While we generally ask artists to make playlists that make us feel on the happier side of the spectrum, but with their recent single titled ‘Crying In Public’, Chairlift have sent us through something a little different.
With the Brooklyn duo of Caroline Polachek and Patrick Wimberly about to bring their indie electro-pop to Australian shores for a run of shows (dates below), they’ve sent us their thoughts on the songs that will do their absolute best to make you tear up if they should shuffle their way across your playlist at an inopportune time – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Here’s Chairlift’s playlist of undeniably beautiful songs that, whether from happiness or sadness, may just make you cry in public too.
Harry Nilsson – ‘Without You’
Harry Nilsson is a personal hero of mine. This song has so much drama and tension, it’s so satisfying… – Patrick
Robyn – ‘Dancing On My Own’
This song gets me every time! It’s so simple and sentimental, to me. It reminds me my our good friend and my favorite artist, Melissa Carroll. We dedicated our new album to her memory. I hope people continue to find her work and be inspired by it. – Patrick
Beach Boys – ‘God Only Knows’
I’ve known and loved this song my whole life, but it wasn’t until after my wedding that it took on a new meaning to me. Caroline sang this song at my wedding as I had my first dance with my wife. This song, to me, isn’t about falling in love, it’s about being endlessly in love… – Patrick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOMyS78o5YI
Wet – ‘These Days’
This is new song coming out this month. I worked on this one with Wet last year. Most of it was recorded in one day and it was a day that we hadn’t even planned on recording. Every time I hear it, I thank god that we turned those mics and captured this special moment. – Patrick
Alicia Keys – ‘Unthinkable’
This song was on the radio for a while, which was particularly problematic for me because I’d start crying in all sorts of places. It has this darkness to it, this feeling of time stopping. – Caroline
The Blue Nile – ‘Over The Hillside’
The Blue Nile are masters of the slow build, and Over The Hillside is a prime example. A lot of their songs make me cry, but this one in particular has this sense of hope and patience that becomes almost unbearably beautiful when Paul Buchanan sings, “Tomorrow I will be there / Just you wait and see.” It almost sounds as if he’s about to die and is singing to heaven…but heaven is a place on earth, after all. – Caroline
Annie Lennox – ‘Stay By Me’
This song itself could be a wedding proposal. Not that I’m on the market, but it would work on me. – Caroline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TEShCEeT1A
Scott Walker – ‘Boy Child’
I had a very memorable moment crying to this song on the subway. This song is about his inner child that “rides” with him, in a moment of feeling lost as an adult. Scott Walker’s voice is so beautiful that even if I had no idea what he was saying, this song would make me just as emotional. – Caroline
Bjork – ‘Undo’
FYI, when Bjork tells you to “surrender,” you don’t actually have a choice. – Caroline
Chairlift Live Dates
Saturday 3rd December 2016 – The Zoo, Brisbane QLD
Sunday 4th December 2016 – The Metro Theatre, Sydney NSW
Wednesday 7th December 2016 – Max Watt’s Melbourne VIC
