Music is a timeless art that has the ability to heal and move those who listen to it. Whether happy, sad, or indifferent, tunes cut across the human spectrum to evoke and inspire a variety of emotions. Everyone has gone through a deeply saddening moment, and in times like these, turning to music can help ease the pain.
These days, the options are vast for those searching for the right song to help them work through their feelings. Streaming platforms are packed with playlists, albums, and singles that cater to a wide variety of moods including those that are tear-jerking and bittersweet. This guide is here to help readers create the ultimate sad songs playlist of 2024, giving them everything they need to craft the perfect soundtrack for their grief.
What is a Sad Song?
Sad songs come in a variety of different styles and genres, making them universally relatable and appealing to almost everyone. The melodies and lyrics often evoke feelings of loneliness, heartbreak, and loss, and feature stark yet beautifully composed arrangements. Some of the most common genres for sad songs include folk, country, and ballads, but listeners can now find such tunes in any genre from hip-hop to metal.
Qualities of the Ultimate Sad Song
While a sad song can be identified by its melancholy sound, it’s a little more unique to craft the ultimate sad song playlist. Some of the ideal components to consider are emotional lyrics, an appropriate melody and tempo, and artists who genuinely understand and sympathize with the listener’s grief. Some other factors that play a large role in the creation of a good playlist are pacing, song order, and transitions between individual tracks.
Top 100 Sad Songs of 2024
After considering all the necessary qualities and factors, users can begin putting together their ultimate sad song playlists for 2024. The following songs have been selected to help inspire listeners and guide in the search for songs with which they connect. This list will help them create a cohesive playlist that will offer them solace, empathy, and support when they need it most.
1. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum
2. “The Heart of Life” by John Mayer
3. “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel
4. “The Dance” by Garth Brooks
5. “Cry” by Faith Hill
6. “Keep Breathing” by Ingrid Michaelson
7. “Somebody to Love” by Jefferson Airplane
8. “Whisper My Name” by Randy Travis
9. “When the Season Fades” by BisonMilk
10. “Farewell to All We’ve Loved” by Neil Young
11. “The Rain Song” by Led Zeppelin
12. “If You See Her, Say Hello” by Bob Dylan
13. “They Stood Up for Love” by LIVE
14. “Foolish Games” by Jewel
15. “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac
16. “How to Save a Life” by The Fray
17. “Cry Me a River” by Julie London
18. “Hello, Goodbye” by The Beatles
19. “Memory” by Sarah McLachlan
20. “Cryin'” by Aerosmith
21. “If It Makes You Happy” by Sheryl Crow
22. “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison
23. “Ordinary Man” by Paul Williams
24. “Let Her Cry” by Hootie & The Blowfish
25. “Why” by Tracy Chapman
26. “Lonely” by Ben Harper
27. “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt
28. “I Will Remember You” by Sarah McLachlan
29. “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton
30. “Unbreak My Heart” by Toni Braxton
31. “Yesterday” by The Beatles
32. “Beautiful War” by Kings of Leon
33. “At Seventeen” by Janis Ian
34. “The Joker” by Steve Miller Band
35. “Say Something” by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera
36. “Blackbird” by The Beatles
37. “Bye Bye Love” by The Everly Brothers
38. “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt
39. “Angie” by The Rolling Stones
40. “Someone Like You” by Adele
41. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
42. “Danny Boy” by Jackie Wilson
43. “I See Fire” by Ed Sheeran
44. “Something I Can Never Have” by Nine Inch Nails
45. “Losing You” by Randy Newman
46. “All of My Days” by Alexi Murdoch
47. “Lovesong” by The Cure
48. “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison
49. “Home” by Daughtry
50. “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd
51. “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen
52. “I Can Dream About You” by Dan Hartman
53. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Gerry and the Pacemakers
54. “When I See You Again” by Jimmy Scott
55. “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” by Jimmy Ruffin
56. “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor
57. “San Francisco” by Tim Buckley
58. “Some Tin Soldier” by The Small Faces
59. “Hello, Is It Me You’re Looking For” by Lionel Richie
60. “Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles
61. “I Feel It Coming” by The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk
62. “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles
63. “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers
64. “In Dreams” by Roy Orbison
65. “Let It Be” by The Beatles
66. “I Can’t Tell You Why” by Eagles
67. “This Used to Be My Playground” by Madonna
68. “Piano Man” by Billy Joel
69. “My Way” by Frank Sinatra
70. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
71. “Every Time I Hear Your Name” by Keith Andersen
72. “Tears Dry on Their Own” by Amy Winehouse
73. “Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler
74. “Don’t Cry Daddy” by Elvis Presley
75. “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
76. “Goodbye to You” by Scandal featuring Patty Smyth
77. “This Is Us” by Keyshia Cole
78. “Send in the Clowns” by Judy Collins
79. “I Will Remember” by Toto
80. “The Way We Were” by Barbra Streisand
81. “Since You’ve Been Gone” by Rainbow
82. “Raining in Baltimore” by Counting Crows
83. “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful” by Gary Allan
84. “I’ll Stand by You” by The Pretenders
85. “Leave the Light On” by Beth Hart
86. “Many Happy Returns” by Lola Marsh
87. “Chimes of Freedom” by The Byrds
88. “Crucify” by Tori Amos
89. “Here Without You” by 3 Doors Down
90. “Papa Loved Mama” by Garth Brooks
91. “Stay with Me” by Sam Smith
92. “Without You” by David Guetta featuring Usher
93. “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
94. “When We Were Young” by Adele
95. “You Are So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker
96. “I Need You” by America
97. “Hurt” by Johnny Cash
98. “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin
99. “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City” by Bobby ”
100. “Tomorrow” by Chris Young