After a breakup, any music lover immediately takes to Spotify to begin crafting a flawless playlist that truly encapsulates the pain of heartbreak. Only a master can perfect the ideal mix of lyrics, artists, and genres. So, to start the search, I’ve accumulated a list of my 5 top heartbreak songs in the spirit of Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity, another breakup classic.
#1 “Lover You Should’ve Come Over” by Jeff Buckley
My first instinct when it comes to sad music is diving straight into the 90s, specifically the angsty singer/songwriter genre, typically involving a late 90s tragic death. Jeff Buckley’s album Grace (1994) can move anyone to tears. He put his heart and soul into constructing one of the most iconic heartache pieces of his decade. Buckley describes his desire to rekindle an old relationship and the difficulty of getting over a lover, something that is all too relatable for listeners. He sings about regrets in his relationship and waiting for a past partner to come back to him, saying he couldn’t “keep good love from going wrong” this time. Buckley sings soulfully about one of the hardest parts of a breakup: fighting the desire to go back.
#2 “White Ferrari” by Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean is a staple in the world of melancholy tunes. “White Ferrari” on the album Blonde (2016) encapsulates the feelings of emptiness and mourning after a breakup. He reflects on how rare and innocent the love was, comparing it to a beloved Ferrari. Frank Ocean quotes a Beatles’ love song, “Here, There and Everywhere,” one of my favorites, to emphasize the nostalgia behind his lost partner. He describes his love for his ex-partner as an addiction, similar to that of cocaine. This song is, in my opinion, one of the greatest breakup anthems because of its depth and animosity that turns to reflection on the beauty of what the relationship once was, what the artist lost, and how he’s coping with the end of the era. Frank Ocean also describes a second wave of emotion, post-Jeff Buckley’s bargaining mentality of coming back to his ex, capturing the long-lasting grief that comes with losing someone you love.
#3 “Love Will Tear Us Apart” Joy Division
“Love Will Tear Us Apart” is about that phase of a doomed relationship when the honeymoon is over – the pet peeves, annoying habits, and petty resentment pile up. Joy Division blames love itself for this flaw, insinuating that every relationship that was happy at one point will eventually fall victim to the pressure it applies on itself, and crack. Any recent victim of this trope can scream Ian Curtis’s lyrics. They describe the unavoidable dread that manifests when two people grow apart and the desperation of getting back to the pure feeling of the “happy times.”
#4 “ball w/o you” by 21 Savage
The rap genre is fueled by many tales of heartbreak, loss, and moving on. 21 Savage shows the audience his careless attitude in a poetic and genuinely catchy way. He describes that it’s time for him to move on; “ball w/o you” describes 21 Savage’s journey of living without his former partner. He also details that his ex has been on her own journey of self-discovery, which he says is fueled by her missing him. He discusses his extreme love and loyalty towards his ex, which was lost after a betrayal. He says “You healed my pain, Then you caused it.” This imagery of getting betrayed by someone you trusted to never hurt you is a common trope in relationships. 21 Savage touches on emotional subjects in this song, and it goes to show that the usually stone-cold rapper can too be vulnerable through his art. There are so many different genres of heartbreak, and 21 proves that rappers can do it just the same. 21 is an artist of his generation, moving his listeners to an emotional state through his words and vulnerability whilst still maintaining a rugged image.
#5 “Breaking Up” by Alton Ellis
In this old-school heartbreak tune, Alton Ellis combines Motown influence with a reggae beat. Ellis describes the pain of breaking up while still in love with the person leaving. Genre morphing and hopping is a skill that many artists use to blend their backgrounds, and Ellis uses this seamlessly by pushing the soul-driven sounds of Motown with a classic reggae undertone. Inspired by two genres originating from black artists, Ellis creates a classic record with “Breaking Up,” something that should make any post-breakup playlist. This song superbly displays multiple genres touching on the same heart-wrenching subject.
So the question is, what genre has the best heartbreak songs? The only answer I can give is all of them. Music is built off of emotion, and there’s nothing better than the immense impact of a breakup to inspire all the sentiment necessary for writing a timeless piece. In every genre, you’ll find an artist inspired by a lost love who is determined to capture that crushing sensation that everyone feels after a heartbreak.
Article by: Annie Wynner
Photo by: Merri Cyr for The Sydney Morning Herald