frankie's sad songs

i like sad songs. the best songs out there are sad songs. but i do find it funny. why do we listen to sad songs when we're already sad? actually why do we listen to sad songs at all? are we all sadists? who wants to be sad?!

i think sad songs have power. it can turn us from a happy energizer bunny to a sad wrenched poor little creature in a matter of minutes, sometimes even seconds (even before the chorus, haha). sad songs have that kind of influence. it can bring us back to time when we got our hearts broken... then sliced, and diced into a thousand pieces. ouch.

so i guess human beings are sadistic creatures. we do love tragedy.

it's the same reason why romeo and juliet, and hundreds of other tragic stories are close to our hearts.

we are all like a child playing candles, burning our fingertips in the fire... checking out if it hurts. and when it does... it doesn't stop us from putting our fingers back into the fire again. perhaps to validate or to find out if we know better. we never learn. don't we?

"fascination can be found in touching the sorest regions of our hearts."

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frank sinatra, for me, is the king of sad songs. i never get tired of him. i guess it's because he sings from the heart (unlike most singers nowadays). and it's hard not to notice it and be affected. if not, you have a heart made of stone. hehe.

let me leave you with my list of frank's saddest songs.


1) In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning (1955)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqmgldSVgXM

i agree that sinatra was at his vocal best in the 1950s. "the emotional pain and longing that comes with losing true love can be felt in the phrasing of each and every word mr. sinatra breathes from his broken heart..."

this was performed live by john mayer for letterman two years ago. i think john mayer nailed this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnMUdNPBOmM&feature=related


2) I'm a Fool to Want You (1951)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEQm--gWvfA&feature=fvst

this song was dedicated to ava gardner. she broke his heart, and he was never the same. we have to thank her though coz his best works was during this tumultuous time. you can literally hear the pain and longing in his voice.


3) I'll Be Seeing You (1940)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1YLQFWbN6A

i get teary-eyed when listening to this. kidding. haha. wait, let me get some tissue. haha.

the version of michael buble and billie holiday are definitely worth mentioning.

michael bublé (1996)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2AgdxJYP74

billie holiday (1939)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXLB32n6lq8&feature=related


4) Blue Moon (1960)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR4t8ZgW36E

blue moon is more depressing than it sounds. listen closely to the lyrics.

also covered by chris issak & the scotty moore band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuCZDanw3aE


5) Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ld4c9FGDJ4

covered by a number of great artists but sinatra's version is still the best.


6) A Man Alone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS1lyQyQUAQ

this is a perfect example of a great song from someone who knew how to sing from the heart.


7) This Was My Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h63R7aaQy9g

we all can relate to this.


8) Maybe You'll Be There

sang by sinatra but popularized by diana krall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMsvBwvZ7U8


9 ) I Think Of You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vey6UO969EU

i love listening to this on a sunday morning reading the paper with a cup of coffee beside me.


10) One For My Baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODa_903vnLg

this goes well with beer... or whiskey...

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hope you like my listening to my list.

please don't slit your wrist. haha.