Help Me Think Up Indie Heartbreak Songs For My Valentine's Day Radio Show

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I'm doing a special Kill Yourself Valentine's Day episode of my radio show this Monday from 11am-1pm EST on the LION 90.7 FM (you can listen to it online). I'm planning two hours of the most miserable indie rock possible. I'm looking for songs with clear, audible lyrics that describe various types of romantic anguish, anomie, detachment, HELL. "Soul and Fire" into "Katy Song." That kinda thing.

Suggestions? Requests?

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

has to be indie rock?
"Brokenhearted Wine" - Codeine

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Broken Heart by Spiritualized

― Michael Philip Philip Philip Philip Annoyman v1.0 (Ferg), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Here's two in the same vein ("we used to date, now you're with a new guy"):

David Bowie, "Letter to Hermione"
Iron & Wine, "Bird Stealing Bread"

Both of 'em absolutely kill me.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:40 (twenty-one years ago)

You Never Knew Me by Magazine

― Michael Philip Philip Philip Philip Annoyman v1.0 (Ferg), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

The Wedding Present: "Nobody's Twisting Your Arm"

Oh, and "Fishwives" by The Band of Holy Joy is U & K for anguish.

― OleM (OleM), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:48 (twenty-one years ago)

You Say You Don't Love Me by Buzzcocks

― Michael Philip Philip Philip Philip Annoyman v1.0 (Ferg), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Katy Song - Red House Painters
Mad As Snow - Kitchens of Distinction
American Football - Never Meant

― Big Baby Bingo (Chris V), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:50 (twenty-one years ago)

oops, didn't see your Katy Song reference Anthony.

― Big Baby Bingo (Chris V), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:51 (twenty-one years ago)

anything by Owen.

― Big Baby Bingo (Chris V), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Aren't, like, ALL indie songs about heartbreak?

How about:

The Wrens: Happy
Superchunk: Detroit Has A Skyline (acoustic version)
Ryan Adams: Come Pick Me Up (has bad words)

― Scott CE (Scott CE), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Guided By Voices - The Brides Have Hit Glass (no, honestly!)

― Angus Muldoon, Fife (Dada), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:53 (twenty-one years ago)

"So Many Girls" A. Graham and the Moment Band

― Huk-L, Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:53 (twenty-one years ago)

ok yeah when I say indie I mean alt or whatever (I'm probably gonna play "Losing My Religion" at some point as a gas). It's an "underground pop, rock and punk" specific show. I don't plan on straying TOO far from that, though if something's especially perfect I will.

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Shellac - Prayer to God

― Good Dog, Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Try this one.

― Big Baby Bingo (Chris V), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Force Md's - Tender Love

― Big Baby Bingo (Chris V), Thursday, 10 February 2005 17:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Where the Wild Roses Grow - Nick Cave
Heart Disease Called Love - Miracle Legion

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:00 (twenty-one years ago)

anyone else isn't you - the field mice

― piscesboy, Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:01 (twenty-one years ago)

BPB - All These Vicious Dogs

― Big Baby Bingo (Chris V), Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Pick a Tindersticks CD and hit the random play button.

My track choices would be "Patchwork", "CF GF", or "Drunk Tank".

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Good thing I don't have any feelings - Future Bible Heroes
I know its over - The Smiths

― daavid (daavid), Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

How about the entirety of the American Football album.

― Big Baby Bingo (Chris V), Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Where Were You? The Mekons

― Good Dog, Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Shellac - Prayer to God

Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.

― Huk-L, Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Mountain Goats - No Children

― Scott CE (Scott CE), Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Stars - Elevator Love Letter owns Sad Valentine's Day.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:23 (twenty-one years ago)

not necessarily a break-up song, but i always loved Versus' "Jealous Again"

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

or heartbreak, as it were

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

OMG! TMBG "Ana Ng"!

― known vaginatarian (nickalicious), Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

"I Can't Make Love To You Anymore" by Chris Lee
"Baby" by the Billy Nayer Show (though, there's some cursing in it)
"Playing With Fire" by Wes Cunningham
"Sea Anemone" by Jets to Brazil
"Cheers Darlin'" by Damien Rice
"Forget Her" by Jeff Buckley
"We've Never Met" by Neko Case and her Boyfriends

― Jeff Reguilon (Talent Explosion), Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Every single Wedding Present song ever. Hundreds of them. Did he write about anything else?

― Good Dog, Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:51 (twenty-one years ago)

You Say You Don't Love Me by Buzzcocks
Seconded. And I don't know whether it's lyrically appropriate for your show or whether it exists on the web or blogosphere or anywhere else for that matter, but I seem to remember that the band Miracle Legion had a song called "Valentine's Day."

― Ken L (Ken L), Thursday, 10 February 2005 18:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Blur - No Distance Left To Run

― ana (ana), Thursday, 10 February 2005 19:07 (twenty-one years ago)

The Only Ones - 'It's The Truth'

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 10 February 2005 19:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Superchunk: Detroit Has A Skyline (acoustic version)

U&K

― Jimmy Mod always makes friends with women before bedding them down (ModJ), Thursday, 10 February 2005 19:16 (twenty-one years ago)

You really should end with either 'I Know It's Over' or the Wedding Present's 'Octopussy'.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 10 February 2005 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Or 'Meaningless' by the Magnetic Fields.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 10 February 2005 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

radiohead- big ideas
(not sure if ever released as a b-side or only available live)

Don't get any big ideas
They're not gonna happen
You paint your smile
And fill the holes
There'll be something missing
Just when you found it
It's gone
Just when you feel it
You don't
It's gone forever

― nima, Thursday, 10 February 2005 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Ben Folds Five "Song For Teh Dumped"!

― known vaginatarian (nickalicious), Thursday, 10 February 2005 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

How about some early Jonathan Richman like "I'm Straight" or "Hospital"?

― Ken L (Ken L), Thursday, 10 February 2005 19:25 (twenty-one years ago)

palace - "valentine's day"

!!!!!!!!!

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 10 February 2005 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

"Hopeless" - The Wrens
"Your Ex-Lover is Dead" - Stars
"Drunken Tears" - Quasi
"Sometimes I Remember" - Pernice Brothers
"The Hollows" - Matt Pond PA
"The Weight Of My Words" - Kings of Convenience
"Didn't Think It Would Turn Out Bad" - Jon Brion
"Let it Die" - Feist

― darin (darin), Thursday, 10 February 2005 19:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Huggy Bear - Concrete Life ("I'd rather cut my arms off / than see you going out with him")
They've also got a track called February 14th. And second any and all Wedding Present. And for great sarcasm/comic relief, many songs off Zappa's Freak Out fit the bill - You didn't try to call me comes immediately to mind, as does go cry on somebody elses shoulder

― Dr. Annabel Lies (Michael Kelly), Thursday, 10 February 2005 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Husker Du - Sorry Somehow, maybe?

― Ken L (Ken L), Thursday, 10 February 2005 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

The Wild Ones - Suede
Another No One - Suede
Oceans - Suede

I Know it's Over - seconded

Blue Jeans - Blur

Hobart Paving - Saint Etienne (it just sounds slit your wrists sad)

Laughing Boy - Pulp
I Want You - Pulp

Run - Snow Patrol

Love will tear us Apart surely?

― C-Man (C-Man), Thursday, 10 February 2005 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Sebadoh- Brand New Love

― earlnash, Thursday, 10 February 2005 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

drop "You Oughta Know" in between two Will Oldham songs, please

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Thursday, 10 February 2005 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

"Draining the Pool For You" - Go-Betweens

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 10 February 2005 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

You got in her your pocket - The White Stripes

Communication - The Cardigans

― C-Man (C-Man), Thursday, 10 February 2005 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 7 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Smog - Your New Friend

― michelle, Thursday, 10 February 2005 22:49 (twenty-one years ago)

ashes everywhere by joseph arthur. no question.

― rockaction (rockaction), Thursday, 10 February 2005 23:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Joy Division - "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
The Cure - "Pictures of You"
Nick Drake - "Know"
Lycia - "Daphne"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 10 February 2005 23:20 (twenty-one years ago)

It's all about Seamonsters -- excellent indie miserablism. Then cross over to America with something from Versus Secret Swingers -- "Double Suicide (Mercy Killing)" works. Switch up the mood a little with a happy/ironic one -- like Small Factory's "If You Hurt Me" ("if you hurt me / I'll slash up your fucking tires"). Followed by my favorite duet to actually include a break-up in the text of the song, which is Figurine's "IMpossible" (she says "I don't want you to" and it's all over).

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 10 February 2005 23:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Jawbreaker - "Sluttering, May 4th"
Guided By Voices - "Game of Pricks"
Magnetic Fields - "Meaningless"

― Khrisztopher Kringle, Friday, 11 February 2005 01:06 (twenty-one years ago)

mag fields - i don't want to get over you

― Shmool McShmool (shmuel), Friday, 11 February 2005 01:20 (twenty-one years ago)

These always make me think of exes:
Smog - Your Wedding
Jack Logan - Town Crier
Morphine - In Spite of Me
Flaming Lips - They Punctured My Yolk
Tom Waits - Gin Soaked Boy
Bob Dylan - Simple Twist of Fate
Beatles - For No One

― j.m. lockery (j.m. lockery), Friday, 11 February 2005 02:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Tom Waits- Alice

― Alicia Pie, Friday, 11 February 2005 02:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Hefner -- "The Hymn to Alcohol"

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Friday, 11 February 2005 02:52 (twenty-one years ago)

surely "100,000 Fireflies" is thee MagFields choice... "you won't be happy with me / but give me one more chance / you won't be happy anyway" is the miserable indie lyric to end them all

― Aaron A., Friday, 11 February 2005 04:41 (twenty-one years ago)

"The Lengths" by The Black Keys

― jedidiah s., Friday, 11 February 2005 05:00 (twenty-one years ago)

girlfriend in a comma - the smiths

― fb4, Friday, 11 February 2005 11:40 (twenty-one years ago)

"All My Little Words" The Magnetic Fields

― mck (mck), Friday, 11 February 2005 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

"Never Never" by The Assembly (Vince Clarke, Feargal Sharkey)

― Ken L (Ken L), Friday, 11 February 2005 15:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Palace - (thou without) partner ["When was the first time you realized the next time would be the last time?"]

― hmmm (hmmm), Friday, 11 February 2005 16:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Saint Etienne - Like A Motorway

Sleater-Kinney - One More Hour

PJ Harvey - Rid Of Me

― chris j (chris j), Friday, 11 February 2005 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

The way i feel right now i could listen to all of these.
On repeat. Forever.

― Heartbroken, Friday, 11 February 2005 17:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Sea Urchins- I'm in love with a girl who doesn't know I exist

― laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Friday, 11 February 2005 17:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Sleater-Kinney-Good Things

― Doobie Keebler (Charles McCain), Friday, 11 February 2005 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Everything But the Girl - Single
Hot Snakes - Lovebirds

― pinder (pinder), Friday, 11 February 2005 23:46 (twenty-one years ago)

"Black and White" by the db's..

― Amy Meacham, Saturday, 12 February 2005 04:42 (twenty-one years ago)

...and "I Want You" by Elvis Costello.
"If I Didn't Love You" by Squeeze, (the reality of the Serious Relationship, haha.)

― Amy Meacham, Saturday, 12 February 2005 04:51 (twenty-one years ago)

misery loves company...

Birthday Party - Shivers
Nick Cave - From Her To Eternity
Leonard Cohen - Everybody Knows
Fiona Apple - Fast As You Can

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 12 February 2005 04:53 (twenty-one years ago)

"My Name is Rich" by Joey Sweeney or "Yuppie Restaurant" by the Barnabys (Sorry, it was the 90s.) or "Deeper than Beauty" by Sloan

― youn, Saturday, 12 February 2005 05:08 (twenty-one years ago)

"Pop Songs Your New Boyfriend's Too Stupid To Know About" -- Tullycraft

― Aaron A., Saturday, 12 February 2005 05:11 (twenty-one years ago)

that would be another sunny day instead of the sea urchins, you could just play all of 'london weekend'.

― keith m (keithmcl), Saturday, 12 February 2005 06:12 (twenty-one years ago)

May I suggest "Lipstick Vogue" by Elvis Costello? I believe it fits the bill and, if nothing else, it will give you an opportunity for an on-air exposition of your excellent Three Stages of Elvis theory.

― Ken L (Ken L), Saturday, 12 February 2005 12:13 (twenty-one years ago)

BURP! Starts in a little over a half hour.

Not sure how many of these we have at the station but I'll try to grab a few.

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 14 February 2005 15:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I hear ya.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 14 February 2005 17:10 (twenty-one years ago)

pavement - newark wilder: guaranteed moist getter

― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, 14 February 2005 17:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Miccio sounds like he's about to break down and sob at every moment.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 14 February 2005 17:16 (twenty-one years ago)

"Everything Hits At Once" - Spoon

I personally find positive Valentine's/relationship songs more difficult to find...

― Jessie, Monday, 14 February 2005 17:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Late to thread, but:

Thalia Zedek, "Treacherous Thing"

― Collardio Gelatinous (collardio), Monday, 14 February 2005 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Miccio sounds like he's about to break down and sob at every moment.

I am trying to work out how much of this is a put-on.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 14 February 2005 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought maybe it was a reaction to having to listen to all these terrible US altrock records in a row.

Actually, he sounds kind of nervous, but I don't know what he normally sounds like.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 14 February 2005 17:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Mr Miccio you're scaring me now!

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 14 February 2005 17:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Umm...

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 14 February 2005 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

clearly, the studio people were being rude, with all their rustling. i like "katy song" - first time hearing it.

― youn, Monday, 14 February 2005 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I love 'Country Feedback', I'm such a square.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 14 February 2005 17:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, "Katy Song" is nice; I hadn't heard it before, either.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 14 February 2005 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

tATu!!!

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 14 February 2005 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

This is awesome! I wish I'd been able to listen from the start.

Ant'ny on Eamon : "Yeah, he knows what's up. He knows how to deal."

What an act!
And now he's closing the show with "All the Things She Said"!

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Monday, 14 February 2005 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

More tATu, less Archers of Loaf, k?

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 14 February 2005 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

playlist is up at my site

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 14 February 2005 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Enjoyed the show, Miccio. Haven't heard "Poison Arrow" in ages.

― darin (darin), Monday, 14 February 2005 19:08 (twenty-one years ago)

thanks! really sorry that I scared some people. Was just having some very cathartic fun.

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 14 February 2005 19:17 (twenty-one years ago)

You played "Cable Hogue"? That's John Cale's favorite John Cale song- are you trying to get him to come on your show or somthing?

― Ken L (Ken L), Monday, 14 February 2005 19:27 (twenty-one years ago)

wow, glad he realizes how great it is.

suppose I should supply a link to make thing easier.

http://anthonyisright.blogspot.com

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 14 February 2005 19:33 (twenty-one years ago)

"Slow Sad Love Song" by the Verlaines.

― jonas, Monday, 14 February 2005 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

No Smiths, Mag Fields :(

― daavid (daavid), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:01 (twenty-one years ago)

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