It’s bound to strike when you least expect it—perhaps while you’re pushing a cart down the cereal aisle on a Saturday morning or unwinding with a drink on a Friday night. For me, it’s often when I’m rummaging through a thrift store on a random Monday afternoon.
One moment, you’re grooving to the Pet Shop Boys, reminiscing about wild nights with your best friend, Kelly, when you both drank too much Seagram’s 7 and danced until you were breathless. You might even recall that guy who looked just like the dreamy one from A-ha, sharing those carefree moments while “West End Girls” played softly in the background. You can’t help but smile, remembering that he was definitely enjoying the attention.
But then the next song starts, and suddenly you’re taken back to that slow dance at prom, wearing a vivid purple satin dress with a massive hoop skirt and lace fingerless gloves. Or maybe it’s the tune that filled your room when your parents went out of town, and you shared your first sleepover with someone special, binge-watching late-night movies and holding on to each other tightly. It could even be that track you played on repeat, rewinding the tape or moving the record needle, crying into the orange shag carpet after a heart-wrenching breakup.
Or perhaps it’s not about romance at all. Maybe it’s about your childhood best friend, the one you sang along with in the car during late-night drives, clutching the world in your hands—someone you haven’t seen in decades.
Whatever the reason, you might find yourself fighting back tears while sorting through jeans at the thrift store, desperately hoping no one hears you belt out those heart-wrenching lyrics that always get to you—the ones that lead to the infamous Ugly Cry.
Join me in singing these classics:
- “Love Song,” by The Cure
This song resonates with those who dared to love the brooding boys engulfed in their own angst. Every prom date heard that unforgettable line whispered in their ears.
Ugly Cry Lyric: However far away / I will always love you / However long I stay / I will always love you. - “I Melt With You,” by Modern English
What was it about this track? Aside from the undeniable chemistry between early Nicholas Cage and Deborah Foreman, of course! Who didn’t dream of being the reason he hit pause on the world? Spoiler: it’s literally about a couple melting together as a nuclear bomb drops.
Ugly Cry Lyric: I’ll stop the world and melt with you. - “In Your Eyes,” by Peter Gabriel
You know the iconic film, but did you realize that boom box and trench coat sales skyrocketed in 1989? This song played in your mind during intimate moments, reminding you of lost love.
Ugly Cry Lyric: Love, I don’t like to see so much pain / so much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away. - “Hold On to the Nights,” by Richard Marx
Come on, you know this one! Let’s not pretend you were always the picture of fidelity. We all had moments of longing for someone else while with a floppy-haired guy.
Ugly Cry Lyric: Well I think that I’ve been true to everybody else but me / And the way I feel about you makes my heart long to be free. - “The Flame,” by Cheap Trick
This quintessential ’80s ballad provided comfort during those lonely nights spent waiting for that guy to come home so you could cry and call your best friend (no cell phones back then!).
Ugly Cry Lyric: I’m going crazy, I’m losing sleep / I’m in too far, I’m in way too deep over you. - “Time After Time,” by Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper was indeed one of a kind. This heartfelt song tugs at your heartstrings for those you’ve left behind.
Ugly Cry Lyric: If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me / Time after time / If you fall I will catch you, I will be waiting.
Go ahead, let it all out. No one’s watching—grab a tissue!
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Summary
From nostalgic prom songs to heartfelt ballads, the ’80s gave us tracks that still stir up powerful emotions today. Whether it reminds you of lost love, friendship, or those fleeting moments of youth, these songs evoke deep feelings that can bring on the Ugly Cry.