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

For some reason, when we’re heartbroken, we feel like listening to Western music, don’t we?

A lot of the lyrics are quite serious or even ruthless, but the melodies are always moving.

It’s okay even if you don’t understand the lyrics.

When you’re nursing a broken heart, try listening to this list.

Playlist

Tear-jerking Western breakup songs: recommended classics and popular hits
	Title	Playlist	One point
1	You Break Me FirstTate McRae		Tate McRae’s heartbreak song
2	InconsolableBackstreet Boys		A classic song that sings of a bittersweet love for someone special
3	Only Love Can Break Your HeartNeil Young		The pain of heartbreak: timeless songs where love shatters the heart
4	It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to YesterdayBoyz II Men		A timeless, heart-touching masterpiece that sings of the pain of parting.
5	Wish You The BestLewis Capaldi		A poignant ballad that conveys the heart’s cry through song
6	Love Is a Losing GameAmy Winehouse		A poignant masterpiece that sings of love’s emptiness
7	I’m A MessEd Sheeran		Ed, a singer-songwriter from the United Kingdom...
8	Stay ft. Mikky EkkoRihanna		A moving song that expresses Rihanna's feelings
9	RIPOlivia O’Brien		RIP means “rest in peace” in English.
10	Better VersionFLETCHER		A heartfelt ballad that sings of the pain of heartbreak
11	Elastic Heart feat. Shia LaBeouf & Maddie ZieglerSia		Sia’s iconic song that portrays the anguish of love
12	tenderBlur		The album “13,” released in 1999...
13	QuitCashmere Cat ft. Ariana Grande		Ariana Grande and Cashme…
14	Time After TimeCyndi Lauper		American singer-songwriter, Cinde…
15	Don’t Say You Love MeFifth Harmony		In the winter of 2016, member Camila …
16	Kissing a FoolGeorge Michael		You can really tell how good a singer George Michael is…
17	Heartbreak AnniversaryGiveon		A singing voice filled with poignancy and a melody that resonates in the heart...
18	Somebody That I Used To KnowGotye		An Australian singer-songwriter...
19	Gotta Go My Own WayHigh School Musical 2		Disney Chanel Origin…
20	Cry Me a RiverJulie London		A song released in 1955, Julie...
21	SorryJustin Bieber		The feeling of wanting to apologize to my ex...
22	What’s NewLinda Ronstadt		A beautiful song that makes you listen without thinking. “Wha…
23	Shout Out to My ExLittle Mix		Formed from the TV show “The X Factor”…
24	That Girl Disappeared (She’s Out Of My Life)Michael Jackson		“The King of Pop,” Michael, in 19...
25	I’m Not The Only OneSam Smith		As the title of this song suggests, betrayed by you...
26	I’ll Be Over YouTOTO		The heartbroken protagonist, who has just broken up with their lover, will someday...
27	RedTaylor Swift		Taylor Swift is about to write a breakup song...
28	LingerThe Cranberries		The vocalist Dorore, who passed away suddenly in January 2018…
29	Hello, It’s MeTodd Rundgren		It’s not very well-known in Japan, but it’s a tear-jerking love st—
30	Hard to be honest (Hard to Say I’m Sorry)CHICAGO		Early Chicago was a representative band of brass rock...
31	Telephone LineElectric Light Orchestra		ELO (Electric Light Orches…
32	EverythingJody Watley		He/She belonged to a group called Shalamar and...
33	Wrecking BallMiley Cyrus		The Disney Channel's Secre...
34	The Heart Wants What It WantsSelena Gomez		At the beginning of this song, Selena Gomez…
35	Two GhostsHarry Styles		Harry Styles's wistful heartbreak ballad
36	Hold Me While You WaitLewis Capaldi		Lewis Capaldi from Scotland…
37	LostMichael Bublé		A heart-stirring ballad that sings of the pain of heartbreak and the hope of renewal.
38	The Winner (The Winner Takes It All)ABBA		A pop group of four men and women from Sweden…
39	Amnesia5 Seconds of Summer		An Australian pop rock band.…
40	Someone Like YouAdele		Adele is a 29-year-old from the United Kingdom, and …
41	HelloAdele		The British singer Adele, in 2015...
42	I’m SorryAli Gatie		Gently enveloping the hearts of those who can’t recover from a broken heart…
43	Potential Breakup SongAly & AJ		Aly & AJ are Alyson Michal…
44	Song For The DumpedBen Folds Five		Candidly laying bare the bitter feelings of a man who was abandoned…
45	When I Was Your ManBruno Mars		Listening to the emotional chorus, I couldn't help but get teary-eyed.
46	Never Be the SameCamila Cabello		In January 2018, he released his long-awaited solo album...
47	I Don’t Think That I Like HerCharlie Puth		A song that plaintively recounts the pain of heartbreak, Charli…
48	Lonely DancersConan Gray		Trying to heal the pain of heartbreak on the dance floor…
49	Ordinary WorldDuran Duran		Released by Duran Duran in 1993...
50	No Touch in Love (Never Gonna Fall in Love Again)Eric Carmen		Eric, who used to be the vocalist of The Raspberries...
51	Lead Me OnFLETCHER		FLETC, which was released in January 2024…
52	Shake It OutFlorence & The Machine		In the dramas SMASH and glee, Ka…
53	Love’s Survival (I Will Survive)Gloria Gaynor		Gloria Gaynor is a singer from the United States...
54	November RainGuns N’ Roses		The 1991 album “Use Your …”
55	ColorsHalsey		H, who grew up inspired by Japanese culture…
56	So YesterdayHilary Duff		Hilary from Houston, America...
57	Let It GoJames Bay		James Bay, who hails from the UK, is a 20...
58	Happiest YearJaymes Young		When it comes to tear-jerking breakup songs, a song like this would be...
59	Foolish GamesJewel		A poignant blend of memories of a wistful love and the pain of parting, a beau…
60	goodbyeKelly Clarkson		A masterful portrayal of heartbreak’s pain and self-liberation, ke…
61	CryKelly Clarkson		In American Idol Season 1...
62	I miss youKlymaxx		Every time I remember the love that has ended, you…
63	Need You NowLady Antebellum		A country [artist/person] from the state of Tennessee in the United States...
64	Whisper of the Eyes (Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue)Laura Fygi		The original is by the American singer, Christa...
65	Fingers CrossedLauren Spencer Smith		A candid portrayal of the pain of heartbreak, Lauren S...
66	Forget MeLewis Capaldi		Luis Ki... vividly depicts the pain of a broken heart.
67	Breaking PointLogan Michael		It’s a song swirling with the pain and anger of heartbreak. Log…
68	I keep forgettingMichael McDonald		Bring a breeze of AOR to the Doobie Brothers...
69	Used To Be YoungMiley Cyrus		Miley Cy… politely reflects on her past self
70	Last NightMorgan Wallen		Set to a beautiful melody, the aching pain of a heartbreaking loss in love...
71	The Best You HadNina Nesbitt		A singer-songwriter from Scotland…
72	I want you to be here (Now You’re Not Here)Swing Out Sister		"I Want You to Be Here" is a 1996 relea...
73	feel like shitTate McRae		A song that candidly portrays the pain of heartbreak, overwhelmingly…
74	YesterdayThe Beatles		Among all Beatles songs, it is the most cross-genre…
75	SuperstarCarpenters		In the late ’60s, gritty Southern rock from the United States…
76	A Kiss of Tears (Kiss And Say Goodbye)The Manhattans		The soul group that was active in the 1970s, Ma…
77	The Feeling of Being Dumped (You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’)The Righteous Brothers		The Righteous Brothers are from the United States…
78	Beggin’ On Your KneesVictoria Justice		The Nickelodeon sitcom ‘V…’
79	Careless WhisperWham!		In the 980s, not only in its home country of Britain but also a...
80	American Morning (Just When I Needed You Most)Randy Vanwarmer		At first glance, “American Morning” seems like quite a...
81	Cryin’Aerosmith		The American hard rock band, Aerosmi...
82	It’s A HeartacheBonnie Tyler		Classic breakup songs, internationally popular tracks
83	Goodbye Never Felt So BadJames Bay		Expressing the sorrow of heartbreak with a fast-paced sound
84	CryJamestown Story		The soothing effect of music that stays close to the heart
85	SomedayMariah Carey		A poignant masterpiece that sings of the pain of heartbreak
86	Say SomethingA Great Big World, Christina Aguilera		A classic song that sings of the sorrow of a heartbreaking farewell
87	Cryin’Aerosmith		A song intoxicated by the agony of heartbreak and cherished memories
88	Lost in loveAir Supply		Music that soothes by the seaside at dusk
89	Tears Dry On Their OwnAmy Winehouse		A breakup song that’s positive and uplifting
90	Bad DayDaniel Powter		A song of hope that heals the pain of a broken heart
91	The ReasonHoobastank		A story of deep regret and a resolve for self-transformation
92	You’re beautifulJames Blunt		The Shiseido commercial song is a bittersweet song about heartbreak.
93	Now You’re Not HereSwing Out Sister		Heal the pain of parting with a beloved partner through lyrics
94	glowkeeno		As I gradually grow into an adult, various thi…
95	Cry me a riverJustin Timberlake		When you're heartbroken, let the beautiful singing voice of a man heal your heart...
96	Kiss meYUI		Sounds like it’d be good to listen to right after a breakup to let it all out…
97	When I Was Your ManBruno Mars		Bruno Mar, who is from Honolulu, Hawaii...
98	love on topBeyoncé		Praised as a peerless beauty and possessing exceptional vocal ability...
99	honestyBilly Joel		A fierce Billy Joel who sang of pure, unaffected love…
100	where is the loveBlack Eyed Peas		Although it’s a hip-hop track, it’s also okay…
101	i love youBlu Cantrell		Directly descended from black music with exquisite electric piano...
102	me & those dreamin’ eyes of mineD’Angelo		As a male vocalist, spanning many octaves…
103	i’m still waitingDiana Ross		From the roots of soul music to a firmly established posi...
104	shape of youEd Sheeran		Backed by the fact that it became a massive hit worldwide…
105	you used to love meFaith Evans		A bouncy R&B track with a downer rhythm...
106	open armsJourney		Some people are moved to tears by the piano phrase in the intro...
107	this loveMaroon 5		A pop mood combined with powerful vocals...
108	real loveMary J Blige		Skillfully using the drum samples from audio two...
109	remind mePATRICE RUSHEN		pa, a genuine funk artist…
110	love like thisSWV		Based on Jeff Lorber’s fusion classic…
111	much loveShola Ama		A bouncy drumbeat with a smooth, refreshing sho…
112	falling for youTamia		I'm falling straight for you... such an intense feeling...
113	do for youThe Heavy		In acoustic neo-soul, Pi...
114	all for loveadriana evans		Talented neo-soul singer Adrian Ev...
115	make me happycooly’s hot box		A beautiful R&B landscape that's moody and dreamy…
116	tell me how you feeljoy enriquez		A mellow mel with a strong baseline...
117	heartbreakermichael speaks		Al Johnson’s classic “I’ll Back For More…”
118	looking up to youmichael wycoff		Formerly represented by Janei’s “Hey Mister DJ”...
119	loveterri walker		Cool yet powerful R&B is distinctive…
120	Without YouMariah Carey		The classic song with numerous cover versions, “Mariah V…”
121	I’m only gazing at you.Maki Ohguro		This is a song that I love him so much I can’t stand it.
122	lovely thangKut Klose		With a sense of exhilaration, passionately within a light mood...
123	Ex’s & Oh’sElle King		Two ... born in Los Angeles, California, USA
124	Ugly HeartG.R.L.		One member passed away, and now they are a three-piece...
125	Someone You LovedLewis Capaldi		A poignant piano melody and a heart-stirring bo...
126	DeadMadison Beer		Madison Beer is Justin …
127	Without YouNilsson		American singer Harry Nilsson "...
128	Running LowShawn Mendes		Sh…, a singer-songwriter from Canada
129	Tell Me You Love MeDemi Lovato		Disney Chanel Origin…