And I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues...

Hellos faithful readers, this is your old pal Mogadishu Jones back again with one of his World Famous Lists. This week we will cover songs of lost love, a topic that I am sure all of us can get behind. And if you cannot…fuck, I don’t know whether to pity you or not. This one goes out to an old friend who lost her way…here’s to hoping you find it before things get too bad. As usual, this is in no particular order.

UB40- Red, Red Wine- The island rhythms of this song, combined with the soulful, melancholia of the vocals make this one of the all-time greats.

Elton John-And I Guess That’s Why They Call it “The Blues”- Oh it’s fashionable to be anti-gay, but let’s be honest with each other here: Elton John is one of the best singer-songwriters of his generation. BAR NONE. This song says a lot about loss and how much we don’t realize a good thing until it’s gone.

The Beatles-Yesterday- Growing up sucks, and growing apart is worse. It’s a convenient illusion that young love lasts forever but we know that the truth of the matter is that hearts do change with time and the French have a saying “In all relationships there is the one that offers the kiss, and one that offers the cheek.”

Nickleback- How You Remind Me- It’s amazing how blind we can be to our own lives, isn’t it? So what do you think? Are we having fun yet?

Don Henley-The Heart of the Matter- Eventually you come to a point where the anger burns itself out, where the hate just fades to nothing and the pain becomes numb. And when you reach that point, you just walk away and count yourself lucky for the experience.

Patsy Cline-I Fall to Pieces- Yah, no one listens to Country Music but it’s still a billion dollar a year business. I don’t listen to that modern pop bullshit that they market to redneck wannabe’s driving around in their $30K pick-ups that never see more than 300 pounds in the bed, and that being the driver’s wife. I only listen to the real deal, motherfuckers.

The Cure- Love Song- Somehow, this song has always seemed more honest, more genuine to me than “Pictures of You” but maybe that is just my take. It doesn’t help that Robert Smith sold out and licensed “Pictures” to HP, but that is just an aside, not the primary reason.

The Thompson Twins- Hold Me Now- I still remember this video, and I think it’s one of the best of the 80’s. Equating lost love with being sentenced to a chain gang in the desert was a great idea and if anyone has that video, send me a message because I would love to have it.

Elvis- Heartbreak Hotel- Yah and you don’t listen to the King of Rock and Roll either, do you? Fucking losers ignore great music because it’s “Old School.”

Linkin Park -Numb- Abusive relationships are a universal evil, some involve punches, some involve verbal assaults and all are corrosive and worthless.

Depeche Mode- Policy of Truth- If they cheat once, rest assured they will cheat again. People won’t change until the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing, and there is no point in changing if you are always forgiven your every error.

Bette Midler- The Rose- I’m not familiar with much of Bette Midler’s songs, and more familiar than I would like with her movies, but this track is a must for a somber night’s reflections.

Naked Eyes- There’s Always Something There to Remind Me- The longer the relationship, the more this one applies. It is part of the reason that in extended marriages (15+ years ) when one spouse dies, the other dies within a year.

No Doubt- Don’t Speak- Unrequited love is hideously painful and Gwen Stefani bleeds her soul in this one. Too bad her new stuff sucks out loud, but I take that as a sign that her relationship with the guy from Bush is going well.

Bonnie Tyler- Total Eclipse of the Heart- This is one of the all-time greatest. From Tyler’s raw, anguished vocals to the dark imagery, this song speaks to the lonely, shattered wreckage of mistakes made.

Nazareth- Love Hurts- I don’t care if you’re in Chicago, Illinois or Beijing, China you know how it feels when it’s over and how you think it’s never going to get better. So why do we keep trying instead of accepting the apparently obvious?

Guns and Roses- November Rain- There is a 17 minute rendition of this song that is worth every fucking second. Axl Rose has some serious issues he needs to resolve, but this song is absolutely brilliant, especially with the symphony backing it up, and the video is one of the all-time best by ANY band.

Toni Braxton- Unbreak My Heart- The worst fucking part of getting dumped is when they try to explain it, try to ease the pain by letting you know how it’s not your fault…like you fucking care. This song addresses that issue handily.

The Statler Brothers- Flowers on the Wall- When you’ve lost everything that made your life worth living, you either keep going or you quit. And in the time it takes to make that decision, you can either be an object of pity or you can try to look strong.

Johnny Cash- Bridge Over Troubled Waters- Johnny Cash could make any song sound good, and that’s a fucking fact. This song is from his last album “When the Man Comes Around” and it’s sung from the perspective of a man who knows death is right around the corner and who cares, because it’s all over now anyway.

Chris Isaak- Wicked Game- I highly recommend his album “Forever Blue” which has some great stuff on it. I chose this over “Somebody’s Crying” because this one is darker, more despairing since it is about a callous individual who shores up their self-esteem by crushing others.