The power of music to move us emotionally has been highlighted by the 
results of a recent survey.
PRS for Music has named R.E.M.’s classic single Everybody Hurts as the number one song for reducing men to tears.
Coming out top, R.E.M. beat off some strong competition including some classic songwriting.
Eric Clapton’s track Tears in Heaven – written after the death of his son also appeared on the list. The song provided Clapton with a form of therapy after the incident.
Everybody Hurts was originally released in 1992 from the album Automatic for the People and reached a high of number three in the UK singles chart at the time.
In addition, The Samaritans used the track in conjunction with an advertising campaign back in 1995 in response to the high suicide rate
but low crisis service take-up amongst young men.
Other entries include U2’s classic anthem With or Without You and The Drugs Don’t Work by The Verve.
Elsewhere in the Top Ten, Bruce Springsteen’s Streets Of Philadelphia won a place, while Leonard Cohen’s version of Hallelujah and Candle in the Wind by Elton John also charted highly.
“A well-written tear-jerker is one that people can relate to and empathise with,” Ellis Rich, PRS for Music’s chairman said. “It is this lyrical connection that can reach deep down emotionally and move even the strongest of men.”
results of a recent survey.PRS for Music has named R.E.M.’s classic single Everybody Hurts as the number one song for reducing men to tears.
Coming out top, R.E.M. beat off some strong competition including some classic songwriting.
Eric Clapton’s track Tears in Heaven – written after the death of his son also appeared on the list. The song provided Clapton with a form of therapy after the incident.
Everybody Hurts was originally released in 1992 from the album Automatic for the People and reached a high of number three in the UK singles chart at the time.
In addition, The Samaritans used the track in conjunction with an advertising campaign back in 1995 in response to the high suicide rate
but low crisis service take-up amongst young men.Other entries include U2’s classic anthem With or Without You and The Drugs Don’t Work by The Verve.
Elsewhere in the Top Ten, Bruce Springsteen’s Streets Of Philadelphia won a place, while Leonard Cohen’s version of Hallelujah and Candle in the Wind by Elton John also charted highly.
“A well-written tear-jerker is one that people can relate to and empathise with,” Ellis Rich, PRS for Music’s chairman said. “It is this lyrical connection that can reach deep down emotionally and move even the strongest of men.”