Wallow, the Soundtrack

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So sick. I woke up with a fever and chills and the smell of death on the air. I wish this bed would stop touching me so I could sleep.

Anyway, when I was young and feeling heartbroken, I used to make breakup tapes with one side for feeling sorry for myself and one with happy music. Did you ever do this? While I’m incapacitated, please add links to songs to weep by and songs that make you dance around in your underwear.

When my skin isn’t peeling up at the edges, I shall make a mixtape.

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321 thoughts on “Wallow, the Soundtrack”

  1. Sad Songs:
    I Can’t Make You Love Me – Bonnie Raitt
    Don’t Dream It’s Over – Crowded House (I prefer Neil Finn’s acoustic version on the Princess Diana Tribute Album)
    With or Without You – U2
    All Out of Love – Air Supply (don’t judge me)
    Where Does Love Go When It Dies – Def Leppard (seriously, don’t judge me)

    Happy Songs
    You’re So Damn Hot – OK Go
    Extraordinary – Liz Phair
    All Things Just Keep Getting Better – Widelife (yes, I LOVE my Queer Eye CD, why do you ask?)
    Dancing Queen – ABBA
    Animal – Def Leppard (please see above about the judging)

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  2. crying song: Ocean Of Noise by Arcade Fire

    underwear dancing song: Flathead by The Fratellis

    Also: drink a lot of rose’ wine, preferably in a really ridiculous glass. Or coffee cup. Cures everything.

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  3. Sad – “Dear Chicago, “In My Time of Need,” and “Blue Sky Blues” – Ryan Adams (really a lot of Ryan’s catalog – he’s the master of sorrow)

    Happy – Hard to find, but The Housemartins’ “Happy Hour,”

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  4. Maggie! I’m sorry to hear that you are feeling like this! I too am home sick today…I love making mix tape/CDs…here are some of my favourites:

    Happy:
    Freedom 90: George Michael (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diYAc7gB-0A)
    Gobbledigook: Sigur Rós (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQDWlvh5gtU&feature=related)
    The Only Living Boy in New York: Simon and Garfunkel (sort of melancholy, but happy for me! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGDt2skie84&feature=fvst)
    House of Jealous Lovers: The Rapture (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HP04nfUi4g)
    Billie Jean: Michael Jackson (Motown 25th anniversary premiere in particular) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGrqOCrG_zc)

    Wallowy:
    Jóga: Björk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBju9Sdh94k&feature=related)
    Why?: Annie Lennox (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vP-bONWw38)

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  7. “Beautiful World” by Colin Hay is (if not HAPPY) about contentment and makes me feel peaceful.

    For a sad wallow, I’ve always enjoyed “Love Will Come To You” by the Indigo Girls. A very crying-while-singing song.
    Good wallow, Maggie. I hope you eat some ice cream and do some yoga and have a good hair day and watch some Glee or Project Runway and wear an orange bracelet or turquoise shoes…when you feel better.

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  8. Because I am a big fan of yours I verified that my suggestions weren’t on your Listen to 1000 new songs life list item. (NERD ALERT, I KNOW)

    For a good cry (but only listen to it ONCE)
    Nothing like You and I by The perishers

    For Not Stop moving and shaking
    Heartbreaker by MSTRKRFT

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  9. Yes, I too made very considered mix tapes for myself and my friends with a definite emotional arc to them. (And yes, I emerged an adult with a mastery of no skill from my misspent youth.)

    I hope you feel better soon, Maggie.

    As for music, “Bonfires” by Rickie Lee Jones sounds like my saddest breakup compressed into 4 minutes.

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  12. They Won’t Go When I Go – Stevie Wonder (SUPER SAD)

    This Ship Was Built to Last – The Duke Spirit (makes you feel bad ass again)

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  13. Sad — “You Were Always on My Mind” by Willie Nelson

    Underwear Dancing — “Higher and Higher” by Jackie Wilson

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  15. Sad: Accidental Babies by Damien Rice. Let Him Fly by the Dixie Chicks. “But you must always know how long to stay, and when to go.” Just typing that gave me chills.

    Good: Fuck You by Cee Lo Green. I dare you not to shake your booty to that one.

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  17. Sad: “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me” by Low or The Smiths.

    Underwear Dancing: “Where’s Your Head At?” by Basement Jaxx.

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  18. Here is the song I dance to with my daughter on a Sunday morning in our jammies.

    Gwen Stefani – Sweet Escape

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  19. Sad face – happy thoughts, hey. Hope you feel better soon!

    For Dancing: Just a little bit – Kids of 88

    For Dancing: Go Do by Jonsi

    For Wallowing: Walk away – Ben Harper

    For Wallowing: Kandi – One Eskimo

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  20. Hmmm, for wallowing I love the Wailin’ Jennys, they’ve gotten me through the last year. Most recently I’ve gone for Beautiful Dawn and Heaven When We’re Home.

    For Happy, an oldie by goodie: Here Comes The Sun by the Beatles.

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  21. So I haven’t listened to them enough to pick a specific song, but from one listen-through, it seems like every single song by Best Coast is about missing/wanting/loving someone.

    Hmm, Frou Frou – Let Go

    For a dance-y pick-me-up, try Multiply by Jamie Liddell – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkqIsSTWSsc
    Modest Mouse – Float On
    New Pornographers – Electric Version
    The Faint – Glass Dance
    Richard Cheese – Milkshake 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBhZ8gCgfg0

    I could keep going, but I’ll stop.

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  25. I listened to the Mountain Goats “Woke Up New” and “No Children” a lot during my Grief Year, which was what I called the immediate aftermath of the demise of my last relationship. Also “Drive on, Driver” by the Magnetic Fields. (Actually, most of Distortion.) And also “Hum Hallelujah”, Fall Out Boy, and “Bonnie Portmore” as sung by Lucinda Williams.

    Songs for happy dancing: “Dragostei Din Tei” O-Zone; “Party at a Rich Dude’s House”, Ke$ha; “Desolation Row” and “Vampire Money” My Chemical Romance; “Feel So Numb”, Rob Zombie; and “Bullet” Steel Train, and anything by Gold Motel or Mark Ronson and the Business INTL.

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  26. Dancing in your underwear: “Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix)” – this makes for an EPIC dance party: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB7nmTiIt38

    Song that makes me cry EVERY TIME I HEAR IT for some stupid reason: “Top of the World” by the Dixie Chicks. When she sings, “I wished I’d have known you/Wished I’d have shown you/All of the things I/Was on the inside/I pretend to be sleeping/when you come in in the morning/To whisper goodbye/go to work in the rain/I don’t know why/I don’t know whyyyyy” and then the chorus following that verse – CRAP. I am about to start crying and I am sitting at my desk at work. No good. Stinkin’ song. I love it so.

    (Disclaimer: I don’t love the video!)

    One more dancing in your underwear song: “Americanarama” by Hollerado. SO GOOD! And the video is awesome.

    Feel better soon, okay? That’s actually not a request. Get on it.

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  27. Sad side: I can’t make you love me, Bonnie Raitt. This was poignant in a 2002 breakup, and I still tear up when I hear it as muzak.

    Happy side: Mr. Brightside, The Killers. Lyrics aside, it always gets me up dancing.

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  28. sobfest:
    let it die–feist (PURGE the sadness. My friends asked me to ‘stop listening to the wrist cutting song’ and told me to ‘let the song die’)

    love song-the cure

    munich–editors
    acoustic= extra emo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTkg5oVuj94
    electric= extra angry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO7tVypeYAo
    bag lady–erykah badu
    http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdcb54_erykah-badu-bag-lady_music

    triumph:
    tears dry on their own–amy winehouse (yup we had something…screw it, I’m picking myself up)

    diamond dave–bird and the bee (focus on your celebrity crush)
    http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/1fdb2bd765/diamond-dave
    happy valentine’s day–outkast (with time it grows on you)

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  29. Maggie, I gotchu, girl.

    Dance!:
    “Make Me Smile” – Chicago (ohgodthehorns!)
    “Friday On My Mind” – The Easybeats
    “The Letter” – Joe Cocker’s cover (singit!)
    “Danger High Voltage” – The Wildbunch – 2 Many DJ’s did a good mix with this too
    Wallow:
    “Leather and Lace” – Stevie Nicks & Don Henley
    “Fade Into You” – Mazzy Star
    “Sleep Walk” – Santo & Johnny (“RICHIE!!!!”)

    I hope you feel better, Maggie. You’re too bright a light to waste anytime wallowing.

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  30. Okay, I actually snorted, out loud, at “I wish this bed would stop touching me so I could sleep.” That will keep me smiling all day so thank you.

    That said, feel better soon!

    And download Adele’s 21 immediately. I’m obsessed and can’t pick a single track to highlight – they’re all just so damn good.

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  31. If you understand French, this might make you feel better, hope so…
    On s’est aimé comme on se quitte by Joe Dassin

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  32. The Sad:

    Devotchka – The Last Beat of my Heart
    Sad/breakup song perfection. A cover of a Siouxsie and the Banshees song.

    Coldplay – Fix You

    The Eurythmics – Here Comes the Rain Again
    That might be real specific to me as a sad song.

    The Happy:

    Lady Gaga – Just Dance

    Bran Van 3000 – Drinking in LA

    The Killers – All These Things That I’ve Done

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  33. I just found your blog recently and wanted to say how much I love your outlook on the world! Hope things start to look up soon…I’m rooting for you!

    Joni Mitchell’s “River” (which, while people seem to play it most at Christmas, is an anytime song to me) is a great song for sad times. Kim Stockwood’s “She’s Not in Love” always makes me smile.

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  35. Sad: I’m with MJ, “Hold On” by Tom Waits kills me.

    Happy: There’s Hope, India Aire

    Feel better soon!

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  37. This song takes out my insides: “Down to Zero” by Joan Armatrading. For when you are at rock bottom. She GETS it.

    I can only find the live version online which doesn’t have her grief stricken piano (and is the best part), but if you like I will send you the song to your email as an attachment.

    Happy song: Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant. Animal by Miike Snow.

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  39. A few songs to “rub it in” real good:
    – How my heart behaves / Inside & out (Feist)

    – Hallelujah (by Leonard Cohen or performed by Jeff Buckley)

    – I’m not yours (Angus & Julia)

    And to dance like nobody’s Business:

    She Sells Sanctuary (The Cult)A classic of mine !

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  41. Very old sad : “Ne me quitte pas” by Nina Simone (originally Jacques Brel)
    Old sad: “I Know It’s Over” by the Smiths
    Recent sad : “River of Sorrow” by Antony and the Johnsons.

    Happy happy joy, joy: anything by the Go!Team, “Time To Pretend” by MGMT,
    Tragi-comic and funny lyrics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of-ABC-0KM8

    chin up & feel better!

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  42. Sad: “Train in the Distance” by Paul Simon.

    Happy: “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire.

    Feel better.

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  43. I haven’t heard this song in years, and I just found it on youtube, and it still makes me cry:

    Also this:

    Now for Happiness:

    And my favorite song since I was 13:

    Music is always my go to. Take care of yourself.

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  44. One that made me burst into tears the first time I heard it: “Anything for You” by Gloria Estefan.

    Another one that didn’t make me sob but is heart-breaking: “Sometime Around Midnight” by The Airborne Toxic Event.

    Happy/Dance Around the Room: “Let My Love Open the Door,” Pete Townshend (I’m chair-dancing right now just thinking about it), and “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” by They Might Be Giants.

    And here’s one that made me laugh out loud. It’s from a band called Rock Sugar and it’s a mash-up of “Like a Prayer” and “Shook Me All Night Long”(they go together surprisingly well) called “Shook Me Like a Prayer.” You can probably find it on Blip if you want to take a listen.

    Feel better soon.

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  46. So I just thought of a sad one, and you can pick the artist- Stevie Nicks or Dixie Chicks…
    I prefer the Dixie Chicks version myself,

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  47. sad side: Skinny Love by Bon Iver
    good side: I’m Alive by Kenny Chesney (I KNOW, but just listen to it)

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  48. For the sad side, how about ‘Whiskey Lullaby’ by Brad Paisley and Allison Kraus. That one always makes me cry.

    For the happy undie dancing side, how about ‘Watermelon Crawl’ by Tracy Bird or ‘Cotton Pickin’ Time’ by Blake Shelton

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  50. I am not a David Gray fan, but my dad played me this song after my mom died, and it is perfect. It is perfect for a good cry, and feeling better.

    I hope you feel better soon.

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