The song “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” by Whitney Houston.
I have not attended journalism school, but I acquired all the necessary skills to be an investigative reporter from following the lead of Detective Whitney Houston. In just a brief four minutes, her song depicts her Pulitzer-worthy investigation into a deceitful lover: she scans through his phone, sifts through the garbage, and ultimately uncovers evidence to expose him as a dishonest and unfaithful partner. While this may be disheartening, Houston follows in the footsteps of divas like Gloria Gaynor and Alicia Bridges by reminding us that it’s better to dance away our sorrows than wallow in bed over a worthless man. The lyrics “I’d rather be alone than unhappy” serve as both a declaration of self-love and a top-tier insult. And let’s not forget the added bonus of always hearing the Thunderpuss club remix of this song during a night out at a gay bar – a little sign from the universe that even in our most devastating heartbreaks, we will eventually be okay. Alaina Demopoulos.
Guns N’ Roses – Estranged
During the early 1990s, when they were a hugely popular band, Guns N’ Roses released three separate hour-long documentaries detailing the creation of the music videos for Don’t Cry, November Rain, and Estranged. These documentaries, which were the most expensive ever made at the time, have become a rarely seen American saga that unintentionally reveals the band’s journey from youthful optimism to paranoia. The first two videos feature Axl’s blossoming romance with his then-girlfriend Stephanie Seymour, but she is noticeably absent from the third video due to their messy breakup. As the band’s excessive lifestyle takes its toll, Axl’s lyrics in Estranged, a nine-and-a-half-minute ballad without a chorus, poignantly express his heartbreak over his failed marriage to Erin Everly. Despite the melancholic atmosphere, the song is a masterpiece that breaks structural conventions and showcases Axl’s exceptional vocals. In an interview, Axl explains that November Rain is about not wanting to deal with unrequited love, while Estranged is about coming to terms with it and figuring out how to move on. This behind-the-scenes look at the band’s tumultuous journey serves as a reminder that even celebrities experience heartache and struggle with relationships.
Fleetwood Mac – Silver Springs
Breakup songs should elicit one of two emotions: rivers-streaming-down-your-face sobs or billowing anger. Perfect breakup songs – like Silver Springs – elicit both. With its slow build up, the song is equal parts melodrama as it is utterly devastating. You can put yourself in it and weep through lines like “I’ll say I loved you years ago / Tell myself you never loved me, now”; working your way up to the throaty roar required to properly sing: “I’ll follow you down ’til the sound of my voice will haunt you / You’ll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you.” You can also revel in the third-party catharsis it evokes. Like any self-respecting fan of Fleetwood Mac, the saga of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks has enthralled me for years. I’ve watched virtually every live performance of this song, always returning to the 1997 reunion show performance, later released as The Dance. There’s not yet a word powerful enough to describe what it is to see past lovers harmonize about the very big feelings that tore them apart. Jenna Amatulli
Sleater-Kinney – One More Hour
It can be quite awkward to witness a couple arguing in front of you, especially when neither person is willing to compromise. That’s why it took some time for me to appreciate Sleater-Kinney’s emotionally charged song, One More Hour. Released in 1997, the track captures the raw emotions of vocalists Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein as they navigate their real-life breakup through chaotic post-punk sounds. The song feels like a battle between the two, both armed with their own weapons – Tucker with her pleading vocals and powerful chords, and Brownstein with her snarky responses and nagging guitar riffs. The present-tense delivery adds a sense of urgency and discomfort, making the song feel even more authentic (and, in its rejection of a neat resolution, a bit unconventional). There is no clear winner, but One More Hour beautifully portrays the bittersweet sadness and bitterness of a breakup. Owen Myers
The song “How It’s Going to Be” by Third Eye Blind.
Without Greta Gerwig’s clever depiction of Matchbox Twenty or Weezer’s enduring success on TikTok and through Olivia Rodrigo, the melancholic sounds of 90s pop-rock would have likely faded into obscurity: deemed too nerdy, too cheesy, and too filled with men whining. However, these very qualities make for the perfect breakup anthem – like this timeless, uncool gem from Third Eye Blind’s first album, which captures the immediate relief of ending a relationship and the subsequent emotional fallout with raw, self-deprecating angst. A zither riff echoes throughout the track, reminiscent of a beam of sunlight peeking through blinds. Lead singer Stephan Jenkins’ vocals are an anomaly over the chords: a tired sigh; a snarky dismissal of a love that has run its course. But then the cracks begin to form. Dormant memories resurface. The track explodes. Jenkins screams into the void: “I want to taste the salt of your skin!” It’s pitiful, immature, and desperate – in other words, exactly how a breakup feels.
Candi Staton – Too Hurt to Cry
With six marriages in her past, Staton has a wealth of experience with breakups, making her an authority on the subject. She effectively channels this expertise in her music, covering a range of breakup emotions from anxiety before the split (in “I’m Just a Prisoner”) to intense mourning (in “Darling You’re All That I Had”) to post-breakup regrets (in “I’ll Drop Everything and Come Running”) to even encouraging others to end their relationships while still trapped in her own doomed one (in “Young Hearts Run Free”). However, she truly shines in capturing the calm before the storm – that brief moment after a breakup where you know you will soon feel terrible, but for now there is a strange clarity. In “He Called Me Baby,” Staton conveys this feeling by audibly shaking her head in disbelief, but it is even more powerful in “Too Hurt to Cry.” In this song, her partner has left her for someone else and she calmly expresses her devastation. Her vocal performance is exceptional – starting off with contempt for this “rat” and casually observing his packed bags, but as the pain seeps in, her anger and self-loathing become more layered. The way she still reflexively calls him “baby” despite the hurt is relatable, and her exasperation and self-mocking tone in the line “I feel so bad, I could just die!” is both amusing and heartbreaking. She nearly breaks down as she turns away from him and admits she doesn’t want to see him leave, but then regains her composure with a toxic mantra that allows her anger to resurface: “I’m too hurt, I’m too hurt, I’m just too hurt to cry.” It’s a powerful performance that rivals any Oscar-worthy acting, and it’s all packed into three short minutes.
Jim Croce – Operator
When it comes to music, particularly songs about breakups, I tend to gravitate towards themes of anger, bitterness, and scorn. However, there was one instance at a restaurant where, in the midst of longing for someone, I heard Jim Croce’s Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels) and have been captivated by its sadness ever since. Perhaps it’s because the song, which was released a year before Croce’s untimely death in 1973, transcends time. The singer, who was left by his former partner for his “best old ex-friend Ray”, speaks to a telephone operator – a concept that may be foreign to those under 50 years old. Yet, we can all relate to the feeling – pouring our heart out to a stranger, pretending we’re okay, and desperately trying to convince ourselves it wasn’t real. Attempting to heal, but failing. Trying to appear normal in public, but consumed by our own thoughts. Struggling to cope with the pain of being left behind – a feeling that anyone who has experienced it knows all too well, as Taylor Swift sings about in one of her songs. Adrian Horton
Arctic Monkeys – Cornerstone
Despite its impressive musical elements and grandiose tone, Cornerstone explores a rather unglamorous event: a post-breakup binge. The lyrics depict Alex Turner stumbling through various imaginary pubs, meeting girls and desperately asking if he can call them by his ex’s name. Towards the end, he encounters his ex’s sister who delivers a sharp and witty final line: “You can call me anything you want.” It’s a strange premise, but that’s what makes it one of the best breakup songs – Turner captures emotions that are often overlooked in art, such as recklessness, self-pity, and even mild madness. The track focuses on self-absorption to an uncomfortable extent; while Turner sings in a smooth and charming manner, his words reveal his pathetic neediness and almost cruel behavior. Yet, it’s hard not to sympathize with him – who hasn’t tried to find a rebound and ended up rambling about their ex? Shaad D’Souza.
Solomon featuring Kojey Radical – Stages
The song Phases evokes the complicated emotions that emerge after a breakup in a painfully relatable way. The track, released last year, became ingrained in my mind and also caught the attention of Ice Spice, who sampled it months later. It delves into the difficult process of redefining a relationship after it has ended and how it’s never easy. The lyrics touch on the struggle of moving on and facing uncomfortable triggers, such as flashbacks of intimate moments. Solomon captures the unnatural feeling of readjustment and Kojey Radical adds a sad and haunting verse, reflecting on the temptation to reach out to an ex but ultimately choosing to move on. It’s a common experience for many of us, leaving us questioning if it was the right decision.
Source: theguardian.com
