Never underestimate the power of a breakup ballad

Miley Cyrus’ new hit single 'Flowers' has become an instant success. The diss track has gone viral recently with many seeing this new era as her healing stage. Cyrus’ prominent relationship with famous actor Liam Hemsworth filled our gossip tabloids for most of the 2010s and filled the headlines even more when they finally called it quits in 2019.

From the hidden easter eggs in the instantly iconic music video and the subtle hints about her relationship with ex Liam Hemsworth, it’s no surprise that the new ballad has become a hit. But is it any surprise that a song coming out of a break-up wasn’t going to achieve success?

Breakup ballads have been a massive part of the music industry for decades and are almost always hits. From a melancholic melody to a tempered tune, audiences can instantly relate to the pain and suffering that singer's thread into their lyrics. Starting with Leonard Cohen’s reflective hit ‘Hallelujah’ and The Beatles' sorrowful ‘Yesterday’, breakup music has evolved to produce some of the 21st centuries best music.

The iconic Taylor Swift has been writing and singing about her unsuccessful relationships throughout her entire music career. Not only did the pop singer begin her career with hit break-up ballads like ‘We are never getting back together’ she also recently re-recorded most of her music category that takes brutal swipes at her exes. The ten-minute version of ‘All Too Well’ was littered with subtle clues about her doomed relationship with Jack Gyllenhaal and any listener is sure to relate to the heartbreak and sorrow Swift reflects in the song.

The reality and rawness of breakup songs are a sure-fire recipe for success for every artist. Swift's ‘All Too Well’, Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Drivers License’ and Phoebe Bridgers’ ‘Motion Sickness’ listeners can’t help but feel the pain and the heartache the artists have been through.

However, not all breakup songs have to be sad melodies that bring tears to our eyes.

Billie Eilish’s smash 2021 hit ‘Happier than Ever’ is a middle finger moment that every person can relate to. The subdued peaceful beginning of the song with a violent twist into existential screaming is a perfect artistic representation of a person experiencing heartbreak.

Even Lizzo’s ‘Truth Hurts’ represents the ‘screw you’ sentiment that most women have felt about a man before. Similar to Little Mix’s successful hit ‘Shout out to my ex’, Lizzo’s song is a shoutout to all the girls that have been severely wronged in past relationships. Although the desolation that can fill breakup tracks isn’t there, the relatable anger and exasperation are crammed into these female rage tracks.

Whether accidental or purposeful, breakup ballads are instant hits. The realness and rawness that artists push into these tracks are relatable to anyone listening. Like Cyrus’s ‘Flowers’ audiences are dragged into the real heartache these artists have suffered and can easily share in their displeasure.

Edited by Lucy Wilcox