A Compendium Filled with Tears | Playlist 🎧

1. The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Save Your Tears (Remix)”

🎵 “Save Your Tears (Remix)” • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2021

“Save your tears for another day.” The overall sound and vibe are preserved on 🎵 “Save Your Tears (Remix)”, the remix of the 💿 After Hours hit, 🎵 “Save Your Tears”. “Save Your Tears” remains firmly planted in the 80s, with 🏆 Grammy winners 🎙 The Weeknd and 🎙 Ariana Grande embracing synthpop. Of course, in addition to The Weekend producing, they owe a great deal to 🎛 Max Martin and 🎛 Oscar Holter.

The Weeknd shines, singing the first verse, refrain, pre-chorus, and chorus.  The chorus – excerpted at the top of this review – is simple but ultimately memorable and definitely tuneful. Where we get contrast on “Save Your Tears (Remix)” is the second verse, which is not only performed by Ariana Grande, but turns out to be a totally new verse.

“Met you once under a Pisces moon
I kept my distance ‘cause I know that you
Don’t like when I’m with nobody else
I couldn’t help it, I put you through hell.”

She sounds exceptional – as refined as ever.  Beyond the verse, she performs a refrain and pre-chorus of her own (directed toward a male, of course), before performing the chorus.  From there, we get collaboration between both, repeating the refrain, chorus, and the outro, an extension of the chorus.  These two definitely always bring the heat when they duet! 

Also Appears On 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: April 2021

2. Ariana Grande, “No Tears Left to Cry”

💿 Sweetener • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2018

“Comin’ out, even when it’s rainin’ down / Can’t stop now, can’t stop, so shut your mouth.” 🏆 Grammy-winning pop artist 🎙 Ariana Grande came back strong post- Manchester terror attack on 🎵 “No Tears Left to Cry”, the exuberant, uplifting standout from her 2018 album, 💿 Sweetener. “Right now, I’m in a state of mind / I wanna be in, like, all the time,” she commences “No Tears…,” continuing, “Ain’t got no tears left to cry / So, I’m pickin’ it up, pickin’ it up…”

Things begins moderately slowly, with the dramatic, lush, smoothly sung intro (the eventual chorus) before a danceable groove transforms things. Grande shows exuberance, singing playfully in her lower register on the verses.  She gradually ascends, hitting her stride – her commanding upper register – on the chorus.  The chorus is catchy, with the best attribute being how uplifting it is.

Also Appears On 🔽:

🔗 🎧 10 Songs Where You ‘Know’ or ‘No’

🔗 🎧 11 More Songs About Crying from Beyond 2010

🔗 🎧 15 More Songs That Incorporate Virtues (Vol. II)

🔗 🎧 100 Best Songs of 2018

🔗 🎧 15 N Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason

🔗 🎧 Tears: 3BOPS No. 10 (2021)

3-4. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, “The Tracks of My Tears” / “The Tears of a Clown”

💿 My World: The Definitive Collection • 🏷 Motown / UMG Recordings Inc. • 📅 2007

“Although I might be laughing loud and hearty / Deep inside I’m blue.”  On the 1965 classic 🎵 “The Tracks of My Tears” (💿 Going to a Go-Go), the first of two 🎙 Smokey Robinson ‘tear-driven’ songs, he’s talking about showing face – a façade.  He may pretend with jovial-ness, but he’s really feeling down because she’s not there.  Oh, the plight of love Mr. Robinson! “So, take a good look at my face / You’ll see my smile looks out of place,” he sings on the iconic chorus, continuing, “If you look closer, it’s easy to trace / The tracks of my tears / I need you, I need you.”  The best line has to be “My smile is my makeup / I wear since my breakup with you.” “The Tracks of My Tears” NEVER grows old – that vintage, old-school R&B by 🎙 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.

“Now if there’s a smile on my face
It's only there tryin’ to fool the public.”

It doesn’t stop with “The Tracks of My Tears”! Robinson ranks among the greatest songwriters of all time, and his 1967 record, 🎵 “The Tears of a Clown” (💿 Make it Happen) is among the best of his illustrious catalog.  Like “The Tracks of My Tears,” Smokey once more puts on a façade:

“But don’t let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression.”

Ultimately, he has “The tears of a clown, when there’s no one around / OH YEAH BABY.” The funny thing is that “Tears of a Clown” is an up-tempo soul record that makes you want to dance.  Of course, once again, Smokey puts on that façade.

5.Taylor Swift, “my tears ricochet”

💿 folklore • 🏷 Taylor Swift • 📅 2020

“I want you to know / I’m a mirrorball / I’ll show you every version of yourself tonight,” 🏆 Grammy-winner 🎙 Taylor Swift sings, on 🎵 “My tears ricochet,” one of many accomplished records from 💿 folklore, one of the best albums of 2020.  Furthermore, it’s one of the best albums (if not the best) of Swift’s illustrious career.  She continues, singing, “I’ll get you out on the floor / Shimmering beautiful / And when I break, it’s a million pieces.” “My tears ricochet” is a poetic record about an “embittered tormentor showing up at the funeral of a fallen object of obsession.”

Contextually within the record, Swift was wronged, the relationship with this individual was tumultuous, yet now that she’s dead, he’s haunted and realizes the scope of the loss.  While the imagery and poetry is breathtaking, many believe “My tears ricochet” isn’t really romantic, and has a real life connection to Swift.  Can you say, that infamous Big Machine Records feud?

Also Appears On 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Tears: 3BOPS No. 10 (2021)

6. Greta Van Fleet, “Tears of Rain”

💿 The Battle at Garden’s Gate • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2021

“Who will bring the rain?” Ah, we bring some rock to the table with 🎵 “Tears of Rain.” “Tears of Rain” appears as the sixth track on 💿 The Battle at Garden’s Gate.  The Battle at Garden’s Gate marks the sophomore studio album by 🏆 Grammy-winning rock collective, 🎙 Greta Van Fleet, led by Robert Plant-influenced vocalist, 🎙 Josh Kiszka. Safe to say Greta Van Fleet isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.  Rocker 🎙 Steven Wilson isn’t a fan for example, characterizing the band as “a third-rate impersonation of Led Zeppelin”.  Ouch! For our intents and purposes, we’ll mostly focus on the song and performance!

That said, Josh Kiszka isn’t one for subtlety.  How could he with such a distinct, whiney voice that’s filled with ‘treble.’  On this ballad, he manages to show some nuance but given his tone, his instrument cuts right through.  Beyond the singing, if that’s not your jam, “Tears of Rain” does feature a fine harmonic progression, and some of the production touches are pretty sweet as well. There’s certainly beauty to be found on this cut, at least to some extent.  Thematically, Greta Van Fleet tackle a hot button topic: climate change. “Drifting through the pains before us / as it turns to dust before our eyes,” Kiszka sings on the second verse, continuing, “Pleading for a god to pour us / Just a little bit of rain from an empty sky.” Not certain it’s a prayer, but okay.  On the chorus, he states:

“And the planet is still turning
And he faces are still burning
And the mothers with their children search for the rain.”

Worth noting, 🎛 Greg Kurstin sits behind the boards.

7. Bring Me the Horizon, “Teardrops”

💿 POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR • 🏷 Sony • 📅 2020

“I’m tripping on the edge / High as a kite, I’m never coming down / And if you hear me, guess you know how it feels.” Question: is 🎙 Bring Me the Horizon ever dull? The answer is a resounding HELL NO 👿👿👿!  🎙 Oli Sykes and company continue to ‘bring the heat’ after all these years.  ‘Banger’ 🎵 “Teardrops,” a single from their 2020 album, 💿 POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR serves as the case in point.  How so? Well, the record is incredibly energetic, Sykes is turned TF up, and the songwriting is memorable.

Production and sound always play a big role in BMTH albums.  That’s the case here as we get a mix of heavy rock cues as well as awesome electronic touches (Sykes and 🎛 Jordan Fish).  Safe to say, Oli has a kick ass backdrop to sing over.  As always, he balances more even keel vocals (verses) with his more high-flying, unclean approach on the chorus.  Speaking of the chorus, this is he crown jewel, easily getting stuck in one’s head and allowing for Sykes to unleash the bomb – the f-bomb!

“I’m running outta teardrops, let it hurt till it stops
I can’t keep my grip, I’m slipping away from me
Oh, God, everything is so fucked, but I can’t feel a thing
The emptiness is heavier than you think.”

So, what exactly is “Teardop” about? According to Sykes via BBC Radio 1, it’s “About how our moral compass is a little bit skewed because we’re so numb to the bad news every single day and it’s hard to know what we should actually do about that.” He has a point.  He covers it more extensively in the hyperlinked video clip.

8. Amy Winehouse, “Tears Dry on Their Own”

💿 Back in Black • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2006

“I cannot play myself again / I should just be my own best friend / not fuck myself in the head with stupid men.” Whoa 🎙 Amy Winehouse – whoa! In a showdown for the ages, Winehouse seemed a lock to win the highly coveted Album of the Year at the 🏆 50^th Annual Grammy Awards with the soulful masterwork, 💿 Back in Black.  She was in what was perceived to be dead heat with Kanye West (💿 Graduation), but after winning five awards that evening, it seemed like a done deal.  Of course, by now, everyone knows that arguably the biggest underdog ever, 💿 River: The Joni Letters by veteran jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, shocked the world (and him too).  Regardless, Back in Black has easily cemented its place in musical history, with the song at hand, 🎵 “Tears Dry on Their Own” helping to seal the deal.

Clearly, Winehouse isn’t particularly enthused on this gem from Back in Black.  Even so, interestingly, “Tears Dry on Their Own” samples the exuberant soul classic, 🎵 “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”  Ultimately, despite the fact that this man hurt her, Amy is NOT going to let it sink her.

“I don’t understand
Why do I stress the man,
When there’s so many bigger things at hand.”

Indeed, “Tears Dry on Their Own.”

9. Alicia Keys, “Tears Always Win”

💿 Girl on Fire • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2012

“These covers, may keep me warm at night / But they can’t take your place / ‘Cause you’re never gonna hold me tight.” Woo! 🏆 Grammy winning R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 Alicia Keys keeps it real on the heartbroken 🎵 “Tears Always Win.”  Safe to say, there are no tears of joy to be found here, even with the awesome soulful pop vibes going down here.  “Tears Always Wins” was produced by Keys and 🎛 Jeff Bhasker.  Besides Keys and Bhasker, the writing team is comprised of 🎼✍ Bruno Mars (!) and 🎼✍ Phillip Lawrence – ELITE!

You could argue that Keys tries her best to keep from busting out, but she just can’t do it! The poise is lost, and those tears are going to fall for sure.  On the chorus, she memorably sings:

“These lips are missing you
Cause these lips ain’t kissing you
These eyes put up a fight
But once again, these tears always win.”

Yep, she’s devastated about the end of the relationship, and she can’t hold back. “Tears Always Win” doesn’t rank at the top of her decorated catalog, but it’s definitely worthwhile, honest, and totally relatable.

10. Rick Ross, “Tears of Joy”

Ft. CeeLo Green,

💿 Teflon Don • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2010

🎵 “Tears of Joy” (💿 Teflon Don) is a rap song all about “coming up.” No, not ‘growing up,’ but rather improving one’s financial status and achieving ‘the dream.’ “Last night I cried tears of joy / what did we do to deserve this,” 🎙 Rick Ross raps on the third verse of “Tears of Joy,” continuing “Not to dwell on the past but to keep it real / I gotta represent for Emmett Till, all the dead souls in the field…”

Even if coming up is the central theme on this joyful joint, there are other things to note. For example, featured guest 🎙 CeeLo Green touches upon people viewing “successful” folks differently and assuming that money solves everything:

“Thought having everything would easy my mind
if you could read my mind
My God, I’m scarred, I have tattoo tears of joy.”

Tears, hence, have a dually good and bad connotation.

Also Appears On 🔽:

🔗 🎧 10 Songs Filled with Considerable Joy

11. Faith Evans, “Tears of Joy”

💿 R&B Divas • 🏷 Entertainment One Music • 📅 2012

By my estimations, 🎙 Faith Evans got the short end of the stick.  How so? Well, the incredibly gifted singer was always painfully underrated.  Nonetheless, she’s kept on pushing and released some quality music. On her 2012 album, 💿 R&B Divas, which is more of a compilation or soundtrack with numerous R&B divas, Evans has the biggest and brightest moment all by herself with 🎵 “Tears of Joy.”

Evans indeed has “tears of joy” on this moving, soulful compound-duple-meter ballad.  This slow jam isn’t sad in the least.  Faith doesn’t reference pain, but rather jubilance, exuberance, and happiness.  The lyrics on the chorus, perfectly capture this upbeat mood:

“I’m crying now, but it’s not like before
Baby these are tears of joy
They’ve been the same since you walked through my door
Baby these are tears of joy.”

Now this right here – this right here – is a cry I can get behind!

12. Maxwell, “Fistful of Tears”

💿 BLACKsummers’night • 🏷 Sony • 📅 2009

Ah, the end of a relationship calls for a “fistful of tears” right?  Right! Throughout 🎵 “Fistful of Tears” (💿 BLACKsummers’night) 🏆 Grammy winning neo-soul standout 🎙 Maxwell knows that the relationship is over. He appears to be at the acceptance stage.  How do we know this? Look no further than the initial lyrics: “Feels just like a weight has lifted / How can I repay you help me understand / Currency, a fistful of tears I can afford.”

Ultimately, Maxwell seems to suggest to his ex to see that the death of the relationship is for the best. The chorus exemplifies this sentiment:

“Cause I, I go insane
Crazy sometimes
Trying to keep you from losing your mind
Open your eyes
See what’s in front of your face
And save me my fistful of tears.”

13. Taylor Swift, “Teardrops on my Guitar”

💿 Taylor Swift • 🏷 Big Machine • 📅 2006

“Drew looks at me / I fake a smile, so he won’t see…” “Teardrops on my Guitar” graced 💿 Taylor Swift, the 2006 debut album by then rising country artist, 🎙 Taylor Swift.  This was record in particular that really helped propel Swift to superstar status.  Her sophomore album, Fearless (2009), would eventually earn Swift the first of three 🏆 Grammys for Album of the Year (💿 1989 and 💿 folklore).

As the aforementioned lyrics confirm, Taylor Swift was singing about boys from the start.  “Drew” serves as a catalyst for so many gems Swift would pen about the opposite sex.  “Drew talks to me / I laugh ‘cause it’s so damn funny,” she sings on the second verse, continuing, “That I can’t even see / Anyone when he’s with me.”  Later, the third verse is also dominated by the center of her affection, DREW.  Besides DREW of course, the biggest attraction on “Teardrops on my Guitar” is the incredibly catchy, memorable chorus.  Sigh, I remember singing it one suspect Friday night (during my collegiate years) while in a hotel room with some friends at a music convention:

“He’s the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He’s the song in the car
I keep singing, don’t know why I do...”

Oh, Drew!

Also Appears On 🔽:

🔗 🎧 13 Entertaining Songs That Reference Musical Instruments

14. Eric Clapton, “Tears in Heaven”

💿 Unplugged • 🏷 Reprise • 📅 1992

“Would you know my name / If I saw you in heaven?” 🎙 Eric Clapton had us all crying with 🎵 “Tears in Heaven.” The most beloved version of “Tears in Heaven” appears on his 🏆 Grammy-winning 1992 album, 💿 Unplugged. This of course, is by far the saddest song of the Clapton songbook 🥺😢😭. Why? “Tears in Heaven” was written after Clapton went on hiatus following a personal tragedy. That tragedy? His four-year old son was killed after falling out of the window of an apartment building. Phew!

Clapton asserts that despite the pain, that he, “Must be strong and carry on / Because I know I don’t belong here in heaven.”  Heavy, heavy, heavy. The iconic singer/guitarist blames himself for the occurrence. He’s stricken with grief.  Even so, despite being mentally altered, he does serve up a positive:

“Beyond the door there’s peace I’m sure
And I know there’ll be no more
Tears in heaven.”

15. Stevie Wonder, “Joy Inside My Tears”

💿 Songs in the Key of Life • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1976

One rarely finds albums as accomplished as 💿 Songs in The Key of Life.  Songs in the Key of Life, of course, is the 1976 masterpiece by multi- 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B icon, 🎙 Stevie Wonder.  There are hits upon hits upon hits – it’s a truly terrific project.  Among my favorite songs is 🎵 “Joy Inside My Tears,” which appears as the second track on the second disc (12^th track overall).

There is nothing the least bit sad about this six-and-a-half-minute ballad. As he often does, Wonder brings a heaping dose of positivity.  If Wonder was depressed at some point, crying, he isn’t anymore – this person has totally brought him joy. “And baby that’s you, you, you / Made life’s history / Because you’ve brought some joy inside my tears,” he sings on the epic chorus, continuing, “And you have done what no one thought could be / you’ve brought some joy inside my tears.”  Now that’s some J-O-Y right there!

Also Appears On 🔽:

🔗 🎧 10 Songs Filled with Considerable Joy