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.
- All masterpieces! Western pop ballads that were hits in the ’90s
- Western songs from the 90s featured in commercials. A roundup of CM songs.
- Great Western pop masterpieces and hit songs of the 90s
- [Back to the '90s!] Dance Music from Western Hits of the 1990s
- [For Beginners] A Collection of Iconic and Popular Western Hits from the 1990s
- Great Western rock classics and hit songs of the ’90s
- Nothing but classics! A nostalgic collection of ’80s Western ballads
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for men in their 90s: a collection of moving masterpieces
- I Want to Be Healed from the Heart: Recommended Western Ballads Sung by Female Vocalists
- Love songs in Western music that were hits in the ’90s. World-famous classics and popular tracks.
- 90s Rock Revolution! A Collection of Masterpieces by Western Bands That Colored the 90s
- [2025] Western Music You’ve Heard at Least Once — From Trending New Tracks to Timeless Classics
- Tear-jerking, moving songs in Western music
Tearjerkers! A roundup of touching Western hits from the ’90s (1–10)
ZombieThe Cranberries
While tackling strongly political themes, the Irish band The Cranberries achieved worldwide success.
One of their signature works is an alternative rock track that stands apart from their earlier pop-leaning sound, marked by distorted guitars and heavy drums.
Vocalist Dolores O’Riordan’s voice—akin to a cry of anguish—expresses anger at the loss of young lives in a 1993 terrorist incident.
The song was included on their 1994 album “No Need to Argue” and became a global hit.
Its searing challenge to the meaningless cycle of violence and to the indifference of onlookers continues to resonate across generations.
It’s a masterpiece to listen to quietly when you want to reflect deeply on peace.
I Will Always Love YouWhitney Houston
Whitney Houston is one of the greatest singers in music history.
The song she so powerfully sang was originally by country singer Dolly Parton, but Whitney’s version is the most famous.
Its theme is the ultimate form of love: choosing to step away for the sake of a loved one’s future.
The sincerity of wishing the other person’s happiness strikes deeply at the listener’s heart.
Thinking about the firm vow behind this bittersweet decision—“I will always love you”—leaves one with an indescribable feeling.
Chosen as the theme song for the 1992 film The Bodyguard, which Whitney starred in, it set a monumental record by staying at No.
1 on the U.
S.
charts for 14 consecutive weeks.
When you’ve experienced parting from someone important, listening to it may bring you to tears with its profound love.
Candle in the Wind 1997Elton John
This is a tribute song by Elton John, one of Britain’s most celebrated musicians, dedicated to Diana, the former Princess of Wales, who was struck by a tragedy far too sudden.
It is a reworked version of a classic originally released in 1973, and it was performed at her funeral in September 1997.
Elton John’s performance—singing while playing the piano—moved people around the world to tears.
The lyrics, which liken her brief yet noble life to a candle’s flame and call her the “English Rose,” are filled with deep mourning and affection.
The fact that this special version was performed only once at the funeral may further underscore the gravity and significance of the piece.
Tearjerkers! A collection of moving Western songs that were hits in the 90s (11–20)
A Design for LifeManic Street Preachers
This is a song by the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers, who overcame the tragedy of an original member’s disappearance.
The lyrics, depicting people who live with resilience and without losing their pride even in difficult times, are deeply moving.
Majestic strings and a powerful band sound come together to resonate profoundly with the listener.
Released as a single from the 1996 album Everything Must Go, it debuted at No.
2 on the UK Singles Chart.
At the 1997 Brit Awards, the album won Best British Album, and the band themselves received Best British Group.
When you need the courage to face adversity, this song will gently support your heart.
AngelSarah McLachlan
It is a remarkable ballad whose piano tones resound through the silence, and whose crystalline, purifying vocals strike the heart.
A signature song by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, it conjures the gaze of an angel gently watching over souls suffering on the brink of despair.
It is said that she wrote the song in just a few hours, her heart aching over the tragic death of a fellow musician.
Included on her 1997 album Surfacing, it moved audiences worldwide as a featured song in the film City of Angels.
On nights when your heart is utterly exhausted, listening quietly alone may bring healing—along with tears.
Everybody HurtsR.E.M.
It’s a work that quietly stays by your side when you’re carrying everything alone and feel like your heart is about to break.
It’s a gospel-like ballad by the American rock band R.
E.
M.
—named among Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time—that stirs the soul.
The song appears on the 1992 masterpiece Automatic for the People and was released as a single in April 1993.
Its deep, universal message has touched many, influencing society as well—for example, it was used in a UK suicide-prevention charity’s ad campaign and as part of a charity single supporting relief efforts after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
When you’re exhausted by life, listening to it will surely give you the strength to start walking again.
Un-Break My HeartToni Braxton
When you think of iconic R&B divas of the ’90s, many people probably picture Toni Braxton.
Her husky, richly toned voice is truly one of a kind.
A song that defines her career is this ballad, released as a single in October 1996 from the classic album “Secrets.” Dominating the U.
S.
charts at No.
1 for an incredible 11 weeks, the track gives powerful voice to a woman’s anguished cry after losing her lover.
Its poignant plea to “un-break my heart” strikes straight at the listener’s heart.
Braxton’s signature contralto rides the sweeping production with raw emotion, offering solace to those sunk in overwhelming sorrow.
It’s an enduring masterpiece that’s sure to bring tears when you’re nursing the pain of a broken heart.