Breakup song

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A breakup song is a song describing the breakup of an intimate relationship, with associated emotions of sadness, frustration, anger, and sometimes of acceptance or relief. As one source states (discussing the upbeat breakup song "Better Things" by The Kinks), "Pop music is littered with break-up masterpieces", but "[i]t's a rare break-up song that isn't bitter". [1]

Contents

Listening to breakup songs during a breakup can help the listener to experience a sense of catharsis. For example, songwriter Phil Collins notes that "People hate a break-up, but they love a break-up song. "Against All Odds" pins down how it feels to be broken-hearted, and it's one of the songs most often mentioned when people write to me, describing how it helped them through the trauma of heartbreak". [2]

Genres and styles

Breakup songs can be found in every genre of music. For example, "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette is categorized as alternative rock and post-grunge; "Tainted Love", originally composed by Ed Cobb and recorded as a soul music track by Gloria Jones in 1964, [3] attained worldwide fame after being covered by Soft Cell in 1981 as a synthpop [4] /new wave [5] song; "I Will Survive", popularized by Gloria Gaynor, has been described as a "disco anthem"; [6] and "Achy Breaky Heart", popularized by Billy Ray Cyrus, is a country/rockabilly song. [7] Some musicians are particularly well known for having written or recorded a large number of breakup songs; for example, Taylor Swift, whose penchant for the genre has been the subject of examination. [8]

The nature and style of breakup songs also changes over time. One source contends that "1960s charts were full of tragic break-up songs, whereas by the 1990s these were a rarity – which may indicate that, contrary to its in-your-face aerobics'n'attitude bluster, 1990s pop is more emotionally repressed". [9] In many instances, breakup songs "spring from biographical material", with songwriters using the medium to record their own feelings about a breakup. [10] Breakup songs can also reflect specific phases of a breakup, including feelings of estrangement between the partners before the actual breakup, describing the breakup itself, and describing feelings in the aftermath of the breakup. [10]

Best and best-selling breakup songs

A number of different media sources have sought to list the "best" breakup songs, with efforts to accomplish this reaching very different results. For example The Ringer found the best breakup song to be "Purple Rain" by Prince, followed by "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette and "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt, [11] while a list on the same topic by Time Out yielded a completely different top three, "I'd Rather Go Blind" by Etta James, "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Elliott Smith (a different song from the 2011 Gotye song of the same name), and the 1992 Whitney Houston version of "I Will Always Love You". [12]

The all-time best-selling single of a breakup song is the 1992 Whitney Houston version of "I Will Always Love You", which sold over 20 million copies. [13] The song had originally been written and recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, [14] and topped the country charts in 1974. It was written as a farewell to her one-time partner and mentor of seven years, Porter Wagoner, following Parton's decision to pursue a solo career. [15] [14] Other high-selling breakup songs include "Un-Break My Heart" by Toni Braxton in 1996 (10 million copies), [16] "Believe" by Cher in 1998 (10 million copies) [17] and "Careless Whisper" by George Michael in 1984 (6 million copies). [18] Best-selling digital singles include "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye featuring Kimbra in 2011 (13 million copies), [19] [20] "Hello" by Adele in 2015 (12.3 million copies), [21] and "Love Yourself" by Justin Bieber in 2016 (11.7 million copies). [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolly Parton</span> American singer (born 1946)

Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily for her decades-long career in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album debut in 1967 with Hello, I'm Dolly, which led to success during the remainder of the 1960s, before her sales and chart peak came during the 1970s and continued into the 1980s. Some of Parton's albums in the 1990s did not sell as well, but she achieved commercial success again in the new millennium and has released albums on various independent labels since 2000, including her own label, Dolly Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alanis Morissette</span> Canadian and American singer (born 1974)

Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter. She is known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting. Morissette began her music career in Canada in the early 1990s with two dance-pop albums. In 1995, she released Jagged Little Pill, an alternative rock-oriented album with elements of post-grunge. This album sold more than 33 million copies globally, propelling her to become a cultural phenomenon. It earned her the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1996 and was adapted into a rock musical of the same name in 2017. The musical earned fifteen Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. Additionally, the album was listed in Rolling Stone's 2003 and 2020 editions of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" guide. The lead single, "You Oughta Know", was also included at #103 in their "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

<i>Jagged Little Pill</i> 1995 studio album by Alanis Morissette

Jagged Little Pill is the third studio album by Canadian-American singer Alanis Morissette, released on June 13, 1995, through Maverick and her first album to be released worldwide. It marked a stylistic departure from the dance-pop sound of her first two albums, Alanis (1991) and Now Is the Time (1992). Morissette began work on the album after moving from her hometown Ottawa to Los Angeles, where she met producer Glen Ballard. Morissette and Ballard had an instant connection and began co-writing and experimenting with sounds. The experimentation resulted in an alternative rock album that takes influence from post-grunge and pop rock, and features guitars, keyboards, drum machines, and harmonica. The lyrics touch upon themes of aggression and unsuccessful relationships, while Ballard introduced a pop sensibility to Morissette's angst. The title of the album is taken from a line in the first verse of the song "You Learn".

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Oughta Know</span> 1995 single by Alanis Morissette

"You Oughta Know" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, released as the lead single from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995), on July 6, 1995. After releasing two studio albums, Morissette left MCA Records Canada and was introduced to manager Scott Welch. Morissette began working on new music after moving from her hometown of Ottawa to Toronto, but made little progress. In Los Angeles, she met producer Glen Ballard, with whom she wrote songs including "You Oughta Know".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Will Always Love You</span> 1974 single by Dolly Parton

"I Will Always Love You" is a song written and originally recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. Written as a farewell to her business partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, expressing Parton's decision to pursue a solo career, the country single was released in 1974. The song was a commercial success for Parton, twice reaching the top spot of the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart: first in June 1974, then again in October 1982, with a re-recording for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas soundtrack.

<i>Jolene</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Dolly Parton

Jolene is the thirteenth solo studio album by American entertainer Dolly Parton. It was released on February 4, 1974, by RCA Victor. The title track, "Jolene", tells the tale of a housewife confronting a beautiful seductress who she believes is having an affair with her husband. It became Parton's second solo number-one country single; it also was a moderate pop hit for her, and also did well in the United Kingdom. Since the introduction of downloads to the Official Chart in 2005, it has amassed 255,300 downloads and 6.68 million streams. It has been covered by numerous performers.

Stella Mae Parton is an American country singer and songwriter widely known for a series of country singles that charted during the mid-to-late-1970s, her biggest hit being "I Want to Hold You in My Dreams Tonight" in 1975. She is the younger sister of the singer and songwriter Dolly Parton and the older sister of the singer Randy Parton and former actress Rachel Dennison.

<i>Porter & Dolly</i> 1980 studio album by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton

Porter & Dolly is the thirteenth and final collaborative studio album by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. It was released on August 4, 1980, by RCA Victor. The album is made up of previously unreleased material recorded during Wagoner and Parton's duet years (1967–76), with new studio overdubs. It was released as part of a settlement from legal action Wagoner took against Parton following her departure from his band and syndicated television series. Two singles were released from the album. "Making Plans" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and "If You Go, I'll Follow You" peaked at number 12.

<i>Just Because Im a Woman</i> (1968 album) 1968 studio album by Dolly Parton

Just Because I'm a Woman is the second solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on April 15, 1968, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Bob Ferguson. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album's title track was the only single released and it peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

<i>Once More</i> (Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton album) 1970 studio album by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton

Once More is the fifth collaborative studio album by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. It was released on August 3, 1970, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Bob Ferguson. It peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 191 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album's single, "Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man", peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was nominated for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gotye</span> Australian musician (born 1980)

WouterAndré "Wally" De Backer, known professionally as Gotye, is an Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His 2011 single "Somebody That I Used to Know", reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the best-selling song of 2012. This made him the fifth Australian-based artist to top the chart and the second born in Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jolene (song)</span> 1973 single by Dolly Parton

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">King of Pain</span> 1983 single by the Police

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chasing Rainbows Museum</span> Museum at Dollywood

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimbra</span> New Zealand singer and songwriter

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolly Parton singles discography</span>

The singles discography of American country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton includes over 200 singles and touches on eight decades. Parton has released 198 singles as a lead artist, 49 as a featured artist, six promotional single and 68 music videos. Parton also released 21 singles with Porter Wagoner from 1968 to 1980, bringing her total number of singles to 243.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somebody That I Used to Know</span> 2011 single by Gotye featuring Kimbra

"Somebody That I Used to Know" is a song written, produced and performed by Australian musician and singer Gotye, featuring vocals from New Zealand singer Kimbra. The song was released in Australia and New Zealand through Eleven Music on 5 July 2011 as the second single from Gotye's third studio album, Making Mirrors (2011). It was later released by Universal Music in December 2011 in the United Kingdom, and 20 January 2012 in Ireland and the United States. "Somebody That I Used to Know" was written and recorded by Gotye at his parents' house on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia, and is lyrically related to the experiences he has had with romantic relationships.

"Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" is a song by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. The song was written by Parton and was first released as a duet with Chet Atkins on his 1976 album, The Best of Chet Atkins & Friends. Parton performed the song live throughout the 1970s, but did not release a solo version until 1982 on Heartbreak Express. Parton's solo version was released as the album's third single in July 1982, a double A-side release with "I Will Always Love You" from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas soundtrack. The song did not chart on its own, but did chart as the flip-side of "I Will Always Love You" throughout the single's chart run on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Parton would record the song for a third time in 1994, this time with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. This version would be released on the 1999 album Trio II, and would be one of three singles released simultaneously from the album.

References

  1. ↑ "The 30-Day Song Selection Spectacular: #4, Favorite Breakup Song". American Songwriter. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  2. ↑ Phil Collins, Not Dead Yet: The Memoir (2016), p. 186.
  3. ↑ "Tainted Love — Songlexikon". Songlexikon.de. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  4. ↑ William Ruhlmann. "Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret review at Allmusic". AllMusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved 24 June 2013. "the remake of Gloria Jones' "Tainted Love," which dominated dance clubs and eventually peaked in the pop Top Ten with its synth-pop sound and Almond's plaintive vocal in 1981–1982."
  5. ↑ Tim Sendra. "Pop & Wave, Vol. 1 review at Allmusic". AllMusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved 24 June 2013. "the collection has some of the biggest hits of the new wave era. Songs like "Cars" by Gary Numan, "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell (...) are the type of tunes that define the era."
  6. ↑ Garfield, Bob (31 January 2012). "'I Will Survive': the ridiculous and the sublime". The Guardian . Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  7. ↑ Cyrus Goes Triple-Platinum; Brooks Breaks 8 million. Billboard. 15 August 1992. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  8. ↑ Spanos, Brittany (16 June 2016). "Ex-Factor: Taylor Swift's Best Songs About Former Boyfriends". Rolling Stone .
  9. ↑ Rikky Rooksby, Inside Classic Rock Tracks: Songwriting and Recording Secrets of 100 Great Songs, from 1960 to the Present Day (2001), p. 31.
  10. 1 2 Sheila Davis, The Songwriter's Idea Book (Penguin Group, 1992), "Strategy Twenty-Seven: Breaking Up as Plot Device".
  11. ↑ Staff, The Ringer (14 February 2020). "The 50 Greatest Breakup Songs of All Time". The Ringer.
  12. ↑ "The 50 best breakup songs ever". Time Out Worldwide. 12 August 2022.
  13. ↑ Geller, Wendy (21 February 2014). "It Was 40 Years Ago: Dolly Parton Bids Adieu to Porter Wagoner, Writes 'I Will Always Love You'". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  14. 1 2 "I Will Always Love You by Dolly Parton Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  15. ↑ "Dolly Parton remembers writing 'I Will Always Love You'". The Tennessean. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  16. ↑ Pitt, Ivan L. (2010). Economic Analysis of Music Copyright: Income, Media and Performances. Springer. p. 125. ISBN   978-1-4419-6317-8.
  17. ↑ Ahmed, Insanul (5 August 2010). "Complex Presents: The 25 Greatest Auto-Tune Songs". Complex . Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  18. ↑ "George Michael's highs and lows". BBC News Online. 21 September 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  19. ↑ "Ke$ha, The Black Eyed Peas and Adele Top the Charts for Most Revenue Made via Digital Downloads in Over a Decade" (Press release). PR Newswire. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  20. ↑ Brandle, Lars (30 November 2012). "Gotye, Kimbra Win Big at ARIA Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  21. ↑ "Global Music Report 2016: State of the Industry" (PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  22. ↑ "Global Music Report 2017: Annual State of the Industry" (PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
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