Music is the best way to express your emotions, whether you are feeling ecstatic or overwhelmed. Melancholic music has always been a part of our lives because, through it, we can pour our hearts out.
There was a radical shift in musical style during the 1980s. Different genres of music were making their way across the country and winning hearts. As a matter of fact, some of the saddest and most moving songs ever written were released in the 1980s.
We present 5 sad 80s songs that will make your heart cry. So grab a box of tissues and prepare to sob.
5 Sad 80s Songs for You When You Are Blue
Feeling Blue? Know where to go when you need to escape into music and let your feelings out. Here are 5 sad songs from the ’80s to listen to.
1. “Still Loving You” by Scorpions
- Band: Scorpions
- Year: 1984
- Album: Love at First Sting
- Lyricist: Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker
- Genre: Hard rock
The Scorpions released this song for the first time in 1984 on their album Love at First Sting. The beautiful guitar solos and mournful rhythm have won the hearts of music fans around the world.
According to the lyricist Rudolf Schenker, it’s a tale of a relationship that may have ended but was given another chance. While listening to the song, at first, you will notice that it has the sensation of a rock song. After a while, if you pay close attention to the lyrics, you will realize the song actually conveys a melancholic message with words like
“…I would try to change
Things that killed our love…”
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2. “Careless Whisper” by George Michael
- Artist: George Michael
- Year: 1984
- Album: Make it Big
- Lyricist: Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael
- Genre: Pop
If you have a list of sad songs from the 1980s and you’re missing “Careless Whisper,” the list isn’t complete. All music fans who are going through difficult times in their lives but have a strong attachment to the song in their hearts.
Despite the fact that the song “Careless Whisper” by George Michael is about cheating on a partner, many people consider it to be a timeless love song. The way he passionately sings these lines,
“…Time can never mend
The careless whispers of a good friend…’
This sad tune will transport you right into the heart of his suffering. As many listeners from different parts of the world have cried their hearts out to the song, it’s apparent that this 80’s sad song has a universal appeal.
3. “Disintegration” by The Cure
- Band: The Cure
- Year: 1989
- Album: Disintegration
- Lyricist: Robert Smith
- Genre: Gothic rock
Robert Smith was never the type of person to steal the show at a gathering. In 1989, he and the other members of The Cure were feeling considerably more down than usual.
One of the gloomiest songs of all time was “Disintegration” by one of the gloomiest bands of the 1980s. The fact that Smith would be turning 30 the following year added another layer of sadness to his life as he prepared to record Disintegration. This discovery scared him, so he started writing lyrics like
“….Through the eye of the needle, it’s easier for me
To get closer to heaven than ever feel whole again…”
The song’s dramatization of a relationship’s downfall was gripping. You’ll probably feel a bit sidetracked by the time it’s over with you.
4. “Drive” By The Cars
- Band: The Cars
- Year: 1984
- Album: Heartbeat City
- Lyricist: Ric Ocasek
- Genre: Rock
“Drive” is another classic 80s sad song that features a gorgeous melody that builds and fades in a sorrowful yet comforting way. The mesmerizing voice that made The Cars famous is featured prominently in this track’s gradual buildup with lyrics like
“…Who’s gonna pay attention to your dreams?
Yeah, who’s gonna plug their ears when you scream?…”
It’s an absolutely stunning ballad with touching lyrics and a captivating electronic backdrop. Upon its release, Drive quickly became the Cars’ most successful single worldwide. Even today, sad people around the world seek comfort in this melancholic song.
5. “The River” by Bruce Springsteen
- Artist: Bruce Springsteen
- Year: 1981
- Album: The River
- Lyricist: Bruce Springsteen
- Genre: Folk rock
‘The River’ is a coming-of-age story that will make you evaluate your life choices on a surface level. It is told from the perspective of a 19-year-old man who gets his fiancée pregnant, marries, works in a factory, and eventually succumbs to depression.
From a deeper perspective, this is the archetypal story of someone whose dreams have to be immediately readjusted when he is confronted with the real world, not the one in his mind. You’ll feel your heart wrenching when Bruce Springsteen sings,
“…Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true?
Or is it something worse?…”
The river serves as a metaphor for aspirations toward the future all throughout the song. Even though he knows they are doomed, Bruce refuses to give up on his dreams. If you’re feeling down, play this song, and you’ll find some spiritual comfort.
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