5 Sad Songs From the 1990s That Still Hit Hard Today

Need a good cry? In the mood to revel in your own misery? There are plenty of songs that make such an experience even worse! Though, we won’t judge you for indulging in a few heartbreaking songs if you’re feeling particularly heartbroken yourself. Let’s take a look at a few sad songs from the 1990s that are still a punch to the gut today!

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1. “Moments Of Pleasure” by Kate Bush

Kate Bush’s voice alone is so well-suited for sad, heartwrenching ballads. She’s released a few such songs through the years, but we’re particularly fond of “Moments Of Pleasure”. Though, “This Woman’s Work” is a ballad that could have easily made it to this list.

“Moments Of Pleasure” is a poignant look back at Bush’s relationships, friends, contemporaries, and loved ones that have been lost throughout her life. The orchestral arrangement only adds to the cinematic nature of the song. And the part where she sings about her mother is particularly devastating.

2. “Brick” by Ben Folds Five

“Brick” is on the underrated side of sad songs from the 1990s. This 1997 track from the Ben Folds Five is an arresting piece of work about a difficult subject: Folds’ high school girlfriend, who got an abortion shortly after Christmas. There are so many perspectives in this song, all of them empathetic yet heartbreaking nonetheless.

3. “Something In The Way” by Nirvana

This legendary Nirvana track is one of the most heartbreaking songs from the grunge outfit’s career. A standout on Nevermind, “Something In The Way” is a bleak and intimate exploration of Kurt Cobain’s time spent as a homeless youth, though Cobain suggested in the past that the song wasn’t entirely autobiographical.

4. “How To Disappear Completely” by Radiohead

Kid A as a whole is a pretty devastating album, but “How To Disappear Completely” is by far one of the most memorable sad songs from that record and the 1990s as a whole. No strangers to penning bleak tunes, Radiohead put together this song with sad lyrics as well as incredibly emotional instrumentation. The way they use the synth on this song in combination with strings is like an orchestral rendition of a mental breakdown.

5. “Enjoy The Silence” by Depeche Mode

These synth pop stars knew how to produce some very sad songs, particularly during the 1990s. Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy The Silence” has a simple yet complex theme: Words can be cruel and hurtful, but they must exist in order to express the pain that words themselves can cause. 

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