Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)
Encyclopedia
"Sad Movies" is a 1961 pop song by the American singer Sue Thompson
. The song was written by John D. Loudermilk
and appears on Thompson's 1962 Hickory Records
album Meet Sue Thompson.
Released as a single
in 1961, "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)" was Thompson's first song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100
chart, where it peaked at number five in October. The song also reached the top of the Billboard Easy Listening chart, which had been created earlier in 1961, becoming the second song by a female vocalist to top this list. In Australia, the song topped out at number six on the Kent Music Report
, while in the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 46 on the UK Singles Chart
.
Although Thompson was in her thirties when she recorded "Sad Movies", her singing style and young-sounding voice appealed to many of the Baby Boomer
s whose influence was starting to become apparent on the US music charts. Loudermilk was inspired to write the song after a girlfriend of his went to see the 1960 film Spartacus: "After the movie went off, they turned the bright lights on, and it was just an ambience killer. The person I was with had tears in her eyes and said, 'Sad movies make me cry'."
The Lennon Sisters
also recorded a version of "Sad Movies" in 1961 which peaked at number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 13 on the Easy Listening chart. Other artists who have covered
the song include:
- Brazilian group Trio Esperança
, who recorded in 1962 a version called "Filme Triste", with words written by Romeu Nunes;
- British pop singer Carol Deene
(whose version of the song charted at number 44 on the UK Singles Chart
- At the same time as Thompson's recording), 1961, French pop singer Sylvie Vartan
recorded the song version("Quand le film est triste");
- In the seventies, the song had a German disco group Boney M. version;
- A Spanish version by Queta Garay entitled "Las caricaturas me hacen llorar".
Sue Thompson
Sue Thompson is an American pop and country music singer. She is best known for the million selling hits "Sad Movies " and "Norman", both pop hits for her in the 1960s.-Early life:...
. The song was written by John D. Loudermilk
John D. Loudermilk
John D. Loudermilk is an American singer and songwriter.-Biography:Born in Durham, North Carolina, Loudermilk grew up in a family who were members of the Salvation Army faith and was influenced by the church singing. His cousins Ira and Charlie Loudermilk were known professionally as the Louvin...
and appears on Thompson's 1962 Hickory Records
Hickory Records
Hickory Records is a United States record label founded by Acuff-Rose Music in 1954 which operated the label up to 1979. Present owner Sony/ATV Music Publishing revived the label in 2007. Originally based in Nashville, functioning as an independent label throughout its history, it has had several...
album Meet Sue Thompson.
Released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 1961, "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)" was Thompson's first song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, where it peaked at number five in October. The song also reached the top of the Billboard Easy Listening chart, which had been created earlier in 1961, becoming the second song by a female vocalist to top this list. In Australia, the song topped out at number six on the Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
, while in the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 46 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Although Thompson was in her thirties when she recorded "Sad Movies", her singing style and young-sounding voice appealed to many of the Baby Boomer
Baby boomer
A baby boomer is a person who was born during the demographic Post-World War II baby boom and who grew up during the period between 1946 and 1964. The term "baby boomer" is sometimes used in a cultural context. Therefore, it is impossible to achieve broad consensus of a precise definition, even...
s whose influence was starting to become apparent on the US music charts. Loudermilk was inspired to write the song after a girlfriend of his went to see the 1960 film Spartacus: "After the movie went off, they turned the bright lights on, and it was just an ambience killer. The person I was with had tears in her eyes and said, 'Sad movies make me cry'."
The Lennon Sisters
The Lennon Sisters
The Lennon Sisters are a singing group consisting of four siblings: Dianne , Peggy , Kathy , and Janet . They were all born in Los Angeles, California of German/Irish and Mexican ancestry. The original quartet were the eldest four in a family of twelve siblings...
also recorded a version of "Sad Movies" in 1961 which peaked at number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 13 on the Easy Listening chart. Other artists who have covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
the song include:
- Brazilian group Trio Esperança
Trio Esperança
Trio Esperança is a Brazilian vocal trio, formed in the city of Rio de Janeiro in 1958, by the siblings Mário, Regina and Evinha Correia José Maria...
, who recorded in 1962 a version called "Filme Triste", with words written by Romeu Nunes;
- British pop singer Carol Deene
Carol Deene
Carol Deene was an English pop singer.After appearing on Joan Regan's BBC TV programme 'Be My Guest' in 1961, when she was 16, Deene was signed to the HMV label, and scored three Top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart in 1962...
(whose version of the song charted at number 44 on the UK Singles Chart
- At the same time as Thompson's recording), 1961, French pop singer Sylvie Vartan
Sylvie Vartan
Sylvie Vartan is a French singer. She was one of the first rock girls in France. Vartan was the most productive and active of the yé-yé style artists, considered as the toughest-sounding of those. Her performance often featured elaborate show-dance choreography. She made many appearances on French...
recorded the song version("Quand le film est triste");
- In the seventies, the song had a German disco group Boney M. version;
- A Spanish version by Queta Garay entitled "Las caricaturas me hacen llorar".