3 of the Most Heart-Wrenching Tribute Songs of All Time

Tribute songs can be celebratory, heart-breaking, and soothingly sentimental almost to a fault. Nonetheless, they are songs that show musicians and songwriters’ sensitive soft side. In essence, tribute songs are a musician’s way of wearing their hearts on their sleeves. It’s a moment of vulnerability, insight, and a gateway into the hearts of musicians in their most troubling moments.

With that in mind, when musicians release a tribute song it’s a huge step for them regarding the trouble at hand. It’s seemingly a cathartic moment and shows a major milestone in the behind-the-scenes therapeutic process. Given the profound meaning embedded in these stories, these songs are some of the best of their careers and arguably, some of the best of all time.

“Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton

Released in 1991, Eric Clapton’s song is a poignant piece about the accidental death of his four-year-old son, Conor Loren Clapton. The song was released just a few months after Conor’s tragic passing and Clapton’s grief tragically bleeds into the song’s heartbreaking lyrics.

Despite the morbidity of the song, Clapton’s lyrics lend themselves to interpreting the song in a broader familiar nature. When listening, one can relish the relationships they have and celebrate the ones they’ve lost. In essence, the context is heartbreaking, but it’s through this heartbreak that Clapton offered the world a little piece of his heart. And everyone is better off for it.

“Candle in The Wind” by Elton John

Re-written for the passing of Princess Diana in 1997, Elton John publicly performed this rendition of “Candle in The Wind” just once. Furthermore, John was the lone popular performer to sing at the late Princess’s funeral. To honor such a figure is a near-impossible task. However, John seemingly achieves this feat and captures Diana’s legacy in just five minutes.

Holistically, John’s tribute song not only commemorates Diana but also the country as a whole. The song encompassed the national grieving process and revealed what exactly they lost thanks to Diana’s. There has never been a tribute song of a popular figure as grandiose and sentimental as this one. And hopefully, there never will have to be again.

 “Man on The Moon” by R.E.M

Andy Kauffman is one of the most influential and unique comedians of all time. When he passed in 1984, the world of pop culture lost a founding member of modern comedy. R.E.M was among the masses who missed his presence, and given their affinity for Kauffman, they decided to write a song about the man years later in 1992.

 “Man on The Moon” isn’t your typical tribute song, as it’s not slow, poignant, or outlined by grieving or melancholy. Rather, it’s a celebratory song noting the everlasting influence Kauffman had on the comedy world. As a result, the song was featured in the 1999 tribute film starring Jim Carrey, Man on the Moon.

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