Music that makes you cry

[Eos]

Hi all!

I just though it would be interesting to have a thread where we share music that makes us cry for one reason or another. It doesn't necessarily have to be sad songs, but maybe songs that are so beautiful or powerful that it moves you to tears. Sad songs are also welcome of course... I love songs like that and would love to hear what moves you.

Here's my first entry "Du måste finnas" (You have to exist) from the musical "Kristina from Duvemåla" composed by Björn & Benny from ABBA. For those of you who are not familiar with this musical, it's about Swedish settlers who immigrate to America in the 19th century, and it's based on books by the Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg. This song is sung by the main character Kristina, where she questions her faith in God after years of hardships and the recent loss of her child. Here it's sung by Helen Sjöholm who played Kristina in the original production. What I love about this performance are the raw emotions that Helen conveys through her voice, it's beautiful but you feel her pain as well.




Ps: Moderators, I hope it's okay to insert YouTube videos here. If not, feel free to remove the video...

[Dave]

Such a powerful and emotional song, very well sung and of course, like many songs of its kind, by knowing the context you can really feel the impact. So I'll take a line from your post:

sung by the main character Kristina, where she questions her faith in God after years of hardships and the recent loss of her child.

Thanks for posting this, it's fine, I've never seen or heard of it or the singer before. Wonderful work by her and the writers Björn & Benny.

Seeing Björn & Benny  reminded me of my favourite Abba song of all time - the almost criminally underrated 'The Day Before You Came', their very last song recorded if I recall correctly,  done in a darkened studio and so sad, it's brought tears to my eyes more than once. I think this was the actual end of Abba as a group. A real masterpiece.

[Andrew]

Hi there “Eos”

Welcome to the HWI Forum...

Have you ever seen the Spielberg Film from 1987, entitled: “Empire of the Sun”? There is a particular rendition of the traditional Welsh lullaby song, “Suo Gan” in this film which always makes me cry... every single time I see the Film/ hear the music... Have a look for yourself here:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=yyf059psVew

Andrew

[Joe]

Hi Eos!

It is wonderful to see you here again!  

That is a beautiful song!  I find crying to be very therapeutic. 

[Andrew]

Hi All,

This one is for all those sentimental softies out there...

This duet was popular in the UK pop music charts in the summer of 1987. I remember it very well indeed.

Here we have a duet of: “Somewhere Out There” as performed by Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram. This piece was featured in the soundtrack for the Film, “An American Tail”.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Smc5FHbZtG4

The film version of the song is not performed by the same artists, but can be heard here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=2jzlSeFLr7A

Although very different I feel there is somehow an analogy between the Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram duet of “Somewhere Out There” and Hayley & Mario Frangoulis’ duet of “Hine E Hine”, which they performed on stage during the UK “Winter Pure Tour” in this very month 16 years ago!

Check this out just for a reminder...

m.youtube.com/watch?v=70tn09Ce0Lg

I will never forget the live duets of “Hine E Hine” which I witnessed being performed on that Tour twice... Very powerful!!!

Enjoy!

[Libby]

An American Tale was definitely a source of childish tears back in the day. Movies like this or Bambi made me cry. LOL Luckily I didn't cry during this music when my pre-ballet class danced to it. I still remember the colors of our costumes, and I think it was one of my favorites that I did.

The newer recording of Hine on Hushabye is my favorite version. It was also very powerful in the Live from NZ DVD with the Maori images behind them. Her duet partner wasn't the best, but otherwise it was very moving.

[jimg]

Hi Libby, If you like a good cry, and it sounds like you do, try "Who Will Love My Children". A made for TV biographical film made in 1983. Buy a box of tissues before you watch it.

[Andrew]

Nov 20, 2020 23:54:29 GMT Libby said:

An American Tale was definitely a source of childish tears back in the day. Movies like this or Bambi made me cry. LOL Luckily I didn't cry during this music when my pre-ballet class danced to it. I still remember the colors of our costumes, and I think it was one of my favorites that I did.

This one is for you Libby...

[Libby]

Oops, I guess I spelled the title wrong. Tail, not Tale. LOL

[Libby]

Sonny was the first Hayley song to make me cry. Songbird was another one.

[Andrew]

Nov 25, 2020 23:19:08 GMT Libby said:

Sonny was the first Hayley song to make me cry. Songbird was another one.

Hi Libby,

I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house when Hayley performed emotionally charged renditions of “Sonny” live on Tour. Not only were her vocals exemplary, but her piano playing was too! I will never forget it!

I believe HWI Member, Andrew Bone, aka “Drew” very kindly shared this recording with us:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=rR68ayQHEF4

“Sonny lives on a farm, in a wide open space
Take off your shoes, stay out of the race
Lay down your head, on a soft river bed
Sonny always remembers the words Mamma says

Sonny don't go away, I'm here all alone
Your Daddy's a sailor, never comes home
Nights are so long, silence goes on
I'm feeling so tired and not all that strong

Many years have rolled on, Sonny's old and alone
His Daddy the sailor, never came home
Sometimes he wonders what his life might have been
Still from the grave Mama's voice haunts his dreams

Sonny don't go away, I'm here all alone
Your Daddy's a sailor, never comes home
Nights are so long, silence goes on
I'm feeling so tired and not all that strong

Sonny don't go away”

[Libby]

It's more than just the vocals on this song. It's also the words, and the slow, emotional way she sings it. Back then, for the most part, there wasn't a ton of emotion in her singing. She was constantly being criticized for her lack of emotion. I was always indignant when I read such things, because to me, her voice was so perfect that, even if she didn't sing with much emotion, her voice and singing made ME feel emotion. But as we all know, after working with Ennio Morricone, she developed a much more powerful, emotional way of singing. Her latest recording is emotional, as well, even if her nasal tone has begun to make a come back.

[Joe]

Hi all,

Many songs make me cry, but I will share my top three!

At number three, is “The Briar and the Rose” by Fiona and Ciarán MacGillivray. This video was from a 2002 Christmas telethon for Nova Scotia TV station, so there are phone numbers and donations listed. This is a couple of years before this sister and brother duo formed their group The Cottars. I was blessed to see The Cottars perform live in 2005 and that was simply indescribably beautiful. 




Taking the second place is “Endless Love” with Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross. The video below is not the best quality, so I apologize.  When I was younger (perhaps 10)  this song would play over and over in my mind; keeping me from falling asleep. 




Finally my top song is “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” by Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond.  Very fitting that I begin to cry as I share this with you.  Just reading the comments section in the video is difficult. 




Thanks for watching, dear friend. 

[atlantis]

the 2 songs that come to my mind are my heart will go on from titanic, and also dance with my father by luther vandross
both really powerfull songs

[comet]