Posted in: Musicouching by K Kristie on May 19th, 2011 | 11 Comments
Among the loneliest and saddest songs, these three definitely tops the list. The titles alone says it all.
All By Myself is known as one of the most successful classic power ballads. It has several versions; one of the most successful ones, covered by Celine Dion, is among her biggest hits in the United States reaching #1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks and Latin Pop Airplay.
But the original version, sung by Eric Carmen, is the saddest and loneliest interpretation. The song was written by Carmen himself and some parts of the music used the second movement (Adagio Sostenuto) of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18. The single, which was released in 1975 and reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on Cash Box Top 100 Singles and #12 in the UK, sold over one million copies in the United States and was certified gold by the RIAA in April 1976.
(If video will not work click here to watch on YouTube)
Bobby Vinton penned Mr. Lonely during his two-year service in the U.S. Army in the late 1950’s. The song, which was recorded in 1962, was included on three of his albums released within two years. When Vinton insisted on releasing it as a single Epic Records instead had Buddy Greco do it but it only reached #64 in the US charts. Vinton was able to convince Epic to include the song on his Greatest Hits LP, and one of the most popular sad and lonely song finally caught the DJ’s attention resulting in demand for a single release. Mr. Lonely shot up to #1 on the charts on December 12, 1964, two years after he first recorded it.
Among Bobby Vinton’s #1 hits, Mr. Lonely is the only one which was not a cover. It also remains his favorite song to date. It was covered by several artists and was the basis for Akon’s 2005 hit “Lonely.”
(If video will not work click here to watch on YouTube)
If you have no idea about the lyrics, you will think that this song is a happy one. With its slightly uptempo and catchy melody, you will even tap you foot, move your head and smile to the music. Alone Again (Naturally) is considered as one of the saddest song as the lyrics talks about the singer telling about his plans to kill himself after being stood up at the altar and then later remembering the days when his parents died. This Gilbert O’Sullivan hit spent a total of six nonconsecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The song has been featured in over a dozen movies and TV shows and has a long list of cover versions including those by Donny Osmond and Neil Diamond.
(If video will not work click here to watch on YouTube)
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ceegirl May 19th, 2011 at 9:13 pm
great share
Eunice Tan May 19th, 2011 at 9:34 pm
I didn’t know the songs. Thanks for the links.
No Share May 20th, 2011 at 1:39 am
the first and second one worked, except for the third one.Embed disabled.=D
The Soul Explorer May 20th, 2011 at 3:24 am
Thank for this tributes.
papaleng May 20th, 2011 at 11:22 am
Whah! bakit nariyan ang Alone Again (Naturally) may naalala tuloy ako. Good list though K Kristie.
Freethinking May 20th, 2011 at 11:40 am
Not only did I like your selection of lonely songs, but I placed this on Digg as well. I would add to your list my own personal favorite. When Bette Midler sang The Rose “It’s the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance
It’s the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance
It’s the one who won’t be taken
who cannot seem to give
and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.”
K Kristie May 21st, 2011 at 4:49 am
Thank you everyone and thanks for Digging this Freethinking.
athena goodlight May 25th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
nostalgic list. Nice!
SharifaMcFarlane May 30th, 2011 at 9:44 am
These are not songs to listen to when you are feeling sad.
deep blue May 31st, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Those are sad songs indeed. I prefer the first one by Eric Carmen.
quite writer 12 June 7th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
very nice it brought back a few memories
ty for that