The Good Cry
Updated with an additional video at the bottom
We obviously went to bed too early this weekend because we totally missed the Adele sketch on Saturday Night Live. If you did too, Jezebel has a video clip of the sketch of people crying over Adele’s “Someone Like You.”
Come on, admit it, you’ve bawled your eyes out listening to that song. I remember the first time I heard it — Josh called me across the room to see the video because a friend of his had linked to it on Facebook. (Though the video I remember had Adele sitting on a chair alone in an empty room — does anyone know what I’m talking about?) I got to the second verse and then started crying like it was the day before my period, and the ridiculous part is that I’m freakin’ married.
Other things that induce a good cry: The Velveteen Rabbit; when all the students stand on their desks during Dead Poet Society and say, “captain, my captain;” the life montage at the beginning of Up; the post-death scene in Bridge to Terabithia; the pre-car scene in The Confessions of Max Tivoli; and talking about the French revolution (sorry, that last one may just be me, but I’ve never been able to teach the French revolution without dissolving into tears).
What do you use to induce a good cry?
Update:
I had to include the commercial I mention in the comment section below. I’m bawling again after watching it so I could get the embed code to add it to the post.
56 comments
2 scenes never fail: The scene from The Color Purple when Whoopie Goldberg is reuniting with her sister and children at the end, and the colored flags are flying. And the final scene in Schindler’s List when the living people and relatives of people who were portrayed in the movie all walk down the hill to put stones on Schindler’s grave. Sob! Just thinking about them is about to set me off!
A lot of things make me cry. The song “Mary did you Know” . One thing that made me sob and sob lately is from a movie.
We gave our little girl Calypso the middles names of Paikea Rhyder, naming her after the Maori legend. The other night I watched the movie The Whale Rider for the first time since Calypso was born and died. There is a part in the movie where Paikea is on the back of a whale and the voice over says ‘I wasn’t scared to die’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrJeOqQw9xg
It kills me. So so much. Also there is this scene from Titanic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPLcZ5Rk3Lg
The thought of going to the ocean where Calypso’s ashes were scattered brings me to tears too
Movie parts that make me cry:
The opening of Up
Lion King when Mufasa dies and Simba finds him
The end of a River Runs Through It
I also cry each time I read Where The Red Fern Grows and Watership Down.
The scene just before the intermission in Gone With the Wind, where Scarlett shakes her fist at the sky & says, “As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again” as the music swells & her figure is silhouetted against the sunset sky always makes me bawl. (Oh heck, I’ll admit it, I cry at the opening credits of Gone With the Wind, & from when Bonnie dies right through to the end. “After all… tomorrow is another day!” *sob!*) .
The end of “The Color Purple” makes me cry too.
There’s a scene in “Peggy Sue Got Married” where she goes to visit her long-dead grandparents that makes me totally bawl, I guess because I miss my own grandparents so much. (I am tearing up just writing this.)
I totally lost it in Toy Story 3, especially at the end.
And I cry at the end of Rudy when they carry him off the field. And Hoosiers. Those are dh’s two favourite movies & so everytime he watches, I watch. ; )
For music, all I have to do is to start hearing the score of Les Miserables in my head & I get teary.
I’m sure there’s more. ; )
The song “Hannukah Blessings” off the Bare Naked Ladies Holiday CD gets me every time. Also “Mary Did You Know” and the song about the Christmas shoes.
P.S. Missed the Saturday Night Live skit (past my bedtime!) but I love Adele. My best friend from childhood was named Adele. : )
Christmas songs: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” as sung by Judy Garland, & “Mery Christmas Darling” by Karen Carptenter. *sniffle*
Well, I’m a big softy and I cry pretty much at every damn thing. The opening from “Up!” gets me so badly that I can’t even watch it. The end of “Toy Story 3” had me gasping I was crying so hard.
“This Woman’s Work” is one of my “go to” I need a good cry songs. As is “Leader of the Band.” And, “Cats in the Cradle.” Apparently I have family issues.
I could go on. Honestly, pretty much anything even vaguely sappy will do me in. AT&T commercials? I’m a goner. I’m pitiful.
During my 20s and most of my 30s, I apparently didn’t have a heart because nothing made me cry. My husband would ask me if I was crying at the end of movies (I suspect because he wanted to and was checking his own reaction), and the answer would always be no.
Now, however, there are a few that get me – O Holy Night is one, 100 Years by Five For Fighting, that opening sequence in Up…can’t think of any others offhand, but I’ll cry at just about anything these days.
I cry at pretty much everything. Josh Groban’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas. Any version of O Holy Night. I also tear up to the score of Les Miserables. The ending of Phantom when they are in the dungeon.
But if I need a real good sob, I watch videos of soldiers reuniting with their families.
“Other things that induce a good cry: The Velveteen Rabbit; when all the students stand on their desks during Dead Poet Society and say, “captain, my captain;” the life montage at the beginning of Up; the post-death scene in Bridge to Terabithia…”
I agree with all of these! Two of my childhood friends (that I grew up babysitting for) read the part about “What is Real?” from The Velveteen Rabbit at our wedding ceremony. Love that scene from Dead Poets Society and the one from Up, both very therapeutic to cry while watching.
As for the post death scene in Bridge to Terebithia, I haven’t thought about that book in years, but it was one of my favorites many, many years ago. Reading your post brought back a memory from my childhood after I finished reading it. I recall being really moved and emotional and that song “Cherish” by Kool & the Gang came on the radio and I remember listening to it and crying about both the story and the lyrics. That song to this day reminds me of that book and what it evoked in me.
Have you ever scene the movie Broadcast News? I love how Holly Hunter’s character has these moments in it where she has “good cries.” I have always thought that was such a great storyline, as so many of us can relate to needing that now and then.
As for what I would add to the list, where do I begin?
I agree with much of what Loribeth shared, especially various parts of Les Mis. I would add other musicals that evoke a lot of feelings and emotions in me, such as Rent, Wicked and Miss Saigon.
The “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” scene in The Family Stone gets me every time as do a few scenes from Good Will Hunting and so many other of my favorite films.
I am sure I have more to add, but have to run… I will ponder this and may return later to add more! 🙂
Most of what has already been said will give me that good cry. But I should add:
Books: Magic’s Price by Mercedes Lackey
Songs: Leader of the Band, I Love You Because
Movies: Apollo 13
When it takes too long for them to come out of silence. It ALWAYS gets me no matter how many times I see it.
E.T.
Oh! And that scene in Contact where she gets to see her father, but it’s not really her father. And the same in Harry Potter whenever he gets to connect with his parents — even if they are only moving images of his parents. Guts me every time.
Also commercials that show kids growing up. That one that is currently running of the father recording all these moments in his daughter’s life — her ballet recital, holding her new baby sister, etc — and then writing to her that he can’t wait for her to read all the letters he has written and see the pictures he save. This one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4vkVHijdQk
I always cry during Return of the King when Aragon tells the hobbits, “My friends, you bow to no one.” Gets me every time. I’m dreading getting to the scene in the DVD of HP 7.2 when you see Harry’s parents’ deaths and baby Harry through Snape’s memories. I sobbed in the theater during that entire part, and I’m pretty sure I will again.
Those new diaper commercials that say how every baby no matter how it comes to you is a miracle gets me weepy every time. And Les Miserables, more than half of those songs make me cry, including the upbeat ones. It is the French Revolution, after all, although not the original one. And It’s a Wonderful Life, my heart breaks for George Bailey.
Right now it is Ukelele Songs by Eddie Veder. He can wrench every drop of emotion out of a song, and this whole CD is a big heartwrencher.
Oh, and don’t forget the end of Toy Story 3. I cried through the entire ending. Could…not…stop.
Oh, I LOVE that scene from Dead Poet’s Society.
Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” makes me tear up every time … I picture the scene from the movie “Say Anything” where he’s holding up the boom box … remember that?
Do you mean the video for “Rolling in the Deep”? That’s the one I remember with her in a chair in an empty room.
@Chickenpig re: “It’s a Wonderful Life”: Oh yeah — I start crying as soon as Jimmy Stewart is back on the bridge saying, “Help me, Clarence — I want to live again” — & by the time he’s running through the streets of Bedford Falls yelling “Merry Christmas!” I am a blubbering mess, right until “The End” comes on the screen.
When I was an undergrad at university (in the early days of VCRs, erk), there was a film studies prof who would show that movie every year on campus. He thought it was one of the best movies ever made.
Here I go again… Mel, I have racoon eyes at work today & it is YOUR FAULT, lol. Pass the Kleenex, please. ; )
There’s a line in ‘Fiddler’s Green’ by the Tragically Hip that sends me over the edge, long after the song is over…. “balloons all filled with rain, as children’s eyes turn sleepy-mean…”
I’m Irish and as I once read somewhere, our tears are close to our eyes. I cry so easily, it’s embarrassing. Up, Dead Poets, O Holy Night, Toy Story… all those. Mostly though, all those little milestones of childhood. School performances, First Communions, even going to visit potential high schools with my oldest… blubbery mess. And it’s always the Ugly Cry.
I just bawled this weekend watching the season 1 finale of Friday Night Lights. Infertile FNL fans know what I’m talking about. Kinda wish I’d saved it on my DVR so I could use it for future good cries.
(If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I describe it here: http://citygirltales.blogspot.com/2011/11/3dp5dt.html
That Google commercial just KILLED me. 8 seconds in. Gah.
I cry ANYTIME that I see a father with his daughter. I recently went to get frozen yogurt and saw a dad having a tea party with his young daughter outside and I turned away in tears.
I cry during “Sabbath Prayer” from Fiddler. Always.
The opening of Up definitely gets me. I’m so glad I knew about it before I watched it the first time.
Also My Girl and Thomas J’s funeral. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen that movie, but I’m always bawling.
Steel Magnolias after the funeral when Sally Field is going off. Makes me cry every time.
I never know what will trigger a good cry… one day it was driving to the gym and passed a dad passing a football in the front yard with his little boy. Last week it was opening the mailbox and receiving Similac samples and baby talk magazine. Some days it’s a diaper or formula commercial like some of you mentioned. You never know what will trigger it.
I sobbed out loud in the theater in Dances With Wolves. Audibly.
Again, watching UP … anything, for obvious reasons, about fathers and daughters … that scene in Contact nearly killed me.
I rarely let myself have a good cry — in part because I think if I tap into it I might not stop crying for a really long time.
And apparently I’ve been under a rock because coincidentally it was G who said this weekend “I downloaded this for you. It’s totally chick music” — (tongue-in-cheek, I should add … and it was Adele.)
parts of WAY too many things i actually teach in my college lit classes. (right now i’m thinking of calvin trillin’s “about alice.”)
it’s like a game to figure out how to manipulate the students into “finding” and reading aloud the lines i think are really important but that i’ll get all goopy-sounding if i have to be the one to read aloud in class.
@loribeth–big YES to Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Gets me EVERY time.
I watched Up after my first miscarriage and hadn’t been expecting the IF/loss (can’t remember which) storyline. I was both pissed off and crying for pretty much the rest of the movie. It still makes me mad. There should have been a warning/disclaimer at the beginning!
Justine’s right — you’re probably thinking of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” video.
Yes to all these, especially Up, Steel Magnolias and Dances with Wolves.
Also, the peak of the “Garden of Gethsemane” song, where Jesus turns over his will, somewhat angrily, and then a bit later where he does it again gently. Verklempt.
@Pam re: Dances With Wolves: Me too — particularly the buffalo hunt scene, for some reason. Knowing that they are practially extinct now, & yet to watch those beautiful creatures running across the plains like that in huge numbers (& knowing that my own relatives were in the vicinity in the not too distant future) — I felt privileged to see it so beautifully recreated.
I sob through the end of the book The Incredible Journey. Steel Magnolias always gets me. Christmas carols are also bad.
When Hagrid carries Dumbledore to his final resting place. I had to put the book down because I was sobbing.
I’m with Rebecca–“This Woman’s Work” is a good song to let it all out in the car when I’m driving by myself.
I feel better after crying. It refreshes my soul.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.
Up.
“Bird Stealing Bread” by Iron & Wine
“The Trapeze Swinger” by Iron & Wine
“Wonder” by Colin Meloy
@Chickenpig re diaper commercials: http://youtu.be/OxbRdxbBROI Yes this commercial kills me every time!
One thing that gets me bad right now is Trace Adkins, Just Fishin’. Reminds me of my Poppy. http://youtu.be/IheODRwalEw
The movie “Awakenings” when Robert DeNiro is slipping back into catatonia and knows it and dances for the last time with his love interest… I don’t often cry at movies but I balled in the theatre and couldn’t leave. Then once, years later, I was flipping channels and came across the film’s closing credits and that was enough to set me off again…
I am also happily married and still cried to Adele’s Someone Like You – that sketch had me in mind.
That really sad part of Phantom of the Op… before the Phantom goes all crazy… I started sniffling, my boyfriend started sniffling and one glance at each other we burst out laughing. It was horrible trying to stiffle a good belly laugh when everybody in the entire theater was crying.
I wish I hadn’t watched that video you posted. I don’t wear waterproof mascara at work.
@ Emily – Trace Adkins “Just Fishin” totally gets me. I have to change the station some days even though I love the song!
Carols.
The Winner Takes it All – ABBA
HP: Dumbledore’s funeral, Sirius’ death
Romeo + Juliet – death scene, of course.
And what gets me every darned time is thinking just how great it would have been to have my mum sane and here with me, instead of in her own world. I cannot help to think that maybe I had my part in her sad story and that I am guilty for not having what I always wanted, a better relationship with her. Now that I am a mother myself, I get some of the things she said and which I completely missed then. And even though we are fine now, with me having accepted things as they are, since her mind is not coming back, I so miss my brilliant, awesome, normal mum. Bawling as I type.
Um, that commercial just made me burst into tears.
1. When Sirius dies.
2. When Fred dies.
3. The end of Rudy (every. time)
4. ‘I love you forever’ book
(I am stealing from above because I am drawing a blank but you all are SO SMART! YES. TEARS HERE.)
4. The end of toy story 3
5. The giving tree
I forgot, but must agree with you on the beginning of UP. It kills me.
OH! And songs:
Goodbye my Lover by James Blunt
I Do by Jude
(go ahead and tell my I cry too much. I know it’s true)
My dad is really ill right now so tears are just below the surface at all times. Yesterday That Adele Song was on the radio and I sobbed of course, then I watched the SNL parody and laughed. I’m such a cliche.
“O Holy Night”, the beginning of Up, “It’s a Wonderful Life” yes, yes, yes. A long time ago there was a commercial of a dad and daughter dancing at her wedding, and the dad remembered her as a toddler dancing on top of his feet. I think it was a Hallmark commercial. Does anyone else remember it?
I laughed until I cried at the Adele skit. I don’t usually watch sad movies much-but Hallmark commercials and even a fictitious sad scene will get me sometimes.
Oh, there is a lot that makes me cry and a lot of them have already been said. The opening of Up gets me every time. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas – OH MY GOD. More often though, music gets me. Adele’s “Hometown Glory” gets me, but so does Red Hot Chili Peppers “I Could Have Lied,” Rolling Stones “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” Coldplay’s “Lost,” Weezer’s “Only in Dreams,” OK Go’s “Last Leaf” and many more. These are just off the top of my head. Oh, a ton of Ani DiFranco and Tori Amos songs make me cry as well….
Oh, lord. That commercial.
Also, I’m glad I didn’t have that Adele song when my heart was broken for the first time…it would of been played way too much.
Something else that makes me cry: The opening scene of Garden State (well, the funeral part).
The Family Stone is a good one, too…I get impossibly sad from that movie!
The opening from Up was a killer. I took my nieces and nephew to the theater, at a time when I just began to understand what our infertility journey would entail – totally did not expect an infertility message to be buried in a cartoon! I sobbed, and my nephew was watching me rather than the movie… That was hard to explain!
Also, Brandy and I must be kindred spirits… My Girl, when Thomas J. dies and Steel Magnolias are my go-to “need a good cry” movies. In fact, I think I may be in the mood for one right about now!
The Green Mile – when Coffee says he was just trying to take away the hurt and then at the end…I’ve showed the movie so my students and BAWLED and I’ve seen in many, many times!
I haven’t seen Up yet -but based on how everyone said it made them cry, I may just have to see it this weekend!
The first thing I cried at in public (well, over the age of 10 or so) was the ending of ET. (Yes, I’m old!)
Pregnancy loss opened the floodgates, and these days I cry at anything and everything. I’m a sop for the happy cry too – you know, when someone achieves something great, or wins something, or is reunited with someone, etc etc.
Though definitely do not cry at baby commercials. Ugh.
Never Grow Up by Taylor Swift
And lots of other things, especially these days. But that song – EVERY time.
When Dobby died.