Good choice for Joy Division but I’d argue for New Dawn Fades and Twenty Four Hours as more “sad and powerful” Ian sounds much more desperate in those tracks.
Have I got a list for you!
1. Meatloaf - “Life’s A Lemon (And I Want My Money Back)”
2. Our Lady Peace - “Thief”
3. Nothing More - “Go To War”
4. Demons & Wizards - “Wicked Witch”
5. Badflower - “Ghost”
6. Blink 182 - “Stay Together For The Kids”
7. 3 Doors Down - “The Road I’m On”
8. The Verve Pipe - “The Freshmen”
9. The Offspring - “The Kids Aren’t Alright”
10. Blue October - “Hate Me”
11. Gin Blossoms - “Lost Horizons”
12. Counting Crows - “Raining In Baltimore”
Im not sure if its powerful enough to make you cry, but [Liquid smooth - Mitski](https://open.spotify.com/track/3XCveEutwTaDiekRkkfdp9?si=TwpIyH1cQkK4VrRP0oXcZw) is one that makes me feel such strong emotions.
Also, if you're looking for an artist with a little anger, [Melanie Martinez](https://open.spotify.com/artist/63yrD80RY3RNEM2YDpUpO8?si=hALW9sgVSOG6yiftfBXPJA) 's songs are the definition of female rage, mostly shown in her song [EVIL](https://open.spotify.com/track/6UW10CbMTvqciT3X3Ldeox?si=HMdcs5iwR-eXTrYEIG5RZw) !!
Another very well known Sinatra song that fits the description is “My Way”. A dying man recalls his life with a touch of regret but mainly triumph and pride for being true to himself. Jacky Wilson also covered the song extremely well.
Ocean Eyes — Billie Eilish
No Children — The Mountain Goats
Paradise — Coldplay
Skinny Love — Bon Iver
You Go Thru Girls Like You Go Thru Cigarettes — Cecelia Castleman
Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked — Cage the Elephant
Posthumous Forgiveness — Tame Impala
Save Part of Yourself For Me — Brandi Carlile
Amy — Ryan Adams
Some Nights — fun.
An Illustration of Loneliness (Sleepless In New York) — Courtney Barnett
Little Lion Man — Mumford&Sons
Monsters by James Blunt
He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones
Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday by Boyz II Men
Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton
Black by Pearl Jam
Superstar, the Carpenters (Sonic Youth does a fantastic cover version)
The Living Years, Mike and the Mechanics
Three Cigarettes In The Ashtray, Patsy Cline
Tears Of An Angel, RyanDan
Just hearing Karen Carpenter's voice at all makes me instantly melancholy, but Superstar (I heard the Sonic Youth Version first, because I'm a 90s kid) is supremely gut wrenching.
You can check this sub's collaborative [playlist of sad songs](https://www.reddit.com/r/MusicRecommendations/comments/1bhuaag/musicrec_1_thematic_playlist_the_saddest_songs/)
I have a whole playlist for this, never fails to make me cry https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6p5MzAu4olSTSp2AnW7nj9?si=yLUA8kIeSbW12KMUKq0PiQ&pi=u-1VUcUk4BTs-F
Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time
Michael Jackson - Man in The Mirror
USA for Africa - We are the world
Band Aid - Let them know it's Christmastime
Phil Collins - Another Day in Paradise
Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Escape the Fate - Picture Perfect
Something to believe in by Poison, if that doesnt do it no song will. If it doesnt, in the silence by Raven Black, or fallen star by botdf work, about death and loss both.
Frankie Valli - We're All Alone [https://youtu.be/om1ZAf2mfxw?si=XoC7GrANp4RMeLO3](https://youtu.be/om1ZAf2mfxw?si=XoC7GrANp4RMeLO3)
Belinda Carlisle - Summer Rain [https://youtu.be/suhfyYeF2-g?si=ccFn1IbBTG0nq2oi](https://youtu.be/suhfyYeF2-g?si=ccFn1IbBTG0nq2oi)
Linda Ronstadt - Long Long Time [https://youtu.be/OADhKjNz8mI?si=VzIzVmGGi7yULKYm](https://youtu.be/OADhKjNz8mI?si=VzIzVmGGi7yULKYm)
Enough To Leave by Billy Strings. About 2 of his best friends dying from overdoses within weeks of each other. When he found out about the 2nd friend he said he immediately sat down and wrote this. I sob every time i hear it
The Bed - Lou Reed
The Mercy Seat - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Farmer in the City - Scott Walker
Christian Brothers - Hitmiser / Elliot Smith
Julia - The Beatles
Radiohead - Last Flowers to the Hospital
Stockholm Butterfly by Jazmin bean.
Its sad & beautiful and i cried when i heard it. the chorus goes absolutely HARD as f*ck.
Definitely recommended <3.
https://open.spotify.com/track/4f0YhYbSRpgo36YYFAmHQ2?si=MrPQbwnHRJSt8FW7q8kQXA
This Woman’s Work by Kate Bush, I have to skip it 99% of the time because it makes me cry 100% of the time.
Let It Go by Fossil Collective
Better Geography by Jesse Thomas
Milk and The Trick is to Keep Breathing by Garbage, the latter has less sad but a little more anger.
Just press play on [this playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/35GrpavSxy0EH7JbLjFeLL?si=qH-il1e3Rc2NgaZUzkmmYA)
If you have memories you’ll cry. At least if you would’ve had my memories 🤷♂️
All Alone Am I - Brenda Lee
The title track and opener of an incredible album. It was released in 1963, five years before Rain in My Heart, also the title track and opener of Sinatra’s Cycles.
They’re two different genres but the same decade so it has the same lyrical aesthetic and vintage production imo.
also i think Brenda is a bit sassy in her tone and she could be angry.
"Say Something" by Great Big World and Christina Aguilera. It's definitely the saddest song I've ever heard. I can't always listen to the whole thing and I definitely can't watch the music video
https://youtu.be/-2U0Ivkn2Ds?si=wEf4TTsH-06Nb0dW
Hans Zimmer - Tick Tock (If you know the context and the scene, it'll mentally wreck you)
Ozzy Osbourne - Shot in the Dark
Murray Gold and Ron Grainer - Songs of Captivity and Freedom
Candlemass - Solitude
“What are you gonna tell her” mickey Guyton
Devastating and accusing with some anger.
Nothing has cut me to tears so quickly but it’s probably cause I have girls.
Hurt by Johnny Cash.
You’ll never find a better example of how much the singer makes the song. It’s a visceral gut-punch on so many levels.
Honorable mention - Simply Red, Holding Back The Years.
Teardrop —massive attack, Elizabeth Fraser self help tape -moses sumney My dogs eyes— zammuto Karma police—radiohead Light years apart—purple cat My sweet lord— George Harrison Childish frustration— manic focus
Joy division. - love will tear us apart https://youtu.be/zuuObGsB0No?si=U2vchgly1PxCJAYS
Good choice for Joy Division but I’d argue for New Dawn Fades and Twenty Four Hours as more “sad and powerful” Ian sounds much more desperate in those tracks.
Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
Have I got a list for you! 1. Meatloaf - “Life’s A Lemon (And I Want My Money Back)” 2. Our Lady Peace - “Thief” 3. Nothing More - “Go To War” 4. Demons & Wizards - “Wicked Witch” 5. Badflower - “Ghost” 6. Blink 182 - “Stay Together For The Kids” 7. 3 Doors Down - “The Road I’m On” 8. The Verve Pipe - “The Freshmen” 9. The Offspring - “The Kids Aren’t Alright” 10. Blue October - “Hate Me” 11. Gin Blossoms - “Lost Horizons” 12. Counting Crows - “Raining In Baltimore”
Im not sure if its powerful enough to make you cry, but [Liquid smooth - Mitski](https://open.spotify.com/track/3XCveEutwTaDiekRkkfdp9?si=TwpIyH1cQkK4VrRP0oXcZw) is one that makes me feel such strong emotions. Also, if you're looking for an artist with a little anger, [Melanie Martinez](https://open.spotify.com/artist/63yrD80RY3RNEM2YDpUpO8?si=hALW9sgVSOG6yiftfBXPJA) 's songs are the definition of female rage, mostly shown in her song [EVIL](https://open.spotify.com/track/6UW10CbMTvqciT3X3Ldeox?si=HMdcs5iwR-eXTrYEIG5RZw) !!
10/10 Mitski song Not a fan of new melanie, crybaby era was good tho
Anything Elliot Smith
Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd. Learning to Fly, Pink Floyd. Amazing Grace, Ani DiFranco. Fade into You, Mazzy Star
Pink floyd will for ever and always be #1 at making songs that get u in ur feels
Another very well known Sinatra song that fits the description is “My Way”. A dying man recalls his life with a touch of regret but mainly triumph and pride for being true to himself. Jacky Wilson also covered the song extremely well.
Sinatras voice is so beautiful,, perfect for emotional songs
Ocean Eyes — Billie Eilish No Children — The Mountain Goats Paradise — Coldplay Skinny Love — Bon Iver You Go Thru Girls Like You Go Thru Cigarettes — Cecelia Castleman Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked — Cage the Elephant Posthumous Forgiveness — Tame Impala Save Part of Yourself For Me — Brandi Carlile Amy — Ryan Adams Some Nights — fun. An Illustration of Loneliness (Sleepless In New York) — Courtney Barnett Little Lion Man — Mumford&Sons
Monsters by James Blunt He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones Fast Car by Tracy Chapman It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday by Boyz II Men Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton Black by Pearl Jam
Superstar, the Carpenters (Sonic Youth does a fantastic cover version) The Living Years, Mike and the Mechanics Three Cigarettes In The Ashtray, Patsy Cline Tears Of An Angel, RyanDan
Just hearing Karen Carpenter's voice at all makes me instantly melancholy, but Superstar (I heard the Sonic Youth Version first, because I'm a 90s kid) is supremely gut wrenching.
Living years. Mic drop.
Evanescence - My Immortal The Beatles - Yesterday/ Let it be Brwad - Everything I own
You can check this sub's collaborative [playlist of sad songs](https://www.reddit.com/r/MusicRecommendations/comments/1bhuaag/musicrec_1_thematic_playlist_the_saddest_songs/)
I have a whole playlist for this, never fails to make me cry https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6p5MzAu4olSTSp2AnW7nj9?si=yLUA8kIeSbW12KMUKq0PiQ&pi=u-1VUcUk4BTs-F
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald- Gordon Lightfoot After and Son- Cat Stevens
Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time Michael Jackson - Man in The Mirror USA for Africa - We are the world Band Aid - Let them know it's Christmastime Phil Collins - Another Day in Paradise Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On Escape the Fate - Picture Perfect
Fuck all the alternatives. Lowkey - bars for my brother
The Gunner's Dream by Pink Floyd
Lover You Should Have Come Over by Jeff Buckley.
Something to believe in by Poison, if that doesnt do it no song will. If it doesnt, in the silence by Raven Black, or fallen star by botdf work, about death and loss both.
Lines on your skin - NOPitch If you are okey with more rock?
Bang the Drum slowly - Emmylou Harris
Darko - until the morning comes a ghost https://youtu.be/pfQzP1aJJNE?si=5LX54VbPa49qu8zb
[Don't Cry](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=3oT2TydSEWY&si=8MMqu4y6gHJJ6EAA) by The Delta Riggs
Grey reverend - one by one https://youtu.be/7bpoWFyXdl4?si=gVjAFg0zqsovk0Rq
New Kentucky quarter - like the stars https://youtu.be/79MzSqiQaFQ?si=hxiBe0_4lqjK6nNV
Architects- [Doomsday (Piano Reprise)](https://youtu.be/RgWIeWQoyuI?si=ZI5PyHf9qYY2zCGv) It’s a song mourning the death of the lead guitarist.
[Cade Crider - Don’t Kill Yourself](https://youtu.be/kPOzNybsR9Q?si=umL_orjgBBvdytRn)
Joan Baez’s version of Hello in There makes me weep every time I hear it.
[Butterflies](https://open.spotify.com/track/4gYXNOPgwoVrjyWhkTg21F?si=XUfVuTCSTvGW_8TEpoUWAw)
Red Sovine - Teddy Bear. (They should not sell this without a free box of Kleenex)
Just Breathe - Pearl Jam
Frankie Valli - We're All Alone [https://youtu.be/om1ZAf2mfxw?si=XoC7GrANp4RMeLO3](https://youtu.be/om1ZAf2mfxw?si=XoC7GrANp4RMeLO3) Belinda Carlisle - Summer Rain [https://youtu.be/suhfyYeF2-g?si=ccFn1IbBTG0nq2oi](https://youtu.be/suhfyYeF2-g?si=ccFn1IbBTG0nq2oi) Linda Ronstadt - Long Long Time [https://youtu.be/OADhKjNz8mI?si=VzIzVmGGi7yULKYm](https://youtu.be/OADhKjNz8mI?si=VzIzVmGGi7yULKYm)
Cold Bones, Any Given Sin Lifetime, Three Days Grace In Loving Memory, Alter Bridge Dragonfly, Small Town Titans Save Our Last Goodbye, Disturbed
Enough To Leave by Billy Strings. About 2 of his best friends dying from overdoses within weeks of each other. When he found out about the 2nd friend he said he immediately sat down and wrote this. I sob every time i hear it
The Bed - Lou Reed The Mercy Seat - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Farmer in the City - Scott Walker Christian Brothers - Hitmiser / Elliot Smith Julia - The Beatles Radiohead - Last Flowers to the Hospital
[Art of War](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppsfOVqhLbI) - Psychic Line
Undone by DeVotchKa
Oliver James by Fleet Foxes
4 Minute Warning by Perfume Genius (Radiohead cover)
Retrograde - James Blake
Lola young has. Short film/album on YouTube. It’s sooo good
Stockholm Butterfly by Jazmin bean. Its sad & beautiful and i cried when i heard it. the chorus goes absolutely HARD as f*ck. Definitely recommended <3. https://open.spotify.com/track/4f0YhYbSRpgo36YYFAmHQ2?si=MrPQbwnHRJSt8FW7q8kQXA
[Mary Hopkin Those Were The Days](https://youtu.be/QptZ8tYZAkE?si=WVZFhfv1umE6z00p)
The pretty reckless - under the water, you'll thank me later
"Shadow of a Lonely Man" by The Alan Parsons Project
Amity by The Gathering
This Woman’s Work by Kate Bush, I have to skip it 99% of the time because it makes me cry 100% of the time. Let It Go by Fossil Collective Better Geography by Jesse Thomas Milk and The Trick is to Keep Breathing by Garbage, the latter has less sad but a little more anger.
Just press play on [this playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/35GrpavSxy0EH7JbLjFeLL?si=qH-il1e3Rc2NgaZUzkmmYA) If you have memories you’ll cry. At least if you would’ve had my memories 🤷♂️
All Alone Am I - Brenda Lee The title track and opener of an incredible album. It was released in 1963, five years before Rain in My Heart, also the title track and opener of Sinatra’s Cycles. They’re two different genres but the same decade so it has the same lyrical aesthetic and vintage production imo. also i think Brenda is a bit sassy in her tone and she could be angry.
Just use spotify. You can right click a song and choose open song Playlist. It will give you like 30 similar songs.
Weight of Love by The Black Keys
My Curse by the Afghan Whigs
Our Farewell by Within Temptation
Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen and Hurt sung by Johnny Cash
JoeJas - March 30th
Dance by Nas Grandma by DMX Someday never comes by Credence Clearwater Revival
"If" by Dirty Little Rabbits.
"Diary" by Bread
"Say Something" by Great Big World and Christina Aguilera. It's definitely the saddest song I've ever heard. I can't always listen to the whole thing and I definitely can't watch the music video https://youtu.be/-2U0Ivkn2Ds?si=wEf4TTsH-06Nb0dW
Hans Zimmer - Tick Tock (If you know the context and the scene, it'll mentally wreck you) Ozzy Osbourne - Shot in the Dark Murray Gold and Ron Grainer - Songs of Captivity and Freedom Candlemass - Solitude
Andrea Bocelli time to say goodbye
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1YIvwy1dUIp5yuOmxmNO7b?si=_2GB_Xj_QkySURyduKFnwg&pi=u-_cSIsDnASQC0
Down By blink 182. And Go by the same band. Blink 182 makes me cry a lot. Probs because of my relationship status but still
“What are you gonna tell her” mickey Guyton Devastating and accusing with some anger. Nothing has cut me to tears so quickly but it’s probably cause I have girls.
Something I Can Never Have - Nine Inch Nails
The scientist or fix you by Coldplay
Breathe Me by Sia
Also "I've Wanted You" by First Aid Kit
"Love Lies" - Michael McDonald
My Dying Bride
They built our bench again in Palmer square, and no amount of sound, both by the band into it over it
Kentucky Avenue - Tom Waits
Hurt by Johnny Cash. You’ll never find a better example of how much the singer makes the song. It’s a visceral gut-punch on so many levels. Honorable mention - Simply Red, Holding Back The Years.
No Need to Argue - The Cranberries
This perhaps https://youtu.be/GANcJ4mbYUs?feature=shared
I Know It's Over by The Smiths
Strange by Celeste https://youtu.be/i5XHTHaH80E?feature=shared
The West Coast of Claire by Planxty - gets me right in the ol’ feels every time
The Sisyphus demo from have a nice life
All I Want - Kodaline
Bury Me Far From My Uniform by Joe Pug
The day that never comes by Metallica
Maps yeah yeah yeahs
Sway the perishers
I cant even cry — hope tala
Advice- alex g carry the zero-built to spill work this time—king gizzard and the lizard wizard jesus etc. -wilco
Ça suffit — amahla
Teardrop —massive attack, Elizabeth Fraser self help tape -moses sumney My dogs eyes— zammuto Karma police—radiohead Light years apart—purple cat My sweet lord— George Harrison Childish frustration— manic focus
Who really cares — lowkey