Don’t let anyone tell you it’s not okay to cry. The following seven cry songs might help you release your sadness.
I. “Cry Me a River” (1955)
Julie London (1926-2000) sang this long-ago hit first. Many have covered it—but probably not quite as well as Michael Bublé, crooner of many big-band cry songs.
...Now you say, you say you love me
Well, just to prove you do
Come on and cry me a river, cry me a river
Cause I cried a river over you…
II. “Crying” (1961)
The original by Roy Orbison (1936-1988) was epic. Teaming up with kd lang: even more special.
Following Orbison’s death, Lang sang it solo and knocked it out of the park.
III. “Cry to Me” (1961)
A hit for Solomon Burke (1940-2010), it’s been a covers fave since. I like the one below by Marc Broussard:
When your baby leaves you all aloneAnd nobody calls you on the phoneA-don’t you feel like a-cryin’?Don’t you feel like cryin’?Well, here I am, a-honeyA-come on, well, cry to me…
And also this from The Koi Boys:
IV. “Cry Baby” (1963)
Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters brought it to life; Janis Joplin (1943-1970), who covered it in 1971, made it everlasting.
V. “Cry Like a Rainstorm” (1972)
Eric Justin Kaz had the original; Bonnie Raitt‘s version a year later made more of an impression; and Linda Ronstadt, whose catalogue includes many cry songs, eventually did it best.
…Sometimes I’m up
Sometimes down
Where can I run to
How have I sinned
When you cry like a rainstorm
And you howl like the wind…
VI. “Don’t Cry Out Loud” (1976)
Written by Peter Allen (1944 to 1992) and Carole Bayer Sager, it became popular a couple years later when Melissa Manchester recorded it. Having seen both Allen and Manchester in concert multiple times in the 1980’s, it was hard for me to choose; ultimately, I went with the originator.
…Don’t cry out loudJust keep it inside, learn how to hide your feelingsFly high and proudAnd if you should fall, remember you almost had it all…
VII. “Cry Me a River” (2002)
Justin Timberlake‘s pop hit is not to be confused with the 1950’s “Cry Me a River” seen above. On the other hand, as covered by Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox featuring Von Smith, we revisit that era.
