Sad Songs That Awaken My Soul

As I posted yesterday, Diane at Spunk on a Stick is hosting a Sad Songs Blogfest today. A music blogfest? I'm so in.

This list is both personal and writing-wise for me. Some songs pull at my heart because they have special meaning while others have added that perfect push to a story or novel.

Listen and enjoy (I won't tell if you cry, too).

The Play and the Flight

Finding Neverland is one of my favorite movies. I laugh and cry at the same spots every time I watch it. But it's this song that particularly touches my heart. It expresses a poignant ache for something more that maybe once was filled but can never be now.




I See The Light

I can't watch this scene in Tangled or listen to this song without at least one tear. This song is me - it tells the story of my past pain and new-found freedom. It resonates with me on a much deeper level than many a "serious" song.




The Giving

Michael W. Smith's Freedom album was a work of art and genius. But it was The Giving that caught my imagination and released a story of sacrifice from my muse. It is so clear to me that this song is about someone giving of themselves in the most absolute of ways. Beautiful, but sad because they won't be there anymore when it is done.




Innocence

Avril Lavigne's song is another impossible coincidence that tells my story of finding freedom from abuse. I feel as if I could have written the words myself. Another tear-bringer.




Loch Lomond

This Scottish tune is heartbreaking. I've never cried through this one but I have been forced to be still and muse on my own thoughts after listening to it. I think it touches a primal piece of humanity.




Escape

I've never seen the movie, Plunkett & MacLeane, but I've listened to its soundtrack a dozen times over. The title suggests that this song is supposed to be epic. It touches a deep, emotional spot in me that makes my writing muse sing when I hear it.




Love

I don't like everything he has produced but Joss Whedon was a genius when he wrote and produced the Firefly universe. This song is from the movie, Serenity. To me, it sums up everything that this world and its characters are about. And I get teary every time.




The Grey Havens

Disclaimer: I have decided that I dislike the Lord of the Rings movies. I just can't handle them. But Howard Shore is another musical genius. The Grey Havens has a bittersweet melody that expresses Tolkien's Middle-earth beautifully. I have been known to cry over this one, as well.




Shine Your Light

I first heard Robbie Robertson's song in the movie, Ladder 49. I fell in love with it even as I bawled my eyes out. More than that, it has remained a source of writing inspiration through the years.




Butterfly Kisses

Perhaps choosing Bob Carlisle's song is a bit of a cliche in certain circles but I can't get over it. It's so sweet and innocent and poignant. I've never cried over it but it does touch the sad vein in my heart.




And there you have it: the top 10 saddest songs that are certain to reduce me to a blubbering, awe-stricken mess.

What is the saddest or most heart-touching song you've ever heard?


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Thursday Throwaway: Announcements!

I'm updating on a day I don't normally post to bring some fun blogging info to your attention.

Announcement #1


This week's Friday post will be a contribution to Spunk on a Stick's Sad Songs Blogfest. This is a special, one-time deal (for this year, at least), so be sure to stop by tomorrow for some tunes that will bring a tear to your eye and touch your soul...or at least to see what does it for me.

If you'd like to participate, just click the picture and sign up! I'll look for you when I visit the blogs on the list.




Announcement #2


Because of tomorrow's blogfest, this will be the last non-themed Visions of Other Worlds post until the end of next month. This is entirely the fault of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge beginning this Sunday, April 1st.

Over the course of the next month, I'll be posting daily (minus Sundays). Like many other participants, I wanted a theme to follow. Many of you will remember the poll I posted to help me decide what that theme would be.

I've chosen my personal favorite and, coincidentally, the winner of the poll: 14 writing topics and 12 original flash fiction pieces. Here's the skinny on how that will look throughout the month:

• Mondays: short, sweet writing somethings based on whatever the letter of the day is
• Tuesdays: flash fiction based on the letter of the day
• Wednesdays: another writing something...
• Thursdays: flashy fiction!
• Fridays: last writing bit for the week
• Saturdays: you have to read one last story before you're allowed to rest. Muahahaha!
• Sundays: I hibernate.

Now, I'm doing this the same way I approach my stories: rough outline to show me the approximate direction to walk, then winging it through the particulars. For example, I might provide something useful on a Monday (say, how to pick a title) then be completely worthless on Wednesday as I spam links to my favorite character name generators.

This means that you will have to visit every single day to see what new and exciting option I have thought up (my evil plan becomes clearer by the moment, no?).


But Wait! There's More...


I need your help: every Saturday's flash fiction will be your choice!

Each week, I'd like you to post an image, thought, word, or idea in the comments that has something to do with that Saturday's letter (there's a letter schedule in the side column and I'll post a reminder at the end of every Friday post).

I'll pick one of the suggestions to write my Saturday fiction from. Even better, the winner gets a bio and link to their own blog at the beginning of the post.

I've only got two rules:

1. Keep suggestions short and simple
2. Only one suggestion per person, per week

I'm really excited about this and I hope you are, too - it's going to be a challenge to my writing skills, my organization, and my time management. And, well, I'm sure it will be fun. Right?


Are you doing the A to Z Challenge? Do you have any thoughts on it? Or maybe you want a head-start on the first Saturday fiction contest? Whatever you feel like, be sure to pass the word along with a tweet or like!

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