Compiling Playlist of songs to wail to...?
July 29, 2017 7:03 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for songs featuring a (preferably female) vocalist where a major component of the song is that they wail a repeated word or phrase
Dictionary.com defines a wail as:
1 - To utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering: Eg. to wail with pain.
2 - to make mournful sounds, as music or the wind.
3 - to lament or mourn bitterly.
I'm looking for songs of any genre where one word (or phrase) is drawn out in a meaningful way.
I am specifically not looking for just 'songs to get over heartbreak' like I will Always Love You (any version) or Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart. They are both slow tempo I'd prefer things a little faster. Also the lyrics do not have to be sung in English.
It's hard to describe so I'll give some examples of what I've already got - with youtube links where I can find them.
Dictionary.com defines a wail as:
1 - To utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering: Eg. to wail with pain.
2 - to make mournful sounds, as music or the wind.
3 - to lament or mourn bitterly.
I'm looking for songs of any genre where one word (or phrase) is drawn out in a meaningful way.
I am specifically not looking for just 'songs to get over heartbreak' like I will Always Love You (any version) or Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart. They are both slow tempo I'd prefer things a little faster. Also the lyrics do not have to be sung in English.
It's hard to describe so I'll give some examples of what I've already got - with youtube links where I can find them.
- Female Examples
- I'd Love to Change the World - Jetta (original NOT remix)
- Play Dead - Bjork
- Cruel - Tori Amos [Lyric Video]
- Alive - Sia [Official Lyrics Video]
- Going Under - Evanescence [Official Video]
- Paint It Black Ciara [Audio Only]
- Male Examples
- Tonight, Tonight - Smashing Pumpkins [Official Video]
- Crawling - Linkin Park [Official Video]
Best answer: I feel like Brody Dalle is going to be great for you. She howls like a mournful wolf and wails through most of her uptempo punky numbers. I'm a fan of most all her stuff but here's a relevant selection:
1. Beat Your Heart Out. Explicitly NOT a love song. "You're breaking me."
2. The Young Crazed Peeling "I got everything I need."
3. Seneca Falls. All about feminist heroes, "Freedom, rise up for me!"
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:29 AM on July 29, 2017
1. Beat Your Heart Out. Explicitly NOT a love song. "You're breaking me."
2. The Young Crazed Peeling "I got everything I need."
3. Seneca Falls. All about feminist heroes, "Freedom, rise up for me!"
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:29 AM on July 29, 2017
Best answer: Peek a Boo by Siouxsie and the Banshees?
posted by Ipsifendus at 7:29 AM on July 29, 2017
posted by Ipsifendus at 7:29 AM on July 29, 2017
Zombie by the Cranberries
The Spider's Stratagem by Dead Can Dance
Joey by Concrete Blond
Dublin Boys by Antje Duvkot
posted by bibliowench at 8:14 AM on July 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Spider's Stratagem by Dead Can Dance
Joey by Concrete Blond
Dublin Boys by Antje Duvkot
posted by bibliowench at 8:14 AM on July 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Why by Annie Lennox
posted by Triumphant Muzak at 9:07 AM on July 29, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Triumphant Muzak at 9:07 AM on July 29, 2017 [3 favorites]
I feel like PJ Harvey would have something
posted by kbbbo at 9:17 AM on July 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by kbbbo at 9:17 AM on July 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
Arcade Fire - In the Backseat
The Smiths - I Know it's Over
posted by crocomancer at 9:32 AM on July 29, 2017
The Smiths - I Know it's Over
posted by crocomancer at 9:32 AM on July 29, 2017
Maden Dağı by Selda Bağcan is exactly what you're asking for!
Check out Diamanda Galás too (I can't think of which track to recommend).
posted by aws17576 at 9:46 AM on July 29, 2017
Check out Diamanda Galás too (I can't think of which track to recommend).
posted by aws17576 at 9:46 AM on July 29, 2017
Calling You, the theme from Bagdad Cafe comes to mind (sung by Jevetta Steele.)
Another one with the same vibe is kd lang's Barefoot from the film Salmonberries, but it's more of a wolf howl than a wail.
And I just realized that those are both Percy Adlon films, how bizarre.
Jeff Buckley was a pretty legendary wailer. So Real is my favourite Jeff Buckley song. And just to tie it all together here's Jeff doing Calling You.
posted by chococat at 9:48 AM on July 29, 2017
Another one with the same vibe is kd lang's Barefoot from the film Salmonberries, but it's more of a wolf howl than a wail.
And I just realized that those are both Percy Adlon films, how bizarre.
Jeff Buckley was a pretty legendary wailer. So Real is my favourite Jeff Buckley song. And just to tie it all together here's Jeff doing Calling You.
posted by chococat at 9:48 AM on July 29, 2017
Maps by Karen O and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 9:50 AM on July 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 9:50 AM on July 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
Never Be Mine by Angel Olsen
Birthday by The Sugarcubes
posted by Pizzarina Sbarro at 10:46 AM on July 29, 2017
Birthday by The Sugarcubes
posted by Pizzarina Sbarro at 10:46 AM on July 29, 2017
This question is driving me crazy.
best answers:
Cold War, Janelle Monae (wailing begins ~0:30)
Acquiesce, k.d. lang (~1:52)
You're OK, k.d. lang (~1:30)
We Float, P. J. Harvey (~2:00)
maybe also relevant:
What's Up, 4 Non Blondes (~1:28)
Babooshka, Kate Bush (~0:59) ("wail" arguable)
Stay, Shakespears Sister (~3:00) (maybe too slow?)
posted by Spathe Cadet at 12:19 PM on July 29, 2017
best answers:
Cold War, Janelle Monae (wailing begins ~0:30)
Acquiesce, k.d. lang (~1:52)
You're OK, k.d. lang (~1:30)
We Float, P. J. Harvey (~2:00)
maybe also relevant:
What's Up, 4 Non Blondes (~1:28)
Babooshka, Kate Bush (~0:59) ("wail" arguable)
Stay, Shakespears Sister (~3:00) (maybe too slow?)
posted by Spathe Cadet at 12:19 PM on July 29, 2017
Florence and the Machine, Dog Days Are Over
posted by tatiana wishbone at 1:32 PM on July 29, 2017
posted by tatiana wishbone at 1:32 PM on July 29, 2017
Response by poster: Wow - OP here.
I wasn't even sure what I was asking for was a 'thing' past the few songs I've mentioned but all the recc's so far have been superb.
I'm kicking myself for not having thought of Kate Bush and Janis Joplin prior to asking.
And I've discovered about ten artists new to me [including re-discovering Janelle Monae].
Thanks everyone!
posted by Faintdreams at 3:52 PM on July 29, 2017
I wasn't even sure what I was asking for was a 'thing' past the few songs I've mentioned but all the recc's so far have been superb.
I'm kicking myself for not having thought of Kate Bush and Janis Joplin prior to asking.
And I've discovered about ten artists new to me [including re-discovering Janelle Monae].
Thanks everyone!
posted by Faintdreams at 3:52 PM on July 29, 2017
John Lennon - "Mother"
I think it fits, though not uptempo.
posted by abrightersummerday at 4:39 PM on July 29, 2017
I think it fits, though not uptempo.
posted by abrightersummerday at 4:39 PM on July 29, 2017
Crying, kd lang.
Also, not sure it fits here, but it would be wrong to leave Bruce out of any list re songs to wail to, e.g., Jungleland.
posted by she's not there at 5:09 PM on July 29, 2017
Also, not sure it fits here, but it would be wrong to leave Bruce out of any list re songs to wail to, e.g., Jungleland.
posted by she's not there at 5:09 PM on July 29, 2017
Martha Wainwright - Bloody Motherfucking Asshole
Janelle Monáe - Cold War
posted by pseudostrabismus at 6:20 PM on July 29, 2017
Janelle Monáe - Cold War
posted by pseudostrabismus at 6:20 PM on July 29, 2017
Llorando (Rebekah del Rio's Spanish language version of "Crying", notably featured in Mulholland Drive)
posted by Pryde at 9:17 PM on July 29, 2017
posted by Pryde at 9:17 PM on July 29, 2017
Sia - Chandelier
Adele - Rolling in the Deep
Imogene Heap - Hide and Seek
Jane Siberry - Calling All Angels
KD Lang - Constant Craving
Pat Benatar - We Belong
Taylor Swift - Wildest Dreams
Rihanna & Kanye - Four Five Seconds
Neil Young - Helpless
Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
Iggy Pop - Candy
Blondie - Maria
B52s - Roam
posted by maloon at 7:53 AM on July 30, 2017
Adele - Rolling in the Deep
Imogene Heap - Hide and Seek
Jane Siberry - Calling All Angels
KD Lang - Constant Craving
Pat Benatar - We Belong
Taylor Swift - Wildest Dreams
Rihanna & Kanye - Four Five Seconds
Neil Young - Helpless
Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
Iggy Pop - Candy
Blondie - Maria
B52s - Roam
posted by maloon at 7:53 AM on July 30, 2017
Doesn't meet the "word" criterion, but definitely has some wailing. The Great Gig in the Sky
posted by doctord at 11:39 AM on July 30, 2017
posted by doctord at 11:39 AM on July 30, 2017
Snowman by the Nields is a good as hell wailer. Their version of the Leadbelly song Goodnight Irene is not so repetitive, but it's some real OTT gonzo wailing.
posted by clavicle at 1:33 PM on July 30, 2017
posted by clavicle at 1:33 PM on July 30, 2017
Corin Tucker's wailing may not be your thing, but the drawn out
"hearts breaking" in this version of Sleater-Kinney's Sympathy gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it.
posted by Gorgik at 3:15 PM on July 30, 2017
"hearts breaking" in this version of Sleater-Kinney's Sympathy gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it.
posted by Gorgik at 3:15 PM on July 30, 2017
Happy to See Me - Hop Along is very waily, especially around the 3:15 mark, where she sings "We all will remember things the same" about 27 times in a row. Her particular kind of vocal fry makes most of her songs wail-ish, but that one came to mind first.
posted by FirstMateKate at 4:14 PM on July 30, 2017
posted by FirstMateKate at 4:14 PM on July 30, 2017
Aching is a chamber pop song by classically trained soprano Julie Feeney. She sings the title word three times, for about 20-30 seconds each.
posted by rollick at 4:30 AM on July 31, 2017
posted by rollick at 4:30 AM on July 31, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by BibiRose at 7:25 AM on July 29, 2017