You with the sad face...Spunk's Sad Song Blogfest

My husband hates when I listen to sad songs. I think he feels I'll get wrapped up in the emotion of the lyrics and sink into some kind of depression. 


Maybe he has a point.


Don't worry, it's not like I'm reaching for the Grey Goose or crying in my Budweiser, but a well-done sad song has the potential to cut pretty deep. 


Sometimes I'm in the mood for that kind of emotional tug-o-war. Which is why I couldn't resist Spunk on a Stick's Songs That Inspire Through Sadness Blogfest. 


The object? List the songs that move your spirit, cut deep into your soul, and threaten to break your heart. 


And of course, inspire you. Music is vital to my writing. Every character, every scene, every story has a soundtrack as eclectic as my own musical tastes. I am inspired by lyrics or motivated by a specific beat, and together they help create an atmosphere.


When the scene calls for sadness, here are my Top 10 Go-To songs. (In no particular order.)


1. Someone Like You - Adele
Good grief, can this woman sing! I love every song on this album, but none have as much emotional impact as Someone Like You. Lost love - the inspiration behind many a ballad. Adele nails it. She has inspired me to write some of my best heartache scenes. (Hey, I write thriller!)





2. Painted on my Heart - The Cult
There is something so haunting about this song - the desperation, the devastation, Ian Astbury's voice.  I first heard it on the movie Gone in 60 Seconds, and it's been on my iPod ever since. Helps that I also love the movie. Fast hot cars, Angelina Jolie, and Eleanor. (If you don't know who Eleanor is, I may have to reevaluate our friendship.)





3. Last Kiss - Pearl Jam
Car crash. Girlfriend dies. Man hoping for redemption so he can see her again in heaven. Nuff said? This beautiful, but sad Pearl Jam song is reserved for the most emotional of scenes - and for when the Vodka is safely locked away. Get out your kleenex for this one, friends.





4. In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
While not necessarily the most sad song on this list, In the Air Tonight might be one of the most powerful for me. I love to listen to it...in the dark. Loud. And then wait for the chills when that kick-ass drum beat hits. 





5. November Rain - Guns and Roses
Wow. This is one of those songs that cuts deep into my soul and breaks my heart, every time. My Nono (grandfather) was one of the most important men in my life. It's been years since he died, but his picture can still bring me to tears. He passed away when this song was popular...and I listened to it on repeat. It's not on my iPod. But it's never far from my heart. Settle in, it's a long one.





6. Love Hurts - Nazareth
Yup, love sometimes does hurt - and few sing about that pain better than Nazareth. This track is best saved for lover-scorned stories...like the ones you might find with Jagger Valentine. (Wow, 1976...)





8. Always - Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi could sing me the phone book and I would melt into a puddle of fangirl goo. But sing me a love song? I'm a snivelling mess. So many Bon Jovi ballads could have made this list (probably even 10 of them) but something about the lyrics to this song make me want to shout, "You don't need to be Romeo, Jon! I will love you always!" *cough* My husband has a wee problem with that, though.





9. Better than Me - Hinder
My heart physically hurts when I listen to this song. And I wrote one of my most powerful "emotional" scenes with this track on repeat. I won't be watching the video now...





10. If I Close My Eyes Forever - Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford
If "emo" was a thing back when I was a kid, we would have all listened to this song. And then I might have reached for the Vodka. Love the emotion this song still evokes.





Deep breath. Wow. Some of those tracks brought back some memories, and a few even inspired me to push through the scenes that are giving me slight writer's block. 


Starting Sunday (and throughout April), I'm participating in the A-Z Blogging Challenge, where I have teamed up with amazing Jessica Bell for a battle of bands that will hopefully entertain you. I can guarantee my playlist will be very different from Jessica's - expect a lot of 80s cheese from me.


Now, check out the rest of the blogs in  Spunk on a Stick's Songs That Inspire Through Sadness Blogfest including the blog of Jagger Valentine, where her assistant has taken over the post with a list of sad love songs guaranteed to make Jagger throw up. 


- Dawn