10 Classic Breakup Songs

Sorry to be a downer on Valentine's Day.

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow  - A breakup is one of those tumultuous things that music can get you through. It can let you sing out loud the things you would never say, wish you had said, or give you ideas of what to say. Like any good mix, you've got to give a combination of sad, angry, and “yo, hit the road, partner.” So, click away and sing out your feelings. —Jon Reyes(Photos from left: Ilya S. Savenok, Kevork Djansezian, Ron Galella/Getty Images)

1 / 11

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow  - A breakup is one of those tumultuous things that music can get you through. It can let you sing out loud the things you would never say, wish you had said, or give you ideas of what to say. Like any good mix, you've got to give a combination of sad, angry, and “yo, hit the road, partner.” So, click away and sing out your feelings. —Jon Reyes(Photos from left: Ilya S. Savenok, Kevork Djansezian, Ron Galella/Getty Images)

Kanye West – 'Blame Game' - Emo-Kanye went debunk with this one. After sadness permeated his previous release, 808s & Heartbreak, vengeful Kanye came out in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. “Blame Game” is an obvious ode to his defunct relationship with Amber Rose that packs its biggest punch once Chris Rock’s outro reaches the speakers.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

2 / 11

Kanye West – 'Blame Game' - Emo-Kanye went debunk with this one. After sadness permeated his previous release, 808s & Heartbreak, vengeful Kanye came out in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. “Blame Game” is an obvious ode to his defunct relationship with Amber Rose that packs its biggest punch once Chris Rock’s outro reaches the speakers.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

Notorious B.I.G. – 'Friend of Mine' - This Ready to Die album cut is a rare glimpse into “Relationship Biggie,” where a sample of Black Mamba’s “Vicious” provides the perfect hook, “You know that ain’t right with a friend of mine,” for the rapper to muse over trifling women. In the end, even hard men get hurt too.(Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ImageDirect)                              

3 / 11

Notorious B.I.G. – 'Friend of Mine' - This Ready to Die album cut is a rare glimpse into “Relationship Biggie,” where a sample of Black Mamba’s “Vicious” provides the perfect hook, “You know that ain’t right with a friend of mine,” for the rapper to muse over trifling women. In the end, even hard men get hurt too.(Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ImageDirect)                              

Justin Timberlake – 'Cry Me a River' - Timbaland was a master beatsmith on this one, giving Justin the perfect backdrop to wax poetic about his breakup with Britney Spears. It’s a classic now and a landmark for many to say that Timberlake could be considered a real artist.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for JT)

4 / 11

Justin Timberlake – 'Cry Me a River' - Timbaland was a master beatsmith on this one, giving Justin the perfect backdrop to wax poetic about his breakup with Britney Spears. It’s a classic now and a landmark for many to say that Timberlake could be considered a real artist.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for JT)

Marvin Gaye – 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' - Classic soul is at its best with this Marvin Gaye hit. Years later it’s still an anthem for those starring in breakup rumors and an F-U for people who just can’t tell you what’s what right up front.(Photo: Landov)

5 / 11

Marvin Gaye – 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' - Classic soul is at its best with this Marvin Gaye hit. Years later it’s still an anthem for those starring in breakup rumors and an F-U for people who just can’t tell you what’s what right up front.(Photo: Landov)

Photo By Photo: Landov

ADVERTISEMENT
OutKast – 'Roses' - Even though “Roses” appeared on Andre 3000’s side of Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, it’s actually one of the last singles that Big Boi and Andre 3000 actually worked on together. It’s the perfect ill-wishing anthem with the best visuals of a "THOT" crashing into a ditch.(Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

6 / 11

OutKast – 'Roses' - Even though “Roses” appeared on Andre 3000’s side of Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, it’s actually one of the last singles that Big Boi and Andre 3000 actually worked on together. It’s the perfect ill-wishing anthem with the best visuals of a "THOT" crashing into a ditch.(Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Prince – 'When You Were Mine' - With this synth-y '80s ditty, Prince provided the perfect “dancing alone in your bedroom after a heartbreak” song.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

7 / 11

Prince – 'When You Were Mine' - With this synth-y '80s ditty, Prince provided the perfect “dancing alone in your bedroom after a heartbreak” song.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Jay-Z – 'Song Cry' - “I’m sorry” never sounded so good coming from HOV. Showing versatility with songs like “Big Pimpin’” under his belt, he managed to paint a vivid picture of all the ways you can wrong in a relationship. With the sample of Bobby Glenn’s “Sounds Like Love a Song” as the beating heart of the record, a classic joint was born.(Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for TIDAL)

8 / 11

Jay-Z – 'Song Cry' - “I’m sorry” never sounded so good coming from HOV. Showing versatility with songs like “Big Pimpin’” under his belt, he managed to paint a vivid picture of all the ways you can wrong in a relationship. With the sample of Bobby Glenn’s “Sounds Like Love a Song” as the beating heart of the record, a classic joint was born.(Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for TIDAL)

Drake – 'Hold On, We're Going Home' - Press play on this one as Zola drives off with her man and we get a “Where are they now?” voice over for the rest of this ensemble cast.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)

9 / 11

Drake – 'Find Your Love' - Co-produced by Kanye West, it can easily be considered a continuation of 808s & Heartbreak; it totally sounds like it could have made the track list. But seriously, only Drake could have delivered lyrics so vulnerable and raw: “I bet if I give all my love then nothing's gonna tear us apart.”(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)

Beyoncé – 'Partition' - When Zola and Jess meet at Hooters, this little ditty plays over the speakers while they “vibe over their h**ism.” (Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

10 / 11

Beyoncé – 'Irreplaceable' - The original GTFO: “To the left, to the left.” Before Queen Bey introduced “Sasha Fierce” to us as her official alter-ego for fierceness and feminism, she was already kicking misbehaved boys to the curb. “You must not know about me” — seriously, that’s classic.(Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

Bill Withers – 'Ain’t No Sunshine' - An R&B classic that sounds more like a hymn once Bill sings, “I know” 26 times on the song's bridge. It’s a must-listen.(Photo: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

11 / 11

Bill Withers – 'Ain’t No Sunshine' - An R&B classic that sounds more like a hymn once Bill sings, “I know” 26 times on the song's bridge. It’s a must-listen.(Photo: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)