80's melancholy
 

Post some melancholic songs from the 80's. It's a rainy afternoon and I feel like getting wistful.

Here's what I got so far:

One of my all time favourite songs and the only hit they ever had:

This is one of my favourite 80s songs with a melancholic feel, although there are much sadder songs out there .. :D

The Cure's Lullaby. Awesome and has a nice video!

^^ Ah yes, fits perfectly on my playlist. I'm sure there are some Duran Duran songs we're forgetting.

Been bustin' this out recently

Good call PMO! I love Siouxsie. :)

Here's one of my favorite melancholy 80s songs:

@PMO: Is that a bad recording or was bad singing their shtick? *unsure* Also, that's melancholic? Really?

I have to admit that's exactly what I wondered about your two picks in the OP, but I guess we just have a different take on melancholy.

Are you serious?!? :laughing: Well now...what is melancholic music for you? I mean I can see your pick being sort of melancholic but the Siouxie song is kind of raw and punky...I don't see anything pensive or wistful about it...unless you're connecting it with some period in your life, but I'm talking about the music itself. Huh...:\

Definitely. I've always thought of the Toto song as one of those inspiring, upbeat type of tunes. Not rainy day music for me at all. I have never heard the other song before but the Caribbean-sounding keyboard and lyrics like "sunshine fills my hair" seem pretty upbeat to me.

Ok. But the Siouxie song is downbeat and depressing? *unsure*

Alright, I'll try and settle this sad or not argument with one of the saddest songs in 1980s pop history.

Kate Bush's "This Woman's Work" makes my girlfriend teary-eyed and even I had to swallow a bit to get rid of the lump I had in my throat last time I watched this video. It's definetly a mix between the music and the story the video tells, so be sure to watch it. (I posted it before in another thread, but I don't think anyone noticed, so I don't mind doing it again ;))



I guess this goes straight through melancholy and well into sadness, though.

By the way, good call on Echo and the Bunnymen and Siouxsie :)

I'm talking about the music too. In the case of the Siouxsie song, it's the melody that the guitar is playing that I find melancholic. Siouxsie & the Banshees have a lot of really melancholy songs and I do agree that this particular song is definitely not them at their most melancholy but it still has a heavy touch of it in the guitar.

As far as what I specifically think is melancholic music, as you mentioned in your OP it's music that I want to listen to on a rainy day. It usually, but not always, has a slow tempo and melancholy lyrics. But the most important thing to me is a melody and sonic texture that have a pensive quality to them. Here's another example that I love:

Hmn, brooding threads like this are nice once in awhile. Here's my 80's slice of melancholia-

Brian Ferry- King Of Cool And Melancholy.

I think that's just a shit bitrate, the copy i have is better quality.

I'd say it's melancholy to an extent, dark lyrics and while there's a punky spurt to it there's still those 80's indie chords i always associate with being an angsty teenager, just like any good Cure song.

Tore: Kate Bush, niiice :D

I actually find Apoptygma Berzerk's cover of Bizarre Love Triangle far more depressing but it isn't quite 80s.

talking about 80's melancholy without mentioning the Smiths should be a crime

Not sure if it counts, but London Calling came to mind almost immediatly.....