18 power ballads to shower cry to

Brb, bawling into my loofah.

Therapy is good, but have you ever turned a sad power ballad up to max volume, sat on the shower floor of a hot shower, and cried your eyes out? Because we have, and we’d go as far to say it’s up there as one of the most effective techniques for curing a bout of the blues. That, and a whole block of chocolate, obviously.

While there’s technically no scientific data as to why the shower cry works so well, psychologists do have some interesting theories. Shower thoughts, if you will.

There’s privacy, for one. We’re (usually) alone when we shower cry, so we can really let it all out. Plus, no one can hear us sobbing. Win-win. Then there’s the theory by Ad Vingerhoets, a psychology professor and author, that suggests combining two of our favourite consoling activities (showers and crying), is enough to get the waterworks started. But guess what our absolute favourite pastime is for helping us through a tough time? Listening to music. Yeah, it’s like we didn’t even stand a chance.

Looking at music, there are certain songs that really bring out the best in us — and by ‘best in us’ we of course mean, the ugly crier. Haters will tell you that’s a depressing notion, but we beg to differ. In fact, a hearty ugly cry is exactly what we recommend in times of distress.

So next time you’re feeling tears coming on, strip off your clothes, run yourself a hot shower, and put on one of these shower-cry bangers. We promise you’ll feel better afterwards.

1. All By Myself — Celine Dion

2. Stay — Rihanna

3. In My Blood — Shawn Mendes

4. When The Party’s Over — Billie Eilish

5. Shallow — Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper

6. Running Scared — Roy Orbison

7. Everybody Hurts — R.E.M.

8. Falling — Harry Styles

9. Nothing Compares To You — Sinead O’Connor

10. Stay With Me — Sam Smith

11. Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler

12. Exile — Taylor Swift, Bon Iver

13. All Of Me — John Legend

14. Someone Like You — Adele

15. Candle In The Wind — Elton John

16. I Want to Know What Love Is — Foreigner

17. The Special Two — Missy Higgins

18. With Or Without You — U2

Still feel like sh*t? It’s time to pull out the big guns: treat yourself (or a friend) to an Honest & Bold gift box.

Love,

Honest & Bold.