Ranking of Sad Songs and Popular Tracks by Foreign Female Artists [2025]

Big Girls Don’t CryFergie15rank/position

Fergie – Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal) (Official Music Video)

Although Fergie is often associated with upbeat songs, her bittersweet tracks are also highly recommended.

Big Girls Don’t Cry is one of her most popular breakup songs.

It’s about the heartache of returning to being friends with an ex.

While the lyrics talk about becoming friends again, they also convey the lingering desire not to part, making them especially poignant.

The melody is relatively pop, which only further accentuates the sadness.

Wrong DirectionHailee Steinfeld16rank/position

Hailee Steinfeld – Wrong Direction

Hailee Steinfeld’s staple breakup song “Wrong Direction.” As you can tell from the melody, the lyrics are extremely sad.

Though abstract, they likely express the feelings of a woman who was cheated on.

It’s not that she hates him, but the wounds her boyfriend left haven’t healed—that’s the gist.

It feels real and incredibly heartbreaking.

It might weigh on some listeners, but if you’re in the mood to sink into something sentimental, definitely give it a listen!

Because Of YouKelly Clarkson17rank/position

Kelly Clarkson – Because Of You (Official HD Video)

Kelly Clarkson, the inaugural champion of the hit show American Idol, excels at pop rock with a country influence.

With her lovable personality and clean, catchy vocals, she became popular especially in the United States.

Because of You is known as one of her signature songs, depicting the feelings of a woman who, after a breakup, has become self-destructive.

Thanks to its catchiness, it was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Country Collaboration with Vocals.

RunLeona Lewis18rank/position

Leona Lewis – Run (Official Video)

Unfortunately, Leona Lewis also gives a strong impression of being an artist from a previous era, but even so, there are universally wonderful songs like this one.

I believe the original is by a British band called Snow Patrol, so please listen to their version as well.

This Used To Be My PlaygroundMadonna19rank/position

Madonna – This Used To Be My Playground (Video)

This is the theme song for the film “A League of Their Own,” starring Madonna alongside Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Rosie O’Donnell.

It’s a slow ballad about being unable to let go of the past because the present isn’t going so well.

Due to licensing issues, the song was not included on the movie’s soundtrack.

How Can I Help You Say GoodbyePatty Loveless20rank/position

Patty Loveless – How Can I Help You Say Goodbye

A track in which, from a mother’s experience and perspective, she gives her daughter advice about a breakup.

It was released in 1994 by American country music singer Patty Loveless.

It became a hit in countries such as Canada and reached No.

3 on the U.

S.

charts.

FarewellRihanna21rank/position

Rihanna – Farewell (Audio)

A track that sings about the anguish of telling a lover goodbye.

Released by Rihanna in 2011, it’s a piano-driven ballad produced by Ester Dean and Alexander Grant.

It became a hit in the UK and other places, and reached No.

69 on the charts in South Korea.