Anatomy of a Tear-Jerker/Why does Adele's 'Someone Like You' make everyone cry?

WSJ ^ | Feb. 11, 2012.

[Darksheare]

Sponge “Velveteen”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks6iPvD_GNk —Velveteen/Imagine You, second half was a bonus track.

Over the Rhine “Latter Days” -the first song I recall hearing after getting the news my stepdaughter was dead and everything sunk in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPlOF6R1KWI -ignore the visuals, they aren’t important.

Offspring “Gone Away”

Within Temptation “Memories” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhzJO34SCoc

“Somewhere” Lyrics are off somewhat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbJHSZSTOYc

[Revolting cat!]

Eidell don’t make me cry, or if she did it would be over the state of popular music today.

What makes me cry is hearing Wynonie Harris’ “Keep on Churnin’ (Till the Butter Comes)”.

[x]

Why does every artist have a song called "Someone Like You"?

The one I know is Eric Clapton's, but there are literally dozens.

[MD Expat in PA]

This one gets me all verklempt every time.

Evanescence - My Immortal

[Treeless Branch]

Every REAL conservative should see Les Mis live at least once. If the first third of it doesn’t have you in tears, you are not conservative. I’m very convinced that there is no higher art than Les Mis in the past 30 years.

I also contend that if you don’t tear up during the National Anthem that you have not fully realized how great our nation is. Of course, you get a pass if you’ve not experienced the Anthem with your wife and too little girls on a crisp fall day at an S.E.C. College football game. WPS!!!

[a fool in paradise]

At least Dave Bartholomew finally got a lifetime achievement award for “Who Drank My Beer While I Was In The Rear” and “My Ding-A-Ling”.

[MD Expat in PA]

I grew up in the birth place of the Star Spangled Banner (Baltimore) and I tear up every time I hear it!

And there is nothing quite like hearing the SSB played by the Navy Drum and Bugle Corps with a full military honor guard at Ft. McHenry during a fireworks display while looking out over the very same waters that Francis Scott Key saw while watching the “Rockets Red Glare and Bombs Bursting In Air" and writing the poem that inspired the song!

I haven’t seen Les Mis live but I have the sound track. It’s good, it’s very good but I will admit that Memories from Cats moves me to tears more.

[Treeless Branch]

But Les Mis is all about grace and forgiveness vs. The law and sin. Good vs. Evil. The old vs. New testament. For any Christian, it is a spiritual experience. I highly recommend it, esp. Live with the nearly angelic singers that tour with it.

[bootless]

I don’t even see Adele’s size, which is actually fairly normal (not like those human hourglasses who model couture). She pours her soul into her singing, doesn’t need to dress or sleaze it up.

Oh, and she’s a Tory who is outspokenly appalled at the punitive taxes she pays now. The fact that she came back from a dicey vocal cord surgery and stage fright to boot ... I’m a fan now.

[bootless]

Adele’s a Tory and is horrified at the taxes...

[Grizzled Bear]

You’re life must really be sad and empty. Maybe you should volunteer at a soup kitchen. That might help you find a meaning for your existence.

[bootless]

I like Van Morrison’s “Someone Like You” (which was covered by Shawn Colvin for a movie) - simple, sweet, heartfelt.

[Grizzled Bear]

One might be tempted to jump to conclusions as to why a “producer of live jazz concerts” would have a bitter, nasty reaction to a lovely woman with a golden voice and an armful of grammies to go with it. But I’ll reserve judgement.

Many of us who have crossed paths with kabumpo no longer bother to reserve judgement.

[MD Expat in PA]

But Les Mis is all about grace and forgiveness vs. The law and sin. Good vs. Evil. The old vs. New testament. For any Christian, it is a spiritual experience. I highly recommend it, esp. Live with the nearly angelic singers that tour with it.

Meh. I’ll take real American History and music over overwrought melodramatic songs about the French any day.

" Fort McHenry Field Music Weekend

;),

[Kit cat]

REMEMBER WHEN!!!!!!!

[quietly desperate]

“Going Home”, from the “New World Symphony” The military band played it on the tarmac when Reagan’s casket was brought back to California. That was emotional.

[kabumpo]

Not bitter, just critical. I loved seeing the Beach Boys and Glen Campbell and the country duo who won. I thought Adele was vulgar. And I find it so odd that anyone could be offended by my criticism. Is she your sister? I wouldn’t be offended if someone at FR said they didn’t like an artist I think is great - what is all this about identifying with your opinions?

[Paul R.]

Good singer, yes.

But as for the “no sleaze, blasphemy or cursing”, well, I guess you did not hear or read her interview about meeting Sarah Palin.

http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a297221/adele-sarah-palin-made-my-career.html

The actual recording (technically speaking) of Adele 21 is atrocious. Typical modern pop crushed / distorted recording made for the lowest common denominator of sound quality. (I speculated elsewhere that it was optimized for $2 headphones in a subway.)

[Paul R.]

Can’t disagree there - Shawn’s cover is really nice.

[kabumpo]

Do I have to be an architect to criticize a building, or a writer to criticize a play