Jacques Brel

This, I think, is the best sad song on the face of the earth (...or rather, the best I've heard), and very probably one of the best, or at least most expressive performances as well. Really excellent stuff. I think it'd be impossible not be affected. Evocative and beautiful, pure and poetic without the pretentious bullshit. Enjoy!

And, if you did enjoy, I might also recommend Amsterdam (a place he really doesn't seem too fond of) and Le Moribond, which, coupled with the last two, makes me rather convinced that the beloved Brel had some very serious women issues. But then again, don't we all...(granted, some more than others). May none of us live the painful lives that alone can produce the gut-fire and hell-deep anguished songs of Jacques Brel! That said, I'm glad he did, because he made some damn good songs out of it.

P.S. the link to Amsterdam has English subtitles but gets cut off a bit short. Here's a link to a version with Russian subtitles but a fuller recording with the end and a few shots of the crowd. The music is great by itself, but the words are great too. Now you can have both!