What secular songs move you emotionally?

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lizaanne said:
Absoloutely! A total tear jerker:

ARTIST: Janis Ian TITLE: At Seventeen

I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired

The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth

And those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces
Desperately remained at home
Inventing lovers on the phone
Who called to say, “come dance with me”
And murmur vague obscenities
It isn’t all it seems at seventeen

A brown eyed girl in hand-me-downs
Whose name I never could pronounce said
Pity, please, the ones who serve
They only get what they deserve
The rich-relationed home-town queen
Marries into what she needs
With a guarantee of company and haven for the elderly

Remember those who win the game
Lose the love they sought to gain
In debentures of quality
And dubious integrity

Their small town eyes will gape at you in
Dull surprise when payment due
Exceeds accounts received at seventeen

To those of us who knew the pain
Of valentines that never came
And those whose names were never called
When choosing sides for basketball

It was long ago and far away
The world was younger than today
And dreams were all they gave for free
To ugly duckling girls like me

We all play the game and when we dare
To cheat ourselves at solitaire
Inventing lovers on the phone
Repenting other lives unknown
That call and say, “come dance with me”
And murmur vague obscenities
At ugly girls like me, at seventeen

~Liza
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:crying: :crying: :crying:
 
Lately for me, “How to Save a Life” by The Fray. I’ve been living this song with someone the past few months. Praying it ends better than it does in the song.
Mommyof02green said:
Also, I find parts of Tim McGraw’s song “live like you are dying” to be moving
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Definitely one of my favorite songs. Such a powerful message.
 
As for belting out in the car, either “Child of the Fifties” by the Statler Brothers or “Good Old Boys Like Me” by Don Williams.
 
john lennon - grow old with me (last song of the night at our wedding reception)

johnny cash - hurt
youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go
filmed before his wife died… at 2:36 in the video his wife came
down and stood behind him in the video without his knowing. those tears she has are real.
 
Two more I forgot to mention.

Now we are free- from Gladiator
Somewhere- by Within Temptation.

The last one is a truely beautiful song. The lead singer has an angelic voice.
 
I just heard another one on the radio… don’t know if you’d consider it strictly “patriotic”, but it gave me goosebumps.

“Arlington” by Trace Adkins

My husband and I visited Arlington when we were on our honeymoon. That was almost 19 years ago, but I remember that it was probably the quietest time we spent on a two-week trip. Even today when we recall it, we get quiet.

Powerful song.
 
The song Proud to be an American… Gets me every fourth of July.

Also , I am a sucker for “Christmas Shoes”
 
Ok… almost anything by the Beatles and U2, but I’m especially partial to “Blackbird” as my husband used to sing it to me when we were in college and dating.

Now for my “dork” list:
  • “An die Musik” by Franz Schubert. The words and music make me cry every time I hear it or sing it.
  • “Morgen” and “Allerseelen” by Richard Strauss
  • “Chanson” from the Shylock Suite by Gabriel Faure
  • “O! quand je dors” by Franz Liszt
  • The trio in the last act of “Der Rosenkavalier” by Richard Strauss- talk about a total explosion of the sense. The first time I heard it, I couldn’t stop balling my eyes out.
  • “Soave sia il vento” trio from “Cosi fan Tutte” by W.A. Mozart
  • “The Salley Gardens” - an arrangement by Britton.
I know I’m leaving a lot out, but that’s what I could think of at the moment.
 
America, the Beautiful
Star Spangled Banner
I’ll Be Loving You Forever by New Kids on the Block ( for a love of mine who died)
 
Sarabande said:
Ok… almost anything by the Beatles and U2, but I’m especially partial to “Blackbird” as my husband used to sing it to me when we were in college and dating.

Now for my “dork” list:
  • “An die Musik” by Franz Schubert. The words and music make me cry every time I hear it or sing it.
  • “Morgen” and “Allerseelen” by Richard Strauss
  • “Chanson” from the Shylock Suite by Gabriel Faure
  • “O! quand je dors” by Franz Liszt
  • The trio in the last act of “Der Rosenkavalier” by Richard Strauss- talk about a total explosion of the sense. The first time I heard it, I couldn’t stop balling my eyes out.
  • “Soave sia il vento” trio from “Cosi fan Tutte” by W.A. Mozart
  • “The Salley Gardens” - an arrangement by Britton.
I know I’m leaving a lot out, but that’s what I could think of at the moment.
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Aah, a fellow opera afficionado :tiphat:

I’d nominate the entire last half of the first act of La Boheme (by Puccini) - which moves straight from the tenor aria ‘Che gelida manina’ to to the soprano aria ‘Mi chiamano Mimi’ to the glorious duet ‘O soave fanciulla’ 😃 … sheer bliss!

Next would be the quartet ‘Bella figlia dell’amore’ from Verdi’s Rigoletto
 
heres a few that likely dont fit with eachother. but they do it for me.
trail of the lonesome pine, performed by stan laurel and oliver hardy
morning after, maureen mcgovern
beautiful world by donald fagan
 
Sarabande said:
Ok… almost anything by the Beatles and U2, but I’m especially partial to “Blackbird” as my husband used to sing it to me when we were in college and dating.

Now for my “dork” list:
  • “An die Musik” by Franz Schubert. The words and music make me cry every time I hear it or sing it.
  • “Morgen” and “Allerseelen” by Richard Strauss
  • “Chanson” from the Shylock Suite by Gabriel Faure
  • “O! quand je dors” by Franz Liszt
  • The trio in the last act of “Der Rosenkavalier” by Richard Strauss- talk about a total explosion of the sense. The first time I heard it, I couldn’t stop balling my eyes out.
  • “Soave sia il vento” trio from “Cosi fan Tutte” by W.A. Mozart
  • “The Salley Gardens” - an arrangement by Britton.
I know I’m leaving a lot out, but that’s what I could think of at the moment.
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OK, since we’re mentioning classical music –

“Recuerdos de la Alhambra” (Tarrega) – arguably the most beautiful, heart-wrenching music written for classical guitar
“Cantique de Jean Racine,” “Pavane” – Faure
That beautiful soprano/mezzo duet from Lakme that’s on all the commercials
 
LilyM said:
Aah, a fellow opera afficionado :tiphat:

I’d nominate the entire last half of the first act of La Boheme (by Puccini) - which moves straight from the tenor aria ‘Che gelida manina’ to to the soprano aria ‘Mi chiamano Mimi’ to the glorious duet ‘O soave fanciulla’ 😃 … sheer bliss!

Next would be the quartet ‘Bella figlia dell’amore’ from Verdi’s Rigoletto
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Oh, yes, of course!!! 🙂 All of those would be on my list as well. I can’t get enough of classical music. I wish I could sing Puccini. Not really my “fach”, although I do sing this beautiful two-page early sacred work of his for organ and voice - “Salve Regina”. Gorgeous!
 
MarthaMartha said:
OK, since we’re mentioning classical music –

“Recuerdos de la Alhambra” (Tarrega) – arguably the most beautiful, heart-wrenching music written for classical guitar
“Cantique de Jean Racine,” “Pavane” – Faure
That beautiful soprano/mezzo duet from Lakme that’s on all the commercials
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I don’t know the Tarrega. I must look that up now. 🙂

Oh, my, “Cantique de Jean Racine”!!! One of my favorites. Faure’s music is on my top list. I love almost everything he has ever composed and his sacred music is absolutely sublime and ethereal. The Cantique is actually a sacred piece, though, but I still love it.

Translation:
"Word of God the most high, our sole hope,
eternal day of the earth and heavens
as we break the silence of the peaceful night
divine saviour, look down upon us.

Imbue us with the fire of thy great mercy
so that hell itself will flee at the sound of your voice
disperse the sleep which leads our languishing souls
to stray from the path of righteousness.

O Christ show your favour to your faithful people
who have come together to worship you
receive the praises that they offer up to your immortal glory
and may they come back laden with the gift of your grace. "

The Lakme duet is also a great choice!!!

I will add all of the Chopin Nocturnes and practically any of his other piano compositions, especially his Etude in Major.

Also Liszt’s “Consolation No. 3”
 
Sarabande said:
I don’t know the Tarrega. I must look that up now. 🙂

Oh, my, “Cantique de Jean Racine”!!! One of my favorites. Faure’s music is on my top list. I love almost everything he has ever composed and his sacred music is absolutely sublime and ethereal. The Cantique is actually a sacred piece, though, but I still love it.

Translation:
"Word of God the most high, our sole hope,
eternal day of the earth and heavens
as we break the silence of the peaceful night
divine saviour, look down upon us.

Imbue us with the fire of thy great mercy
so that hell itself will flee at the sound of your voice
disperse the sleep which leads our languishing souls
to stray from the path of righteousness.

O Christ show your favour to your faithful people
who have come together to worship you
receive the praises that they offer up to your immortal glory
and may they come back laden with the gift of your grace. "

The Lakme duet is also a great choice!!!

I will add all of the Chopin Nocturnes and practically any of his other piano compositions, especially his Etude in Major.

Also Liszt’s “Consolation No. 3”
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That’s right, I forgot the thread was about “secular” songs. Another sacred Faure I love is the “Pie Jesu.” One of my favorite, and most moving, Liszt pieces is “Sancta Caecilia.”

By all means, do look up the Tarrega. As you listen, keep in mind that the tremolo technique (that makes the one little wooden nylon-stringed acoustic instrument sound like a guitar orchestra) is intended to imitate the waters of a fountain in the Alhambra.
 
MarthaMartha said:
That’s right, I forgot the thread was about “secular” songs. Another sacred Faure I love is the “Pie Jesu.” One of my favorite, and most moving, Liszt pieces is “Sancta Caecilia.”

By all means, do look up the Tarrega. As you listen, keep in mind that the tremolo technique (that makes the one little wooden nylon-stringed acoustic instrument sound like a guitar orchestra) is intended to imitate the waters of a fountain in the Alhambra.
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I’ll keep the tremolo technique in mind. Thank you.

Wonderful!!! Another piece I’m not familiar with: Liszt’s “Sancta Caecilia”. I will put that on my list to look up as well. Thank you!!! If you are a Liszt fan, have you heard his Via Crucis (perfect for Lent) and his Dante symphony? Some people either really love or really hate the Via Crucis. My husband and I love it. We have a painting of him hanging in our home. I think he’s wearing a cassack, although I thought he took his minor orders when he was in his 50s. The painting looks like he was in his 20s or 30s. Anyway, it was sort of a joke for me because I had a “crush” on him based on that painting when I was about 13. Never mind that he was long dead. I used to have dreams that he would come to my house and teach me how to play the piano, especially the Consolation No. 3. ha! ha! 🙂

I agree with you on the Faure Pie Jesu. The Durufle Requiem and his Pie Jesu is also one of my favorites. But I guess we should steer this back to the secular music topic. 🙂 ha!
 
One that got me today:

One Tin Soldier from the Legend of Billy Jack

another one:

Billy, Don’t Be A Hero

and one that always makes me smile:

Saturday In The Park by Chicago
 
Let’s see,
THE LIVING YEARS by Mike and the Mechanics
WE BELONG TOGETHER by Pat Benatar
I WANNA KNOW WHAT LOVE IS by Foreigner
ONE TIN SOLDIER (from the 70s film “Billy Jack”)
ON THE RADIO by Donna Summer
FORGIVE ME by Donna Summer
STATE OF INDEPENDENCE sung by Donna Summer
and many more (and not just sung by Donna Summer !! 🙂 )
 
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