‘Everybody Hurts’ by REM ‘most likely to make men cry’

LONDON - REM’s ‘Everybody Hurts’ is the song most likely to make men cry, according to a new poll.

The teary ballad sung by Michael Stipe and used as a Haiti earthquake charity single earlier this year became the UK’s fastest-selling charity record of the 21st century.

Eric Clapton’s 1992 ballad ‘Tears in Heaven’ - written by the devastated star following the death of his four-year-old son Conor - landed the second spot in the survey of more than 1,700 people conducted by royalty collection society PRS for Music.

Leonard Cohen’s classic ballad Hallelujah completed the top three.

“From this chart, it is clear that a well-written tear-jerker is one that people can relate to and empathise with,” the Sun quoted Chairman Ellis Rich as saying.

“It is this lyrical connection that can reach deep down emotionally and move even the strongest of men,” Rich added.

Top 10 that make men sob

1. Everybody Hurts - REM

2. Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton

3. Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen

4. Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O’Connor

5. With or Without You - U2

6. Drugs Don’t Work - The Verve

7. Candle In The Wind - Elton John

8. Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen

9. Unchained Melody - Todd Duncan

10. Angels - Robbie Williams (ANI)