I Can Wait a Long Long Time Before I Hear Another Love Song: Nine Songs That Can Make Grown Men Cry

9. Christina Aguilera – Beautiful

This song proved to me that pop music is not yet dead, a stunning ballad penned by Linda Perry. Aguilera showcases her impressive voice, backed by a classical-style cello-lead backing track, with simple but wonderful lyrics about facing up to insecurity and self-image. However, what really sold this track to me was the gorgeous video, in which a series of people deal with their self-image; intertwining LGBT and body-image issues with a powerful message of anti-discrimination. Although the song has since become heavily parodied, it’s message remains universal: every single person, no matter what, is beautiful.

8. The Velvet Underground and Nico- I’ll Be Your mirror

Let’s face it, no one was really expecting such a lovely, uplifting song to come from the kinky, arty world of Warhol’s Factory, so this surprisingly pretty tune appeared on the infamous banana – covered album as a total surprise. Nico’s usually haunting voice seemed suddenly so warm, lighting up the lyrics with an audible smile. It really is charming.

7. Voltaire – Feathery Wings

Although few outside the goth scene will have heard of Voltaire, this track always brings me to tears. The song was the first track of his “Almost Human” album, a departure from his usual folky comical tone, with the lyrics telling the story of a man trying to do good deeds in order to “earn a pair of feathery wings”. It’s a song about trying to cope, which is perhaps what makes it so powerful, and in times of difficulty this is one of those tracks that offers a helping hand.

6. The Sisters of Mercy – Some Kind of Stranger

Yes, the gloomy kings of Goth rock aren’t immune to creating beautifully sad, understated love songs, as this haunting ballad shows. Andrew Eldritch’s mournful but often unintelligible vocals sound increasingly pained, wailing the line “come here I think you’re beautiful” with frightening conviction, while the minor tone of the guitars and the delicate keyboards compliment each other perfectly.

5. Tori Amos – Me and a Gun

It’s the raw, painful quality of Amos’ voice that carries this haunting track. Without any backing, she relates the agonising story of her rape at knifepoint at the age of 21. The frank honesty of the performance is what makes the song so painful to listen to and equally, what makes it so difficult to describe.