Tender Ballads 12: Somber Sunday

Now that I'm back at school, I'm back into a lot of my old routines (some good, some not so good). One of those traditions is, of course, excessive tender ballads on the weekend, especially on Sundays after a long few nights out. Goldfrapp's latest album Seventh Tree is full of heart-wrenching moments, perhaps most of all in the last track. In "Monster Love," Alison coos, "I never thought I would return to be consumed by you," which somehow exactly fits what 2008 has been for me. José González continues the juxtaposition of heartbreak and acoustic instruments with his cover of Joy Division's classic "Love Will Tear Us Apart." ABBA keep up the theme of defeat in love with the epic "The Winner Takes It All." The Cardigans are slower than usual on the yearning older album track "Higher." "The Anchor Song," a tale about roots and self-discovery, is one of Björk's best, and always instantly reminds me of why I love her so much.

Goldfrapp, "Monster Love" (Live Acoustic Version) [YSI] (original on Seventh Tree)
José González, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Joy Division Cover) [YSI] (from the EP Stay In The Shade)
ABBA, "The Winner Takes It All" [YSI] (from Gold)
The Cardigans, "Higher" [YSI] (from Best Of)
Björk, "The Anchor Song" [YSI] (from Debut)

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Hits 33/Tender Ballads 11: Love Maybe

I just can't resist these hybrid posts! Lately I've just been going for overall song themes, regardless of how they fit the established categories, and then just trying to fit them into the current framework. This time the theme is just as vague as it sounds: songs dealing with the possibility of love, and with the dangers of getting too close to it. Five tracks populate each portion of this post, featuring both hit singles and subdued ballads. Suede start things off with a midtempo rock track about deluded expecations, the late career single "Obsessions." New Order's catalog is full of beyond amazing 12" singles, like the dreamy "Thieves Like Us" about possession and desire. Madonna is featured in remixed form again, this time with her bleak downtempo European single "Drowned World/Substitute For Love." Saint Etienne jumped onto the scene with the sobering yet upbeat "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," included here in its longform Andrew Weatherall dub. Also early in their career, the ever-changing Texas declared their independence from dependency with "I Don't Want A Lover."

The ballads portion of today's feature kicks off with a song that probably isn't actually a ballad, but more of a humorous rant. The White Stripes, a band that I only sometimes tune into, steal the show with the hilarious "It's True That We Love One Another," playing on the storied married-or-sibling relationship of Jack and Meg White. The Pet Shop Boys are firmly tongue-in-cheek as well with "The night I fell in love," a fantasy about a fan who gets a bit closer to their favorite rap star than ever imagined (rumored to be about Eminem as response to his hit "Stan"!). Björk goes too deep with her yearning could-be-love ballad "Possibly Maybe," included here in its excellent Dallas Austin version. Sade can either captivate or lull you with many of her ballads, and "No Ordinary Love" is no exception. To finish, Beyoncé is always a sure bet, as with her showboating ballad of hearbreak "Dangerously In Love 2."

Hits 33:
Suede, "Obsessions" [YSI] (from Singles)
New Order, "Thieves Like Us" (12" Version) [YSI] (from International)
Madonna, "Drowned World/Substitute For Love" (BT & Sasha's Bucklodge Ashram Remix Edit) [YSI] (original on Ray Of Light)
Saint Etienne, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (Andrew Weatherall's Dub Symphony In Two Parts) [YSI] (from Casino Classics)
Texas, "I Don't Want A Lover" [YSI] (from The Greatest Hits)

Tender Ballads 11:
The White Stripes, "It's True That We Love One Another" [YSI] (from Elephant)
Pet Shop Boys, "The night I fell in love" [YSI] (from Release)
Björk, "Possibly Maybe" (Dallas Austin Mix) [YSI] (original on Post)
Sade, "No Ordinary Love" [YSI] (from The Best Of Sade)
Beyoncé, "Dangerously In Love 2" [YSI] (from Dangerously In Love)

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Tender Ballads 11

I have to admit that I've been neglecting my ballads playlist for a few weeks now. Of course, it is bright, hot and sunny all day every day in Los Angeles, but that's no excuse! Here's the eleventh (!) installment of tender tracks. The one tracks I wanted to post for sure was Imogen Heap's "Hide And Seek," a haunting near-elegy that has served as soundtrack to many dramatic scenes. Next up is No Doubt's "Magic's In The Makeup," an ages-old album track also about hiding behind a superficial mask. Kylie Minogue has never been a master of balladry, but her discography has some great slower moments scattered throughout, like the sweeping "Cosmic" from her latest record. To wrap up, I've picked out two super-tender old school favorites that everyone should know, George Michael's "Father Figure" and Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time."

Imogen Heap, "Hide And Seek" [YSI] (from Music From The O.C.: Mix 5)
No Doubt, "Magic's In The Makeup" [YSI] (from Return Of Saturn)
Kylie Minogue, "Cosmic" [YSI] (from X)
George Michael, "Father Figure" [YSI] (from Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best Of)
Cyndi Lauper, "Time After Time" [YSI] (from She's So Unusual)

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Tender Ballads 10: Broken Dreams

Boredom does a lot of things to a person's state of mind. After a certain point, reflection on the past is inevitable, and after a year like mine, that's never too much fun. Here are some tracks I picked out about broken hopes and unfulfilled desires, something everyone can relate to. Moby's yearning "Dream About Me" is a call to be loved, and resonates with anyone who has at some time in their life wanted a certain somebody to want them. The Cardigans' somber "And Then You Kissed Me" is a sad story of a broken love affair, with the victim blinded from reality by love. Keane's "A Bad Dream" is a typically MOR ballad from the piano-based group, while Kylie Minogue's "Dreams" sees her exploring more organic territory. Closing off the set is Nelly Furtado's little-heard Folklore album finale "Childhood Dreams," a pensive ode to long-lost childhood ambitions. Without school or work, it's clearly all too easy to fall into the trap of looking back.

Moby, "Dream About Me" [YSI] (from Hotel)
The Cardigans, "And Then You Kissed Me" [YSI] (from Long Gone Before Daylight)
Keane, "A Bad Dream" [YSI] (from Under The Iron Sea)
Kylie Minogue, "Dreams" [YSI] (from Impossible Princess)
Nelly Furtado, "Childhood Dreams" [YSI] (from Folklore)

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Tender Ballads 09: Unnecessary Histrionics

My recent return definitely calls for some tender ballads with ridiculously overdone vocals. Who better to turn to than Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera and of course Mariah Carey to fit that bill? A classic of cheesy sentiment, Celine's "My Heart Will Go On" was one of the biggest hits of the '90s, and is undoubtedly an essential tender ballad. Christina Aguilera's first single, "Reflection," was never much of a hit, but even back in the day her vocals were clearly destined for big things. Mariah has always brought big, over-the-top vocals to her signature tracks, including the little-known single "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)." Whether you need some high-powered emotional listening or not, these ballads are appropriate for any occasion.

Celine Dion, "My Heart Will Go On" [YSI] (from All the Way: A Decade of Song)
Christina Aguilera, "Reflection" [YSI] (from Christina Aguilera)
Mariah Carey, "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" [YSI] (from Greatest Hits)

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Tender Ballads 08: Divas & Dixies

Lately, my daily blocks of tender ballad listening have been dominated by powerful female singers and groups. In the spirit of the recent foreign-language Open Your Box post, I've started off this round of slow songs with one of Christina Aguilera's finest tender moments, the Spanish ballad "Contigo En La Distancia." Even back in 2001, when her Spanish effort Mi Reflejo came out, her powerful voice established her as an instant diva. Christina's soaring vocals recall the reigning divas of the '90s, including three that I've included here (Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston). Celine Dion's "To Love You More" perhaps isn't her most unforgettable song, but it is a solid power ballad with all the elements of her best works. Mariah's "Hero" is undeniably one of her signature tracks, with a universal message of personal strength and confidence that is best enjoyed sung out loud. Madonna, while not a diva in the same sense as Mariah or Celine Dion, has a pretty impressive back catalog of ballads. "Take A Bow," which spent seven weeks at number one in the US back in 1994, is among her finest downtempo compositions, providing a sharp contrast to the explicit sex vixen persona she had cultivated only two years prior. Mary J. Blige teamed up with U2 a few years back to recreate their classic single "One," raising the emotional stakes with her unrivaled powerhouse vocals. Whitney Houston, often considered the gold standard for contemporary divas, released one of the absolute classics of the 1990s with "I Will Always Love You," a performance that few, herself included, have been able to match. Finally, I'm including a group that don't really belong in the diva category, but regardless have been in heavy rotation for the past few days. The Dixie Chicks, as known over the past few years for their brave political commentary as their music, are the best in pop-based country music, as earlier, wistful hit "Cowboy Take Me Away" shows. Expect them to be worked into more posts in the future for sure!

Christina Aguilera, "Contigo En La Distancia" [YSI] (from Mi Reflejo)
Celine Dion, "To Love You More" [YSI] (from All the Way: A Decade of Song)
Mariah Carey, "Hero" [YSI] (from Greatest Hits)
Madonna, "Take A Bow" [YSI] (from Bedtime Stories)
Mary J. Blige & U2, "One" [YSI] (from The Breakthrough)
Whitney Houston, "I Will Always Love You" [YSI] (from The Greatest Hits)
Dixie Chicks, "Cowboy Take Me Away" [YSI] (from Fly)

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Tender Ballads 07

Picking up where the last "Tender Ballads" entry left off, here's another batch of songs for the brokenhearted. Shirley Manson sings her most tragic lyrics ever in the heart-wrenching ballad "Cup Of Coffee," telling the all-too-common story of love without reciprocation. Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys both mourn the possibility of losing someone with two of their biggest hits ("My All" and "If I Ain't Got You," respectively). Robbie Williams yearns for true love in the (slightly) more upbeat "Feel." Try referring back to some old club tracks if all these sad songs go too deep (I'll definitely be doing just that)!

Garbage, "Cup Of Coffee" [YSI] (from Beautifulgarbage)
Mariah Carey, "My All" [YSI] (from Greatest Hits)
Alicia Keys, "If I Ain't Got You" [YSI] (from The Diary of Alicia Keys)
Robbie Williams, "Feel" (Radio Edit) [YSI] (from Greatest Hits)

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Tender Ballads 06/Classics 19: Too Far, Too Deep

In the interest of mixing it up some more, here's a post with the loose theme of songs that go too far and too deep. Of course, these are the basic criteria for tender ballads, so I've started off with some tender tracks. Next up, two more upbeat classics that go just as deep. Beginning with possibly the one ballad that actually goes "too deep," Mariah Carey's recent chart-topper "We Belong Together" sets the stage for some major personal reflection time. The Spice Girls' best slow song, "Too Much," fits the bill perfectly for sappy ballads with high replay value. In the classics field we have Kylie's "Too Far," the opener to her big departure from bubblegum pop music, 1997's under-appreciated Impossible Princess album. Taken from another unfairly maligned album, Madonna's "Deeper And Deeper" is a big club anthem in the same mode as "Vogue" and early 90s house music. Perhaps the whole Sex book scandal was just too much for the public? Or maybe it went too far? At the very least, too deep?

Tender Ballads 06:
Mariah Carey, "We Belong Together" [YSI] (from The Emancipation of Mimi)
Spice Girls, "Too Much" [YSI] (from Spiceworld)

Classics 19:
Kylie Minogue, "Too Far" [YSI] (from Impossible Princess)
Madonna, "Deeper And Deeper" [YSI] (from Erotica)

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Tender Ballads 05: To A Brokenhearted Friend

This somber post is dedicated to someone I've known for many, many years, who, despite our longterm acquaintance, I'm still only just getting to know well. This friend has spent the past few years looking for that missing something, and eventually realized it was really a missing someone they were seeking out. After a number of encounters, they finally met someone who excited them, a person with passion that matched their own and a certain spark that they had never witnessed in anyone else. Alas, the timing wasn't meant to be, and nothing came of their friendship. Undeterred, my ever-hopeful friend waited and waited, holding on to the distant possibility of anything happening between them. Falling into a dangerous trap, they fervently pursued a friendship with their emotionally-unavailable crush, tricking their otherwise highly pragmatic heart and mind into believing in a potential reciprocation. After months of genuine bonding and countless mixed signals, they went out on a limb, but found that their feelings were in fact not mutual. The perfect world they had pictured as just out of reach was no more. Devastated, both by the rejection and the cruel irony of the situation, my friend isn't the same person anymore. They may never recapture the bright, idealistic flame of that first real sentiment, and the pain of that first true disappointment may never fully leave. With every day comes a new beginning, though, and I sincerely hope my friend can have the perspective and strength to recover from the unenviable trajectory of their recent past.

Now that I've been enough of a downer to last at least a few days, here are some tender ballads to soundtrack some personal reflection time, which we all know we need every now and then.

Coldplay, "Fix You" [YSI] (from the album X&Y)
The Fugees, "Killing Me Softly" [YSI] (from the album The Score)
Jewel, "Foolish Games" (Single Version) [YSI] (original version on the album Pieces of You)
Sia, "Breathe Me" [YSI] (from the album Colour The Small One)

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Covered Up 09/Tender Ballads 04

As recent posts confirm, I've been in the mood for a lot of tender ballads lately. Sinéad O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U," a Prince cover, has taken its hold on my playlists, and as a result I've been investigating more cover songs that double as heartfelt ballads. Stereophonic's take on the same track is almost as emotional, and while it can't meet up to Sinéad O'Connor's level of devastating sentiment, it is a nice live take that gives new dimension to the otherwise same-y band. Aimee Mann's cover of Coldplay's classic "The Scientist" sticks pretty faithfully to the original version, but her captivating voice makes it a worthwhile revisit. The most exciting pick is pop group Girls Aloud's Live Lounge cover of Robyn's hit "With Every Heartbeat." Another example of why Girls Aloud are a cut above the others, it is due to be featured on their "Can't Speak French" single (previewed earlier here).

Girls Aloud, "With Every Heartbeat" (Robyn with Kleerup Cover) (Live on Radio 1's Live Lounge) [YSI]
Aimee Mann, "The Scientist" (Coldplay Cover) (Live) [YSI]
Stereophonics, "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Prince Cover) (Live on Radio 1's Live Lounge) [YSI]

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Tender Ballads 03

I originally wrote a different "Tender Ballads" post as the next installment in the series, but due to recent listening I had to write a completely new one. I've been giving Sinéad O'Connor's famous cover version of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" far too many spins over the past week. Despite its intensely depressingly message of hopelessness and desolation, it's somehow lifted my spirits and alleviated some hard times. While it's only very recently been added to my iPod's ballads playlist, it's arguably one that defines what it means to be a "tender ballad." Also on repeat on my ballads playlist is Mandy Moore's "Gardenia." Taken from her more mature recent album Wild Hope, it is hands-down the best thing she's ever recorded. A truly heart-wrenching ballad, its simple instrumentation and powerful vocals defy any expectations of the former pop puppet. Following a similar theme of breakdowns and desperation, Tori Amos's "Jackie's Strength" is one of her finest tracks, epitomizing why so many love her with its smart lyrics, addictive piano melody and universal messages of feeling lost and utterly alone. Last up, Nancy Sinatra's much-covered classic, "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)." A favorite of mine for a while, it showed up on my playlist after a long absence after I watched Kill Bill Vol. 1 again after my midterm. Stripped to the barest instrumentation, it relies on its catchy, haunting lyrics to hit home. After listening to these tracks, you'll be glad I posted so much Kylie and Róisín Murphy!

Sinéad O'Connor, "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Prince Cover) [YSI] (from the album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got)
Mandy Moore, "Gardenia" [YSI] (from the album Wild Hope)
Tori Amos, "Jackie's Strength" [YSI] (from the compilation Tales Of A Librarian)
Nancy Sinatra, "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" [YSI] (from the soundtrack album Kill Bill Vol. 1)

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Tender Ballads 02

I know I promised some Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys in the second installment of the "Tender Ballads" series, but instead I decided to hold off on that and just post some tracks that fit my current mood a bit better. The theme of the day is bitterness, disappointment and regret (apologies to all the optimists out there, this is not your day!), so here are some fitting tracks for that. These are among the saddest songs I've ever heard, so enjoy (maybe?). Róisín Murphy hits close to home with "The Closing Of The Doors," so this one's dedicated to anyone out there who hasn't had a crush returned and sees the doors of possibility close. In the same vein of dashed hopes, The Zombies consider how to express emotion with the haunting "The Way I Feel Inside," while Cat Power's every word drips with sadness in "The Greatest." Last, The Smashing Pumpkins live up to their Mellon Collie album title with the delicate "Thirty-Three."

Róisín Murphy, "The Closing Of The Doors" [YSI] (from the album Ruby Blue)
The Zombies, "The Way I Feel Inside" [YSI] (from the soundtrack album The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou)
Cat Power, "The Greatest" [YSI] (from the album The Greatest)
The Smashing Pumpkins, "Thirty-Three" [YSI] (from the album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness)

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Tender Ballads 01: A Primer

Tender. Ballads. Essential to anyone's music library, this particular brand of slow song transcends all normal notions of musical taste and even decency. Tender ballads cut deep and hit emotional soft spots, at times reducing listeners to inexcusable displays of sentiment. While certainly appropriate at any time of day or night, tender ballads are best enjoyed in the late hours of nights out, when there's nobody left but your closest friends and your raw, confessional feelings for company. I considered placing tender ballads under several existing categories, but realized that they unquestionably warranted their own post series. Here are some classic tender ballads to get started. Of course, there are many, many more where these came from, so don't fret if one of your favorite tear-jerkers is missing from the initial list.

First up is possibly the tenderest ballad ever, Leona Lewis's "Bleeding Love" (previously featured in the Best Singles of 2007 list). Next is the first song to ever be dubbed a "tender ballad" by my friends and me, Bonnie Tyler's overly dramatic and cheesy "Total Eclipse of the Heart." For some rock tender ballads, look no further than U2's "With Or Without You" and Coldplay's "The Scientist," both tried-and-true fixtures in the tender ballad canon. I'd recommend keeping tissues handy and dangerous objects out of reach for these. Look for some Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys, among others, in the next installment.

Leona Lewis, "Bleeding Love" [zShare]
Bonnie Tyler, "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" [zShare]
U2, "With Or Without You" [zShare]
Coldplay, "The Scientist" [zShare]

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