"Rotten Apple"
Listening to "Rotten Apple" by Alice in Chains makes me realize how depressing Corvallis really is. At this moment, from my bedroom window, all I can see are leaves in various states of decomposition littering the cracked sidewalks, gray skies pelting the streets with cold rain and hordes of people walking, all staring at their feet. Wait, nevermind, a group of really hot girls just walked by. I take it back. I love Corvallis.
--Eric Feigner,
Diversions editor
"With or Without You"
When I want to feel the pain of 20 breakups in a three-minute period, I listen to "With or Without You" by U2. Within seconds of hearing this song, I'm worse off than a single 45-year-old woman with a Cathy comic taped to her fridge watching movies on the Lifetime network.
--Nathalie Weinstein, Diversions writer
"Wishing You Were
Somehow Here Again"
I've seen Phantom three times and am always in tears by this scene. A heart-wrenching musical as it is, this song serves as the epitome of loss and despair. Poor Christine Daaé cries at the grave of her dead father, who has left her alone to face the horrors of sudden fame and an obsessed fan. Plus, she's hated by the prima donna, her boyfriend is a wimp and the phantom lives behind her dressing room mirror. She can't even be alone to be miserable. Meanwhile, the audience stares as I pull tissues out of my travel-sized Kleenex pack in between sobs. All hope is gone for this emotional wreck. Curse you, Andrew Lloyd Webber!
--Karri Pasteris,
staff writer
"Somebody I Used to Know"
Choosing the most depressing Elliott Smith song is like picking your favorite Bush Cabinet member -- there are just too many to choose just one! But I would have to go with "Somebody That I Used to Know," mainly because it tells the sad tale of trying to get over someone, when they are already way over you. Ouch.
Not that this has ever happened to me (tear), but from the way Mr. Smith oh-so-gently places this heart-wrenching lyrics on top of a happy guitar ditty, I can imagine it would be, well ... depressing.
--Brian Gjurgevich,
Editor in chief
"Somebody Kill Me Please"
You want depressing? This is the doom-bringer of all depressing songs.
This masterpiece of painful heartbreak makes you feel like you were dumped, disowned by your family and totaled your car in the same afternoon. Oh, yeah, and you totaled your car after running over several puppies and your grandmother. Somebody, please, don't let Adam Sandler be inspired by The Cure ever again.
--Peter Chee,
City editor