Get ready for an emotional journey through music's most touching moments. From heartbreaking ballads to soul-stirring melodies, these songs have moved generations to tears. Our selection spans decades of musical history, featuring legendary artists who've captured the raw essence of human emotion in their unforgettable compositions.
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MusicTranscript
00:00♪ Just stop your crying, it'll be alright ♪
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down
00:09our picks for those emotional tunes that strike a chord
00:12within our collective hearts.
00:14♪ Would you lie with me and just forget the world? ♪
00:21Number 50, November Rain, Guns N' Roses.
00:25Never underestimate the strength of a power ballad.
00:29The Sunset Strip rock of the 1980s knew this all too well,
00:33yet Guns N' Roses was always so much more
00:36than just a simple rock band from that decade.
00:39This was evidenced by the grandeur present
00:41within epics like November Rain.
00:44♪ Nothing lasts forever, and we both know hearts can change ♪
00:50The song was more than just a quick four-minute
00:53power ballad designed to generate sales
00:55for the latest hairspray brigade.
00:58This was something meticulously crafted
01:00by Axl Rose and company,
01:02a song designed with clear emotion in mind.
01:04♪ I'll just end up walking in the gold November rain ♪
01:10The execution was flawless, particularly that ending coda
01:14full of majestic guitar soloing and piano flourishes
01:18that never fail to make our hearts flourish.
01:20♪ I am not the only one, I am not the only one ♪
01:25Number 49, One Sweet Day, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men.
01:31We all deal with the onset of tragedy in different ways.
01:35One Sweet Day was a collaboration
01:37between generational talents,
01:39specifically those belonging to Mariah Carey
01:41and the vocal group, Boyz II Men.
01:44♪ Like so many friends, we've lost the loved one way ♪
01:51The song was inspired by the AIDS crisis
01:53that dominated a lot of news cycles
01:55during the 1980s and 90s,
01:58but didn't necessarily take a shock approach
02:00to its content.
02:01Instead, One Sweet Day feels sad and melancholic,
02:05an inner monologue into the brevity of life
02:08and how many of us don't appreciate
02:10waking up every morning.
02:11♪ No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no ♪
02:16♪ Like so, like so baby ♪
02:19Carey and Boyz II Men sing about hopefully rectifying
02:22those emotional struggles in the afterlife,
02:25reunited with friends and family
02:27that were lost along the way.
02:28♪ It's alright, I never told you ♪
02:36Number 48, please, please, please,
02:39let me get what I want, The Smiths.
02:41The discography of The Smiths is full of songs
02:44with deep emotional resonance.
02:46This is despite historical criticism of the British group,
02:49frequently labeling their songwriting as short-sighted
02:53and without much deviation.
02:55♪ See the look I've had can make a good man turn bad ♪
03:02We couldn't disagree with those detractors more,
03:05as evidenced by the power of please, please, please,
03:07let me get what I want.
03:09The song fits into The Smiths'
03:10famously economical compositional style,
03:13a short and bittersweet ballad that's under two minutes.
03:17♪ So for once in my life, let me get what I want ♪
03:24Yet at the same time, this B-side utilizes
03:27an old-school, vintage-sounding arrangement
03:30to its advantage, packing a lot of sincerity
03:33and introspective sadness within that time.
03:36The end results made please, please, please,
03:38let me get what I want,
03:40a certified fan favorite amongst followers of The Smiths.
03:43♪ God knows it would be the first time ♪
03:50Number 47, Black, Pearl Jam.
03:53It speaks to the defiantly independent spirit of Pearl Jam
03:57that they refused their record company's requests
03:59to make Black a single back when the band's debut
04:02was released in 1991.
04:04♪ She's a filthy canvas on dirty sheets of clay ♪
04:09♪ On dirty sheets of clay ♪
04:13This didn't stop radio stations from playing it, of course,
04:16regardless of the absence of any accompanying music video.
04:20Black, as a result, gained traction the old-fashioned way
04:23via word-of-mouth and actual album listening
04:26by Pearl Jam's increasing legions of fans.
04:29♪ When all I taught her was everything ♪
04:36This made those same fans love Pearl Jam
04:39on an even deeper level,
04:40responding to Black in the live arena
04:42in a way that moves beyond powerful
04:45to become almost transformational in scope.
04:48♪ Every moment ♪
04:57Number 46, Sign of the Times, Harry Styles.
05:01If the passage of time proves anything,
05:03it's that everybody's nostalgic for something
05:06and there will come a point
05:08when a generation looks back at Sign of the Times
05:10by Harry Styles with misty-eyed wistfulness.
05:13♪ Just stop your crying, it's a sign of the times ♪
05:20It's sort of easy to see why, too,
05:22since this song from Styles' first solo LP,
05:26Post One Direction, feels wise beyond its years.
05:29The spirit of classic art rock and pop looms large
05:33over the song's construction,
05:35a confessional tone that's simultaneously epic
05:37and intimate.
05:38♪ Why are we always stuck and running from the bullets? ♪
05:45Sign of the Times is impeccably produced as well,
05:48striking a balance of art and commerce
05:50that effectively silenced any critics
05:52that still focused upon Styles' boy band past.
05:56♪ We got to get away, we got to get away ♪
06:03Number 45, My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion.
06:07It was virtually impossible to escape
06:09the international success of My Heart Will Go On
06:11by Celine Dion when it was released back in 1997.
06:15The tune's appeal swept far beyond the current achieved
06:18by the film soundtrack to Titanic,
06:21instead becoming ensnared within the cultural zeitgeist
06:23as a defining hit of the 90s.
06:26♪ Near, far, wherever you are ♪
06:34This, of course, came as no surprise
06:36to fans of Dion's superstar abilities as a singer,
06:39yet My Heart Will Go On still manages
06:41to pull upon the heartstrings of those fans to this day.
06:44♪ My heart will go on and on ♪
06:52Maybe it's the cinematic source material
06:54or that one-of-a-kind chorus,
06:56but the success of My Heart Will Go On
06:58will likely not be replicated anytime soon.
07:01♪ My heart will go on and on ♪
07:09Number 44, Here Comes Goodbye, Rascal Flatts.
07:14The presence of sadness and heartbreak
07:16within country music shouldn't really come
07:18as a surprise to any music fan.
07:20That said, the part and parcel melancholy
07:22that arrived during the genre's classic years
07:25remains intact with contemporary artists as well.
07:28♪ The start of every sleepless night ♪
07:32♪ The first of every tear I'm gonna cry ♪
07:36Case in point, Here Comes Goodbye by Rascal Flatts,
07:40whose emotional punch was bolstered
07:41by one of the all-time saddest video clips.
07:44This mini-movie is stylish, featuring a snow-covered set
07:48and quality acting from its cast.
07:50♪ But here comes goodbye ♪
07:55Meanwhile, the actual arrangement to Here Comes Goodbye
07:58almost feels like it would feel at home
07:59within one of those classic hair metal power ballads
08:02from the 1980s.
08:04Heck, there's even an epic guitar solo
08:06to hammer home that point.
08:08♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
08:15Number 43, Adam's Song, Blink-182.
08:19It wasn't necessarily a foregone conclusion
08:21It wasn't necessarily a foregone conclusion back in 2000 that Blink-182 was going to expand beyond
08:27the creative confines of pop punk. This was in part what made Adam's song feel so refreshingly
08:33different from songs by so many of the band's peers. The tune wasn't merely content to play
08:45in the often-irreverent sandbox of Blink-182's trademarked genre, but instead spoke to real
08:52concerns of their audience. The topics of mental health struggles and self-destruction were handled
08:57with surprising poignancy by this young band. Meanwhile, the surprising inclusion of piano
09:10during the bridge of Adam's song revealed a willingness to experiment with different sounds
09:15and textures, a willingness that definitely didn't go unnoticed.
09:26Number 42 The Wolves, Act I & II – Bon Iver
09:31The spirits of classic Americana and folk haunt the sound of modern indie icons Bon Iver.
09:38This was evidenced by the passionate response of fans to the group's debut album from 2007,
09:43For Emma, Forever Ago. It's easy to see and hear why too, since songs like The Wolves,
09:58Act I & II generate a lot of emotions within just over five minutes of stark beauty.
10:03This is a song that never needs to speak loudly in order to get its point across to the listener.
10:17Instead, The Wolves, Act I & II whispers heartfelt sentiments
10:22in the hopes that Bon Iver will be heard and understood.
10:25Number 41 Rainbow Connection – The Muppets
10:37Film soundtracks can often create musical touchstones that span the listening habits
10:41of multiple generations. Rainbow Connection may have debuted as part of the Muppet movie in 1979,
10:48but it's since gone on to become a foundational sentiment for the Muppets as a whole.
10:55We're speaking specifically of creator Jim Henson's undeterred optimism for humanity,
11:08for its goodness and creativity.
11:11Rainbow Connection makes us cry happy tears as a result, weeping perhaps for the lost innocence of
11:17youth, but also for joy, and for hope in the future for our children, and how the Muppets
11:23will always be a part of that future.
11:41Number 40 See You Again – Wiz Khalifa Featuring Charlie Puth
11:48The Fast and Furious franchise has never forgotten just how much its former star,
11:53Paul Walker, contributed to the success of those early entries.
12:02A song like See You Again by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth celebrates this fact,
12:08as that same franchise carries on Walker's legacy. The tune is big-sounding, cinematic,
12:14and sentimental, to be sure, but it nevertheless avoids any pitfalls of exploitation.
12:27Instead, See You Again attempts to make the most out of a horrible and tragic situation,
12:32processing grief through music in a way that fans of the Fast and the Furious franchise
12:37definitely appreciated.
12:44Number 39 How to Save a Life – The Fray It's probably not hyperbole to state that
12:50the multiple music videos crafted for How to Save a Life by The Fray likely led to the
12:55song's continued success. All three clips packed different emotional punches.
13:07These ranged from the original's exploration of a car crash and its aftermath,
13:11to the second, which tied into the television medical drama Grey's Anatomy.
13:23It's the third video for How to Save a Life that perhaps stayed with fans the longest, however,
13:28since it was a very raw and realistic depiction of grief, trauma, and loss. Some of these scenes
13:34were particularly hard to watch back in 2006, and would likely arrive with a trigger warning
13:40in the modern day.
13:49Number 38 Father and Son – Yusuf, Cat Stevens
13:54Cultures had shifted during the 1960s and 70s. More young people were seeking to break away
14:00from the expectations of their parents, and the generation gap felt very, very real for parents.
14:07Father and Son speaks to this gap, and never sugarcoats what's going on as Yusuf,
14:13Cat Stevens, plays both roles within the song. The father here clearly loves his son,
14:18but is frightened where a new and deviating path might lead him.
14:22The son, meanwhile, also cares for the father, but wishes the latter could understand fighting
14:28for an independent voice.
14:37It's remarkably poignant stuff from Stevens, and one doesn't necessarily need to be a parent in
14:43order to understand how father and son can be so different.
14:52Number 37 Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
15:07What a difference a decade made for the Goo Goo Dolls. This Buffalo-based rock act actually
15:13started out life with a punk sound on their self-titled debut from 1987. This stood in
15:19very stark contrast to the Goo Goo Dolls we would hear perform Iris from the soundtrack to City of
15:24Angels. It's the strength of the song's lyricism and the power of music video that ultimately
15:38helped make Iris a hit back in 1998. A perfect storm of sorts emerged as guitarist Johnny Resnick
15:45became a visual focal point for the Goo Goo Dolls, and the band's edges were softened.
15:58This was sweeping, cinematic sentimentality that swung for the fences
16:03and hit an emotional home run.
16:05Number 36 Streets of Philadelphia – Bruce Springsteen
16:14The discography of Bruce Springsteen has never been deficient in narrative brilliance.
16:19The boss has always made it a point to tell powerful stories with his songs.
16:23This cut from the soundtrack to the film Philadelphia was no exception,
16:27and showcased a side of Bruce Springsteen's songwriting in a cinematic vein.
16:34Streets of Philadelphia hinges upon an understated but definitely groovy breakbeat,
16:45while Springsteen's vocals feel intimate and earnest,
16:49tethering the song to the tragic seriousness of its source material.
16:53It's a song that steps slowly, but with deliberate intent, never exploiting Philadelphia's tale of
17:06a man unjustly terminated from his job during the AIDS crisis.
17:18Number 35 Fire and Rain – James Taylor
17:22We, as listeners, don't necessarily need to understand a song's intention or meaning
17:27to appreciate its end results. Fire and Rain by James Taylor can simply be enjoyed in a vacuum,
17:34for its beautiful vocal melodies and quiet musical power.
17:45Those that dig a little deeper into Taylor's lyricism will likely be struck with just how
17:49much pathos Fire and Rain can pack in around three and a half minutes. Self-reflections upon
17:55fame, fortune, and the music business are juxtaposed against a real-life tragedy
18:01that afflicted Taylor and his childhood friend Suzanne.
18:10Fire and Rain remains one of James Taylor's trademark hits,
18:14but it's also one that can be appreciated quietly, away from its cultural legacy.
18:19Number 34 River – Joni Mitchell
18:30The crossroads of art and commerce can be an interesting place,
18:34particularly when it comes to analyzing the singer-songwriter boom of the 1970s.
18:39Artists such as Joni Mitchell were enjoying larger audiences than ever during this time,
18:45and this made songs like River connect with multiple generations.
18:49River utilizes Christmastime as a setting, incorporating the standard of jingle bells to tell
19:02an otherwise sad tale of heartbreak. Mitchell works as a painter to this end, coloring River
19:07with emotional colors to which all of us can relate. This idea of being depressing during
19:18what would otherwise be a happy time of the year was not lost on Joni Mitchell's listeners then or
19:24now, and River sounds just as vibrant and important today. Number 33
19:38I Don't Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith We don't, generally speaking, look to the
19:43worlds of big-budgeted disaster movies for emotionally resonant theme songs.
19:55Then again, 1998's Armageddon also wasn't your average, everyday disaster movie,
20:01because it contained I Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith on its soundtrack.
20:13Sure, this song certainly feels like a slickly produced advertisement for the movie,
20:18because it is that, but that doesn't mean that it also can't touch people.
20:22I Don't Want to Miss a Thing almost makes us cry in spite of ourselves,
20:26as we're overcome by the lush orchestration and impeccably produced power ballad formula.
20:32Number 32
20:41I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton It doesn't really matter whether you're
20:45listening to the original version of I Will Always Love You by Dolly Parton,
20:49or the iconic cover by Whitney Houston. The emotional impact of this song remains the same.
20:55I Will Always Love You has that achingly beautiful chorus, but the secret to its
21:05success is probably more than that at the end of the day. It's the simplicity and honesty of its
21:11composition that allows I Will Always Love You to transcend any perceived limitations of genre.
21:17I Know I'll Think of You Each Step
21:24A good song is a good song after all, and Dolly Parton essentially leapfrogged over
21:29country music constraints with I Will Always Love You, with the result that
21:33this song essentially became one of the best from any genre.
21:37I Will Always Love You
21:44Number 31
21:46Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol Some songs sound sad due to their lyrics,
21:51while others rely on their musical arrangements to achieve this end. Snow Patrol songs like Run
21:56have stuck with listeners of this Northern Irish-Scottish rock band over the years.
22:06It's probably Chasing Cars that's connected with more casual music fans over the years, however.
22:11Ever since it was released as a single back in 2006,
22:22the tune is a perfect storm of sorts, combining the melancholy of its melody
22:27with lyrics that create that perfect introspective mood.
22:30What can we say? Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol just gets us every time.
22:36But these things will never change for us at all
22:42Number 30
22:43Dust in the Wind – Kansas
22:49As soon as you hear that opening line, you know you're in for a rough time.
22:54Dust in the Wind is dark, and focuses on the one inevitable aspect of all of our lives,
22:59the end. The lyrics are reflective, pondering about how everybody's dreams,
23:04fears, and secrets are all ultimately meaningless. Dust in the winds of time.
23:14It's a full existential crisis that plays out in the span of just over three minutes,
23:19and has an overall despondent mood that anyone can relate to.
23:23The harmonies and seemingly simple string instrumental add to the evocative vibe,
23:27making it impossible to not feel something as you listen.
23:35Number 29
23:38Cats in the Cradle – Harry Chapin
23:47Families can be a beautiful thing, but we don't often discuss the unavoidable shift
23:51in the relationship between parents and their children as the latter grow older.
23:55Cats in the Cradle, however, beautifully encapsulates this change. It laments the
23:59passage of time and all the important milestones the narrator missed while working.
24:04Still, his son takes it in stride, and strives to emulate him. Unfortunately,
24:15that ends up becoming true in the most depressing way, with the father being cast aside by his
24:20child. It's a gut-wrenching piece that will make any parent hug their kid a little harder.
24:31Number 28
24:32Bad Religion – Frank Ocean
24:35Unrequited love is one of the most painful emotional experiences someone can go through.
24:43The feeling of caring deeply for another person, just for them to not reciprocate,
24:48is heart-wrenching. In Bad Religion, Frank Ocean details these complex feelings to someone he
24:53assumes will listen – a taxi driver. The track ends up being a cathartic release,
25:04where Ocean explains the often fanatic sensations that come with loving a man
25:08who doesn't feel the same way. The repetitive lines help convey this even further, highlighting
25:13just how painful unresolved feelings can be. Regardless of your relationship status,
25:18it's hard to listen to this without sorrowfully reflecting on the one who got away, or never even
25:23was. Number 27
25:32Yesterday – The Beatles
25:41With a discography as vast as theirs, it only makes sense for The Beatles to have multiple
25:46solid emotional tunes under their belt. Whether they're talking about letting go or singing about
25:51love, they capture the human condition in plenty of their hits. Yesterday is one of their most
25:56wistful. It focuses on a relationship that's recently decayed, and how the narrator wishes
26:07he could return to a time when they were still happy. The straightforward nature of the number
26:12only adds to the devastation. Using just one vocalist and string accompaniments,
26:17the band paints a clear picture of heartbreak that always gets us in our feelings.
26:27Number 26
26:28Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
26:33Crises can strike anyone, even rock stars. There was a time when Stevie Nicks was wondering if the
26:39path she was on was the right one. That, coupled with the fact that it was an uncertain time in
26:44her and Lindsey Buckingham's career, led to Landslide. And lives were changed. The folk rock
26:50number details how it feels when everything comes crashing down around you, and you wonder if you
26:55can weather the storm. It also captures the fear of potentially losing the chance to achieve one's
27:06dreams. To say that's difficult, heavy stuff, would be an understatement. But it's real, which
27:11is why it continues to resonate so deeply today. Somehow, it almost hits harder each time it's
27:17played. Number 25
27:25Dance With My Father – Luther Vandross
27:32The memories we make with our parents are precious, but limited. Each one is made with
27:36the knowledge that eventually, the relationship will come to a natural end. However, the times
27:41we experience together never truly fade, and even affect us into adulthood. In Dance With My Father,
27:53Luther Vandross looks back on core experiences he shared with his late father growing up,
27:58like dancing with him and his mom. He reminisces on the pure love he felt, and wishes he could
28:04bring him back. It's more than just a song. It's a gut-wrenching plea for something that can never
28:09be fulfilled. And we can never maintain our composure when we hear it. Number 24
28:21Lazarus – David Bowie
28:27While a track can be sad on its own, sometimes the context surrounding it amplifies that emotion.
28:33David Bowie's career was long and illustrious, spanning decades and genres. He continued
28:38working until the very end, with his last efforts including his swan song, Lazarus.
28:47It's extremely self-aware, with the legend reflecting on life coming to an end.
28:52While the content is bleak enough, it being released shortly before Bowie's death
28:56twisted the proverbial knife. It's undoubtedly harrowing, but there's also a sense of freedom,
29:01like he'd come to terms with his fate and was ready to tackle it head-on.
29:05It became a fitting piece to cap off his legacy.
29:11Number 23 – My Immortal – Evanescence
29:19With Amy Lee's ethereal voice and melancholic production,
29:23Evanescence created a ballad that's impacted the lives of millennials everywhere.
29:27My Immortal captures the feelings of unrelenting grief,
29:31and how it never seems to fade despite how much time has passed.
29:36From detailing the pain that comes with loss to attempting to accept it,
29:44the stirring tune encapsulates what it's like to be stuck in the mourning process.
29:49The natural crescendo into the bridge is also gorgeous, ushering in an emotional peak.
29:54It's one of the most recognizable and well-loved ballads of the 2000s,
29:59and it's clear to see why. It's nearly impossible not to sing along and shed a tear as you listen.
30:05Number 22 – Who Wants to Live Forever – Queen
30:22While it may have been created for Highlander, this power ballad has become so much more.
30:28The orchestra-backed tune is gorgeous, and asks a simple yet existential question.
30:34Is living forever worth it without the person you love? While it's always been melancholic,
30:39it was made even more sorrowful by Freddie Mercury's passing in 1991.
30:50Suddenly, the lyrics took on a new, somehow even deeper message,
30:53and he and Brian May trading lines on the album version seemed extra fitting.
30:58The posthumous context has helped Who Wants to Live Forever endure beyond its soundtrack
31:03beginnings, cementing it as one of the most haunting and poignant entries in the band's catalog.
31:15Number 21 – One More Light – Linkin Park
31:19It's hard to believe that one song can be so soaked in sadness. Written after the death of
31:30a friend, One More Light is centered around grief, and letting your nearest and dearest know how you
31:36feel. The words and melody cut deep, but the pain goes beyond them, which is saying a lot. Indeed,
31:46the ambient ballad was notably performed as a tribute to Chris Cornell after his death.
31:51It was also among the last songs Chester Bennington recorded with Linkin Park before his
31:56passing. These events further amplify the raw hurt that permeates the number. Not only does
32:01One More Light make anyone who's grieved feel understood, it also serves as a tribute to those
32:07we've lost. Number 20 – What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
32:18Here's an inspiring, uplifting, intensely emotional song that's never likely to be forgotten.
32:31Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World is considered by many to be the soundtrack to the
32:3520th century, despite the bloody conflicts that dominated the period. A piece of music that puts
32:47everything into perspective, it brings a tear to the eye because it pits the miracle of life
32:52against the waste of war. The world would be a better place if we all just listened to these
33:03lyrics and actually put them into practice. Number 19 – I Will Follow You Into The Dark –
33:15Death Cab For Cutie The afterlife is often a tricky topic to tackle, but Death Cab For Cutie's
33:20Ben Gibbard talks us through with such brilliant tenderness, it's all but impossible not to well up.
33:26I Will Follow You is one man, one voice, one acoustic guitar, and one simple,
33:37splendid ideal that we might meet our closest loved ones again, when our life on earth has
33:42ended. An outwardly depressing subject matter is turned into an incredibly hopeful moment,
33:53as this song has us all take stock of ourselves and of the people who we care for most.
34:05Number 18 – Someone Like You – Adele
34:14Probably the most popular modern breakup song to make today's countdown, Someone Like You is still
34:20a signature tune for Adele, despite the countless hits that the UK singer has had before and since.
34:33A touching, almost tribute to an ex-boyfriend of hers, she lays it all on the lyrical line
34:38with this one, and almost every music listener respects her for it.
34:41Adele wears her heart firmly on her sleeve, while we without a doubt wear our tears on our cheeks.
35:01Number 17 – Lay Me Down – Sam Smith
35:04Yes, I do, I believe that one day I will be where I was.
35:10We could have gone with Sam Smith's Stay With Me for this spot,
35:13but Lay Me Down will make you cry just a little harder.
35:22The lead single from Smith's Grammy award-winning debut album In The Lonely Hour,
35:27Lay Me Down was built around many of the same themes that are found on the album,
35:31specifically unrequited love.
35:38The video alludes to Smith's ongoing hope that equal LGBTQ rights will one day be a worldwide
35:45reality, while the singer's powerful voice will haunt you and force you to bawl your eyes out.
35:57Number 16 – Fake Plastic Trees – Radiohead
36:01Radiohead are well known for being a little brutal with their views on society,
36:09but this is surely the band's best, if not most depressing take on the world around them.
36:14A scathing critique of the inescapable artificial nature of life in the 90s,
36:18it grows more and more relevant by the day.
36:21Although exit music for a film is awfully melancholy in its own right,
36:31there's just nothing else as bleak or as brilliant as fake plastic trees.
36:43Listen to it, look at the world around you, and we defy you not to be moved.
36:47Number 15 – Nothing Compares To You – Sinead O'Connor
36:58One of the most instantly recognizable songs and music videos ever created,
37:03very little compares to this when it comes to tempting tears.
37:07Nothing Compares To You is easily Sinead O'Connor's greatest commercial success.
37:18Not that the controversial performer got to enjoy much of the fame that it generated for very long.
37:23Originally written by Prince, this song is love,
37:26loss, and lots of emotionally effective close-up camera work.
37:30O'Connor's famous tear towards the song's end wasn't planned, but wow does it work.
37:35Nothing can stop her lonely tears from falling, or ours for that matter.
37:47Number 14 – Angel – Sarah McLachlan
37:50A song originally written in relation to substance use disorder and the spiraling
37:55psychology of those that suffer from it, this especially touching Sarah McLachlan number
38:01has subsequently been linked with teary-eyed topics of all kinds.
38:10The ambiguous, eponymous Angel is an almost unknowable thing, designed to give hope or
38:16relief when times are hard. As McLachlan's piano plays softly in the background, her listener is
38:27invited to interpret her lyrics for themselves and project the pain of her voice onto their
38:31own past experiences. A good cry that comes naturally.
38:42Number 13 – Fix You – Coldplay
38:46By now, even the toughest amongst you may have at least a little something in your eye,
38:55and if not, then our next pick will set you sobbing, no doubt.
39:05Tackling love and loss like so many on our countdown before them, Coldplay turns the
39:10saddest subject matter into a tear-filled rollercoaster of a record with this song.
39:15The first half had us subdued, the second half had us singing along,
39:26and if that doesn't have your eyes watering, just watch them perform it live.
39:37Number 12 – Wild Horses – The Rolling Stones
39:40Exactly who this song was written for remains a mystery. Marianne Faithfull's the most likely,
39:46though it has also been linked to Bianca Jagger and Keith Richards' son Marlon.
39:57What is clear is that with one simple hook,
39:59the Stones produced an ageless piece of music that has stood hairs on end for generations.
40:11Mick's distinctive voice finds a perfect match as this brooding,
40:15crooning, subdued song leaves the listener as lonely as the frontmen.
40:26Number 11 – Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day
40:29While Good Riddance is a tear-jerking song we all love,
40:33our pick for Green Day had to go to this track from American Idiot.
40:41This rock ballad was originally written about lead singer Billy Joe Armstrong's father,
40:47who passed away from cancer when Billy was only 10 years old.
40:56But the song's backstory became even more emotional after Hurricane Katrina struck in
41:01late August of 2005. Serving as a symbolic anthem for all the victims and families struck by the
41:07disaster, this track's meaning was then further elevated by its accompanying music video that
41:12also served as a critique of the Iraq War. Number 10 – The Sound of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel
41:23The opening lines to our next track are amongst the most recognizable in all of modern music.
41:28Written shortly after the JFK assassination, this song also became an accompaniment to the Vietnam War.
41:49It welcomes darkness and is perhaps most effective when it's played within it.
41:53The combination of vocals and the high tones are as haunting today as they were in the mid-1960s.
42:04While Bridge Over Troubled Water is another contender,
42:13the legacy of The Sound of Silence is hard to beat.
42:23Number 9 – Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
42:32The title track to their 1975 album, Wish You Were Here was written for Pink Floyd founder
42:38member Syd Barrett in response to his alleged battle with schizophrenia.
42:42The whole album explores the theme of detachment, and David Gilmour's vocals
42:53retain a curiously absent quality as he pines for his friend.
43:03The whole track comes across as an effortless piece of music,
43:06a train of thought that is at once sad and beautiful in its simplicity.
43:13Number 8 – Mad World – Michael Andrews Featuring Gary Jules
43:28Originally written by Tears For Fears in 1982,
43:31this song saw a big resurgence when it was showcased in the 2001 thriller Donnie Darko.
43:43With delicate piano notes and calming vocals by Gary Jules,
43:46this new version quickly overshadowed the original song,
43:49and resonated with listeners feeling helpless and intimidated by modern life.
43:54We've all needed a song to drown our sorrows from time to time,
43:57and Mad World speaks to the difficult and uncertain journey we're all taking in this life,
44:02allowing us to reflect on what true happiness might feel like.
44:12Number 7 – Fast Car – Tracy Chapman
44:15One of the hardest things about growing up is figuring out who you want to be.
44:25This question is even more difficult to answer for those living in poverty,
44:29and with the odds stacked against them.
44:37Tracy Chapman expressed this beautifully in the song Fast Car,
44:41the lead single from her debut album.
44:43In this track, Chapman describes a young woman desperately seeking out a better life for herself,
44:48but struggling to get there.
44:54Everyone deserves happiness in this life, yet without family or friends to help you get there,
44:58it can be difficult to achieve, and that's what makes this song just downright heartbreaking.
45:03Number 6 – The Living Years – Mike and the Mechanics
45:20This 80s ballad once again picks apart the question of life and death,
45:24and summarizes the conundrum in six short words.
45:27It's too late when we die.
45:33A global chart hint, this song addresses an unresolved conflict between songwriter B.A.
45:39Robertson and his father shortly before he died.
45:47Specifically about the bond between a boy and his father,
45:50the idea is applicable to just about any relationship that we could have.
45:53That's why it gets us singing along, even if it is difficult to do that and not shed a tear.
46:03Number 5 – Candle in the Wind – Elton John
46:14Originally penned in memory of Marilyn Monroe,
46:17Candle in the Wind is also famously linked to Diana,
46:20Princess of Wales, after Elton played it at her funeral.
46:23Though the lives of its subjects have been tragically short-lived,
46:33the song itself has endured for generations, and rightly so.
46:42It's emotional enough without context, but it's a fitting tribute to two iconic women,
46:47and to celebrities in general that die too young. An elegy of the highest order.
46:53Number 4 – Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
47:01This song was powerful when Leonard Cohen sang it originally,
47:04but when Jeff Buckley caressed his vocals around the lyrics,
47:08hairs stood on end and lumps formed in throats.
47:18It's love that's gone stale, so it's relatable for many of us.
47:23There's also anguish in his voice that's impossible to fake.
47:31He isn't just singing the words, he understands them.
47:40A talent that was lost too soon, this song is his legacy.
47:44Number 3 – Everybody Hurts – R.E.M.
47:53We defy anyone not to be moved by our first podium entry.
48:03Everybody Hurts has become a staple soundtrack to modern day life.
48:08Adopted by the Samaritans charity, it was originally written by the band for
48:12anyone struggling with severe depression.
48:14This song not only prompts tears, it saves lives.
48:17According to the lyrics, we all cry, and most of us do when we sing them.
48:22Everybody hurts, and after this song, everybody's reaching for the tissues.
48:26Number 2 – Hurt – Johnny Cash
48:28Originally penned by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails,
48:32Hurt was taken on by the legendary Johnny Cash several years later.
48:40It's a song that's been around for a long time,
48:42and it's a song that's been around for a very long time.
48:45It's a song that's been around for a very long time,
48:47and it's a song that's been around for a very long time.
48:51I hurt myself today
48:55It brings the memories of his past under the cold, harsh spotlight of his present.
48:59Everyone I know goes away
49:06Cash was very frail when recording the song, and he died seven months after its release.
49:11Relaying the unstoppable passing of time,
49:13it's accompanying music video as a memorial to one man,
49:16but something that we'll all experience.
49:18It's about as powerful as music can be.
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49:43Number 1 – Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
49:48Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven is an incredibly moving piece of music,
49:57made all the more impactful by the great personal tragedy Clapton experienced.
50:05When his four-year-old son tragically passed away in 1991,
50:09we'd have understood if Clapton never picked up a guitar again.
50:12But he did, and was able to produce a record that's as terrific as it is teary.
50:18Reminding us all of anyone who's passed,
50:25Tears in Heaven verbalizes what everyone else would like to say.
50:28It's a tear-jerking tune that gets us every time.
50:38What is it about sad songs that strike the deepest chords?
50:42Lyrics, music, or both?
50:44Let us know in the comments.
50:48When I see you again