In the past few months, I've had a few conversations with a friend about music. These conversations eventually wound up being she and I talking about what songs got to us. When I say, "got to us", I mean songs that emotionally touch us. Songs that break into our skin and into our hearts and minds and just seem to take control for however long that song may be, and maybe even a while after it ends. Songs that made us think, and reconsider our lives, in a sense. Songs that, perhaps, defined us generally or defined our current status in life. Songs that, perhaps, just have that sound that touched us and made us feel soft. I'm pretty sure everyone in this world has those songs that just get to them. I know I do and I know my friend does and I know other friends of mine do. So, if you do have a song or a few songs that do get to you, say them here. Explain why, and how you feel when you listen to that song. Don't be afraid to share. We all have our reasons, whether we feel they are ridiculous or embarrassing. If you prefer not to share specifically, that is fine. But please, do tell. This may seem like a rip-off thread of that thread posted in the Linkin Park forums regarding which Linkin Park song emotionally touched you. I had actually been thinking about posting a topic like this beforehand, and when it came up in the Linkin Park forum, I decided I'd post it in this forum so that we can open the space up for more songs by other artists. I am allowing Linkin Park, Fort Minor, Grey Daze, Hybrid Theory, etc., but please, don't go all out. Give reasonable explanations. Don't just say that it's because you love Linkin Park and that they're lyrics are your life and that you love Linkin Park some more and things of the sort. Be reasonable. I'd throw in a few songs that get to me in this first post, but I'll probably post them later if this thread gets a few responses. Plus, I don't want to make this first post longer. So, please share with us the songs that get to you and explain (reasonably) why.
Sometimes by My Bloody Valentine is the song I associate with loss. Tugs at my heartstrings every time I hear it. Close my eyes Feel me out I don't know But you could not love me now The lyrics are muddy and somewhat indistinguishable, but the entire tone of the song is melancholy without being emo, sorrowful without being angsty. I had tears in my eyes and goosebumps up my arms the first time I heard it; it was that beautiful. Others that deserve honorable mention: Death Whispered a Lullaby by Opeth (sorrow), Just Want You to Know by I Voted for Kodos (love), Candle by Sonic Youth (peace), and Invisible Sun by The Police (hope).
Evanescence's "Hello" is such a spooky, heart-wrenching song. I get very emotional when I hear it because it reminds me of my grandfather. Amy's voice is so haunting, and there's one point where the pitch of her voice goes higher with each word towards the end: "Suddenly, I know I'm not sleeping, Hello, I'm still here, All that's left of yesterday." City and Colour's "Day Old Hate" has the same affect for other reasons.
I'm sure most of you people know this...it's not so much a few songs as it was a entire album, even though a few songs from it hit more close than anything else. Course im talking about Killswitch Engage's "The End of Heartache". I went through my first breakup not that well (after all, we were together for the best year of my life) and I actually got through some of it with the "Getting Away With Murder" by Papa Roach. But I ended up hearing "Rose of Sharyn" on HBB and was immediately hooked. One week later, I have the album uhh...secured through my new big black box at the time with pretty pictures and websites and put on a CD. The rest is history...I still proclaim the song "The End of Heartache" as one of the greatest songs in my life. I hold it dear to my heart as I say this now.
Wow, I actually had a hard time thinking about this. Well, this was kinda tough, but I have a few to start off. Utada Hikaru - First Love/Final Distance - Whenever I listen to foreign music, I tend to never learn the English translations of the songs. It lets me attach my own personal meaning to it. Utada Hikaru was born in the US though, so she tends to put English phrases in her music. Both of these songs don't need it though, they're very well written and very beautiful. Both these songs got me through some rough times... lyrics from a few: You are always gonna be my love Itsuka dareka to mata koi ni ochitemo I'll remember to love You taught me how You are always gonna be the one Ima wa mada kanashii love song Atarashii uta utaeru made and from Final Distance: I wanna be with you now Futari de distance chijimete Ima nara maniau kara We can start over Hitotsu ni wa narenai
Killswitch are amazing. Rose Of Sharyn is godly, just reminds of my Ma, that song sums up how i feel about her. "Wondering, what were, the last words I said to you..." I miss her so much when i listen to that song, yet I can't help putting it on repeat. Lying From You by LP, basically sums up what happens every time I try and have a relationship with a girl i care about a lot. And All That Could Have Been by Nine Inch Nails. Kinda self explanatory, reminds me of all that could have been, in so many different situations. Severed by Mudvayne, especially that part with the bass tapping... Its basically my sick and twisted love song.
Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park is an emotional album for me just because of the memories tied with it, and not necessarily because of the words or anything. It is associated with a time in my life I will never forget. Terrible Lie by Nine Inch Nails. That song is emotional for me, because it basically sums up everything I've gone though with the church. Chop Suey! by System of a Down is always a song that has me so focused on it during the entire thing. Not really emotional, I guess, but it definitely takes me where other songs don't. The Way I Am ft. Marilyn Manson(Danny Lohner remix) by Eminem is an emotional song for me. I think it's probably one of the best rap songs I've ever heard, and I love the message. It always has me hooked the entire song. EDIT: there are probably more, i just can't think of them.
Korn: self-titled - This album got me through a lot and every song on the album holds a meaning to me. Say what you want about KoRn, but to me this album is a masterpiece. Linkin Park: Hybrid Theory - This album brings back a lot of good memories every time i listen to it and it's such a great album. 10 Years: The Autumn Effect - Just an amazing album. Every song is great and each one just brings out an emotion. Nine Inch Nails: Wish - One of my favorite NIN songs. This song just gets to me everytime i listen to it. There are definatley more songs/albums but these are just a few off the top of my head.
10 Years - Seasons To Cycles - just listen, such a beautiful song Livintrust - Too Long - song about growing up and meeting the future. it's finally hitting me that i'm 21 and my life is really just beginning as an "adult", it still kind of sucks, the real world blows, lol. Jose Gonzalez - Heartbeats - I know it's a cover, but this version is SO SO SOOO much better and so deep. the video that, I believe Sony (whoever makes the TV Bravadia(?)) made with the 250,000 bouncing balls coming down a hill in San Francisco, the video touched me because this song went so well with it. Burn Season - Perfect - this song gets me EVERY time I hear it. just makes me wish everything was just that, Perfect. forget anything bad that's ever happened, that I've ever done and live in a one perfect moment. Dis-Missile - Tired Voices - "do you think we could sit here in silence tonight, alone together, just for tonight? I'm so tired, let's rest for a while, and for once I can smile" those lyrics hit me so hard. I actually talked to the drummer/writer of this song and it was about a girl that was moving away and the couple were "forced" to break up and the night before she left, they just sat in silence and enjoyed every last moment they had together. so sad and it hits me in a sense that I never want the love of my life to be apart.
De-Loused in the Comatorium by The Mars Volta this whole album just seriously puts me on an "emotional roller coaster" every time i listen to it while paying attention. by the end, i just feel so drained, its ridiculous. but its a good feeling sometimes. Give Up by The Postal Service its very special to my girlfriend and i for certain reasons. When The Pawn Hits The Conflicts He Thinks Like A King... by Fiona Apple this record is just really moody, and has some great climaxes that gives me goosebumps. "Goodnight My Lady And A Forever Farewell"/"And Then, Came Then" by The Chariot For whatever reason these songs always make me look to the sky and feel happy. In Utero by Nirvana this album gives me chills, not because i really connect with it on a personal level, but just the raw emotion in it makes me pretty emotional. Ohio Is For Lovers by Hawthorne Heights gets to me every time.
Most of White Pony by Deftones, especially when I first started listening to it. That's where they mastered the dark/graceful/melodic-hard dynamic (having said that there is a lot more emphasis on melody than their first two albums) so whenever I feel down I listen to that album, and while it doesn't necessarily cheer me up it makes me feel better about whatever's happening if you get how I'm trying to differentiate between the two. There are songs on there that are just plain beautiful as well, such as Passenger and Pink Maggit.
Pearl Jam - Last Kiss The lyrics speak for its self. Brilliant song. Most of City And Colour. The acoustic vibe and Dallas' voice sound really personal. John Frusciante's solo album Shaddows Collide With People is amazing. The lyrics and again the vibe of the album touch me. Nutshell by Alice In Chains. Cold's songs like Bleed and Gone Away. Just sad songs, but they're nice to listen to sometimes. California Dreamin' by The Mamas And The Papas It's a brilliant song and gives me hope. Also sometimes I think I'd be better of in California. Some songs of Yellowcards' Ocean Avenue. Again sad songs.
Shinedown // Burning Bright If there was ever a song I would want to cover, this would be it. I'm not really a big fan of their music, but when I first heard this song, I instantly fell in love with it. I love the lead singer's (don't know his name) range in the chorus and especially the bridge: The more the light shines through me I pretend to close my eyes The more the dark consumes me I pretend I'm burning.... There's nothing ever wrong but nothing's ever right Such a cruel contradiction I know I crossed the line its not easy to define I'm born to indecision There's always something new, some path I'm supposed to choose With no particular rhyme or reason!!! Those lyrics get me every time as he sings and I just love how the song keeps building as you listen to it. Excellent song all around. I feel so good every time I play it. Never gets old. <3
Cold - Wasted Years One of my favourite songs of all time. The lyrics pretty much sum up what I go through sometimes and even if I can't relate to it at the time, it's still great to listen to, to reflect on things. Cold - Gone Away Another amazingly beautiful song from Cold. The lyrics... Gone away It's the same old, same old song Gone away It's my whole life in words ... are great and verses are even better. Just a song I listen to when I'm feeling down or want to reflect on whatever. Cold - Suffocate A great song, I listen to this when I want to remember how I got through some bad times with relationships in the past. The song is perfect and I can relate to every single word. I consider this one of the best songs ever. I could take every fucking word she said And throw it in her face But would she even care? Well, they're just some of the Cold songs I consider touching, and that have got to me. There are so many more bands and songs that have done the same, but I may post more later.
Probably Blink of an Eye by Damageplan, simply because it really makes me think. Then (and i'm going to kick myself for saying this) all the slow songs on Nickleback's All the right reasons album becuase Kay used to love that album, and shesent it to me so they have meaning for us. As does Metallica's Nothing else Matters and almost everything by Apocalyptica because they remind me of Kay, and my holiday in Estonia last year which probably was the best holiday, and probably the best time i've ever had. Then most of the tracks on Finntroll's Visor Om Slutet album, just because the songs are really beautiful and moving (The lyrics, not the music. The lyrics are just weird ) (the last 5 anyway. The others just remind me of good, happy times (such as Estonia again, and when Kay was here the first time)) and a lot of others. I get easily moved by music Oh, and a lot of Tyr's Ragnarok album. Particualy Brothers Bane, Torstein's Kvaedi, Grimur A Midalnesi/Wings of Time the lyrics to Valhalla and the Ramund hin Unge and The Edge off their Eric the Red album.
The Used - Blue and Yellow - Yeah, kinda cliche, but this was the song that was playing when I kissed my first girlfriend and everytime I listen to it, that night keeps playing in my head and I still regard it as one of the best nights of my life. Yellowcard - How I Go - Everytime I listen to this song, it makes me think of my grandpa who passed away recently of cancer and it just really hits home. Hoobastank - Good Enough - It just describes my last two relationships, aside from my current one. I actually had a girl break it off because I was too good for her, so the harder I tried, the worse off I was. Matchbox Twenty - Rest Stop - Rob Thomas's voice gets to me a lot, especially on this song. Utada Hikaru - Sanctuary - Yes, the theme song for Kingdom Hearts 2. I don't know what it is about this song but it always gets to me when I listen to it. It's so beautiful and just sounds so peaceful.
Epilogue [Relief] by Apocalyptica. Reminds me of last august, which was amazing.. but that song does get me really emotional. Then basically anything Apocalyptica or anything off The New Black by SYL. Both associate with last summer.. which was the best time of my life. Theen the Nickelback album Dave mentioned, for the same reasons, especially Saving Me and If Everyone Cared. Metallica's Nothing Else Matters definitely.. also because that has a lot of meaning to Dave and me. Metsatöll's Rauavanne, not that anyone would know, but the song really gets to me.
There are several songs that get to me. I'll list a few: Nobody's Home - Avril Lavigne Back in Middle School, I met two girls. As I befriended them, I began to realize that they had been cutting themselves and they felt alone in the world and that they were potentially suicidal. For a while, they trusted me and showed me what they did to themselves, and it just got to me. I couldn't stand it. This song reminds me of them. It reminds me, in some way, of how they felt and how their situations were and the lives they were living. It just makes me sad to think about them and how their actions influenced how I felt about life. Auf Achse - Franz Ferdinand Although Franz Ferdinand doesn't seem like the band that can make a song that can emotionally touch someone (considering how their outlook on making music is that they want to make music that girls can dance to), there is one song that they have made that really touches me and defines where I am at this state in time. That song is Auf Achse. For about 7 months now, I've liked this girl, and over time my feelings have been getting stronger for her. It's a tough situation, really. This song seems to describe perfectly how it is. You see her, you can't touch her You hear her, you can't hold her You want her, and you can't have her You want to, but she won't let you The song has some points where it picks up, and I guess in some way, it represents a contradictory side to my situation and sometimes describes how I feel about my feelings for her. She's not so special, so look what you've done, boy. From other viewpoints, that's exactly what it is. She isn't so special and everything I've done may seem ridiculous. But, I think she is special and she means something to me. 18 - Moby Although this song has no lyrics, the sound of this song is very sad. It's also very beautiful and has a nice build-up as well as a nice release. This song gets to me every time. It's one of those songs that can calm me down and just make me think for a while. It's a nice song. A very nice song. Butterflies and Hurricanes - Muse Although this song has, really, nothing to do with me, I think it's one of the best songs ever written and it really makes me think of the world from a larger, outer space perspective, so to speak. The album that this song is from (Absolution), as a whole, is about the end of the world and has a very apocalyptic feeling about it. This song just seems to define the whole album (of course, the song that best defines the album overall is Apocalypse Please), but this song comes close. It gets to me and gives me goosebumps every time because of it's power and it's capability of giving you this out-of-this-world / outside-looking-in kind of perspective. These lyrics just seem so powerful and really stick out to me. Best You've got to be the best You've got to change the world and use this chance to be heard Your time is now That, to me, is just really powerful. Gets me every time. Unintended - Muse This song probably comes as close to describing me as Auf Achse does. This song is absolutely beautiful, and the lyrics are just so sad and everything is just so melancholy. But the lyrics describe how things are for me almost perfectly and kind of summarizes life the past 7 months. You could be my unintended choice to live my life extended You could be the one I'll always love You could be the one who listens to my deepest inquisitions You could be the one I'll always love I'll be there as soon as I can, but I'm busy mending broken pieces of the life I had before First, there was the one who challenged all my dreams and all my balance She could never be as good as you You could be my unintended choice to life my life extended You should be the one I'll always love I'll be there as soon as I can, but I'm busy mending broken pieces of the life I had before Before you If you know me very well, you can probably see how much I can relate to these lyrics and how much they can get to me. This song almost drives me to tears because of how true it is and how sad it makes me feel about some of the things going on right now and things that have happened and such. It's just so sad, yet so beautiful. I can't describe. Maybe - Original Broadway Cast of 'Annie' The middle school I went to has been known around the district for the musicals and plays it puts on each year. Last year, I was blessed to be a part of one. Funny enough, the musical we put on was Annie. I'm pretty sure everyone knows what it's about, so I'm not going to spend time discussing it. This is one of the songs off of the soundtrack of Annie that just makes me sad every time. It reminds me of the 6 performances we had and how absolutely incredible they were and how they were the best 6 nights of my entire life. The lyrics are sad, because it is an orphan wanting her parents and missing them. And it's beautiful and her voice on the soundtrack that I have is absolutely beautiful. It makes me very sad, but it also brings a smile to my face because those were the 6 best nights of my life. I will never forget them. Without You I'm Nothing - Placebo ft. David Bowie There are only a few things about this song that get to me. One is, of course, the title, which kind of represents how I sometimes feel when I'm around this girl that I like. Without you I'm nothing Without you I'm nothing at all And although that really isn't true, I guess, sometimes that's how I feel about it. Also, the harmony of the voices of Brian Molko and David Bowie are incredible and they make the song sound beautiful. And the music is beautiful too. Running Up That Hill - Placebo (Originally by Kate Bush) I listened to all versions of this song, and I think Placebo's remake of it is probably one of the best. It's darker, and has more of a sad "nothing you can do about where you are" kind of feel to it. Some of the lyrics I can relate to. If I only could make a deal with God, and get him to swap our places Be running up that road, be running up that hill, be running up that building If I only could... You don't want to hurt me But see how deep the bullet lies Unaware that I'm tearing you asunder There is thunder in our hearts, baby So much hate for the ones we love? Tell me we both matter, don't we? You... You and me... You and me won't be unhappy. It just feels like I can really relate to those lyrics. Centrefolds - Placebo The friend I mentioned in my first post is, actually, the girl that I do have feelings for. She has mentioned that one of the songs that gets to her is Centrefolds. Although this song has a sad feel to it, one of the major reasons it gets to me is because it reminds me of her and how she may feel when she listens to this song. And the piano is absolutely beautiful. And some of the lyrics, I can relate to. And I've been waiting far too long That's wrong I've been waiting far too long For you to be... Be mine For you to be mine Be mine For you to be mine And that's wrong I've been waiting far too long Makes me sad just thinking about it. - - - I'm sure there are some others, but those are the ones I can really think of right now.
Ones that hit me with sorrow or regret: Come Clarity by In Flames Rough Hands by Alexisonfire Soul Bleed, Blink of an Eye and Pride by Damageplan Hollow by Pantera A Tout Le Monde by Megadeth Dyer's Eve and One by Metallica that's all I can think of.