Top Cry-Inducing Western Songs Ranking [2026]

thank u, nextAriana Grande29rank/position

Ariana Grande – thank u, next (Official Video)

The 2019 song “thank u, next” by American singer Ariana Grande.

It already has quite a mature vibe, but I think it really resonates with middle schoolers too.

The catchy chorus makes the English easy to catch and the meaning easy to grasp.

It expresses a strong determination to move forward even after heartbreak.

Even if you don’t understand the lyrics, just having this track in your player makes you look a bit cooler—it’s that kind of cool song.

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Murakami Shinpei

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Take a bowRihanna30rank/position

Rihanna – Take A Bow

This song, included on the 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad, is a breakup track sung by Rihanna, the Barbadian singer-songwriter and model, and is notable for its beautiful melody.

Summertime SadnessLana Del Rey31rank/position

Lana Del Rey – Summertime Sadness (Official Music Video)

“Summertime Sadness,” a signature song by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey.

It’s an achingly beautiful track that sings of the radiant days of summer and the sense of loss brought on by a friend’s tragic end.

Lana Del Rey’s languid, dreamlike vocals match the song’s melancholic atmosphere perfectly.

The chorus, pleading “Kiss me hard before you go,” feels like the climax of a tragic film.

As you listen, happy memories resurface even as you’re confronted with the reality that there’s no going back—you may find yourself unable to hold back tears.

HalleluijahPentatonix32rank/position

Pentatonix – Hallelujah (Official Video)

This song titled “Hallelujah” was originally sung by Leonard Cohen in 1975.

Many singers have covered it since, and in 2016 the American a cappella group Pentatonix performed a cover of the song.

CirclesPost Malone33rank/position

Post Malone – Circles

I think it’s hard to catch the lyrics of songs in English.

With this song, “Circles,” many people might feel it sounds bright if they just listen to the melody.

The vibe is upbeat, but in fact it’s a song about losing someone important.

Please give it a listen.

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Ryo

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Say SomethingA Great Big World, Christina Aguilera34rank/position

A Great Big World, Christina Aguilera – Say Something (Official Video)

A track about the final conversation before a relationship falls apart.

It’s a captivating ballad featuring piano as the lead instrument.

It reached the Top 10 on charts around the world and won a Grammy in 2015.

It was sampled in Pursuing Paradise’s 2014 track “stop…”.

I Don’t Want to Miss a ThingAerosmith35rank/position

Aerosmith – I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (Official HD Video)

This ballad, which sings of boundless feelings for a loved one, is a moving piece that expresses deep affection for moments you don’t want to let slip by—not even for an instant.

The pure desire to keep gazing at someone, even at the expense of sleep, resonates through the powerful vocals of the American rock band Aerosmith.

Released in 1998 as the theme song for the film Armageddon, it became the band’s first U.S.

number-one hit, holding the top spot for four consecutive weeks.

Its emotion aligns with the film’s portrayal of a father-daughter bond, giving the song a universality that speaks not only to romantic love but also to love for family.

It’s a must-listen for those who want to savor time with someone precious or who are standing at a pivotal moment in life.