Vulnerable songs
December 31, 2009 2:00 PM   Subscribe

What song(s) would you describe as "vulnerable"?

What songs would you use the word "vulnerable" to describe? This is pretty open-ended as to how you'd like to interpret it. I'm not looking for songs that use the word "vulnerable" - rather ones that evoke that feeling. Either in the delivery or in regard to the subject, story, emotion, etc...

Note that this may be slightly more specific than just "emotional songs", "sad songs", etc. Not looking for an emo playlist per se.

Bonus points for listening links, but I can probably find most anything if not.
posted by sprocket87 to Media & Arts (107 answers total) 53 users marked this as a favorite
 
mountain goats, "woke up new"
mountain goats, "dance music"
posted by radiosilents at 2:01 PM on December 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


or really about half of anything the mountain goats have ever done
posted by radiosilents at 2:01 PM on December 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


here's a YT link to "woke up new".
posted by radiosilents at 2:02 PM on December 31, 2009


replacements, "within your reach"
posted by radiosilents at 2:03 PM on December 31, 2009


beach boys, "god only knows"

and i'm done
posted by radiosilents at 2:04 PM on December 31, 2009


Famous Blue Raincoat - Leonard Cohen
posted by howgenerica at 2:05 PM on December 31, 2009


Feist's "Inside+Out (Apostle of Hustle Unmix)"
posted by scarykarrey at 2:05 PM on December 31, 2009


Bruises by Lisa Germano sprang immediately to mind.
posted by AwkwardPause at 2:06 PM on December 31, 2009


“I’m Straight” by Jonathan Richman.
posted by johngoren at 2:06 PM on December 31, 2009 [2 favorites]


This is a much better recording of it. Oy, this version destroys me.
posted by scarykarrey at 2:06 PM on December 31, 2009


A lot of the stuff that Eliot Smith sings are like this, and Cat Power. I sort of imagine a slightly haunted person onstage performing them [as these two people both do/did]. Then you get someone else like PJ Harvey or the Replacements where a lot of their music is powerful or from a powerful person and only some of their songs seem vulnerable and it's mainly in contrast to their other stuff.
posted by jessamyn at 2:07 PM on December 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


Halou -- I'll Carry You
posted by cowbellemoo at 2:07 PM on December 31, 2009


Feist's The Park also ruins me every time.
posted by scarykarrey at 2:08 PM on December 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


Joey - Bob Dylan
posted by howgenerica at 2:09 PM on December 31, 2009


Basically every Julie Doiron song ever.

Maybe "Fuck and Run" by Liz Phair?

Hayden's first couple albums...
posted by Sys Rq at 2:10 PM on December 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


Most of Antony and the Johnsons

Bjork's Cocoon, but her Vespertine album in particular.

Jill Sobule, Mexican Wrestler

Fiona Apple, I Know

Joanna Newsom, all the way.

Rufus Wainwright's voice takes us there often.
posted by hermitosis at 2:11 PM on December 31, 2009


Oh, and Jimmy Scott's voice positively bleeds. Get his album "The Source". Get it!
posted by hermitosis at 2:13 PM on December 31, 2009


Oh, and poor Alice Clark, wherever she is now. (Song linked within)
posted by hermitosis at 2:15 PM on December 31, 2009


"Ballerina" by Leona Naess
"Romulus" by Sufjan Stevens
"Delicate" by Damien Rice
"Fools Rush In" as covered by Bow Wow Wow
"Two Headed Boy" by Neutral Milk Hotel
"I Want You" by Elvis Costello
"I'll Believe in Anything" by Wolf Parade
"Launch Yourself" by Adem
"Please Do Not Go" by Violent Femmes
"Portions for Foxes" by Rilo Kiley
"Sleep on Needles" by Sondre Lerche
"With Arms Outstretched" by Rilo Kiley
posted by scarykarrey at 2:15 PM on December 31, 2009


Syd Barrett's solo work is almost all heartrendingly vulnerable. Some that spring to mind are Feel, Dark Globe, and Waving My Arms in the Air/I Never Lied to You.
posted by ROTFL at 2:17 PM on December 31, 2009


"Word on a Wing" by David Bowie,
and "The Big Ship" and "Here Come the Warm Jets" by Brian Eno.
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 2:17 PM on December 31, 2009


All of Sufjan Stevens, particularly his "Seven Swans" album.
posted by sarahsynonymous at 2:17 PM on December 31, 2009 [2 favorites]


Alanis Morissette - Flinch
Kasey Chambers - Not Pretty Enough
Jewel - Don't
posted by soelo at 2:18 PM on December 31, 2009


Jane Siberry, "You Don't Need"

Oh, and, holy fucking hell, Buffy Saint Marie's "My Country 'Tis of Thy People You're Dying" -- that's vulnerability.
posted by Sys Rq at 2:19 PM on December 31, 2009


Timmy Willis, Easy as Saying 1-2-3
Neil Finn, Last to Know
Paul Weller, Frightened
(a very, very young) David Bowie, Letter to Hermione
Joe Strummer's cover of Redemption Song
Grant Lee Phillips's covers of So. Central Rain and Age of Consent
posted by scody at 2:22 PM on December 31, 2009


Radiohead - How To Disappear Completely
posted by papayaninja at 2:22 PM on December 31, 2009


"Longest Winter" and "Bad Diary Days" by Pedro the Lion.
posted by rancidchickn at 2:24 PM on December 31, 2009


The things you said - Depeche Mode
6:45 - Firewater
Hide and Seek; Superhero; Adam and Eve - Ani Difranco
Kicking the Heart Out - Rogue Wave
Pin a Rose on Me - Chuck Prophet
Engine Driver; We both go down together - Decemberists
Fidelity, Samson - Regina Spektor
Me and a Gun - Tori Amos
I must belong somewhere; Method Acting - Bright Eyes
The Lowering (a sad day Greenvilletown) - the Avett Brothers
First Man on the Sun - Babybird
Lemon Tree - Fool's Garden
posted by iamkimiam at 2:25 PM on December 31, 2009




Mortal City by Dar Williams
(link to the album, scroll down for the song)
posted by minervous at 2:28 PM on December 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


Can't Complain by Nickel Creek.
posted by kro at 2:33 PM on December 31, 2009


Oops, left out the link- no music video or decent recordings, but this is a fan-made music video for it.
posted by kro at 2:36 PM on December 31, 2009




Maria Mena - Fragile (Free)
posted by desjardins at 2:37 PM on December 31, 2009


Mother by Tori Amos.
posted by peep at 2:38 PM on December 31, 2009


I've put it here before in answer to a different question:

Sparklehorse - Most Beautiful Widow in Town.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:43 PM on December 31, 2009


Pretty much everything on the Antlers' Hospice, but especially Two (link to the La Blogotheque version, which is even more vulnerable).
posted by punchdrunkhistory at 2:47 PM on December 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


I'm going to go with a Beatles theme:

"Mother" - John Lennon

"Junk" - Paul McCartney

"I'd Have You Anytime" - George Harrison (he cowrote it with Bob Dylan)

"For No One" - The Beatles

(All fantastic songs, BTW)
posted by Jaltcoh at 2:55 PM on December 31, 2009


The Weakness in Me - Joan Armatrading
Love and Affection - Joan Armatrading
Every song that Dan Hill sings is about what a sensitive guy Dan Hill is, but Sometimes When We Touch is his most famous.
Angie - Rolling Stones
Letter to Elise - The Cure (Goth Juice! It's the most powerful hair spray in the world! It's made from the tears of Robert Smith!)
The Dead Man Walking soundtrack is a rich mixture of vulnerability, grief, atonement, defiance, and sorrow.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 2:57 PM on December 31, 2009


Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
posted by kylej at 2:58 PM on December 31, 2009 [1 favorite]




Joni Mitchell - The River ( I think the album version is more vulnerable than this one )
posted by backwards guitar at 3:13 PM on December 31, 2009


Just about everything by Eva Cassidy, especially Songbird, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and Fields of Gold.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 3:16 PM on December 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


"prince of darkness" by the indigo girls
posted by rmd1023 at 3:22 PM on December 31, 2009


Swan Dive by Ani diFranco
posted by youcancallmeal at 3:22 PM on December 31, 2009


Gillian Welch - No One Knows My Name
Suzanne Vega - Luka
Lisa Loeb - Stay
posted by Askr at 3:38 PM on December 31, 2009


Harrison Birtwistle, Sad Song
Richard Strauss, Morgen
Hugo Wolf, Auf Kleine Dinge
Robert Schumann, Intermezzo
Franz Schubert, Tranenregen
Gabriel Faure, Clair De Lune
Mahler, Ich Atmet Eine Linden Duft
Franz Schrecker, Das Spielwork (Final)
posted by aquafortis at 3:40 PM on December 31, 2009 [2 favorites]


Warrior, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Jolene, by anyone, but I particularly love this cover by The White Stripes
anything by Nick Drake
Under a Honeymoon, The Good Life
Nobody Knows Me at All, The Weepies
Re: Stacks by Bon Iver reminds me of walking alone in the snow, for some reason
Fool That I Am, Etta James
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow is pretty poignant anyway, but Amy Winehouse's cover is especially so, given her recent, erm, antics
The Blower's Daughter, Damien Rice
The Warmest Part of Winter, Voxtrot
First Day of My Life, Bright Eyes
posted by runningwithscissors at 3:51 PM on December 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


Grant Lee Phillips's covers of So. Central Rain and Age of Consent

I hadn't heard that cover of South Central Rain, and it is good. But my favorite version is this one by REM which starts off with Time After Time and blends into a cover of Red Rain by Peter Gabriel. I think it sounds quite vulnerable.
posted by A dead Quaker at 3:52 PM on December 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


Janis Ian At Seventeen
posted by Linnee at 3:53 PM on December 31, 2009


Breathe Me - Sia
posted by kerfuffles at 3:56 PM on December 31, 2009 [2 favorites]


ben folds.
posted by janepanic at 4:02 PM on December 31, 2009


Dido, "White Flag" and "Everything You Ever" from Dr. Horrible are, in fact, my two most depressing songs evar but they both show someone dealing with loss and attempting to cover with a show of bravery, but show a great deal of vulnerability seeping through anyway from the depth of emotion.
posted by dagnyscott at 4:03 PM on December 31, 2009


Robert Wyatt's version of At Last I Am Free.

Lots and lots of Todd Rundgren.
posted by treblemaker at 4:07 PM on December 31, 2009


Evaporated -- ben folds five
posted by prettypretty at 4:09 PM on December 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


seconding "re: stacks" by Bon Iver.

i recommend the song often. there's just something about it...
posted by gursky at 4:09 PM on December 31, 2009


jessamyn already mentioned Elliott Smith, but here's some especially vulnerable-sounding songs of his:

Say Yes
Roman Candle
Angel in the Snow
Not Half Right (originally by his earlier band Heatmiser - he did a great solo version of it though)
posted by ripley_ at 4:16 PM on December 31, 2009


I'll Be Your Mirror or I'll Keep it With Mine by Nico
Reservations by Wilco
posted by willpie at 4:18 PM on December 31, 2009


Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
posted by Askr at 4:22 PM on December 31, 2009


Neko case-middle cyclone

smokey Robinson - you really got a hold on me
posted by mollymayhem at 4:25 PM on December 31, 2009


E Lucevan le Stelle- Placido Domingo
posted by oflinkey at 4:30 PM on December 31, 2009


The old Gershwin standard, Someone to Watch Over Me. I'm partial to Sting's version but Ella Fitzgerald's rendition is a classic.
posted by fuse theorem at 4:35 PM on December 31, 2009


Response by poster: Gadzooks, you guys rock!

I don't have time to go through this song-by-song at the moment but I can already see a lot of great suggestions. Many were on my list already - I'm excited to see what else you came up with. I'll try to mark them as much as possible.

Thanks for your input!
posted by sprocket87 at 4:40 PM on December 31, 2009


Linnee beat me to it. I came in here also to recommend Janis Ian's At Seventeen. And pretty much the entire album that it's from, Between The Lines.
posted by marsha56 at 4:46 PM on December 31, 2009


seconding "River" by Joni Mitchell.
A lot of people have covered it.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 4:46 PM on December 31, 2009


Curtis Mayfield Hard Times
posted by citron at 4:46 PM on December 31, 2009


Give Me Back My Dreams or He Didn't or All Dressed Up in Dreams or Kissing Things by the 6ths
Thirteen by Big Star
posted by willpie at 4:53 PM on December 31, 2009


"The Come On," "Tea and Sympathy" and "Watercolors," Janis Ian (album: "Between the Lines") - this album is a masterpiece IMO.

"Don't Give Up", Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush (album: "So")
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:08 PM on December 31, 2009


"To Love Somebody" by pretty much everybody ... though special props to the Bee Gees (who wrote it) and Gram Parsons (who made it his own).
posted by philip-random at 5:11 PM on December 31, 2009


Some people who have feelings might consider Jose Gonzalez's cover of Heartbeats to be vulnerable.
posted by clockzero at 5:23 PM on December 31, 2009


Joni Mitchell's California
posted by elizardbits at 5:37 PM on December 31, 2009


Jackson by David Hopkins.
posted by fshgrl at 6:23 PM on December 31, 2009


William Fitzsimmons
posted by various at 6:43 PM on December 31, 2009


Elvis Costello, "Almost Blue."
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:04 PM on December 31, 2009


Walk Away - Christina Aguilera
I'm OK - Christina Aguilera
posted by cmgonzalez at 7:13 PM on December 31, 2009


Also, any version of Gloomy Sunday, but I prefer Bjork's.
posted by cmgonzalez at 7:24 PM on December 31, 2009




Oh, can't forget Johnny Cash's extraordinary version of Leonard Cohen's Bird on a Wire (nice live version here).
posted by scody at 8:37 PM on December 31, 2009


Holy cow, can't believe I forgot Big Star, particularly The Ballad of El Goodo, What's Going Ahn, and Daisy Glaze, not to mention Chris Bell's You and Your Sister and I Am the Cosmos (recorded a few years after he left Big Star) -- all of them almost unbearably delicate and vulnerable.
posted by scody at 9:04 PM on December 31, 2009


Richard Thompson's "From Galway to Graceland" (lyrics) always gives me a frisson. This is a lovely a capella version.
posted by IAmBroom at 10:06 PM on December 31, 2009


Several bits of Amanda Palmer's Who Killed Amanda Palmer, especially Astronaut and Another Year, in very different ways.
posted by pupdog at 10:36 PM on December 31, 2009


Why? Most songs by Why? punch you in the gut with their complete emotional honesty. I would go for albums Alopecia and Elephant Eyelash, the latter for starters

Twenty-Eight (Alopecia) starts out, "Tell me, are you single yet? My heart's as big as Texas..." It basically slaps you in the face. With openness!

Lots of violence happens in my musical metaphors, apparently.
posted by opossumnus at 11:08 PM on December 31, 2009


Melody Gardot — "My One and Only Thrill"
Joni Mitchell — "A Case of You"
Etta James — "Only Time Will Tell" (it's vulnerable even though it's a belter)
"Losing My Mind" from Follies
posted by ocherdraco at 12:07 AM on January 1, 2010


I clicked on this expressly to make sure someone had mentioned Fiona Apple's "I Know," and someone had, so my job is done.
posted by grrarrgh00 at 1:21 AM on January 1, 2010


Oh Man.

Oddly, the Jay-Z Dynasty album has some super-vulnerable songs: "This Can't Be Life" featuring Scarface and "Where Have You Been" featuring Beanie Sigel. The guest spots make both songs. Beanie Sigel seems to be genuinely ad-libbing and maybe genuinely crying.

Early PJ Harvey. All PJ Harvey.

Lots and lots of Son House. "I did everything I could just to get along with you," and so on, and so forth. "I didn't feel so bad until the good Lord's sun went down. I didn't have a soul to throw my arms around."

"I'm So Proud," by the Impressions.

"Good Good Things" by the Descendents.
posted by kensington314 at 3:20 AM on January 1, 2010


Ditto Mountain Goats.

I think anything from the Sweden and Full Force Galesburg albums top this kind of list.
posted by kensington314 at 3:21 AM on January 1, 2010


Or just plain "Going to Georgia" by the Mountain Goats. Especially live versions.
posted by kensington314 at 3:22 AM on January 1, 2010


I admit to not reading this entire list yet, but Control-F says that the original Layla by Derek and the Dominoes (Eric Clapton) hasn't been included yet.
posted by lilywing13 at 4:14 AM on January 1, 2010


Also, Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt.
posted by lilywing13 at 4:25 AM on January 1, 2010 [1 favorite]


A lot of Darren Hayes's songs strike me as sounding vulnerable. In fact it's probably the most distinctive characteristic of his music to me.

Probably more, but these two come to mind:
Darren Hayes - Darkness
Darren Hayes - Unlovable
posted by laughingcow at 6:56 AM on January 1, 2010


Blur's No Distance Left to Run. That was a link to a live version. Here's the official video which is footage of the band members asleep, really ratcheting up the whole vulnerableness vibe.
posted by Kattullus at 7:50 AM on January 1, 2010 [2 favorites]


People are strange, especially as covered by Stina Nordenstam. Actually pretty much everything by her has a quality of vulnerability.
posted by freya_lamb at 8:03 AM on January 1, 2010


This is a wonderfully open-ended question. A few suggestions:

Dark Angel by Blue Rodeo
Holiday in Spain by Counting Crows
Mad World by Gary Jules
posted by Cody's Keeper at 9:20 AM on January 1, 2010


Ryan Adams--In My Time of Need, Tomorrow, Dear John.
I am lame. I can't link.
posted by SassafrasSweetCharity at 10:27 AM on January 1, 2010


Everything by the Scud Mountain Boys.
posted by afu at 11:16 AM on January 1, 2010 [1 favorite]


There's also Blur's Battery in Your Leg. Incidentally, I meant to link to this live version of No Distance Left to Run and futzed up the link somehow. The version on Jools Holland is also quite good.
posted by Kattullus at 11:23 AM on January 1, 2010


Xiu Xiu has been mentioned already, "Fabulous Muscles (Mama Black Widow Version)" couldn't be more vulnerable (in both literal and figurative senses).

Kind of Like Spitting's music is an ongoing treatise in vulnerability. "Blue Period", "All Else Failed", and "Shuffle, Kick, Hum a Tune" are good places to start

Shivaree "New Casablanca"

The Elected "Don't Get Your Hopes Up"

Ed Harcourt "Until Tomorrow Then", "Something to Live For"

Elvis Costello "I'll Wear it Proudly"

Jason Anderson "So Long", "When Will You Say?", "O, Jac!"

Ryan Adams "Come Pick Me Up"

Beck "Guess I'm Doing Fine", "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime (The Korgis Cover)"
posted by haveanicesummer at 1:48 PM on January 1, 2010


It's been stated above, but I'm nthing Jill Sobule Mexican Wrestler
posted by Hypnotic Chick at 4:21 PM on January 1, 2010


Mama's Hungry Eyes by Merle Haggard
Lullabye by Freakwater
More Bad Times by Ed's Redeeming Qualities (this video isn't them, but I think it's very sweet)
posted by smartyboots at 8:26 PM on January 1, 2010


I just saw Antony Hegarty covering Leonard Cohen's "If It Be Your Will" for the documentary I'm Your Man. Throbbing, plaintive, and perfect.
posted by Devika at 8:15 AM on January 2, 2010


Here Today, Paul McCartney

If You Could Read My Mind, Johnny Cash cover

Family Portrait, Pink

Both Sides Now (2000 version), Joni Mitchell

Crying, Johnny Cash & k.d. lang

Hate Me, Blue October

Killing Me Softly, Roberta Flack
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 2:58 PM on January 2, 2010


"While You Were Sleeping" and "Chains Chains Chains" -- Elvis Perkins (in Dearland)
"Baby I'm a Fool" -- Melody Gardot
"To The Ghosts Who Write History Books" -- The Low Anthem
"Marry Me" -- Sparks
"Montague Terrace" and "Sons Of" -- Scott Walker
posted by pxe2000 at 9:38 AM on January 3, 2010


Somewhere Over the Rainbow / Wonderful World by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

The Trapeze Swinger by Iron & Wine

Lights by the Jayhawks
posted by peep at 10:27 AM on January 4, 2010


Nthing Julie Doiron (especially the earlier stuff--Loneliest in the Morning, the Will You Still Love Me? E.P., Desormais, and Heart and Crime), Xiu Xiu's "Fabulous Muscles", Neko Case ("Knock Loud"! "Vengeance is Sleeping"!), Elliott Smith, Cat Power (before she got meh, particularly Myra Lee-era, she of the "I could take one thousand showers and never be clean" song), lots of earlier P.J. Harvey (which has the added bonus of being shit-kicking snarly powerful at the same time...nobody balances it better; the demo version of "Rid of Me" will never be topped in this regard). And Hayden, my god yes Hayden. Those first two or three albums/E.P.s are crazy level confessional/emotional nakedness. Those closing songs on The Closer I Get, "You are All I Have" and the one about his brother being taken to the hospital, kill me. "I'm to Blame" comes to mind too.

The songs Mimi writes and sings in the band Low are often spot-on too when it comes to this sort of thing. "Point of Disgust" is the epitome, but there are a lot.

Someone mentioned Scud Mountain Boys--I would add to that Joe Pernice's solo project Chappaquiddick Skyline. It's amazing and much less guarded lyrically than his other, often double-edged-sword-style caustic-lyrics-with-shimmering-pop work. There are some emotionally raw gems on the Pernice Brothers albums too--"How to Live Alone," "She Heightened Everything," and "Bryte Side" come to mind. Uncle Tupelo and specifically Jay Farrar's work in Uncle Tupelo comes to mind too, along with his project Richmond Fontaine and his expressly solo stuff too. Whiskeytown's Faithless Street album is good here also. And Varnaline's "Difference."

Songs: Ohia. Jason Molina writes lyrics with such a gravity and ego-awareness I can't imagine most people being comfortable saying them to someone's face. "You Paralyze My Heart" by Bitter Bitter Weeks, which reminds me of Neil Finn's love songs.

Spiritualized/Spacemen 3--"So Hot/All of My Tears," "Angel Sigh" (the Peel session version especially), etc. are insanely vulnerable, surreally so combined with the coolness of the genre (drugged out shoegaze). Carl Steadman's favorite suicidally depressed and lonely music!

Kristin Hersh, especially her solo work (though early Throwing Muses has this quality too) is the posterlady of this kind of songwriting. "Spain," "Hope" (probably my favorite KH song all around), "Teeth," "The Letter," "Rabbit's Dying," "Hate My Way"...gosh.
posted by ifjuly at 12:39 PM on January 4, 2010


And yes, a lot of Jonathan Richman/Modern Lovers. "Dance with Me," "Hospital," "She Cracked"...
posted by ifjuly at 12:40 PM on January 4, 2010


Seconding Songs: Ohia and Kristin Hersh.
posted by kensington314 at 3:55 PM on January 4, 2010


Crying, Johnny Cash & k.d. lang

Sorry, that should have been Roy Orbison & k.d. lang, of course.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:09 AM on January 9, 2010


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