northern_sky Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 (edited) I've always loved this song, but never paid attention to the lyrics. Tonight it came up on pandora, and for the first time I heard the words. My God it's heart-wrenching. Yet it's somehow not sappy. Dusty is probably the only singer who could strike that balance with her amazing vocal nuance. She's so raw. The major key in the chorus and her emotional reserve until the very end almost fool you into thinking that it's just a generic love song. But then you pay closer attention to what she's saying, and you're like "Wait, that's totally psycho!" It's about a woman who happily throws out all her dignity for nothing in return. I got goosebumps at the end with her insistent, chilling "Believe me! Believe me!" It's both sad and horrifying. I love how she's controlled for most of the song, not really amping up the power. It's as if she's afraid she'll push her lover away, but then in the last few seconds where the key modulates up a step she totally loses it. In retrospect, even her seemingly innocent is disturbing, as it represents the early delusional stages of unrequited love, urging girls to sleep their way into a guy's heart, while "YDHTSYLM" is the final, desperate plea after they've been hit and quit. Edited January 10, 2011 by northern_sky Link to post Share on other sites
Els Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Nice song, thanks for the introduction. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2IkLGFiKx0 Not entirely related especially given the context of the musical it was in (as I found out after searching it out), but at first glance this struck me as unrequited/abandoned love as well, and the melody was heart-wrenching. Link to post Share on other sites
OceanGirl Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Oh MY GOD thank you. This song is brilliant.. I am downloading it to my iphone now. I already liked wishin' and hopin'... Unrequited love is the major theme of my life..so this hits really hard. Link to post Share on other sites
shadowofman Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 My fav. Tim Kasher and Jenny Lewis. Link to post Share on other sites
catgotyourtongue Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Northern_sky This is not quite the same idea, but this song hants me, and the artist is a genious. Name is KEM. OMG, he just gets it. In his voice, he seems true to his words. Ho hum *sigh*.. good post! Link to post Share on other sites
Author northern_sky Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 Actually my OP is wrong. I realized that I actually used to not like this song. I thought it was sappy. It was only a few years ago that I started to appreciate it. It's cool when something finally clicks for the first time. Link to post Share on other sites
hydorclops Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 This is my favorite song about unrequited love: Link to post Share on other sites
Star Gazer Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Watching movies about destructive, unhealthy relationships, and now listening to and analyzing music about unrequited love... You're romanticizing emotionally unhealthy behaviors, what you say you don't want. Probably not a good idea if you want to change your thought relationship patterns and behavior. Link to post Share on other sites
Jazzari Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 This is my favorite song about unrequited love: Ahahahahaha! That was great! Link to post Share on other sites
Author northern_sky Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 Watching movies about destructive, unhealthy relationships, and now listening to and analyzing music about unrequited love... You're romanticizing emotionally unhealthy behaviors, what you say you don't want. Probably not a good idea if you want to change your thought relationship patterns and behavior. I don't find anything in the slightest "romantic" about unrequited love. Just appreciating good music and movies, and sharing that appreciation with others. Even sad/dark art can be inspiring and energizing, at least for me. I respond to a wide range of emotions in art depending on my mood. Link to post Share on other sites
Author northern_sky Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 (edited) Here's another good one about unrequited feelings, far superior to Susan Boyle's version imo. I hate Les Mis in general, but this song is OK. Mostly, though, I am just awestruck by Ruthie Henshall's emotional resonance. She's probably my favorite musical theater singer. Edited January 10, 2011 by northern_sky Link to post Share on other sites
murah989 Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Bill Whithers: Link to post Share on other sites
NYCGirly Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41cCpon1JmM This has always been my favorite 80s song on unrequited love. Love the lyrics. Rang true for a few of my past "loves". Link to post Share on other sites
tigressA Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Bill Whithers: I love his "Use Me". Fiona Apple did a great cover version of it. Link to post Share on other sites
fishtaco Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 The major key in the chorus and her emotional reserve until the very end almost fool you into thinking that it's just a generic love song. But then you pay closer attention to what she's saying, and you're like "Wait, that's totally psycho!" It's about a woman who happily throws out all her dignity for nothing in return. I got goosebumps at the end with her insistent, chilling "Believe me! Believe me!" It's both sad and horrifying. Lol, I could be wrong, but seems like the verse is in the key of Dm? You know Dm is the saddest of all keys. Link to post Share on other sites
OceanGirl Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 I don't find anything in the slightest "romantic" about unrequited love. Just appreciating good music and movies, and sharing that appreciation with others. Even sad/dark art can be inspiring and energizing, at least for me. I respond to a wide range of emotions in art depending on my mood. I find sad/dark art comforting. It actually makes me feel better, not worse. I have to be in the right mood for it though. Link to post Share on other sites
OceanGirl Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 I remember few years back when I was at the height of unrequited love with my married boss. I went on a holiday with my parents and brother to a really nice tropical island. Instead of enjoying it, I was sitting in my room pining for my boss. Then I randomly saw this movie about a guy that ordered a blow up doll from the internet and then fell in love with her. He was completely delusional and thought that blow up doll was a real person. It was a black comedy - I can't remember the name. Then I had a realization - being in love with my boss had about as much point as being in love with a blow up doll. I saw it for how utterly pathetic it really is. That was probably a turning point for me, where I actively started trying to move past my feelings. Link to post Share on other sites
hydorclops Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Here's one that has an urban legend connected to it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloomy_Sunday Billie Holiday sings it: Link to post Share on other sites
lonley_heart Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 my CURRENT favorite about unrequited love: Link to post Share on other sites
Eeyore79 Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Then I randomly saw this movie about a guy that ordered a blow up doll from the internet and then fell in love with her. He was completely delusional and thought that blow up doll was a real person. It was a black comedy - I can't remember the name. It was called "Lars and the Real Girl", and it was an awesome movie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805564/ Link to post Share on other sites
Author northern_sky Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 Lol, I could be wrong, but seems like the verse is in the key of Dm? You know Dm is the saddest of all keys. Yeah, the verse is minor. I was talking about the chorus, which has a more hopeful sound harmonically. Link to post Share on other sites
OceanGirl Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 It was called "Lars and the Real Girl", and it was an awesome movie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805564/ Heh yes that's it :laugh: Link to post Share on other sites
fishtaco Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Yeah, the verse is minor. I was talking about the chorus, which has a more hopeful sound harmonically. Yes and that was a joke referencing a quote from Spinal Tap... anyone? No? Ok nevermind. Link to post Share on other sites
LexiB Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 The ultimate in unrequited love songs imo... . ''I fell too fast, I feel too much...'' Perfectly sums up my last ''situation''. Link to post Share on other sites
Keridan Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Surprised no one has brought this up yet .. Link to post Share on other sites
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