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The 25 Most Exquisitely Sad Songs in the Whole World: No. 2


'Gloomy Sunday'
Billie Holiday (1941)

The Breakdown: The Queen of Soul-Sapping is haunted about losing a loved one.

The Waterworks: "Angels have no thought of returning you/Would they be angry if I thought of joining you?"

Casualty Count: One woman's will to live.


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Listen to 'Gloomy Sunday'

Buy it on iTunes

Posted by Spinner Staff
Filed under: Songs, The Hit List

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  • Comments (62)

Reader Comments(1 of 4)

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Mary Flynnat 5-05-2007

"Gloomy Sunday" was banned from the radio for years
due to its depressing lyrics. It was also known as, "The Hungarian Suicide Song". Saint-Saen's Danse Macabre" was also banned from radio many years ago as well.

Reply
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Monkeyat 5-05-2007

Billy Holiday didnt originally sing this song. It is considered the most haunted song in the world due to the many suicides that occured directly after people heard the song in Hungary

Reply
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Barryat 5-05-2007

Amazing! By far the saddest/gribbing song without any doubt is "Strange Fruit" sung by Billie Holiday!

Reply
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Ron Jenningsat 5-05-2007

love it

Reply
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Joeat 5-05-2007

Sorry.... you forgot the saddest ..........Tom T Hall "Old Dogs Children and Watermelon Wine"

Reply
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Kayat 5-05-2007

If this one doesnt get you... nothing will.

Reply
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SCat 5-05-2007

Great gloominess... but I'm going to have to add Aimee Mann as my choice for this spot. Try for instance the bleakness of either 'This is How it Goes' or 'It's Not' - there's a certain emotional desolation she always manages to convey, and these are both great examples.

Reply
vote downvote upReportLow Ranked

Victor Caselliat 5-05-2007

It is a good song but probably more for #4. I think Radiohead without doubt had to take #1 spot with CREEP. Sorry old timers just dont feel this song much!

Reply
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John Corcoranat 5-05-2007

I'd have selected "Strange Fruit" too, because in addition to it's power it is one of the very first protest songs. ANother great Jazz Standard you guys over looked--but ONLY the Carman McRae version brings it alive--is "Guess Who I saw today?" This is perhaps the best and certaiunly cleverest torch song ever written, because the capper, the twist,m the killer emotion isn't delivered until the VERY LAST word. And it chokes me up every time.

Reply
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rvynmoon77at 5-05-2007

I have always thought "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton was pretty sad too.......I believe it was written for his young son who had passed away.

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toolmanat 5-05-2007

I too, kept expecting to see Honey (Bobby Goldsboro).

Reply
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Sonneyat 5-05-2007

I wanted to hear it but no go on the player!?!
I am iiikingtom@aol.com and I love the ladies for free.

Ask for Malcolm in Marion, Illinois, OK?

Reply
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Julieat 5-05-2007

I definately think that Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" should have been on there somewhere. Also, "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz to Men should have made it too, but these are mostly old songs.

Reply
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SBat 5-06-2007

Nothing has reached the love I feel for her ... "To my sister ... 1955-1996"

Reply
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montanaat 5-06-2007

I agree... Tears in Heaven should be here somewhere.

Reply
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HarvestMoonat 5-06-2007

I've been Loving You" Otis Redding,
"Missing" Bruce Springsteen,
"Angel" Annie Lennox,
"Remember" Harry Nillson,
"Angel Flying too Close to the Ground" Willie Nelson,
"For a Dancer" Jackson Browne,
"The Last Song" Elton John,
"Black Cadillac" Roseanne Cash,
"Top of the World" Patty Griffin,
"You Remain" Willie Nelson/Bonnie Raitt,
"Crying" Duet Roy Orbison and K.D. Lang,
"The Scientist" Cold Play,
"Is it Over Yet" Wynonna,

Reply
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gregat 5-06-2007

If Billie Holiday sings it--it's gotta be good! I agree that "Tears in Heaven" really should be in the top five at least!

Reply
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A. Brennanat 5-06-2007

YES! I knew this song had to be on here somewhere. Never heard Billie Holiday's version, but Roy Hamilton's is fantastic.

Reply
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GINO DANELLIat 5-06-2007

THE SONGS LISTED ARE GOOD EXAMPLES BUT THERE ARE A FEW MORE WHICH ARE TRULY HEARTBREAKERS. THE CLASSIC RECORDING BY J.FRANK WILSON AND THE CAVALIERS "LAST KISS". THE GIRL DIES IN HIS ARMS. "AT THIS MOMENT" BY BOLLY VERA AND THE BEATERS. AND A SONG RECORDED BY ENGELBERT CALLED "I NEVER SAID GOODBYE" IT'S ABOUT A MAN WHO HAD A SILLY FIGHT EITH HIS WIFE THEN WHILE AT WORK THE NEXT DAY HE GETS THE CALL. THE MESSAGE SAYS " SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED AND IT'S RATHER GRAVE, WE CANNOT SAVE YOUR LADIES LIFE" THE MAIN LINW IS "NO I NEVER SAID GOODBYE, NO I NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO SAY HOW MUCH SHE MEANT TO ME, NOW IT'S TOO LATE AND SHE'S JUST A MEMORY" NOW THAT IS SAD. I HOPE YOU GET TO HEAR IT.

Reply
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Michelle Comeauat 5-06-2007

This song is pretty depressing but where is "Love Hurts" sung by Nazareth. That song gets me everytime!

Michelle

Reply
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