The Old Familiar Sting

Before getting out of the parked car and going into work I like to listen to one last song to get me jammed up for the day. The radio was generous to me today and gave me "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver," honestly and literally one of the greatest songs of all-time. Also one of the best music videos of all-time. These are non-disputable facts.


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

I was all WOOOOOOOO
hoo hoo HOO HOO
hooooooo.

But then the radio became too generous and immediately after Primus I got Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt." This is also one of the greatest songs of all time, so naturally I had to listen to that one too. And I would never ditch Cash.


http://vimeo.com/3104201

But you know what? That is a seriously depressing song. So instead of going into work all revved and singing about cowboys and beavers, I had Johnny Cash's dying voice limping along in regretful warbled circles in my head.

What have I become,
my sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
goes away in the end.

And you could have it all,
my empire of dirt.
I will let you down.
I will make you hurt.

Yeah, awesome song. Awesome soul-crushing song.

This after my V-day post about how much I love sad songs.
Saint Cash answers your prayers and grants your wishes vindictively.

Happy Dead Saint Day

I like the sad songs. I've always liked the sad songs. I'll take a sad song over a happy song always. And I'm not a sad kind of guy. I'm generally in good spirits, I've got a pretty good life, and I'm always in contact with people who kind of like me. I've got a great wife, I've got a great baby. I've got nothing to complain about.

But man, I really dig a sad, sad song.

Somehow they just sound better. Maybe the lyrics are more honest. Maybe the slower tempos better relax me. Maybe I just need something to counteract all the goodness.

Anyway, I know this Valentine's Day there's a lot of sadness going around. That's fine. Broken hearts, lost loves, and general loneliness make for good song fodder. So to all the depressed musicians out there, as long as you're being productive don't try so hard to find happiness. I need something to jam to.

Happy Valentine's Day.
Or not.

Hello Saferide - "Valentine's Day"
The Status - "Happy Valentine's Day"
Frank Black & the Catholics - "Valentine and Garuda"

[The lyrics to that Hello Saferide song are awesome.]
[The snottiness of that The Status song is awesome.]
[Frank Black and his Catholics are awesome.]