The Saddest Song Ever Written? [<a href="//storify.com/StudioSoundware/the-saddest-song-ever-written" target="_blank">View the story "The Saddest Song Ever Written?" on Storify</a>]<h1>The Saddest Song Ever Written?</h1><h2>Last year Rolling Stone made a stab at picking the saddest song ever written. If I could have written that article, I might have changed it a bit. Would you? Plus from a songwriting perspective, I identify some basic characteristics of "sad" songs.</h2><p>Storified by Studio Soundware/Drums On Demand · Fri, Dec 07 2012 11:28:13</p><div>What Is The Saddest Song Ever Written? | | Rolling StoneWhat do you think your body does when you hear Robbie Williams' "Angels"? Well, if you're English, apparently your vital signs provide a ...</div><div>There were a couple-- or at least one song -- that should have been on the list that wasn't. That's Annie Lenonx's "Why?" which should probably top the list.</div><div>Annie Lennox - Whyannielennoxvevo</div><div>I'd probably put Eleanor Rigby up there on the list as well. <br>Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name/Nobody came<br>Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave/No one was saved<br>All the lonely people<br>Where do they all come from?<br>All the lonely people<br>Where do they all belong?</div><div>the beatles "eleanor Rigby" with lyricskankuroluver123</div><div>Can't get much sadder than that. And what an amazing arrangement for a pop song to have no traditional instruments.<br>And even though it's got that 80s sappy thing going on, I still might argue that either "Words Got In The Way" or "Anything For For" from Gloria Estefan should make the list. The latter has a lot of impact personally cause back when it was on the radio I was giving a good friend vocal lessons and she was set on learning this song and singing it to her husband. A few months later I found out her marriage had crumbled and he had left.</div><div>Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine - Anything For Yougloriaestefanvevo</div><div>While lyrics have to be sad -- and most sad songs are about heartbreak -- there are generally two defining musical characteristics as well. The first is most sad songs are written in a minor key.  Philip Ball does a good job of discussing why from a scientific standpoint. Followed by a few basic tips on writing in minor keys.</div><div>Does a minor key give everyone the blues? : Nature NewsPublished online 8 January 2010 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2010.3 Column: Muse Can a link between speech patterns and downbeat music pro...</div><div>Writing Better Songs: Part II - Writing in Minor KeysIn these situations, a minor key is often the best choice for your song. Which isn't to say that a song written in a minor key has ...</div><div>And finally, another characteristic of most sad songs is they are down tempo. We've got a variety of products, ranging from drum loops ...</div><div>Slow Drum Loops and Ballad Drum Loops by Drums On Demand | Drums On Demand/Studio Soundware"Ballads & Slow Grooves" features 700 slow drum beat samples in 27 Song Sets. Styles and grooves range from 4/4 and 6/8 time signature ba...</div><div>to My Co-Writer backing tracks to help songwriters write a sad song. People LOVE writing sad songs. This is our best-selling My Co-Writer product.</div><div>Write a Love Song with My Co-Writer by Studio Soundware | Drums On Demand/Studio SoundwareWrite a song with My Co-Writer_ backing tracks. Simply add your own lyrics and melody. Volume 1 features 17 song templates -- great found...</div><div>So how would you change the "Saddest Song Ever Written" list? And if you were to write a sad song, what would it be about?</div> Share Share on Facebook
