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R.E.M.'s 'Everybody Hurts' Tops List of 'Songs That Make Men Cry'

Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images

R.E.M. are tops for tears, according to a new UK survey that named the band's 'Everybody Hurts' as "the song that makes men cry the most."

The somber 1992 ballad, penned largely by the band's former drummer Bill Berry, was ranked highest among a survey conducted by PRS for Music, an organization which collects and pays royalties to its 70,000 songwriting and composing members. Eric Clapton, U2 and Bruce Springsteen also placed in the top 10.

"A well-written tear-jerker is one that people can relate to and empathize with," PRS for Music's chairman Ellis Rich said in a statement. "It is this lyrical connection that can reach deep down emotionally and move even the strongest of men."

R.E.M.'s song was reworked earlier this year by an array of pop stars to help raise money to aid victims of the earthquake in Haiti, making it the quickest-selling charity song since the turn of the century. According to UK's Metro, Berry cited the directness of the song's lyrics, which he said were "aimed at teenagers."

Eric Clapton's 'Tears in Heaven,' which he penned after the tragic 1991 death of his son Conor, placed second. Check out the full list below:

1. 'Everybody Hurts' -- R.E.M
2. 'Tears in Heaven' -- Eric Clapton
3. 'Hallelujah' -- Leonard Cohen
4. 'Nothing Compares 2 U' -- Sinead O'Connor
5. 'With or Without You' -- U2
6. 'The Drugs Don't Work' -- The Verve
7. 'Candle in the Wind' -- Elton John
8. 'Streets of Philadelphia' -- Bruce Springsteen
9. 'Unchained Melody' -- Todd Duncan
10. 'Angels' -- Robbie Williams


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Greg Maas

The living years by Mike and the Mechanics, To Mother by Jang Hyuk (g.o.d.) korean singer, actor.

March 20 2012 at 7:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brooklynese

River by Joni Mitchell.

February 01 2011 at 9:28 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Rick

How about The Call's "You Run"?

February 01 2011 at 8:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John Grychak

"OLD SHEP" always brings a tear to my eyes.

February 01 2011 at 6:29 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to John Grychak's comment
JMark

We're talking about new songs in the last ten to twenty years not a song written in the 1940s. Not that it's a bad song but it's not relevant to the current topic.

February 01 2011 at 1:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Big kris

Say hello to heaven- temple of the dog
Dont know what u got till its gone-cinderella
Return to serenity-testament

October 01 2010 at 5:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Alzwel

I would put Landslide by Fleetwood Mac above at least half of the songss listed.

September 30 2010 at 7:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BillDerBerg

... STFU&GTFO 'Spinner'. Whenever ANY OF *those pathetic, dis"Em"genuous "songs"* would come on the radio I'd quickly change the station or pop in something REAL like Sabbath's 'Mob Rules' CD. BTW... 'Over and Over' off that album is definitely a tear-jerker... especially now that Ronnie James Dio (R.I.P.) is 'DEAD'. Oh ya... *cRap/Hip Hop* still $uck a hairy ballsack so sit on *it* and 'SPIN'.

September 30 2010 at 1:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mikeleahan

a couple others,"Father & Son" by Cat Stevens, "All By Myself" by Eric Carmen

September 30 2010 at 1:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jadd

U2 - Sometimes you can't make it on your own.

Song about Bono's all too familiar relationship with his deceased father. When it comes on it gets dusty in the room.

September 30 2010 at 10:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike D.

Slayer's "Angel of Death" always brings a tear to my eye.

September 30 2010 at 7:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply