Breakup songs in Western music that were hits in the 80s. World-famous classics and popular tracks.
Breakup songs are often poignantly lyrical, with beautiful melodies and the like.
They’re very captivating.
Among them, Western songs—since they’re mostly in English—can be even more enjoyable if you listen while consulting a translation site.
The real charm lies in considering the singer’s feelings behind turns of phrase that a straightforward Japanese-to-English translation can’t fully capture.
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Breakup songs in Western music that were hits in the '80s. World-famous classics and popular tracks (11–20)
Love stinksThe J. Geils Band
“Stinks” can mean “smells bad,” but in the case of this song it seems to carry a different sense—something like “a fuss” or “a commotion.” It’s saying that romance can be a hassle and a nuisance in many ways.
Playing on the word “stinks,” it’s as if a broken heart gives off a nasty odor you want to get rid of as soon as possible.
Every Rose Has Its ThornPoison
Speaking of roses, they’re beautiful flowers with thorns, right? These lyrics compare her to a rose, saying that he’s been hurt by her thorns and left in tatters.
Maybe he’s trying to say that even though he’s been hurt, she’s still as beautiful as a rose.
Come back to meJanet Jackson
When it comes to women’s dance music from the ’80s, Janet Jackson is what comes to mind, but this breakup song has such a gentle tone that the loneliness of heartbreak gradually seeps through.
The whispered line in the middle—“Please come back, I’m so lonely”—is the kind that brings tears to your eyes.
Broken WingsMr. Mister
In the lyrics, the line “Take broken wings and learn to fly” — ‘remove your wounded wings and learn to take off’ — gives the feeling of “our relationship may be broken, but let’s try again,” doesn’t it? I also love how this song starts with the bass line.
Immaculate LoveSoft Cell
The English title “Tainted Love” means a soiled or corrupted love.
The lyrics are about wanting to escape from this love and bring it to an end, and there’s also a part that says he has come to dislike her yet still loves her.
It’s a delicate state of mind.
The Magic of LoveTina Turner
Tina Turner’s voice is distinctive and feels like a perfect fit for this melancholic song.
She repeatedly sings the phrase “What’s love got to do with it?”—which is like saying, “What does love have to do with it?”—so why not take some time to think carefully about what “it” refers to?
Heartbreak songs in Western music that were hits in the ’80s: World-famous and popular tracks (21–30)
Careless WhisperGeorge Michael
These are lyrics about someone who cheated but doesn’t want to give up on his girlfriend.
In romantic relationships, it’s common that even if the one who cheated regrets it, the person who was betrayed finds it very hard to forgive.
The content of the lyrics is unfortunate, but the song itself is wonderful.