You Make the Whole World Cry

Speaking to Brum Beat in 1992, Tikaram revealed, "'You Make the Whole World Cry' is about suddenly realising that although you thought you were, you're not in control and you don't know what to do."[5]

The song's music video was directed by Tony Kaye. It was shot in Los Angeles and featured Tikaram in a number of costumes, one of which portrayed the fictional character Tin Woodman.[6]

Upon its release as a single, Music & Media noted the song's "rumbling drums" and felt the track "shows [Tikaram's] move into Walker Brothers territory".[7] Peter Kinghorn of the Newcastle Evening Chronicle considered it to show Tikaram's "huskily moody voice at its expressive best".[8] Jim Lawn of the Lennox Herald stated, "A plaintive cry with a slow burning build-up which combine brilliantly to suggest a massive hit!"[9]

David Stubbs of Melody Maker was critical of the song, writing, "This time, she's produced herself, embellishing her exercise-book poetry with a Phil Spector production that bursts in like the cavalry when her larynx seems just about to give out. I predict small things for this one."[10] Penny Kiley of Liverpool Echo described it as "over-produced" and added, "It is hard to pick out a song or tune, and Tanita's voice, sometimes so effective, just seems to be droning on this."[11] Patrick O'Flynn of the Hull Daily Mail gave a two star rating and called it "uninspiring". He commented, "Released with two new acoustic tracks on the B-side, 'You Make the Whole World Cry' disappoints principally because Ms Tikaram seems to believe she can sustain a career simply by looking and sounding depressed."[12]

In a review of Eleven Kinds of Loneliness, David Quantick of NME noted it "builds up in a weird sort of Leonard Cohen-meets-the-Eurythmics manner".[13] Adam Sweeting of The Guardian felt "both tune and lyrics are buried under thundering timpani".[14] Len Righi of The Morning Call described the "edgy, falling-in-love song" as "Spectoresque in the best sense".[15]

• Tanita Tikaram – vocals, backing vocals, guitar
• David Hayes – guitar, bass
• Mark Creswell – guitar
• Bob Noble, Rod Argent – keyboards
• Richie Buckley – saxophone
• Nic France – drums, percussion

Production

• Tanita Tikaram – producer
• Simon Hurrell – engineer, mixing
• Mark Creswell, Nic France – mixing
• Tim Young – mastering
• Peter Van Hooke, Rod Argent – producers of "This Stranger"

Other

• Stefano Massei – photography
• Bill Smith Studio – design