
I first came upon James Blake's soft and definitive vocals in the fifth installment of the "Tales from the Borderlands" video game series. It perpetuates a feeling of helplessness, loneliness, and a fight for resilience.
5. "Busted and Blue" by Gorillaz.
Amid hypnotic and starry instrumentals, Damon Albarn sings tenderly and alludes to the Greek epic "The Aeneid." It targets the dependency people develop for the tantalizing false realities provided by social media.
6. "Teardrop" by Massive Attack.
Elizabeth Fraser sings a mournful reflection on the death of an old friend.
7. "Crosses" by José González.
This song was introduced to me as a part of the soundtrack for the 2015 game "Life is Strange." José González provides both vocals and guitar in a bittersweet etude that carries flickers of hopefulness and recovery.
8. "A Diamond and a Tether- EP Version" by Death Cab For Cutie.
Ben Gibbard sings of his inability to make big decisions moving forward in a relationship and failing to keep his promises to his lover. While sad, the song has a forward-facing feel, as though he were on the brink of personal growth.
9. "Blackbird- Remastered" by The Beatles.
Though simple, Paul McCartney's vocals and guitar exude a sense of acceptance, recovery, and peace in the face of deep sadness. McCartney himself confirmed that the song lyrics are a metaphor for the civil rights movement.
The complete playlist is available here on Spotify.
