Have you ever wondered what the saddest song might be?
Many people might assume it’s a country song, since many of those seem to specialize in tales of woe.
However, according to a recent survey of 2,000 adults, REM’s 1992 track “Everybody Hurts” holds the top spot.
Rounding out the top five are the following:
- Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”
- Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven.”
- Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”
- The Beatles’ “Yesterday”
- a really sad song, personally: when I asked Alexa to sing me Happy Birthday
There were some other interesting results from the survey:
Happiest songs:
- Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,”
- ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”
- Katrina and The Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine”
Most Motivational songs:
- Survivor’s “Eye of The Tiger“
- Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”
- Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing”
Most Relaxing songs:
- Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World”
- The Beatles’ “Let It Be”
Participants were also asked what makes up a great song in general, and three main components kept coming up again and again: A good beat, a memorable melody, and the capacity to evoke a legitimate emotional reaction.
Here were some final survey results:
- adults listen to about 25 songs per day.
- The most common places to listen to music include at home, in the car, and at work.
- 20 percent always have some music playing while out for a walk.
- 29 percent say they put their tunes on full blast in most scenarios. .
- 80 percent of respondents say they would be absolutely devastated if they were never allowed to hear music again.
- 100 percent would be thrilled if they never had to read a Music Monday post from Borden’s Blather again…
Originally I was planning to share REM’s sad song, but I decided to go with one of the happy songs. We could all use a dose of happiness these days…
*image from UDiscoverMusic
When my son was little he cried every time he heard Eric Clapton sing Tears in Heaven. Today he is a musician.
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it is a sad song. what instrument does your son play? does he write his own music?
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It is a sad song and he was very little at the time. His main instrument is trumpet and he sometimes writes music but mostly he teaches private music lessons as a lot of musicians end up doing. He is teaching me piano and my husband guitar along with his other students. He is also a musician in the naval reserves.
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I’m always jealous ot eh musically talented, but I know how much work they have put in to be that good. And how cool that he can teach multiple instruments… I admire his perseverance in sticking with his love of music.
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That is so weird. My daughter used to cry every time she heard a certain song that bears her name. I thought it was unusual for a child to do that. She did have some musical aspirations but ended up in tech.
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I guess you never know what will trigger someone’s emotions…
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I used to listen to music in my car, until I discovered podcasts. My saddest song comes from Les Miserables, ‘on my own’.
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Ditto on the podcast note. “A Little Fall Of Rain” is another tear-jerker from that show.
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Yes. It’s my favourite musical for a number of read ons.
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👍
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I guess the name of the play suggests that there will be some sad songs…
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I don’t think I know that song. I’ll take a listen if I can find it…
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Great choice to go with a happy song. I definitely agree with the 80% who would be devastated if they could never hear music again. It seems that the human brain requires music in one form or another.
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I would also be in that 80%. I would even miss the jingles on tv commercials!
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My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend was in the running until I heard about Alexa singing you Happy Birthday.
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even sadder, I have Alexa sing me Happy Birthday even when it’s not my birthday…
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OK, you’re right, that is even sadder 😂
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🙂
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I would have to go with Eric Clapton’s Tears in Heaven as the saddest one from the nominated bunch, but I’m going to have to take another listen to the REM song. The Clapton tune is a beautiful song, yet knowing it’s about his son is heartwrenching. Walking on Sunshine seems like a much happier song than the other two nominations.
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I agree; that Eric Clapton song is quite sad. And walking on sunshine always puts me in a good mood…
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Tough to beat “Tears in Heaven” for top sad song. Hauntingly moving music. As for happy songs, take your pick. There is plenty of happy to go around. Great post, Jim!
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Tears in Heaven is quite sad. and I would have to guess there are more happy sogs out there than sad ones…
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I think I agree with most titles in those categories, though I’d probably choose others too.
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there are so many songs to choose from for each category…
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Indeed there are. We have a wonderful variety to choose from.
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👍
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Notable omission: Terry Jacks’ Seasons in the Sun.
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you’re right. seems like it should have made at least the top 30…
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I think I’d go with the top choice for sad, but I’m not sure about some of the others. I’ve always thought that She’s Leaving Home was a much sadder Beatles song than Yesterday, for example, and I think the inclusion of Sinéad O’Connor is more to do with the video than the actual song. I’m with you on Katrina and the Waves too – sheer joy and exuberance, though I’d add the WOTE version of Happy to the list too 😉
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I don’t think I know She’s Leaving Home – I’ll give a listen later today. And I’ll have to watch the Sinead video.
And every song by WOTE seems to exude happiness
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It’s on Sgt Pepper, and it’s beautiful. The Sinead video is legendary – it gives the song a much sadder feel than you get from just listening to it.
That’s WOTE’s trademark, isn’t it 😊
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that is their trademark!
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I’ve always liked that tune by Katrina and the Waves.
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it is a catchy tune…
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I hope you took special note of one of the happiest songs! I think it was by that group I don’t mention much…ABBA! 😉
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Oh, Mama Mia! I forgot all about it.
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Slipped your mind while napping? Yes, Mama Mia must be on the list of happiest movies. 🙂
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I thought he was referring to a line from a Queen song…
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of course, from Bohemian Rhapsody… 🙂
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I was thinking of you when I saw them on the list!
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In my singing group we sing “Memory” from the musical Cats, and I was surprised to find it bringing a catch to my throat by the final verse.
Perhaps it’s my age.
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I have heard that is a very moving song…
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The haunting music helps…
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👍
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It may be the end of the world as we know it, but I feel fine.
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👍
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I love that Walking on Sunshine song! Never saw its video, thanks for sharing… especially her line “and TRYING to feel good!” that’s all we can do is TRY!
My short list of sad songs that are both sad and comforting because they are proof we’re not the only ones feeling that way…
-Rainy Days and Mondays (If you don’t love your job, Sunday night blues/dreading Monday morning is real)
-Sunrise, Sunset (oh the fleetingness of youth)
-You’ll Never Walk Alone (At age 8, my aunt told me she wanted this song played at her funeral and just the thought of her PLANNING a song for her funeral that she wouldn’t be able to HEAR , got my attention and made me sad. Now that I’m her age when she said it, I get it –but I would not tell an 8 year old that! But at the time I now know she was morning the death of her 2-year-old grandson who got hit by a car.)
-Alone Again, Naturally (As a teen my dad told me he really related to this song, which made me feel sorry for him. now, older than he was then, I wish I could tell him I understand)
-Abraham, Martin and John (omg 1968…)
-Ohio (Kent State … murder of innocent children–by government … in America! )
-Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology Song) Whoa, ah, mercy, mercy me…Ah, things ain’t what they used to be, no, no
Where did all the blue skies go? Poison is the wind that blows…)
-Love is Blue (Bleu, bleu, l’amour est bleu)
-Eleanor Rigby (I can’t be the only girl this song created a secret fear I’d end up a homeless bag lady!)
-That’s the way I’ve always heard it should be (uh oh … is that what we’re destined to end up like…as bored and unfulfilled as our mothers?? )
Stopping there because it’s making me too sad!
Glad you shared a happy song … the happiest songs to me are the ones you just can’t HELP dancing to…
I love that video of the little girl whose father plays Despacito…. everytime even when she doesn’t want to, she can’t help it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US8vWvV0-yk
Also love Walker Jr sax solo What does it take? (brings a smile to my face everytime)
Let’s Groove! Trumpets bring me up ! (Earth Wind and Fire
Georgia (Boz Scaggs) the sax! The trumpets! the lyrics “Christmas in your eyes…what a nice surprise!” Wasn’t moonlight it was searchlights …. oh oh oh how were we to know?
ok too many great songs to list and need to stop getting lost in YouTube rabbit holes, pleasant as that is … isn’t it great we can just hear these great old songs anytime we want?
Thanks again for trips down so many memory lanes 🙂
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* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAGjEa8HzYY (still clicking on this an hour later! thanks for brightening my day w/ one of my favorite oldies 🙂
“The real star of this song is that wonderful saxophone, it was like the sun breaking through on a cloudy day. The voice, well Jr Walker did not feel he was made to sing, but sing he did and the results were impressive. The first 35 seconds was Jr Walker’s sax and then the vocals came in. James Jamerson and the rest of the gang were there to play the music updating the signature Motown sound.”
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my response in CAPS:
-Rainy Days and Mondays (If you don’t love your job, Sunday night blues/dreading Monday morning is real). GREAT SONG, BUT YES, A BIT SAD.
-Sunrise, Sunset (oh the fleetingness of youth)
-You’ll Never Walk Alone (At age 8, my aunt told me she wanted this song played at her funeral and just the thought of her PLANNING a song for her funeral that she wouldn’t be able to HEAR , got my attention and made me sad. Now that I’m her age when she said it, I get it –but I would not tell an 8 year old that! But at the time I now know she was morning the death of her 2-year-old grandson who got hit by a car.) i DON’T KNOW THIS ONE.. i’LL CHECK IT OUT LATER TODAY…
-Alone Again, Naturally (As a teen my dad told me he really related to this song, which made me feel sorry for him. now, older than he was then, I wish I could tell him I understand). IT DOES SEEM TO BE A SAD SONG. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTING TO FIND OUT WHY YOUR DAD RELATD SO MUCH TO THIS SONG.
-Abraham, Martin and John (omg 1968…) SAD
-Ohio (Kent State … murder of innocent children–by government … in America! ) SADDER
-Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology Song) Whoa, ah, mercy, mercy me…Ah, things ain’t what they used to be, no, no
Where did all the blue skies go? Poison is the wind that blows…) ANOTHER ONE I DON’T KNOW…
-Love is Blue (Bleu, bleu, l’amour est bleu) AND ANOTHER…
-Eleanor Rigby (I can’t be the only girl this song created a secret fear I’d end up a homeless bag lady!) I KNOW THE SONG, BUT I GUESS I NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE LYRICS
-That’s the way I’ve always heard it should be (uh oh … is that what we’re destined to end up like…as bored and unfulfilled as our mothers?? ) YES, NOT A VERY UPBEAT SONG.
Stopping there because it’s making me too sad!
Glad you shared a happy song … the happiest songs to me are the ones you just can’t HELP dancing to…
I love that video of the little girl whose father plays Despacito…. everytime even when she doesn’t want to, she can’t help it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US8vWvV0-yk THANKS FOR THE LINK, WILL CHECK LATER.
Also love Walker Jr sax solo What does it take? (brings a smile to my face everytime) DO NOT KNOW THIS ONE
Let’s Groove! Trumpets bring me up ! (Earth Wind and Fire I DON’T THINK I KNOW THIS ONE
Georgia (Boz Scaggs) the sax! The trumpets! the lyrics “Christmas in your eyes…what a nice surprise!” Wasn’t moonlight it was searchlights …. oh oh oh how were we to know? I LOVE BOZ; THIS IS A GREAT SONG…
ok too many great songs to list and need to stop getting lost in YouTube rabbit holes, pleasant as that is … isn’t it great we can just hear these great old songs anytime we want?
THANKS FOR ALLYOUR THOUGHTS, AND FOR SOME NEW MUSIC FOR ME TO LISTEN TO!
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I’m glad you decided to share “Walking on Sunshine”- I love that song! Personally, I think “Cats In The Cradle” is the saddest song I’ve ever heard. Always makes me tear up.
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Oh and I don’t know what the participants are talking about- we love Music Mondays!
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there’s always one… 🙂
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Harry Chapin is one of my top three favorite artists, and yes that song gets me quite emotional as well…
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I love “Everybody Hurts.” I really like every song you mentioned.
When you mentioned sad songs, I immediately thought of “Leader of the Band” by Dan Fogelberg.
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Dan’s song is another one that could have been included…
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I remember when I was depressed, I played the song ‘Hard Candy Christmas’ over and over again.
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I have never heard of that song…
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It’s part of the movie “Best Little Whorehouse In Texas”
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ok; thank you for that info!
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Totally agree with the song choices and I am “Walking on sunshine!” today, its so bright, compared to the snow we had this weekend.
As others have said, “Tears in Heaven” is the saddest song. Add to that “Daniel” and “When the World stopped turning.
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this nice weather feels so good…
I am not familiar with When The World Stopped Turning”…
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Sorry, had the wrong title. It is “Where were you?” Remember the 9/11 song, by Alan Jackson? There are so many sad ones out there. “The End of the World” by Skeeter Davis is another one . “He stopped Loving her today”, by George Jones, OH and for Happy songs, you can’t forget “Happiest Girl in the whole USA by Donna Fargo! 🙂
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so many sad songs to pick from, which is kind of sad. And yes, I remember that song about the Happiest Girl. It was quite catchy…
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‘Happy’ by Pharrel Williams 2014 would be my choice for a happy song – I had to look it up as I had no idea how it originated, but it was No 1 in the UK in 2014.
And for the saddest song ever and a long standing hit, how about Dido’s Lament by Henry Purcell 1689. “When I am laid in earth” – even if you know nothing about Dido and Aeneas or the opera the music is very moving!
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Happy seems to be a natural candidate for happiest song. I am not familiar with Dido’s song…
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Elton John even had a song about sad songs. I guess that didn’t make the list.
For me, Just Remember I Love You – Firefall is a good sad song.
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mYbe Elton’s song was just too meta…
and I haven’t heard that Firefall song in a long time…
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The Firefall song (live version) is on one of my Spotify 70s playlists.
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and deservedly so…
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And after reading the comments, I have found that I need to add Lowdown by Boz Scaggs to that playlist.
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that whole album would be on my playlist…
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I had forgotten about that song. I didn’t think I had heard it and then as soon as it started playing I was transported back in time. Good song!
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that is a good song…
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You had mentioned motivational songs in your list too. The Fight Song by Rachel Platten is a favorite of mine, but I do love “Eye of the Tiger”
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I’ll have to listen to The Fight Song…
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They played it every morning at the Eating Disorder rehab, so it was through my daughter that I learned of the song, and now it has sentimental meaning to it.
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I can see what that song has a special meaning for you…
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Interesting lists! I didn’t know any of the sad songs, all of the motivational songs (my kids played Varsity soccer in HS), and like many, thought Country Western would be at the top of the chart. Great post.
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thanks, Jacqui. and athletes do love those motivational songs!
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Happiest votes- yes! Motivational votes- yes! Relaxing votes- yes! Saddest votes- not really. I can think of some great R&B hits that still make me cry. And Rogers and Hammerstein songs, like “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (the dead father returns from heaven to sing this to his daughter at her high school graduation). Just my thoughts.
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I wonder if we remember sad songs better than we remember happy ones…
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I think we do remember sad songs more than happy songs…my choice of memorable songs(for me) are https://youtu.be/1o9rLDCfO6o and Puff Daddy ‘I’ll be Missing You”…
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that version of Candle in the Wind is so beautiful; such a sad day…
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I need tissues every time I listen to it..
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when it first came out, I used to show it to my students as an example of passion… Elton was simply amazing…
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When I was young hearing “Cats in the Cradle” made me weep. I avoid that song now cuz I can’t take it.
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yes, that is quite a sad song, but it may have also inspired dads to make sure they did not act the same way…
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It was extra sad for me cuz I lived with my toxic mom and she used us as pawns against our father. I live with him now and he’s the better parent by far
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I’m sorry to hear that. happy to hear that it seems to be working out ok now…
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I turn into an absolute blubbering mess when “what a wonderful world” is playing. I also cry my eyes out to “somewhere over the rainbow”…it’s not a pretty scene.
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two wonderful songs, and I remember when It’s a Wonderful World played during the movie Good Morning Vietnam; such sad imagery. And what a voice Judy Garland had..
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Great and moving songs 🙂👍
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glad you enjoyed them, Paul!
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