Really Slow/Sad Songs please

[LizSoWhat]

Posted: 12/15/12 at 11:34pm

I'm looking for a song that is incredibley sad, You know, tearjerking. I need something in the mezzo to alto range. I have a strong belt, although the song doesn't have to use it.

Think, for example, I Dreamed A Dreamed from Les Mis, although I'm looking for something less cliche.

Thank you very much for your help.

[faithzilla]

Posted: 12/16/12 at 1:34pm

I'm not super well versed in musicals, so these may be too well known for you. Not sure, depends on what you're looking for.

Maybe This Time- Cabaret (from the movie, but people often add it in to the stage musical now)
Easy to be Hard- Hair
Still Hurting- The Last Five Years
Your Daddy's Son- Ragtime

Eh, these might be too cliche. Or not sad enough.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 12/18/12 at 3:23pm

Any slow song can be slowed further.

"Ev'ry Time We Say Good-bye" by Cole Porter can be brought way down in tempo and volume and practically whispered into a mike provided you don't make it repititous.

(Have you ever heard Chet Baker sing? Find a recording. He made you want to fall into bed with him. His technique was so intimate that he practically put the mike in his mouth, but the sound was phenomenal. Every song is a seduction of sorts.)

The bridge can be lightened a little and sped up a tiny bit. The line "...but how strange the change from major to minor." has to be reflective.

Smiling-though-tears and sadder-but-wiser leads an audience where you want to take them better than just tears-and-sad.

Still, any song that begins with the devastating line, "Ev'ry time we say good bye I die a little." is made for the heartbroken and depressed among us.

As wonderful as Porter's music is, this song is about lyrics. Enunciate.