Culture

And the award for craziest song goes to...

by Rob Peters | February 22, 2008 at 12:24 pm

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A music writer for the Guardian, Dorian Lynskey, had an interesting idea for his column this week--invite readers to name their favourite songs about mental illness.

It might sound a little crude, but he prefaces his post with a call for decency, good taste, and sensitivity. Of course those qualities are what NowPublic is all about, right?

Robert Smith of the Cure immediately came to mind for me. His songs range from black-as-night depression--the Pornography album--to anadulterated, childlike mania--Wild Mood Swings.

What else would qualify?

One tune from last week's blog sparked an idea for this week's theme (sample-spotters might be able to guess which one), so I'm going for songs about mental illness. Obviously it's a serious business in real life but songwriters play rather more freely with images of psychological collapse so I'm not going to be too medical about it. Just be sensible and selective. A gloomy lyric doesn't necessarily indicate clinical depression, otherwise the list would be wall-to-wall goth, and the Osmond's Crazy Horses are not in any way meant to be mentally ill horses. Previous inclusions: Black Box Recorder's Child Psychology and Pixies' Where Is My Mind??

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crayon

at 14:54 on February 22nd, 2008

My top songs for hiding in bed while in duress:

-Memphis: I dreamed we fell apart; Time away
-Wilco: I am trying to break your heart
-Neutral Milk Hotel: Where you'll find me now
-Radiohead: Let down; Backdrifts
-Akron Family: Shoes
-Matthew Good Band: A boy and his machine gun; The rat who would be king