Sad songs

[philipmgibson]

I like to play Ol' man river as a sad tune (which is how it was written) but I'd still like to do the Martin Taylor high speed walking bass version.

[jseaberry]

I nominate "The Girl From Ipanema".
My father was quite agitated when he'd hear "Strange Fruit" His family had been run out of the South by the Ku Klux Klan, and came to Chicago with just the clothes on their backs; I mean absolutely NOTHING. That song hit a little too close to home for him, so there are degrees of "sadness" to all our nominations depending on your experiences. Songs like "Lush Life" or "Solitude", about being alone and bored and jaded, so to speak, sound kinda pale next to "Strange Fruit"??

[fivebells]

James, I think you've highlighted that a song resonates most with a listener depending on his/her experiences. When you hear your own personal loss, defeat, fears, blues, disappointment, heartbreak etc. expressed by someone else, you have the strongest reaction to that song (or novel, poem, movie...)

[jseaberry]

Yep, and I think that's how and why you make a song "your own". Calling a song a "sad" song is a lot deeper than just the notes and words a composer writes.

[markf]

Autumn In New York

a great tune.

[gravitas]

I like to play Sometimes I'm Happy as a ballad. The audience never knows what they're gonna get.

Also Days of Wine and Roses has a great melody for ballad treatment.

Originally Posted by jrethorst

Willow Weep for Me/Wes Montgomery

YouTube - Pat Martino - Willow Weep For Me

Yeah I like this version too.