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. reposting from yesterday without links… must have gotten stuck in moderation filter. saw that might have happened to others too! hope you’re feelin’ better today.

    my college roommate used to have a maudlin mix tape called “Depression At Its Finest” oh how I wish it were still around. I am pretty sure that Spandau Ballet “True” was on it. but much like child birth (or so I hear) you forget the physical pain and I can’t remember all the sad songs!

    anyhow, please drug yourself into rest, the only cure there is, and when you wake here are some songs for your consideration. more to come from me I am sure. also, some are pure queso, but that still works when in a mania. 🙂

    Sad Times:
    The Scientist, Coldplay
    Fruits of My Labor, Lucinda Williams (or ANY LW for that matter)
    most of that Damien Rice “O” album, a real wrist slitter for sure

    Happy Times:
    Teenage Dream, Katy Perry
    Give A Little Bit, Supertramp

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  2. Can I just say that I think of you every single day? I mean, I always read your blog daily, etc., but these days, you will just randomly pop into my head as I wonder how you are doing, and hoping you are making it through all of this okay. Just know, daily love is coming your way from the East Coast.

    Shake your moneymaker? It may be a mainstream choice, and may even make you feel like a sham right now, but I can’t even imagine not tapping your toes to “Walking on Sunshine”. Old skate rink Michael Jackson does me good too.

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  3. I have loved Katy Perry’s Firework since you posted it here for your 1000 New Songs project. It makes me SO HAPPY every time I listen to it. Sometimes it even gives me happy tears. Even though you introduced me to this song, I wanted to remind you of it. Go dance in your underwear!

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  4. SAD:
    Time for Me to Fly – REO Speedwagon
    Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough – Don Henley
    Ghost – Indigo Girls
    Hello – Neil Diamond

    UNDERWEAR HAPPY:
    And We Danced – The Hooters
    Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root
    Who Needs Sleep – Barenaked Ladies
    We Didn’t Start The Fire – Billy Joel

    Wishing you more days of underwear dancing and less of sad crying! You are an inspiration, Maggie!

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  7. Side A (sad):
    Fair by Remy Zero
    Tonight by Lykke Li

    Side B (happy):
    Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam
    Never Going Back Again by Fleetwood Mac

    Also this one can be happy or sad for me, depending on the day:
    Long as I Can See the Light by CCR

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  8. Weep:
    Drop by Red House Painters

    Dance and be merry:
    Ice Cream by Muscles

    (pardon the cheeseball videos…these were the links I found when I searched for the songs.)

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  10. the trippy parts of Tommy James – Crimson and Clover always make me insanely happy

    I can’t help but dance to Bob Marley, Could You Be Loved

    sad love song – Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Origin of Love

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  12. I saw a couple of my favorites in the list above, so I made some amendments:

    Happy+dancing:

    Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – “Clap your hands”

    “She’s got a girlfriend now” – Reel Big Fish

    Gorillaz – “Dirty Harry”
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05MtUnkh2Q0&feature=related (start listening at 0:45)

    Mika – “Grace Kelly”

    Spirit of the west – “Home for a rest”

    **ideal at socials, or with company for fabulous wild dancing**

    Devil Makes Three – “For good again”

    Hall and Oates – “You make my dreams come true”

    Feist – “Sea Lion Woman”

    Sad+Wallowing:

    Neko Case – cover of “Don’t Forget Me”

    Neko Case – “I was your favorite”

    Actually…..anything Neko Case will suit. The lyrics and her voice are achingly beautiful.

    Diana Krall – Covering Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You”

    Feist – “Let it die”

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  16. Oooh! I had been meaning to email you with this exact thing! The entire album is great – she wrote it while going through a break-up.

    Lissie – Album is Catching a Tiger

    Got me through some rough days . . . is sad but happy at the same time. Make sense? Hugs.

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  17. Sad: Fox in the Snow – Belle and Sebastian

    Vertebrae
    Migrations – both by the AMAZING Christine Fellows

    Happy: The Obvious Child – Paul Simon

    Amusing: These Are the Good Old Days – DJ Socalled

    or better yet: You are Never Alone – Socalled

    Hang in there. You’re going to be okay.

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  18. My previous comments with the youtube links got hung up in moderation, here it is again.

    For the wallowing:

    Parting Ways – Pearl Jam (original is great, lots of live ones out there that are amazing)
    Heart of Matters – Ben Harper
    No One’s Gonna Love You – Band of Horses
    Last Goodbye – Jeff Buckley

    For the happy dancing and maybe some defiant rocking:

    God Is A DJ – Pink
    Dog Days Are Over – Version by the cast of Glee. (There voices are all so powerful, the end will give you goosebumps.)
    Boots Like These – Ben Harper (for shaking it. I challenge anyone not to move during this song, it’s impossible.)

    Hope you are feeling better Maggie, take care.

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  19. Weeping: Love Will Come to You by Indigo Girls and most of the album Pilgrim by Eric Clapton.
    Underwear dancing: Jump in the Line by Harry Belafonte and Golden Years by David Bowie.
    Hope you feel your mighty self again soon!

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  20. sad song (although sad doesn’t to it justice – a rip your heart out song):

    radiohead – high & dry

    happy song (although maybe not a dancing song – still a happy song):

    mike doughty – i hear the bells

    a break up song that you can dance to:

    jeffrey lewis – broken broken broken heart

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  21. My previous comment is still awaiting moderation because of all the links.

    Here are my song suggestions, minus links:

    Wallow:

    Neko Case, Twist the Knife(e.g., “Carefully / quietly / you took what’s young from me / I didn’t deserve it / I gave it away”)

    Neko Case, Don’t Forget Me

    Loretta Lynn, This Old House

    Happy and/or hopeful:

    The Mountain Goats, This Year

    Foster the People, Pumped Up Kicks

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  22. Now every song I listen to I consider as a possible choice for your mixtape. The Police’s Regatta de Blanc has two good choices: I think Bring on the Night is a happy dance song that made me squirm in seat just now. And The Bed’s Too Big Without You is great for listening to sadly in the dark.

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  23. You must must must must listen to Salirò by Daniele Silvestri – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH_xyi_EdMc

    It’s in Italian, but give it a chance. Saliro means something like “I will rise again” and unless I’m totally misinterpreting it, its quite encouraging. Its sorta funky/disco-y, but it builds and builds and the last minute is awesome. The video is quite clever, too.

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  24. I’m so sorry to hear that you are having such a tough time.

    For wallowing, the last track on Joanna Newsom’s most recent album, Does Not Suffice:

    All the clothes references in particular made me think of you. And I actually recommend the entirety of Joanna Newsom’s two most recent albums Ys and Have One On Me as they are both, in their own ways, some of the most gorgeous, heart-wrenching evocations of loss I can think of.

    For skipping with joy, when you are ready, the most upbeat break up song I can think of (though Cee Lo is giving them a run for their money), the Violent Femmes’s I’m Free:

    This too shall pass….

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  26. Sad:
    Sia – Breathe Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSH7fblcGWM
    Dixie Chicks – Travelin’ Soldier http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVsLcuVmgL8

    Sad but happy:
    Johnny & June – It Ain’t Me Babe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2FJMliXkaU
    There is also an amazing picture story of them on this link…they are the greatest love story ever.

    I’m also a person who wallows with tv and movies, so here are a few good ones for that…
    PS I Love You
    Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
    And the entire series of Six Feet Under, the final scene is set to the above Sia song and is like a punch to the stomach, and leaves me sobbing uncontrollably every time…in a good way.

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  27. I’ve got an ipod playlist called “walkaways” that I used to listen to for a good wallow. Now I listen to it for good music (they’re not mutually exclusive). It includes:

    Late Night Conversations – Josh Rouse
    Dam – Matthew Ryan
    Heartache – Lowell George
    Goodbye – Steve Earle
    No Regrets – Tom Rush
    Traveling Again (Traveling I) – Dar Williams
    This is Where – Richard Buckner

    … it goes on and on, but luckily, unhappiness doesn’t have to.

    hang in there, and like some of the others have said, take the opportunity to rest like your body is telling you to.

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  30. Can you make a third side of the cassette with “Eff You!” songs? Because I think that is key. Sometimes you might not be in the mood to wallow OR rejoice, and that’s when giving the big ole finger fills the bill. Cee Lo’s “F*** You” certainly goes on there. I also recommend Pink’s “Funhouse” (“This used to be a fun-house/but now it’s full of evil clowns…”) and Alanis Morrissette’s “You Owe Me Nothing In Return” (which, come ON, she cannot mean. Listen to it.) Also appropriate would be Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”

    If you still want to wallow, I give you Tori Amos, “China,” one of the most beautifully written, heartbreaking, terribly clever songs. Also, Ray LaMontagne’s “Empty” (just as it suggests).

    Maybe it’s not the right time to dance in your undies to “It’s Raining Men” but trust me, you’ll be there again someday.

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  31. A cheerful breaking up song is Breakin’ Up by Rilo Kiley. This is the video I saw it with first and it is super cute: http://vimeo.com/2731736

    I also am going through a separation. I listened to that song a lot for maybe two weeks.

    My sad songs are never really that sad. So I would put that on the sad side and on the happy side maybe some Flo Rida with Apple Bottom Jeans (low).

    I hope you feel better.

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  32. I find Useless Desires (Patty Griffin) does both for me – it’s about giving up on stuff you’ve been holding on to – it’s sad but when you do it you feel better.. if that makes any sense!

    Best wishes x

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  33. I’m using such a list myself at the moment. Here it is:

    Happy:
    Lenka – The show

    Sad:
    Eels – End times

    Good Charlotte – Dance floor anthem

    Bon Iver – Skinny love

    Happy/Sad:
    MGMT – Time to pretend

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  34. Sad: Iron & Wine “The Trapeze Swinger”, Neutral Milk Hotel “Oh Comely”, Jeff Buckley “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over”, Radiohead “Pyramid Song”

    Happy: Sound Tribe Sector 9 “Satori”, Vampire Weekend “White Sky”, My Morning Jacket “Off the Record”

    I’m having a hard time stopping there. This is making me want to make a mixtape!

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  35. My contribution to your Wallowing mixtape:

    Sad: The Wrong Man was Convicted – Barenaked Ladies

    Happy: Chiquitita – Abba (twirl during this one)

    Much love coming to you from NJ!

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  36. Maggie~~ I’m sending a big hug your way! Hang in there.
    My wallow song is Adele’s version of “Make You Feel My Love.” Beautiful and wistful.
    Lately, my dance song is Tinie Tempah’s “Pass Out.” That beat just gets me.

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  37. Sad song: Iron and Wine – Passing Afternoon

    Dancing song: Enrique Iglesias – I Like It

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  38. Oh I love this. Okay songs to cry to:
    Michelle Featherstone’s …
    Stay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEoOg5AKEOQ
    Coffee and Cigarettes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iLoamKJrtc

    Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKQSlH-LLTQ&feature=related

    in between wallow and getting your energy up again:
    Burn It Blue by Caetano Veloso & Lila Downs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25-JZp0CqsY

    As for getting up and dancing … Otis Redding’s Try a Little Tenderness? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dael4sb42nI

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  40. The Gufs “Holiday from You” album – it was written while two of the band members were going thru divorces. The songs on this album got me thru several break-ups, including one so bad I could barely breathe and I was barely functional enough to even play music. Highly recc.

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  42. I’m sorry you feel awful. It’s really your body saying rest, take care of me, and stop. Listen to the sad, the eff you’s, and then re-build. It takes so very much time.

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  43. Sad Song – Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers

    Happy Song – Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and The Waves

    Hang in there, Maggie!

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  44. ::hug::

    Wallowing songs:

    Sparrow SIMON & GARFUNKEL
    Mace spray THE JEZABELS
    Hurt me THE JEZABELS
    L.A. Song BETH HART
    Pink bullets THE SHINS
    Ruby nights BIC RUNGA
    Birds BIC RUNGA
    Ain’t no sunshine EVA CASSIDY
    Autumn leaves EVA CASSIDY
    One crowded hour AUGIE MARCH
    No surprises RADIOHEAD
    Reckoner RADIOHEAD
    Knives out RADIOHEAD
    River JONI MITCHELL
    Good enough SARAH McLACHLAN
    Full of grace SARAH (as per another reader’s suggestion above!)
    Dirty little secret SARAH
    This woman’s work KATE BUSH
    The power of goodbye MADONNA
    My immortal EVANESCENCE
    Dream brother JEFF BUCKLEY
    Grace JEFF
    Last goodbye JEFF
    So real JEFF
    Forget her JEFF
    Hallelujah JEFF
    Breathe me SIA
    Not as we ALANIS
    Amsterdam COLDPLAY
    Bedshaped KEANE
    I will love again LARA FABIAN
    Bittersweet symphony THE VERVE
    Drugs don’t work THE VERVE
    Today’s the day AIMEE MANN
    I can’t break it to my heart DELTA GOODREM
    Need you now LADY ANTEBELLUM
    I don’t believe you PINK
    Smoke NATALIE IMBRUGLIA

    Three of my fave, heartachingly beautiful classical compositions:

    Schubert’s Leise Flehen Meine Lieder (Standchen), D. 957, No. 4 (BALAZS SZOKOLAY’s version)
    Satie: 3 Gnossiennes – Lent (KLARA KORMENDI)
    Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez (2nd movement)

    Aaaaaaaaand now for Dance in Your Underwear songs:

    Wannabe SPICE GIRLS
    Stop trying SIA
    Let’s twist again CHUBBY CHECKER
    Beat it MICHAEL
    Do you love me THE CONTOURS
    Land of 1000 dances WILSON PICKETT
    Pop NSYNC
    Stronger BRITNEY
    Baby one more time BRITNEY
    Bad romance LADY GAGA
    Cherry cherry NEIL DIAMOND

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  45. Ooh! (Remembered more sad shit.)

    Landslide FLEETWOOD MAC
    Losing my religion REM
    Everybody huts REM
    Brick BEN FOLDS FIVE
    That’s the way I’ve always heard it should be CARLY SIMON
    Crying ROY ORBISON feat k.d. lang
    Hurt JOHNNY CASH
    This used to be my playground MADONNA

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  46. these songs put me in the mood for bittersweet contemplation… which can lead to the weeping…
    -YYY’s Hysteric (acoustic)

    -Cat Power”s The Greatest (awesome live version)

    the only song that makes me want to dance (very very hard to do) and think sex
    -YYY’s Phenomena

    (first song)

    my musical tastes seemed to have stopped 5 years ago, but these have been really hitting the spot for me lately.

    really appreciate these posts – learning to deal with the complexities of grief through the amazing wisdom of the internets

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  47. Happy: “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence and the Machine.

    Sad: “Breathe Me” by Sia. (This song is sad enough on its own merits, but it also plays in the series finale of “Six Feet Under”, the greatest show of all time, and every time I hear it I sob and sob.)

    I’m wishing you health and happiness, Maggie.

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  48. Lordy, most of these suggestions make me realize how old I must be getting!

    Another blast from the past that may fit neither category, but gave me strength when I needed it.
    This Is It — Kenny Loggins

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  50. Happy: “Heat” Wave with Alphabeat
    Sad: “Hurt” Johnny Cash (but actually it gives me much hope)

    Thank you for sharing so openly. It is inspiring.

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