Two songs that make me cry

[yesthattom]

Jill Sobule's "I kissed a girl". When I listen to this song alone (like right now, it just came on my MP3 player) and I really listen to the long it makes me cry. It's such a beautiful song. It's perfect in every way. Funny, celebratory, serious, meaningful, sneakily politically subversive. The powerful simplicity of the act of same-sex kissing can really change the world. I realize that its usually thought of as a funny song... heck, it was used as background music in Tracy Ullman's "lesbian golfers" sketch. However, if you listen to the lyrics it tells a really sweet and wonderful coming out epoch story which exposes a universal experience that I've heard so many women (and men) talk about. Maybe I wish my coming out was similar, but mine was much more lonely.

Moss's "Sweetness". It's so powerfully loving that I just burst into tears. When he played it at last year's Endless Possibilities conference I was so thankful that my shift at watching the registration desk had just started. It gave me an excuse to leave the room. It can take me a while to recover from hearing the song. If it comes on my iPod while driving to work I immediately skip it because I'll be a wreck when I get to work, and I don't want to have an accident while driving down Rt 22. In a way, I hate Moss for writing a song that makes me hurt so much when I hear it. I burst out in tears right around when he sings, "I am bleeding". It brings back every sweet memory from all my relationships (the 7-year failed one, and my two very happy current ones). I feel jealous that he's had such a deep range of experiences with just one person. I think it's the ultimate love song for his partner, and I'm sure she appreciates it. I hope we all find such a beautiful relationship in our lifetimes. I hope he sings it every time I see him perform. Even if I leave the room, I want other people to hear it.

I've created a new playlist called "I need a good cry" which has these two songs.

Comments

I kissed a girl...

[geminigirl]

I was thinking about the Jill Sobule song the other day...when it came out on the radio, I was a sophomore in college, I was painfully crushed out and still raw from starting to come out. It was sort of a defining moment in my coming out year. And I put it on a mix tape I made for Megan (Blink) before we left college for the summer that year. It was in my car radio two years later when my radio was stolen.

I had an unsatisfied earworm...now it's back.

[argv.livejournal.com]

Is the 'I kissed a girl' song the same one that is kind of upbeat and happy sounding?

[geminigirl]

Probably the one you're thinking of...

lyrics are at http://www.jillsobule.com/discs.asp?a=50&t=12

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

Yup

Re: Two songs that make me cry

[(Anonymous)]

Tom, that's really touching! I am very honored to hear that "Sweetness" affects you so profoundly.

The song means a lot to me personally (obviously), and other people have told me they like it a lot; but until now I didn't know that it was bringing anyone to tears!

Anyway, if the song is that good, I hold Karen responsible. :P

Having been in a relationship with her for so long, I've noticed that the dynamics between us change a lot from one circumstance to another. Which is what the song is about, at least to me. Now that we are a mother and father, there are yet another whole set of dynamics in our relationship with each other, and with our son.

If we are all lucky enough to still have one another fifty years from now, I have no doubt that we will experience many more new ways of relating to one another as time goes by.

Moss