Sadness | 5ive Songs

In the 61^st edition of 5ive Songs (2022), we select five songs that are associated with SADNESS in some form or fashion.

Welcome to 5ive Songs, where we keep things short and sweet – no extra calories or needless fluff! There’s a theme/topic, five songs, and a short blurb.  Yes, it’s a playlist, but it’s a miniature playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  On the 61^st edition of 5ive Songs (2022), we select five songs that are associated with SADNESS in some form or fashion.  Okay, let’s get into it!

1. Charlie Puth, “When You’re Sad I’m Sad”

💿 Charlie • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2022

🏆 Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/producer 🎙 Charlie Puth feels some type of way in the ballad, 🎵 “When You’re Sad I’m Sad.” “So, I take you back ‘cause when you’re sad, I’m sad,” he sings in the chorus of the 💿 Charlie standout, continuing, “Baby, don’t do that ‘cause when you’re sad, I’m sad.” Yup, it’s safe to say that Charles is NOT in charge – he’s in his feelings.

The plight of love envelops Puth, and his pain is our listening pleasure.  Beyond the theme, the music on “When You’re Sad I’m Sad” yields some fine moments.  The piano and strings are highlights, bringing warmth and tenderness to the track.  Puth’s vocals are radiant throughout, including the harmonized vocals that appear toward the end. Melodically, this is one of the more accomplished moments of Charlie.

2. Joshua Bassett, “Sad Songs in a Hotel Room”

💿 Sad Songs In A Hotel Room • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 2022

“How the hell we end up, where we did? / Don’t you think it’s messed up? It all went to shit.” That shit is the reason why 🎵 “Sad Songs In A Hotel Room” gets an explicit label.  Sigh, a potty-mouthed young man!  Honestly, the s-bomb is well worth it given that 🎙 Joshua Bassett is coping with heartbreak on this compound-duple metered opener on his 2022 EP, 💿 Sad Songs In A Hotel Room.

Vocally, Bassett sounds beautiful even if he is, “Singin’ sad songs in a hotel room / … Where I once held you.” Oh, the plight of love! Beyond the relatable songwriting, the production shines, especially the guitar and the use of keys.  The harmonic progression, for you music theory nerds, is gorgeous too.  Safe to say, the title track sets the tone of the entire EP.  Furthermore, as a standalone record, it’s pretty sweet – in a sad sort of way!

3. Halsey, “You Should Be Sad”

💿 Manic • 🏷 Capitol • 🗓 2020

“Oh, I feel so sorry, I feel so sad / I tried to help you, it just made you mad / And I had no warning about who you are / I’m just glad I made it out without breaking down…” Woo! There is no shortage of standouts on 💿 Manic, an excellent album by 🏆 Grammy-nominated alt-pop musician, 🎙 Halsey. “You should be sad” ranks among the best songs of the album as well as one of the best of 2020. Halsey enlists one of pop’s most reliable and successful fixtures, 🎙 Greg Kurstin, to construct the background, resulting in pop with a dash of country influence.

The biggest takeaway from “You should be sad” is Halsey superbly plays the ‘woman scorned’ role – she’s mad as hell.  “No, you’re not half the man you think that you are / And you can’t fill the hole inside of you with money, drugs, and cars,” she asserts in the pre-chorus, continuing, “I’m so glad I never ever had a baby with you / ‘Cause you can’t love nothing unless there’s something in it for you.” Oh, snap! The chorus, excerpted at the top, further confirms how she feels post-relationship.

Appears in 🔻:

• 51 Best Songs of 2020 (So Far): Year in Review
• 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020: 75– 51
• 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020

4. Panic! At The Disco, “Sad Clown”

💿 Viva Las Vengeance • 🏷 Fueled By Ramen • 🗓 2022

“I thought that I had friends, I thought I even liked them / But now I’m thinkin’ maybe not so much…” Um, okay… Do you love robust vocals and plenteous drama? Well, if the answers are yes and yes, you won’t be able to resist the 10^th track from 💿 Viva Las Vengeance, 🎵 “Sad Clown.” Basically, from the jump, 🎙 Brendon Urie / 🎙 Panic! At The Disco are turned the f#¢k up – this record is on 10.

“Five minutes, ten minutes, to a half an hour / But no the rest of my life.” Listening to “Sad Clown,” it sounds as if Brendon has given his all on this one track.  He wows with his prodigious, seemingly endless range.  This is about as wild as Viva Las Vengeance gets, showcasing a musician who is inspired to the n^th degree.  The chorus, well – it’s certainly something!

“Leave me alone (A pagliaccio triste)

Leave me alone (He not so molto bene)

Your majesty’s magnificent, my tragedy is imminent

Even though I’m smiling, I’m crying

I shall win.”

Only Brendon Urie, folks!

5. Jimmy Ruffin, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”

💿 Sings Top Ten • 🏷 Motown • 🗓 1967

“As I walk this land of broken dreams / I have visions of many things,” 🎙 Jimmy Ruffin (1936 – 2014) sings in the first verse of the beloved soul gem, 🎵 “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”. Ruffin continues singing, “But happiness is just an illusion / Filled with sadness and confusion.” This 1966, brokenhearted classic was his highest charting hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 7.  Yep, this soul joint was a surefire pop hit.

The first verse is golden, as are the second, third, and fourth verses.  All three following verses speak to the plight of love.  For example, in the third verse, Ruffin asserts, “I walk in the shadows searching for light / Cold and alone no comfort in sight.” Hopeless! Similarly, in the fourth, he sings, “All is lost, there’s no place for beginning / All that’s left is an unhappy ending.” Woo! The centerpiece of this soulful musical selection is none other than the chorus, which is incredibly tuneful and features a marvelous backdrop:

“What becomes of the brokenhearted

Who had love that’s now departed

I know I’ve got to find

Some kind of peace of mind

Help me.”

Beyond the chorus, there’s yet another awesome lyrical and musical moment – the outro. Ruffin states, “I’ll be searching everywhere / Just to find someone to care.” Even when love is unkind, we all still desire it so badly.  “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” was penned by 🎼 ✍ James Dean, 🎼 ✍ Paul Riser,  and 🎼 ✍ William Weatherspoon. Ruffin is responsible for one of the greatest soul songs of all time.  Even pushing 60 years old, it remains fresh and incredibly relevant.

Appears in 🔻:

• Jimmy Ruffin, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 91

Sadness: 5ive Songs No. 61 (2022) [📷: Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Capitol, Clovis Cheminot, Daniel Reche,  Fueled By Ramen, Motown, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay, Warner]