OPINION

Stadium Self-Pity Songs | The Short List

Written by Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti
Published July 26, 2005

This list could be even longer, but off the top of my head, I had to put together the biggest stadium self pity songs of all time; or that I remember anyway. Surely there are many others to add to this list, but off the top of my head and with a little bit of research, here is what we came up with in order of how they rank.

I have a bit of a theory about self-pity in more general terms. I think it's fine to feel self-pity for oh, say, a day, to really say, You know, this sucks, and play all the really sad and sappy songs you want and to mope about in pajamas or not even get up or brush your teeth or your hair and wear grungy clothes or whatever particular form your pity takes, that is fine. But the rule I allow myself is this: you have one day a week to let it suck. One day. That means that every week, if something goes wrong, I mean terribly wrong (which isn't every week, which is good and a vast improvement), but let's say it goes wrong ~ then for ONE day, you can let it suck. After that, you get back up and go about your business. Wallowing for a time, can be healthy; wallowing for a lifetime is not healthy. So that said... Here is my brief list, that by no means covers it all and no doubt you will say, But why didn't she add.... Well, I can't add everything, so I trust you, reader dear, to add in the comments section your own commentary and would be even grateful. So...

Feel free to add your own at the comments section and the Why of it all and why they rank on this list. Surely there are others and we'd love hear about them for our compilation CD that we putting together (any buyers?) for those oh-so-lonely nights (or days) when you are feeling bleak and overwhelmed or under-whelmed as the case may be, but alone anyway, which brings us to number one...... any buyers?

Alone Again Naturally - Gilbert O' Sullivan
Now this guy just has bad luck; his father dies, his mother dies, he's left at the altar and leaves everyone in the church just waiting and so decides that perhaps in his "our of need" he truly is indeed, "alone again.... naturally." It's the "naturally" that seals the deal. The song brings back vivid memories for me as a child, and I like it, but it has to be the most self pitying song I have ever heard. if you can do me one better, go for it. We may have a long debate on our hands.

Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks
Is this guy dying of some fatal disease or is he getting divorced or is he planning on suicide or is he just running away? I don't get it. It sounds to me like it could be either, but either way, he's gone, outta there, scram, vroom, and etc., So what's up with that? He sounds to me like a cancer patient about to die ~ or at least, when I had cancer, for years, I listened to this song over and over and over again while sitting in my wheelchair by the kitchen door and feeling very sorry for myself as I had every right to be but so what? It was still self pity. Merited or not, self pity is self-pity and is rarely, if ever, a good thing and serves no purpose but to hold you back.

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Stadium Self-Pity Songs | The Short List: Published: July 26, 2005; Type: Opinion; Section: Music; Filed Under: Music: Alternative Rock, Music: Classic Rock and Oldies, Music: Country and Americana, Music: Downloads, Music: Folk, Music: Hard Rock, Music: Lists; Writer: Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti; Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti's BC Writer page; Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti's personal site

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Comments

#1 — July 26, 2005 @ 10:31AM — Aaman [URL]

Is this Gilbert O'Sullivan bloke any relation to the W S Gilbert and Sullivan opera folks? I doubt it, I'm sure.

#2 — July 26, 2005 @ 10:43AM — sade [URL]

good and fair question, but alas, i have no idea... maybe someone else does??? anyone?

#3 — July 26, 2005 @ 15:59PM — SFC Ski

IT was a stage name, and a pun of the surnames of to more well known songwriters.

#4 — August 24, 2005 @ 23:40PM — MA6564 [URL]

I always thought this song was pretty good for a pity party. No matter where ya run, YOU are still there, huh?

(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay
by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper

Sittin' in the mornin' sun
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' come
Watching the ships roll in
And then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah

I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooo, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the 'Frisco bay
'Cause I've had nothing to live for
And look like nothin's gonna come my way

So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooo, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

Look like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same, yes

Sittin' here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
It's two thousand miles I roamed
Just to make this dock my home

Now, I'm just gonna sit at the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Oooo-wee, sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

(whistle)

#5 — August 26, 2005 @ 18:54PM — sade [URL]

prob. should have been on there, but didn't see to fit with this list... but still. might work. i hadn't thought of the song that way, though honestly, it had never been one i was ever into (not so much that the others are just that they are more familiar.

but anyway...

thx.

#6 — May 1, 2006 @ 22:59PM — Steve

Another interesting list you linked from List...Vol. 13, Sadi.

My mother actually owned "If You Leave Me Now" by Chicago as a 7" vinyl single back in the 70's/80's. I have their '82-'89 best of'.

Here are other selections from my collection that are connected to your article -

- a Lloyd Cole collection from 1999, I especially liked his time with The Commotions. "Brand New Friend", "Rattlesnakes",
"Lost Weekend", "Perfect Skin", fun songs.

- and that Procul Harem tune I like too, I have a version by Annie Lennox which is pretty good, also.

I preferred the Pet Shop Boys version of "Always On My MInd" myself.

I have 7 Meat Loaf tunes (including one featuring John Parr...remember the movie and song "St. Elmo's Fire" from 1985???).

Another one is "Read 'Em and Weep" originally a Meat Loaf song from 1981, done by...wait for it.. Barry Manilow in 1983!!!

And finally, a John Parr tune co-written by Meat Loaf done by...Bucks Fizz!!! (for those non-Brits reading this, they had 13 UK Top 40 hits including 3 UK#1's during their chart days from 1981-1988, sounding like Abba in their early days and more like Starship towards the end - they also did the first version of "What's Love Got To Do With It" before Tina got a hold of it, and the first version of "Heart Of Stone" before Cher released it as the title track to her 1989 album of the same name where the song made US#20 by her).

Music is a A Long and Winding Road indeed lol.