36 Of The Best Break-Up Songs To Dance, Cry, Scream And Wail Too

A huge majority of the music we listen to is born out of an experience of love.

Love is what makes us feel so intensely, builds our character and leaves us experiencing otherworldly highs and devastating lows. So it's no wonder that when putting pen to paper and developing emotive melodies and rhythms that artists draw on these feelings and create art that will resonate with fans for decades.

The break-up anthem has evolved over the years. While some still write heartbreaking songs about losing love, others turn it on its head and make it an uplifting, empowering dance tune (Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande). Over the years, other artists like Beyoncé and Adele have dedicated entire albums to relationships, whether that be the breakdown of one (like Adele's 21) or the learnings from the other side of a betrayal (like Beyoncé's Lemonade). Her recent album Renaissance focuses on release and new beginnings.

In whatever form - from a sad song like 'Nothing Compares 2 U' to a women's empowerment anthem like 'Independent Women Part 1' - breakup anthems can serve to momentarily relieve the sadness of a relationship ending, to channel your anger or hurt and to remind you that people have gone through - and come out the other side - before.

Here are 36 of the most powerful break-up songs to add to that new playlist, now.

Beyoncé's 'Break My Soul' track broke the internet when it was released in 2022. Her song, which was known for fuelling conversations about the great resignation, is one for new beginnings. She refers to new love, a new drive and building her foundation. 'Release ya anger, release ya mind. Release the love, forget the rest,' as Bey says.

See the original post on Youtube

Dua Lipa's 'We're Good' track refers to being at peace when knowing a relationship has run its cause, being able to confidently let go, move on and try new experiences with no regrets.

See the original post on Youtube

Aptly named 'Don't Wait Up', this 2021 track from Shakira is all about making time for yourself and being able to focus on yourself and not feeling like you can't. Her lyrics remind us how brave we need to be sometimes.

See the original post on Youtube

Whether your break up was messy or not, Charli XCX's 'Used To Know Me', which she's her sing about feeling free from constraints, stresses that we can overcome anything - no matter how much something or someone has a hold over you.

See the original post on Youtube

Lizzo dropped her fourth studio album Special on July 15, and its namesake track is all about celebrating your self-worth and honing how exceptional you are, no matter what anyone else says. It's a feel-good tune imbued with the sass Lizzo is known for. We're here for it.

See the original post on Youtube

Ariana Grande made the break-up song to end all break-up songs when she released 'thank u, next' in 2019 and name-checked four high-profile ex-boyfriends (Pete Davidson, Mac Miller, Big Sean and Ricky Alvarez). Grande is living proof that you can truly shine after aforementioned break-ups with this mighty music video being evidence in itself.

Perhaps this is a song for a few months/years down the line when you are actually grateful for the experience rather than in that immediate post-break up period.

See the original post on Instagram

'To the left to the left'... never has someone moving their stuff out of a shared flat been so catchy. Beyoncé reminded us all that no one is ever 'irreplaceable', giving a modern update to the 'if it's meant to be' adage.

See the original post on Youtube

The song begins 'loving you isn't the right thing to do', suggesting that sometimes life gets in the way and relationships break down despite the love you may have for one another.

Written by Lyndsey Buckingham in 1976, in the aftermath of his break-up from bandmate Stevie Nicks, the song is still regarded as iconic all these years later.

See the original post on Youtube

If we're honest, many of Destiny's Child's songs are appropriate for break-ups: 'Girl' reenforces the need to lean on friends post break-up, 'Jumpin' Jumpin' tells you to head to the club with your friends ASAP, 'Survivor' reminds us of how strong we are and, well, 'Independent Women' is pretty self-explanatory.

See the original post on Youtube

'About Damn Time' is another banger from Lizzo's 'Special' album, and it's clear to see why it was number one on the Radio Songs chart the day her album dropped. Lyrics like 'I'm way too fine to be this stressed' and 'I got a feelin' I'm gon' be alright' reflect the mood of the song, which nods liberation, feeling free and overcoming obstacles.

See the original post on Youtube

Released in 1998 on her bestselling post-Fugees album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, 'Ex-Factor' documents the painful final stages of a relationship through Hill's soulful melodies and riffs.

Recently, the song has been sampled by Drake and Cardi B, proving its legacy status as the ultimate heartbreak song.

See the original post on Youtube

In 1996, the band released 'Don't Speak' which had been rewritten by Gwen Stefani to reflect her break-up from her No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal.

Reflecting on the hit single when the band reunited in 2021, Kanal told The Guardian: 'We were on tour for 28 months. We were going through the breakup and in every interview we were talking about it so we were opening this wound on an hourly basis. It was so brutal, but I don't know how we made it through.'

See the original post on Youtube

Is there a song more devastating? No, we don't think so. As for the lyrics, we have Prince to thank for that. O'Connor recorded the heartbreak track four years after the 'Purple Rain' singer wrote it with a new arrangement - and accompanied it with a simple yet powerful music video - and it was a hit.

See the original post on Youtube

'Back To Black' and 'Love Is A Losing Game' are two of Winehouse's best known break-up songs, but the upbeat tempo of 'Tears Dry On Their Own' coupled with the late singer's powerful, unrivalled vocals serves to uplift, reminding us that happier times can come after walking away from a relationship.

See the original post on Youtube

The instantly recognisable piano chords, spoken word intro and moody backing vocals cement this song's status as an iconic Nineties break-up anthem.

Penned by bandmate Shaznay Lewis after a break-up (who then delivers a rousing second bridge, we might add), the hurt, confusion and breakdown of communication around a break-up is felt through the lyrics.

See the original post on Youtube

The late Bill Withers wrote this devastating song about heartbreak in 1971, yet it still stands as one of the most emotional break-up songs, which is why it's been featured in the sad moments of romantic movies like Notting Hill.

See the original post on Youtube

Despite the EDM beat and synth-esque sounds in the backing track, the lyrics to 'With Every Heartbeat' - where Robyn contemplates ending a relationship or continuing even though the relationship is difficult - are crushing.

See the original post on Youtube

Though Lemonade was an album about heartbreak, betrayal and ultimately choosing to stay with a partner in spite of the hurt, 'Sorry' has to be featured on this list for several reasons. 1. 'Tell that boy, bye' is now embedded in pop culture when referencing break-ups, 2. Serena Williams and Beyoncé are formidable in the video and 3. The song serves as a final warning for a straying partner.

See the original post on Youtube

Written and released in the aftermath of her separation from husband Liam Hemsworth, 'Midnight Sky' sees Cyrus reclaiming her independence with lyrics like 'I was born to run, I don't belong to anyone' set against samples of Stevie Nicks' 'Edge Of Seventeen'.

See the original post on Youtube

Lipa reminds everyone that 'if you're under him, you ain't getting over him' as part of her many new rules for what to do after a break-up in this huge hit from the Grammy winner's debut self-titled album.

See the original post on Youtube

Thank you to Lizzo for reminding us that we are '100% that b*tch' regardless of what's going on in our relationships. Full of confidence-instilling one-liners and lyrics, this is an infectious, uplifting song for the millennial generation.

See the original post on Youtube

One of the most devastating break-up songs of recent time came thanks to Adele with her second album. The singer's 2011 performance at the BRIT awards - where she silenced the O2 arena with her emotive vocal chords - has gone down as one of the very best by the multi-Grammy winner.

See the original post on Youtube

An anthem to dance and sing along to when you've reached the post break-up stage of acceptance and the realisation that things weren't perfect.

See the original post on Youtube

This reflective song, looking back on a former relationship with hindsight, was released in 2012 and brought a new format to the break-up song genre by featuring two singers (Gotye and Kimbra) providing alternate perspectives of the relationship.

See the original post on Youtube

Even if we are less familiar with country music in the UK, the palpable anger of Underwood radiates through this raging break-up anthem about a cheating ex-boyfriend.

See the original post on Youtube

A track from Ocean's critically-acclaimed Channel Orange album, but was actually written for another artist before Ocean decided to keep it for himself.

See the original post on Youtube

Another crooner with an association for singing sad songs about love is Smith, who released 'I'm Not The Only One' in 2014 and accompanied it with a star-studded music video chronicling a Hollywood affair.

See the original post on Youtube

A karaoke classic and one of Swift's best known songs about love. Released for her xx album, the star joyfully sings how this time it really is over because she just can't put up with his rubbish excuses any more.

The singer explained how the song came about when a friend of an ex-boyfriend walked into the recording studio she was in and questioned whether they were in fact getting back together.

'He starts talking about how he's heard we were getting back together and that was not the case,' Swift told ABC. 'When he leaves, Max and Johan [Swifts co-songwriters] are like, "what's the story behind that?" And so I start telling them the story of break up, get back together, break up, get back together, just, ugh, the worst. Max says, "this is what we're writing. We're writing this song", and I picked up the guitar and just started singing... It just happened so fast. It was so much fun.'

See the original post on Youtube

Though 'We Belong Together' is a very emotional song about heartbreak ('When you left, I lost a part of me'), for the vibe of picking yourself up and getting back out there we'll listen to another song on The Emancipation Of Mimi - 'Shake It Off' - instead.

See the original post on Youtube

Another song with immediate post-break up anger at the centre of it is Sullivan's heartbreak classic about smashing an ex's car. She sings how it didn't 'mend her broken heart' it helped with the initial rage (though we don't advise doing this at home, people).

See the original post on Youtube

This Grammy winning song - written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster - sums up the initial pain and trauma of a break-up so beautifully.

See the original post on Youtube

Showing it's not all doom and gloom after a break-up, Mahalia sings about feeling just 'fine?' after a break-up.

As she told NME in 2018: 'It’s basically me just talking about breaking up with somebody, them constantly calling me and me just being like "I’m really sorry but I’m just not feeling this anymore". Its that’s kind of thing where its not a spiteful song, its actually kind of the opposite, its saying "I wish I missed you, but I don’t".'

See the original post on Youtube

A Good Girl Gone Bad era Rihanna sarcastically tells her ex to 'take a bow' after breaking her heart, betraying and fooling her. Fun fact: It was co-written by Rihanna's fellow R&B artist Ne-Yo.

See the original post on Youtube

A break-up song to scream at the top of your lungs when you've finally ditched your rubbish ex.

See the original post on Youtube

Emerging with a second album and new sound in 2017, Lorde arrived with this break-up anthem. Explaining to Apple Music's Zane Lowe that the song is about her 'first major heartbreak'.

'The song is really about those moments kind of immediately after your life changes and about all the silly little things that you gravitate towards. I say, “She thinks you love the beach, you’re such a liar.” What the f*ck, she thinks you like the beach?! You don’t like the beach! It’s those little stupid things,' the singer explained.

Lorde, we relate.

See the original post on Youtube