Gayle King Shares Her Bittersweet Playlist
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“Why did I find yearning music so strangely uplifting?” writes Susan Cain in her book Bittersweet—the 99th Oprah’s Book Club pick. We’ve all felt this: a song that sounds sad but also makes us feel a rush of love, nostalgia, and even joy. It’s this mix of emotions that creates such meaning in our lives—sometimes just for the length of an Adele track.
For Gayle King, it’s all about the lyrics. She says that the beauty of a song is when it speaks the emotions we’re all really feeling but can’t always express, and that’s especially true for the list below. On the first listen, these songs may be considered strictly sad and sorrowful, but they all tell a story, and how the artist sings them make them what Gayle describes as “hauntingly beautiful.” Below, Gayle tells us why these songs hit home for her.
“To Be Loved,” by Adele
From Adele's latest album, 30, “To Be Loved” is a flood of emotions. She speaks about how growth and true love requires risk. You can actually hear the longing and passion in her voice as she sings it. And at the end of the day, this is what everybody wants...“To be loved.”
“Resentment,” by Beyoncé
“Resentment” is one of Beyoncé’s songs that tackle the subject of infidelity. The ballad is moving and painful, and it addresses the honest emotion that we don’t always recognize when we’re feeling hurt: resentment.
“My Heart Will Go On,” by Celine Dion
Everyone knows “My Heart Will Go On,” the theme song from the blockbuster film Titanic. Celine Dion’s classic is chilling and powerful and was literally made for us to experience the idea of losing the love of your life. Yet, the lyrics of the song show still that “the heart will go on.”
“Piece by Piece,” by Kelly Clarkson
In Kelly Clarkson’s “Piece by Piece,” she tells the story of a girl singing about her father abandoning her, but then she meets somebody who then shows her what it’s like to have a real, active father.
“Love Will Lead You Back,” by Taylor Dayne
I listened to this when I was going through my divorce, even though I knew I wasn’t getting back together with my ex.
“Homesick,” by Kane Brown
“Homesick,” by Kane Brown, is very popular among servicepeople, and it was made specifically for military families, but it really applies to anyone who is missing someone.
“Hallelujah,” by Leonard Cohen
From the first chord you hear on this song, it defies description. It is hauntingly beautiful. Susan Cain features this in her book as well.
“Marry Me,” by Thomas Rhett
When you first listen to “Marry Me,” by Thomas Rhett, you think this song is going to be about him being with the woman of his dreams, but it’s really about the girl who got away and is marrying someone else.
“29,” by Carly Pearce
Carly Pearce talks about her life personally at 29, “the year [she] got married and divorced.” It was a difficult year for her, but also a very joyous year for her.
Listen to Gayle’s personal playlist:
Listen to Oprah’s and Susan’s playlists here:
Bittersweet
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