What is it about a depressing song that makes a lasting impression on people's minds — the lyrical tugging of the heartstrings, or the melancholy melody? With a heavy heart and a tear in his beer, Tom Reynolds painstakingly attempts to solve this mystery by analyzing 52 of the most depressing songs of all time — from top-ten hits to cultish dirges — that have spawned slavish devotion among fans over the years. Each chapter harps on a category of doomy-gloomy tunes, from 1950s teenage-car-crash songs and she-hates-me-so-I-hate-her songs to I’m-telling-a-story-nobody-wants-to-hear songs. Pining away over musical elements ranging from verses and stanzas, loopy rhymes, and stilted iambics to instrumentation and orchestration, the author digs in to reveal the suicidal heart of each and every song. Artists noted in this compendium of wretched compositions include Bruce Springsteen, Evanescence, Loretta Lynn, The Beatles, Celene Dion, Bobby Darin, Black Sabbath, Frank Sinatra, The Cure, The Doors, and Joy Division.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
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"Full of premium trivia and pinpoint pomposity-pricking, Reynolds has made comedy gold from the full base metal of misery." -- New Musical Express
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
About the Author
Tom Reynolds started work as a country-western deejay in East Texas. He was fired for being unable to drawl. This made him depressed. He moved to Los Angeles where he worked as technical director for the famed Groundlings Comedy Theater. Four nights a week of sketch comedy made him really depressed. He went on to produce cable documentaries and reality shows featuring drunk 20-somethings making out in bars. He became bi-polar. Word spread and he was asked to write a book about depressing music. This was a cathartic experience and he's currently happy -- for now.
--This text refers to an alternate
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Paradoxically hilarious,
By
This review is from: I Hate Myself and Want to Die: The 52 Most Depressing Songs You've Ever Heard (Paperback)
Why do I say "paradoxically"? Well, while the songs profiled in the book live up to the subtitle, the book itself is laugh out loud funny. Reynolds has a gift for stating the obvious in a very amusing way. Nobody needs to be told that "Macarthur Park" is depressing, with that iconic image of the cake melting in the rain, but he goes into enough detail about why it's such a depressing song to make reading about it entertaining. Deadpan humor abounds ("He started working construction for the Johnstown company, but then got laid off because he was living in a Springsteen song"), as do little revelations you probably never stopped to think of because, really, who cares? Take "In the Year 2525" for example...as Reynolds points out, most of those horrific predictions of thousands of years in the future have come true after just 35 years.Of course, any reader is bound to think of many more songs that could have gone into the book, and there are a few unforgiveable omissions. No chapter on teenage car crash songs should ever leave out the Everly Brothers' "Ebony Eyes," even if it is about a plane crash rather than a car crash. Unlike most purveyors of tragedy songs, after all, the Everlys were a serious act and didn't need to stoop to that bizarre novelty to have a hit. On the other hand, Reynolds' prediction of the aftermath of "Tell Laura I Love Her" if Tommy hadn't died is quite possibly the funniest paragraph in the book. He also doesn't spare the occasional good song - notably "Strange Fruit" - from the book. After all, a song can be good and still be depressing. Then there's the problem of choosing the most depressing song by an act that specializes in them, such as The Cure. Fans and detractors alike of those acts will surely want to argue about the choices Reynolds did make, but being able to pick out one song was impressive nonetheless. There is, of course, one question neither Reynolds nor anyone else can answer: just how did all these wretched songs become hits in the first place? Don't try to figure it out, just enjoy the book!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious and Biting,
This review is from: I Hate Myself and Want to Die: The 52 Most Depressing Songs You've Ever Heard (Paperback)
This isn't just a simple countdown of the 52 most depressings songs but every song is neatly grouped into categories like "Teenage Car Crash" or "I'm Telling A Story Nobody Wants To Hear".Each selection is then dissected and broken down (including chart position and the various incarnations) with plenty of interesting information and background on the lyrics, artist(s), and the song itself. The author has a sense of humor, the sarcastic kind I'm fond of, and injects plenty of wit throughout.. I couldn't get through the introduction without cracking up. The accompanying illustrations, enchanting ink drawings by Stacey Earley, are perfectly melancholy and adorable. I think you'll find this an enjoyable read, especially if you're a fan of pop music - and whether or not you agree with all of the song choices.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I LOVE THIS BOOK!,
By Hipster Girl (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: I Hate Myself and Want to Die: The 52 Most Depressing Songs You've Ever Heard (Paperback)
Someone sent me this book from England and I read it on the plane back to the States -- hilarious! Could not stop laughing out loud at his sarcasm and wit. I agreed with Mr. Reynolds on his take of Carey and Dion's brain concussion modulations. He describes each song and puts it in a category, with details. You can open the book and read any song that interests you. Then, yesterday I heard him on a talk radio show and he's very well versed in all genres of music, not just rock but from the 50's until today. He even mentions Ben Folds' (one of my favorites). This is not a depressing book and I highly recommend it. Makes you think that by listening to lyrics you can dig deeper into the mind of the songwriter/vocalist.
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