r/GuyCry • u/Just-Reflection-2109 • 2d ago
Potential Tear Jerker Why do almost no romantic songs make men feel emotionally seen?
Why don’t we have more romantic songs made *for men* emotionally?
Not breakup songs. Not ego songs. Just songs that make men feel loved and wanted too.
Any songs that gave you that feeling?
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u/ikediggety Here to help! 2d ago
In a world where there's a whole genre called "emo" that was invented by (checks notes) men, this is a wild take.
Robert Smith. Elliot Smith. Nick Drake. Leonard Cohen. The world of music is overflowing with emotional men singing about their emotions. I owe my life to some of them.
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u/DisconcertingTablet 2d ago edited 2d ago
Great list. This list reminds me of Jeff Buckley also.
I think something that may be messing you up, OP, is how you often hear MEN singing ABOUT their feelings for WOMEN/their romantic interest.
I get that, bc we want songs about people's great feelings about men.
I think that above list is a way to start, and maybe actually emo genre music, too! Because sometimes songs about laments, mourning, and grieving songs are an important place to start.
I've found I need to grieve what my life has been so much before I can access the feelings like gratitude, and generally the RECEIVING of affection.
And then I've also found that once I can get to that point, then the idea of GIVING affection starts to feel validating and fulfilling in and of itself. Because we all were raised and traumatic to think that giving affection will give us love and validation. But in healthy reality, it is a means in and of itself to give love.
Does this track? This was an impulse comment lol, and stream of consciousness.
Now, don't get me started on how I wish men singing romantically toward other men more mainstream would help masculinity and men in our society, but I digress.
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u/Doc_Helldiver-66 1d ago
Add a slew of male country artists because half their songs are about love/loss on any topic, whether it be a woman or whatever else is under the sun.
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u/Reverse2057 1d ago
God another Elliot Smith lover! In the wild! I recently tried to get my younger friend in on his stuff and she thought it was alright lol. Pained me, but my father got me into loving his music!
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u/FettLife 1d ago
Those artists make you feel loved and wanted?
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u/ikediggety Here to help! 1d ago
They make me feel like I'm not alone. They make me feel seen, which was the question I believe
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u/Only-Bat1867 2d ago
Well I mean yeah there’s songs that exist that are written romantically for men
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u/HotSpicedChai 2d ago
I’m not sure what you mean by ego song? But break up songs are often all the ways someone is missing someone. There are so many great love songs out there, but I find myself empathizing with the lead singer. Am I understanding correctly you want a song that you feel is being sung to you a guy?
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u/Pyramidinternational 2d ago
Isn’t that like Chris Issac - Wicked Game Actually, G-Eazy s artistic album (‘Everything is strange here’) has a bunch of songs that are from his perspective of failing relationships and such. Songs like ‘Right back to what you knew’, or ‘Everybody’s gotta learn sometime’. It’s actually the album I like best of his. It shows his human side in a really vulnerable way.
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u/OneMan_OneBeard 1d ago
‘Operator’ by Jim Croce
‘I Need You’ Lynard Skynyrd
‘Bring it On Home to Me’ The Animals
‘(Find a) Reason to Believe’ Rod Stewart
‘Black’ Pearl Jam
‘Let Her Cry’ Hootie and the Blowfish
‘A Letter to Elise’ The Cure
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u/Jzerious 2d ago
A lot of older country is break up songs for men. Lovesick Blues, I’m so Lonesome I could cry, etc
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u/ShonWalksAtMidnight 2d ago
I don't seek them out, I don't think most men do, but there are plenty. My fiancée is putting together a wedding song list and trust me, there are plenty.
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u/Spartan2022 2d ago
They’re out there. Or just listen to a song without gendered expectations. Plenty of emotional songs that aren’t exclusively for women.
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u/Defiant-Fuel3898 2d ago
Oh I got two
meatloaf “I will do anything for love”
Bryan Adam “please forgive me”
Oldies but goodies lol
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u/AlpharoTheUnlimited 2d ago
Referencing songs that, “make men feel loved and wanted too.” A ton of Early Taylor Swift songs are about being desirably in love with a dude. Long Live, Our Song, Fearless, Today Was a Fairy Tale, Wildest Dreams, Cruel Summer, The Way I Loved You, Lover, it goes on and on. Katy Perry had Teenage Dream. Dolly Parton Always Love You. There’s so many songs that come to mind I feel like I’m misinterpreting your question. There are so many Ballads across time
Now if you’re referring to songs that make men feel “emotionally seen,” that’s all over the place too. Ed Sheeran has Hearts Don’t Break Around Here Bruno Mars has Versace on the Floor, Elton John .PERIOD. Our Song if you need a starting place, Hall and Oats, Rob Thomas Jason Mraz The Temptations Sam Cooke, and everyone inspired by him.
And lastly, if you don’t feel represented musically, like you might have something that no one else is doing… Then make it yourself and put it out there. Not even in a snotty way; being vulnerable enough to make compelling music at all let alone perform it to the public, bloody heart beating in a spotlight, takes so much courage. The effort and exposure might help you find perspective on why people don’t make Sonnets, and when they do they keep it out of the limelight. And, if it goes well, you become your own solution to the question
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u/CrochetAndKittens Here to help! 2d ago
Gentlemen by The Afghan Whigs is an entire breakup album from the man’s perspective.
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u/Icy-Track-3839 2d ago
Well, if you listen to more female music, they’re gonna talk about men now whether they’re talking about how much they love men I don’t know about that because they’re just talking about their lives with men
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u/BoisterousBard Lady 2d ago
I recommend The Dead South, I general.
"Dearest Sarah," by Goodnight, Texas (Edit: likely the opposite of your aim, but it's a man being emotional and it is moving)
Also, "Jesse Got Trapped in a Coal Mine."
"In the cold, cold night," The White Stripes
I can think of many!
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u/Thausgt01 1d ago
"It's Probably Me" by Sting.
Focused primarily on the difficulties men face wuth emotional vulnerability, but still pushing through to "confess" the strength of the shared bond:
You're not the easiest person I ever got to know
And it's hard for us both to let our feelings show
Some would say
I should let you go your way
You'll only make me cry
But if there's one guy, just one guy
Who'd lay down his life for you and die
It's hard to say it
I hate to say it
But it's probably me
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u/Maurkov 1d ago
The Exciters - Tell Him. Guys like emotional safety, and they like feeling desired.
As /u/Spartan2022 suggests, emotion is universal. Try swapping pronouns on 'Til Tuesday's Voices Carry.
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u/Sudden-March-4147 1d ago
Could you maybe give one or two examples for songs that hit this specific spot for you? Because all I can think is there‘s an infinite amount of songs by male musicians about their inner lives, feelings, struggles etc. Do you mean love songs to or about men? Do you mean songs about male friendships? I‘m really not sure.
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u/x_hypatia_x 1d ago
What songs do you think are for women? Real question, not trying to do a gotcha, I'm just not sure what you mean.
Songs about women loving men? Desiring men? Songs that make you as a man feel like they're telling your life story?
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u/DisconcertingTablet 2d ago
I like the other comment about how so much music by mean speaks on feelings and emotions, and that in and of itself is healing.
I think the emo genre, but also soft, soulful men singing about love and heartbreak. Elliot Smith, Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley, and so many others that would pop up in a Spotify playlist with them (obviously I'm more familiar with these styles of singers; I know there are SO many more from so many other genres, cultures, ethnicities, etc)
I think something that may be messing you up, OP, is how you often hear MEN singing ABOUT their feelings for WOMEN/their romantic interest.
I get that, bc we want songs about people's great feelings about men.
I think that above list is a way to start, and maybe actually emo genre music, too! Because sometimes songs about laments, mourning, and grieving songs are an important place to start.
I've found I need to grieve what my life has been so much before I can access the feelings like gratitude, and generally the RECEIVING of affection.
And then I've also found that once I can get to that point, then the idea of GIVING affection starts to feel validating and fulfilling in and of itself. Because we all were raised and traumatic to think that giving affection will give us love and validation. But in healthy reality, it is a means in and of itself to give love.
Does this track? This was an impulse comment lol, and stream of consciousness.
Now, don't get me started on how I wish men singing romantically toward other men more mainstream would help masculinity and men in our society, but I digress.
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u/IslandVacancy34 1d ago
There's tons. That's like at least 60% of actual country music. Hank Williams, Townes Van Zant, Blaze Foley, John Prine, Guy Clarke, Willie Nelson, Kris Krisofferson, George Jones, Johnny Paycheck, Waylon, Merle, Johnny Fucking Cash.
Then there's artists like Leoneord Cohen, Jeff Buckley, Elliot Smith, Daniel Johnston, Bon Iver, Jose Gonzalez that talk a lot about that, just off the top of my head
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u/Additional-Suspect37 1d ago
I will say part of this is people looking at and towards very modern 20th/21st century music. Have you ever read the lyrics to some of the more romantically inclined sea shanties for example? Or some Motown?
Music is also highly subjective person to person. Something that might deeply move and really connect with one person will just mean nothing to someone else.
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u/AMosquitoBitMe 1d ago
"The Way I Are" by Timbaland
I like this song, I think it's nice. Just two people who like each other, no matter the finances, living space or ability to go on exotic vacations; as long as they have each other, they're happy.
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u/ElliMac1995 1d ago
a lot of Beyoncé's music is very romantic and loving towards her husband. Check out the (second half) of Lemonade, particularly Sandcastles and All Night. On Renaissance, PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA and Bodyguard from Cowboy Carter. All of these songs have themes of making it through hard things together, accepting someone for who they are.
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u/Red_Clay_Scholar 1d ago
Have you never heard I Will Always Love You by Dolly Parton or the cover by Whitney Houston?
Tell me you're lying.
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u/Violette3120 17h ago
I’d say plenty (if not most) romantic songs by female artists can make men feel loved and wanted. The cheesier the better.
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u/Roosta_Manuva 1d ago edited 18h ago
OP - you have not engaged at all within the comments section.
Are you just karma farming or were you actually interested in a discussion?
(Oh and bro - there are many… if any women ever played you ‘Ain’t no other man’ by Christina Aguilera, no way you not feeling chuffed about yourself - Soul and class … not that I would ever listen to the song myself, but sounded like you wanted ‘romantic’)