CH: Make a Depressing Song Hit #1

Killer300

Specifically, get a song that is tear inducing for many to get to the #1 spot on the pop charts. Now, some conditions.

1. This can't be because of association, as any song can be depressing if associated with a personal event. Don't know if that can apply on a larger scale, but just in case, can't be because of this.

2. If this has already happened at some point, make it where a song of this type stays there longer than in OTL, for whatever reason.

3. The song must be a classic! What I mean by this is it's remembered for a long time, and keeps showing up all over the place, decades after it was originally recorded.

Now, again, I'm not a music person, so maybe this has already happened, but I prepared for that this time.:p Now, make it happen AH.Com members who know music well!:p
 

Bahamut-255

Well you've already ruled out Elton John's Re-release of 'Candle In The Wind'. Despite being the biggest selling single in the World - 33,000,000 IIRC - the reason it achieved those sales figures means it's disqualified.

Closest pair I can think of is Jonny Cash's 'Hurt'. And Hurts' 'Wonderful Life'. The former for being able to make grown men cry - the tears always come for me - but I don't recall it being a big hit here in UK.

As for Wonderful Life? Peaked at #21 in UK Charts. A song about Depressed Man attempting Suicide.
 

Killer300

Land of Confusion is supposed to be depressing?:confused:

Huh. Can't tell, but perhaps I'm not the best judge for that.
 

Kalvan

Killer300 said:
Land of Confusion is supposed to be depressing?:confused:

Huh. Can't tell, but perhaps I'm not the best judge for that.
Click to expand...

Okay, more like scary in an abstract sort of way. But coming during the Cold War, and considering the nature of the music video, it could be considered very depressing.
 

Killer300

Kalvan said:
Okay, more like scary in an abstract sort of way. But coming during the Cold War, and considering the nature of the music video, it could be considered very depressing.
Click to expand...

Perhaps I should've added the clause of overtly?

Additionally, that sounds like something that would be by association, which cancels it out.
 
Meadow

Meadow

Smells Like Teen Spirit got to number 1 in France and New Zealand. Doesn't take much to bump it up a few places elsewhere.
 

Killer300

Well, okay, for future posters, please try to describe how depressing the song really is. Is it tear inducing, or just something that puts a sad mood on things?
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
Alex1guy said:
Didn't 99 Red Balloons top charts in the US? That's a pretty depressing song...
Click to expand...
Except it was in German and I doubt one person in 50 who bought it knew what the hell it was about. It also peaked at # 2 in the U.S.

Still, there are tons of depressing/sad songs that hit # 1:

Billy Don't be a hero
The night the lights went out in Georgia
Indian Reservation (Cherokee Nation)
Seasons in the Sun
Cat's in the Cradle
I will always love you
Gangsta's Paradise

That just from the Bill Board Hot 100 list. You add in the country charts and this list would runs for pages.


And then there is also the most depressing # 1 of all time You light up my life. The words may not be depressing, but the fact it made # 1 and stayed there fro TEN WEEKS certainly depressed the hell out of me.


`
 

The Oncoming Storm

CalBear said:
Except it was in German and I doubt one person in 50 who bought it knew what the hell it was about. It also peaked at # 2 in the U.S.

Still, there are tons of depressing/sad songs that hit # 1:

Billy Don't be a hero
The night the lights went out in Georgia
Indian Reservation (Cherokee Nation)
Seasons in the Sun
Cat's in the Cradle
I will always love you
Gangsta's Paradise

That just from the Bill Board Hot 100 list. You add in the country charts and this list would runs for pages.


And then there is also the most depressing # 1 of all time You light up my life. The words may not be depressing, but the fact it made # 1 and stayed there fro TEN WEEKS certainly depressed the hell out of me.


`
Click to expand...

That's the thing, are we defining "depressing" as being the lyrical content, many dark/depressing songs are actually very good, or is it that it's because you wonder how the actual fuck anyone could buy it in sufficient numbers. We've had plenty of those in the UK,

Whitney Houston's version of I'll Always Loved You, painful to listen to yet was No.1 for about 3 months,

Cher's Believe, she couldn't sing the high notes by 1998 so they had to put in a lot of computer effects on her voice, not only was it No.1 for 6 weeks but every radio station in the UK seemed to be under orders to play it every hour.

Just about anything by Boyzone and everything by Westlife, otherwise known as "Depresslife!" :mad:

I could go on but this has already put a downer on my day :(
 
NCW8

NCW8

CalBear said:
Except it was in German and I doubt one person in 50 who bought it knew what the hell it was about. It also peaked at # 2 in the U.S.
Click to expand...

That's interesting. Nena released an English version of the song in the UK.

CalBear said:
Still, there are tons of depressing/sad songs that hit # 1:

Billy Don't be a hero
The night the lights went out in Georgia
Indian Reservation (Cherokee Nation)
Seasons in the Sun
Cat's in the Cradle
I will always love you
Gangsta's Paradise
Click to expand...

I was just about to post Seasons in the Sun, but the others are good choices as well.

For UK hits, I'd add Soldier's Song by the Hollies.

Cheers,
Nigel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top
Top