Tear-jerking Western breakup songs: recommended classics and popular hits

The Best You HadNina Nesbitt

Nina Nesbitt – The Best You Had

She is a singer-songwriter from Scotland, and she said she wrote this song about when her friend broke up with her ex, but many of the lyrics seem to compare her to his current girlfriend.

The breakup was apparently caused by finding a photo on her ex’s Instagram with a girl she didn’t know.

I Want You to Be Here (Now You’re Not Here)Swing Out Sister

Swing Out Sister – Now You’re Not Here

“I Want You to Stay” is a single released in 1996.

The single was released only in Japan because the song was specially written as the theme for the TV drama “Mahiru no Tsuki” (Midday Moon).

Reflecting the drama’s content, it features a somewhat somber melody line and expresses feelings for “you,” who is no longer here.

feel like shitTate McRae

Tate McRae – feel like shit (Lyric Video)

This song candidly portrays the pain of heartbreak, with strikingly relatable lyrics.

Tate McRae’s wistful vocals beautifully express emotions from the depths of the heart.

Released in May 2022 as the lead single from her debut album, I Used to Think I Could Fly, the track charted in many countries and was certified Platinum in Canada.

It’s a song that stays close to those who have gone through a breakup and are struggling to move on.

Many listeners will likely think, “I felt the same way.”

YesterdayThe Beatles

The Beatles – Yesterday

Among the Beatles’ songs, this is the one most frequently covered by other musicians, and it is remembered as a masterpiece of breakup songs.

The composer is Paul McCartney.

With this track, he performed vocals backed only by strings and guitar for the first time.

The flowing melodic line showcases the hallmark qualities of Paul’s work.

SuperstarCarpenters

Carpenters – Superstar

In the late 1960s, Delaney & Bonnie, a husband-and-wife duo known for their gritty Southern rock, released this song in 1969.

Its original title was “Groupie (Superstar).” The Carpenters changed part of the lyrics and released their version in 1970, and it became a worldwide hit.

A Kiss of Tears (Kiss And Say Goodbye)The Manhattans

Kiss and Say Goodbye — The Manhattans

This is a hit song released in 1976 by the Manhattans, a soul group active in the 1970s.

The track reached No.

1 on the U.

S.

charts and became a staple during slow-dance (cheek-to-cheek) time at discos back then.

While the song is full of romantic mood, its content is about saying goodbye to a partner in a relationship that can’t be spoken about openly—an affair.

It’s by no means a purely sweet song.

The Feeling of Being Dumped (You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’)The Righteous Brothers

You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling Righteous Brothers REMASTERED TRUE STEREO HiQ Hybrid JARichardsFilm

The Righteous Brothers are a male duo group from the United States.

You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ is a 1964 release that reached No.

1 on the U.

S.

charts.

They are remembered as pioneering figures in blue-eyed soul (soul music performed by white artists).

This work was later covered by Daryl Hall & John Oates.