Music sad 2021 can be an effective tool for helping individuals feel better. Scientists have discovered that singing or listening to music activates brain networks all across the body.
Breakup songs that capture the sense of betrayal when someone you trusted breaks their word and begins dating someone else are perfect examples of songs to accompany a break-up experience.
Gladys Knight & The Pips – ‘Farewell My Love’
Slow Burner by Gladys Knight & The Pips was an instant soul classic when released in 1966 by Gladys Knight & The Pips, featuring its unforgettable vocal hook later sampled by Wu-Tang Clan, as well as its moody organ work by Booker T – making this track one of their earliest releases despite only starting out in 1952 as an insular family affair with Merald “Bubba”, Eleanor and Brenda Knight plus their cousins Edward Patten and William Guest among its original lineup; before signing with Motown they had spent many years performing local talent show circuit appearances while scoring hit singles under various labels before signing on with Motown in 1966.
It doesn’t discuss romance as such; rather it mourns the loss of a loved one with emotive vocals, strings and acoustic guitar evoking an indelible image that’s truly devastating. Although originally released as a B-side on their 1969 album, Berry Gordy later remixed and gave this track its own music video for their 1970 Soul Train Medley broadcasts and it soon rose up the charts to #1 spot on Billboard charts.
Robert Smith isn’t exactly known for making happy music, so when he recorded this wistful epic of loneliness and grief for the 1989 album Disintegration it made for an especially grim listen. Titled “Disintegration”, this eight-minute serpent of a track explored relationship dissolution from an intimate perspective; Sinead O’Connor’s version may be more well known but this version shows just how to write an effective tearjerker, with its stunning vocal performance coupled with layers of weeping synth strings to produce an epic moodiness of its own!
Ol’ Dec & Wyatt & Mark Bedford – ‘I Don’t Want To Cry Anymore’
This emotive instrumental is often featured as the soundtrack of motivational videos posted to Instagram or Tik Tok, providing the perfect atmosphere for motivational videos that rely on it as motivational backing music. Addiction comes in all forms; whether substances or people – this song captures this emotional struggle perfectly with denial, self-loathing, guilt and hopelessness all the way through.
At 16, this song originally recorded by Nick Cave and Rowland S Howard of their first band The Boys Next Door was meant as a light-hearted dig at overblown teenage angst – however, with Cave’s dark delivery and Howard’s spiralling guitar part it quickly developed its own following as an accomplished piece of heartbreak with its own following.
This soulful dirge features a gorgeous and melancholic melody – making it one of the best songs written about a relationship gone sour. Olivia Rodrigo gives an outstanding vocal performance in this track that addresses betrayal of loved ones and the feeling that no matter what is done to heal the hurt, the pain will never truly go away.
Of Montreal is an eccentric indie rock group known for their eccentric indie rock tracks that provide the soundtrack to an emotional relationship breakup. Although initially written as a parody of Phoebe Bridgers’ rendition, their heartbroken pop song now stands alone as an emotional and meaningful statement of its own about ending relationships.
Townes Van Zandt was the master of country music during the ’70s. His ballads included outlaw tragedy ‘Pancho and Lefty’ to folksy melancholy of ‘Tecumseh Valley.’ Perhaps his most poignant work, this track chronicles feelings of resentment and betrayal with his classic raspy voice that remains timeless today.
Blur – ‘No Distance Left To Run’
One of the best-known Brit Pop songs, this heartbreaking lament – about Damon Albarn’s relationship with Justine Frischmann that ended when it ended in 1999 – is sure to leave you heartbroken. From guttural blues riffs from Graham Coxon and Damon’s emotive vocal performance all the way through to sickeningly sweet vibraphone (I think) playing in the background – it will leave anyone tearful! Plus if you get hold of the full DVD set you can see this song being performed live in London’s Hyde Park which really adds something extra special!
Blur are often forgotten, yet this documentary on their English rockers provides an intimate view into their four personalities within the group. Filled with archive footage as well as 2009 rehearsals and a triumphant Glastonbury set from 2009, it makes an engaging watch – particularly with regard to Albarn and Coxon with their trademark glasses and Nigel Tufnel voices making for compelling viewing!
Radiohead surprised listeners who thought they had reached their bleakest levels with OK Computer three years later when Kid A demonstrated there was still more electronic melancholy to explore. This spine-chilling track from Violator displays Radiohead’s signature melancholy while at the same time serving as a powerful reminder that music industry can often be unforgiving and indifferent, where artists get let down frequently.
Tellier – ‘Between Us’
Breakup songs rarely get closer than this one. Prince and his proteges released an original version, but Sinead O’Connor took things one step further by elevating its intensity with her haunting vocal performance and layers of weeping synth strings – not forgetting its captivating video!
Olivia Rodrigo’s song perfectly conveys that feeling of betrayal.
Sebastien Tellier has an uncanny ability for writing compelling songs and soundtrack cues that span the spectrum of musical experience, balancing between acoustic, synth, organic, and maximal elements. His recent album L’Aventura boasts such tracks; one such release from this release could prove especially impactful as background music for an action series about women fighting the oppressive systems we inhabit; thus potentially becoming his most significant release yet.
Tellier’s new album Domesticated will be out June 5th on Record Makers and features Valentine Reinhardt’s stunning animated video for its lead single ‘Love’; she painted its cover art as well.
Young – ‘Misery’
Sinead O’Connor made this song famous after recording it and Prince made it widely-known – featuring stunning vocal performances that conveyed heartbreaking loss, layers of weeping synth strings, and an iconic tear-streaked music video – one of the saddest songs ever created.
Skyler Grey’s song stands out from most sad songs by offering an actual solution: she sings: “These dark thoughts, I’m going to put em in a box” as an encouragement that we no longer need to dwell on our negative emotions and overanalyze them; rather we should simply put them away for good and focus on happier matters instead.
Sacramento-based songwriter Tre Burt offers an impressively mature rendition of this sad song featuring piano, some lovely acoustic guitar licks, and harmonica playing that suggests Dylan-esque power. Signed to Oh Boy Records and soon to release his sophomore album.
Paul Sheldon is the best-selling author of the Misery series of books and meets Annie Wilkes as she recovers from a car accident. But Annie is more than a passionate reader – she also takes care of Paul in her home, helping him view his work more objectively as time progresses. Eventually he begins to see that his captivity may actually help him see it differently and find relief through writing again.
This iconic album explores the nature of suffering and loss while simultaneously exploring our capacity to overcome it. The songs on it are haunting, sombre and sometimes dark; dealing with themes such as death anxiety and inevitability of pain. Natalie Imbruglia, The Corrs, Psychic TV have all covered some or all of these songs from this classic work.