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A wonderful, moving song

Tearjerkers! A roundup of moving Western songs that were hits in the ’90s

Music has a mysterious power to heal the heart and stir deep emotions.

In particular, the international music scene of the 1990s produced countless masterpieces that moved people around the world.

In this article, we introduce emotional Western hits from the ’90s that continue to resonate with many listeners across generations.

From bittersweet love songs to tracks that give you the courage to live positively, we present a selection of gems that speak to the soul.

Alongside a wave of nostalgia, you’re sure to find a song that strikes a chord with you.

Playlist

Tearjerkers! A roundup of moving Western songs that were hits in the ’90s
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastEnd of the RoadBoyz II Men
End of the RoadBoyz II Menplay_arrow
A 90s R&B treasure, a cry of love
2eastTears in HeavenEric Clapton
Tears in HeavenEric Claptonplay_arrow
Elegy for Eric Clapton’s son
3eastNovember RainGuns N’ Roses
November RainGuns N' Rosesplay_arrow
A classic song by Guns N' Roses
4eastDon’t Let Go (Love)En Vogue
Don't Let Go (Love)En Vogueplay_arrow
The moving impact of 90s R&B, En Vogue
5eastDon’t Look Back In AngerOasis
Don't Look Back In AngerOasisplay_arrow
Oasis classic “Wonderwall” inspires people
6eastI Will Always Love YouWhitney Houston
I Will Always Love YouWhitney Houstonplay_arrow
The ultimate love song about stepping aside for the one you love
7eastZombieThe Cranberries
ZombieThe Cranberriesplay_arrow
The Cranberries’ classic song that sings of anger against violence
8eastMore Than WordsExtreme
More Than WordsExtremeplay_arrow
A moving love song by Extreme
9eastTornNatalie Imbruglia
TornNatalie Imbrugliaplay_arrow
A soul-stirring singing voice and a heartrending worldview
10eastNothing Compares 2 USinéad O’Connor
Nothing Compares 2 USinéad O'Connorplay_arrow
A masterpiece that gently envelopes sorrow—a classic by Sinéad.
11eastA Design for LifeManic Street Preachers
A Design for LifeManic Street Preachersplay_arrow
The powerful song of Manic Street Preachers
12eastEverybody HurtsR.E.M.
Everybody HurtsR.E.M.play_arrow
The essence of timeless songs that heal loneliness and support the heart
13eastAngelSarah McLachlan
AngelSarah McLachlanplay_arrow
A timeless, soul-stirring ballad—a song that heals sorrow
14eastWonderwallOasis
WonderwallOasisplay_arrow
A heart seeking salvation, a wish upon the Wall of Miracles
15eastI Want It That WayBackstreet Boys
I Want It That WayBackstreet Boysplay_arrow
A Backstreet Boys classic that portrays the conflicts of love
16eastUn-Break My HeartToni Braxton
Un-Break My HeartToni Braxtonplay_arrow
The classic hit by 90s R&B diva Toni Braxton
17eastIrisGoo Goo Dolls
IrisGoo Goo Dollsplay_arrow
An angel’s heartrending love, a classic by the Goo Goo Dolls
18eastCandle in the Wind 1997Elton John
Candle in the Wind 1997Elton Johnplay_arrow
A tribute song for Princess Diana moves the world
19eastI Don’t Want to Miss a ThingAerosmith
I Don't Want to Miss a ThingAerosmithplay_arrow
A love song, I don't want to miss a single moment.
20eastMy Heart Will Go OnCéline Dion
My Heart Will Go OnCéline Dionplay_arrow
Titanic theme song, a famous masterpiece that sings of love
21eastRound HereCounting Crows
Round HereCounting Crowsplay_arrow
The History of the Lead Track “Mr. Jones”
22eastHeroMariah Carey
HeroMariah Careyplay_arrow
A song about realizing your inner strength
23eastHand in My PocketAlanis Morissette
Hand in My PocketAlanis Morissetteplay_arrow
An iconic song by a leading female singer of the ’90s
24eastWaterfallsTLC
WaterfallsTLCplay_arrow
A classic hit by the 90s R&B group TLC, a profound cautionary song
25eastChanges2Pac ft. Talent
Changes2Pac ft. Talentplay_arrow
An explanation of a classic song that sings about the current state of racial discrimination
26eastNo SurprisesRadiohead
No SurprisesRadioheadplay_arrow
A Radiohead masterpiece of fear and euphoria
27eastCry for HelpRick Astley
Cry for HelpRick Astleyplay_arrow
Rick Astley’s last hit was affected by his fear of flying.
28eastThe FreshmenThe Verve Pipe
The FreshmenThe Verve Pipeplay_arrow
A heart-wrenching song depicting the experience of abortion
29eastStay (I Missed You)Lisa Loeb
Stay (I Missed You)Lisa Loebplay_arrow
Lisa Loeb classic, music video directed by Ethan Hawke
30eastAnywhere For YouBackstreet Boys
Anywhere For YouBackstreet Boysplay_arrow
A ballad that sings of the Backstreet Boys’ devoted love
31eastShow Me The Meaning Of Being LonelyBackstreet Boys
Show Me The Meaning Of Being LonelyBackstreet Boysplay_arrow
A heartbreaking ballad about lost love, a timeless song that resonates with the heart
32eastMr. WendalArrested Development
Mr. WendalArrested Developmentplay_arrow
A socially conscious song about the hardships of life in Atlanta
33eastUnder The BridgeRed Hot Chili Peppers
Under The BridgeRed Hot Chili Peppersplay_arrow
A hit song depicting drugs and loneliness
34eastFoolish GamesJewel
Foolish GamesJewelplay_arrow
A youthful song about the frustrations of love
35eastTake A BowMadonna
Take A BowMadonnaplay_arrow
An inspiring masterpiece featuring Babyface
36eastThe World I KnowCollective Soul
The World I KnowCollective Soulplay_arrow
Loneliness depicted in a music video of mingled joy and sorrow
37eastPlushStone Temple Pilots
PlushStone Temple Pilotsplay_arrow
Stone Temple Pilots' classic song
38eastBreak Your HeartNatalie Merchant
Break Your HeartNatalie Merchantplay_arrow
Songs of encouragement, music dedicated to the youth
39eastAdiaSarah McLachlan
AdiaSarah McLachlanplay_arrow
Sarah McLachlan’s emotional love song
40eastBitter Sweet SymphonyThe Verve
Bitter Sweet SymphonyThe Verveplay_arrow
A masterpiece by The Verve that questions the meaning of life
41eastBlack Hole SunSoundgarden
Black Hole SunSoundgardenplay_arrow
Soundgarden’s grunge masterpiece song
42eastNo More I Love You’sAnnie Lennox
No More I Love You’sAnnie Lennoxplay_arrow
Love Song, covered by Annie Lennox
43eastHeartbreak StationCinderella
Heartbreak StationCinderellaplay_arrow
A classic song that sings of the sorrow of lost love
44eastMiss MiseryElliott Smith
Miss MiseryElliott Smithplay_arrow
The theme song of the film “Good Will Hunting”
45eastLet Her CryHootie&The Blowfish
Let Her CryHootie&The Blowfishplay_arrow
A husband struggling with his wife’s alcoholism
46eastGalileoIndigo Girls
GalileoIndigo Girlsplay_arrow
A famous song that sings of Galileo's soul and rebirth
47eastSaltwaterJulian Lennon
SaltwaterJulian Lennonplay_arrow
Collaborative compositions and activities advocating against environmental destruction
48eastDo You Remember?Phil Collins
Do You Remember?Phil Collinsplay_arrow
Phil Collins's famous song
49eastDisarmThe Smashing Pumpkins
DisarmThe Smashing Pumpkinsplay_arrow
Song of the Pumpkin Spiders’ Rage
50eastOneU2
OneU2play_arrow
Bono’s lyrics: diverse interpretations and meaningful donations
51eastI’ll Never Get Over You Getting Over MeExposé
I'll Never Get Over You Getting Over MeExposéplay_arrow
Expose's last hit song, composed by Deian
52eastOne Sweet DayMariah Carey & Boyz II Men
One Sweet DayMariah Carey & Boyz II Menplay_arrow
A masterpiece that sings of the pain of bereavement, a song by Mariah Carey.
53eastPhiladelphiaNeil Young
PhiladelphiaNeil Youngplay_arrow
The moving theme song from a film depicting AIDS-related prejudice
54eastMy Favorite MistakeSheryl Crow
My Favorite MistakeSheryl Crowplay_arrow
A song about a romance with Eric Clapton
55eastBlueThe Jayhawks
BlueThe Jayhawksplay_arrow
A classic song by an alt-country band
56eastI TryMacy Gray
I TryMacy Grayplay_arrow
A sad yet bittersweet song sweeps the charts
57eastShape Of My HeartSting
Shape Of My HeartStingplay_arrow
Film music by Sting and Dominic
58eastSunny Came HomeShawn Colvin
Sunny Came HomeShawn Colvinplay_arrow
A song about a woman who escapes her past