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Breakup song

January 01, 1970

This article is about the type of song. For other uses, see Breakup song (disambiguation).

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]

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

References edit

  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. ^ a b 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). . Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  14. ^ a b "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. ^ (PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.

External links edit

  • Heartbreak Hits: Top 30 Breakup Songs 30 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Billboard (14 February 2014)
  • The 50 Best Breakup Songs, Esquire (25 July 2017)
  • 10 Songs To Get You Through Every Breakup, Seventeen (23 October 2013)
  • The 10 best breakup songs to help you move on, Business Insider (12 May 2017)

January 01, 1970
breakup, song, this, article, about, type, song, other, uses, disambiguation, breakup, song, song, describing, breakup, intimate, relationship, with, associated, emotions, sadness, frustration, anger, sometimes, acceptance, relief, source, states, discussing, . This article is about the type of song For other uses see Breakup song disambiguation 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 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 Contents 1 Genres and styles 2 Best and best selling breakup songs 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksGenres and styles editBreakup 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 editA 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 editLove songReferences edit The 30 Day Song Selection Spectacular 4 Favorite Breakup Song American Songwriter 3 June 2011 Retrieved 14 June 2012 Phil Collins Not Dead Yet The Memoir 2016 p 186 Tainted Love Songlexikon Songlexikon de Retrieved 25 July 2013 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 Tim Sendra Pop amp 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 Garfield Bob 31 January 2012 I Will Survive the ridiculous and the sublime The Guardian Retrieved 19 September 2013 Cyrus Goes Triple Platinum Brooks Breaks 8 million Billboard 15 August 1992 Retrieved 5 August 2010 Spanos Brittany 16 June 2016 Ex Factor Taylor Swift s Best Songs About Former Boyfriends Rolling Stone Rikky Rooksby Inside Classic Rock Tracks Songwriting and Recording Secrets of 100 Great Songs from 1960 to the Present Day 2001 p 31 a b Sheila Davis The Songwriter s Idea Book Penguin Group 1992 Strategy Twenty Seven Breaking Up as Plot Device Staff The Ringer 14 February 2020 The 50 Greatest Breakup Songs of All Time The Ringer The 50 best breakup songs ever Time Out Worldwide 12 August 2022 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 a b I Will Always Love You by Dolly Parton Songfacts www songfacts com Retrieved 12 November 2016 Dolly Parton remembers writing I Will Always Love You The Tennessean Retrieved 12 November 2016 Pitt Ivan L 2010 Economic Analysis of Music Copyright Income Media and Performances Springer p 125 ISBN 978 1 4419 6317 8 Ahmed Insanul 5 August 2010 Complex Presents The 25 Greatest Auto Tune Songs Complex Retrieved 17 January 2016 George Michael s highs and lows BBC News Online 21 September 2008 Retrieved 20 November 2010 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 Brandle Lars 30 November 2012 Gotye Kimbra Win Big at ARIA Awards Billboard Retrieved 29 December 2012 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 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 External links editHeartbreak Hits Top 30 Breakup Songs Archived 30 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine Billboard 14 February 2014 The 50 Best Breakup Songs Esquire 25 July 2017 10 Songs To Get You Through Every Breakup Seventeen 23 October 2013 The 10 best breakup songs to help you move on Business Insider 12 May 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Breakup song amp oldid 1215599194, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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