Sad songs have a way of piercing through our hearts and bringing out emotions we may not even know exist. From heartbreak to loss, these songs capture the essence of pain and despair that we all feel at some point in our lives. In this article, we have compiled a list of the top 10 saddest songs that are sure to tug at your heartstrings.
1. Nothing compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor
33 years have passed, but perhaps the lyrics of the hit song “Nothing compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor are still in the top of the best love songs of all time.
It can be said that the story of the immortal song of “Nothing compares 2 U” is a clear proof that a song can only be famous when it is performed by the right singer. Initially, the song “Nothing compares 2U” was composed by Prince and he included in a side project called The Family. However, in 1990, singer Sinead O’Connor covered the song and put it on her second studio album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got. She went from an unknown singer to a world-famous singer in the 90s. The song became a worldwide hit, spent four consecutive weeks on the Billboard charts, certified platinum in Austria. and the United Kingdom and became the best-selling single of 1990.
As soon as the song dropped on the charts, Sinead O’Connor released a thoughtful MV. Her tears in the MV along with her shaved hair touched the world. With her soulful voice, Sinead O’Connor quickly became a phenomenon, and the song quickly spread to those who have been or are in love. It was the face of Sinead O’Connor that inspired Miley Cyrus to make the historic MV “Wrecking Ball”.
Sharing the inspiration for composing the song “Nothing compares 2U”, Prince said that he based on the feelings of a band member who had just broken up with his girlfriend. Therefore, the song breathed an unexpected sympathy into it. The song also bears the signature of Prince by abbreviating the word “to you” as “2 U” in the title (Songs with similar titles of Prince are “I would die 4 U”). There were many people crying during the recording of this song, from the guy behind the scenes to the technician. And the MV is also the pedestal for Sinead O’Connor to become the first female singer to win the MTV Video of the Year award in history.
2. Hurt – Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash passed away on September 12, 2013, nearly 10 years now. His career left many famous songs and until the end of his life, in 2012, he still made a new mark with the music video (MV) of the song Hurt by the band Nine Inch Nails.
Cash’s recording was released in 2003 but it was not until 2012 that the MV was made. This extremely impressive music video has left an unforgettable impression on music lovers.
The audience’s tears were shed at different times while watching MVHurt. An old man sitting and looking back at his past life, thinking about the years and decay, evoked sympathy. Mrs. June died only 3 months after the filming of this MV, and her husband Johnny Cash 7 months. Hurt became a historical MV.
The powerful producer Rick Rubin himself considers this a historical document of music. “I cried the first time I saw it,” he said. “If you can find that feeling when you watch a two-hour movie, it’s a huge success. To find that emotion in a 4-minute MV is amazing.”
The music video for Hurt was sent to Nine Inch Nails member Reznor while he was in the studio with fellow bandmate Zach De La Rocha of the band Rage Against the Machine. When the two sat down and watched the MV, Reznor’s doubts about the success of this record completely disappeared.
“At the end of the video I felt like crying, the space was dead silent. Then, we cleared our throats and asked each other: Would you like some coffee?” – Reznor told.
The story of MV Hurt is even more sad, when it is known that The House Of Cash museum, the house Johnny Cash lived in for nearly 30 years, burned down in 2007.
3. Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
“Would you know my name, if I saw you in heaven?
“Would it be the same, if I saw you in heaven?”
These are the lyrics of the emotional song Tears In Heaven by singer Eric Clapton. Released in 1991, this song “stormed” a series of music charts, winning the Grammy Award for Song of the Year, Album of the Year (Unplugged).
Commercial value aside, Tears In Heaven is also a meaningful song for Eric Clapton because it is believed to be related to the unfortunate death of the singer’s 4-year-old son, Conor. This child has passed away after falling from the 53rd floor to the ground, leaving a deep pain in the hearts of Eric Clapton and his family.
On the morning of March 20, 1991, Eric Clapton’s son was playing with the singer’s ex-girlfriend, Italian actress Lory del Santo, at their 53rd floor apartment in Manhattan, New York City, USA, tragedy struck. Conor accidentally fell out of the open window of the apartment, fell to the ground and died on the spot. At that time, the window was accidentally left open by the cleaning staff.
According to Eric Clapton’s description, his relationship with his son Conor was the closest of his life up to the time of the child’s death. Before that, in the 70s, Eric Clapton was immersed in all kinds of drugs and alcohol. But then the birth of baby Conor in 1986 became the driving force to help the male singer get rid of all his bad habits and return to the “righteous path”.
Three years later, Eric Clapton says his son’s tragedy gave him the strength to live better instead of falling again. He spent months alone gnawing at the pain of losing a child, traveling back and forth between England and Antigua to meet many people, finding solace in the music and the guitar.
During that time, Eric Clapton wrote two songs: Circus Left Town and Tears In Heaven. Circus Left Town tells the story of the male singer and his late son going to the circus before the day he passed away, and Tears In Heaven is the narrative, he wonders if we can still meet the people we love. after they die and go to heaven.
4. Only Love Can Break Your Heart – Neil Young
Neil Young’s “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” has become a classic, with its catchy melody and touching lyrics. But before Saint Etienne and Psychic TV made their versions, the song was born out of sincerity and heartbreak.
Written by Neil Young and released in 1970, “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” is the third track on his third solo studio album, “After the Gold Rush.” The song is a folk-rock ballad that has since become one of Neil Young’s most famous and beloved songs.
Lyrically, “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” is a critical but perceptive account of love and relationships. The concise title of the song speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak, while the lyrics themselves delve deeper into the emotions and complexities of love.
Through his lyrics, Young explores the pitfalls of love and the way that it can leave us feeling vulnerable and exposed. He also acknowledges that, despite the pain that love can bring, it is still a force that can bring great joy and happiness to our lives.
5. The Sound of Silence – Simon, Garfunkel
More than 55 years after its debut, “The Sound of Silence” still reminds the public of Simon & Garfunkel. This is the song on the group’s first album, which failed miserably, causing the two boys to quickly disband for the first time, right after launching their singing careers together.
Thankfully, the album’s music producer Tom Wilson then sat down to try remixing, adding electronic guitar accompaniment and drums to “The Sound of Silence”, a song with a lot of nostalgia. concept, a poetic acoustic ballad. Mr. Tom Wilson released the “cover” again without consulting the two singers.
This remix version became a hit on the radio and topped the US charts, helping to bring Simon & Garfunkel back into the music scene with a newfound status.
But it seems that this “trap” has pursued the careers of the two male singers, because they have officially disbanded twice, reunited many times to perform together for a period of time, and then later. everyone’s way back.
“The Sound of Silence” has a special meaning in the group’s career, helping Simon & Garfunkel to be known and loved after their first defeat.
Member Paul Simon – composer of the song once explained about the appeal of “The Sound of Silence” that: “The song is very simple, both in terms of melody and lyrics, the content is about loneliness. , lost in youth, something we all have more or less experienced through.
The song is very youthful, a young man can hear and realize that the song is not bad, because it contains no confused thoughts, no deep and immense emotions, but only anger, a brief crisis of adulthood. The song is based on genuine emotions and resonates with millions of listeners, mainly because it’s simple and easy to sing along to.”
6. Fix You – Coldplay
Blythe Danner – Gwyneth Paltrow’s mother – was also Chris Martin’s mother-in-law, in an interview said Martin wrote this song for Gwyneth when her father – also Martin’s father-in-law, died. Every time she heard it, she couldn’t hold back her tears.
When writing Fix You, Chris originally intended to use the church organ for the song. But in the end couldn’t get permission to record the background music there, so Chris decided to use the old keyboard that his father-in-law – Bruce Paltrow, gave to his (ex) wife.
“Fix You” received rave reviews from music critics. The song has been used as many different samples, including covers and sounds. The song has been nominated for many awards in the categories of best song, lyrics and musical hymn. The music video received a lot of attention as a tribute to the London bombings on July 7, 2005. The guitar solo of “Fix You” is currently used in player introductions at all home matches. of the Montreal Canadiens at the National Hockey Championship,[2] while the three stars of the match were selected every time the Los Angeles Kings won at home….
7. He Stopped Loving Her Today – George Jones
There is an old cliché saying that country music is mainly composed of 3 chords and facts. There is also another universal saying that country music is, in general, unrelentingly sad. Obviously, it’s just a perspective on the genre of music with many different musical strategies and the ability to convey a variety of emotions.
There is no doubt, however, that He Stopped Loving Her Today, George Jones’ 1980s masterpiece, is exactly like those clichés, even as it manages to overcome them all.
After all, He Stopped Loving Her Today basically has only 3 chords (technically, it has 6, but only by changing keys). The truth can be heard plainly in the melancholy surrender of Jones, an all-time vocalist. The song itself – composed by Boddy Braddock and Curly Putman – contains a sad love story, but then, it becomes even more tormented in Billy Sherrill’s attempt to reach a happy ending.
Later, history continued to honor the song, including a selection by the National Recording Board of the National Library of America in 2009 and multiple times being chosen as the greatest country song of all time on the internet. many celebrity lists. It’s all like a whirlwind once you’ve dived all the way down: George Jones – who will be performing the song – is at an extremely low point, both personally and professionally. , in 1980.
8. I Know It’s Over – The Smiths
As the frontman of the iconic band, The Smiths, Morrissey was a pioneer of the post-punk movement in the 80s. His music was marked by its raw emotion, melancholic lyrics, and distinctive voice. Despite being known for his deep-rooted sadness, Morrissey has always been reluctant to be pigeonholed as a miserable artist. However, with the release of tracks like ‘I Know It’s Over,’ it’s easy to see why Morrissey’s music has been labeled as gloomy. In this article, we will explore Morrissey’s journey into despair and black humor and how his music has influenced a generation.
9. Tom Traubert’s Blues – Tom Waits
Thomas Alan “Tom” Waits (born December 7, 1949) is a unique artist. Tom Waits has a unique voice, and Waits’ personal image and music products all have their own color. Waits’ music is hard to define fully, it’s a mixture of rock, jazz, blues, folk and brings rhyme to each song. With over 40 years of composing, performing (and starring in films), Waits has released numerous songs, received a number of awards, and has a huge following of worshipers as well as horrors. .
The feeling of listening to Waits sing is like feeling the needle of a tattoo moving under the skin: not too painful but horribly pleasurable. The needles are uneven, some are sharp, some are rusty, some are serrated. The tattooed person is a person who shakes his hand because of alcoholism, sometimes the needle goes smoothly, sometimes it tugs deeply into the skin.
The first track, “Tom Traubert’s Blues” or “Waltzing Matilda”, is a symbol of Tom Waits, as well as expressing the spirit of the entire album. Tom Traubert’s Blues borrows from the Australian song “Waltzing Matilda” – a folk song set to music from poetry, and lyrics written by Waits about his alcohol abuse over a period of time.
10. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry – Hank Williams
“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” was written by Hank Williams in 1949. The inspiration for the song is said to have come from Williams’ own experiences with loneliness and heartache. At the time, he was going through a divorce and was struggling with alcoholism, which likely contributed to his feelings of isolation and despair.
According to his biographer Colin Escott, Williams wrote the song while he was on a bus traveling from Montgomery, Alabama, to Mobile, Alabama. As he looked out the window at the passing scenery, he was struck by a sense of overwhelming sadness and penned the lyrics to the song on the back of an envelope.
“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” is a haunting ballad that speaks to the heart of anyone who has experienced the pain of loneliness. The song features simple yet powerful lyrics that are brought to life by Williams’ emotive vocals.
While there are countless songs that tug at our heartstrings, the top 10 saddest songs have proven to be enduring classics that continue to evoke strong emotions. These songs have captured the essence of heartbreak, loss, and longing, and have resonated with listeners for decades. Whether you’re looking to wallow in your sorrows or simply appreciate the beauty of poignant lyrics and melodies, the top 10 saddest songs are a must-listen. So sit back, grab a tissue, and let the music take you on a journey through the depths of human emotion.
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