A wonderful heartbreak song

[2026] Western breakup songs: tear-jerking tracks to listen to when love ends

Active club DJkento
Active club DJ. With over five years on the front lines of the club scene, they freely cross over from dance music to US hip-hop and Japanese rap. Blending in their own edits with assured mixing, they craft a unique groove that captivates the floor.
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

The more precious the relationship, the more painful the sorrow when it comes to an end.

Of course, some people choose to part ways on a positive note, and everyone’s feelings after a breakup are different.

In this article, we introduce classic Western songs that can help you face forward and take a new step after heartbreak, as well as sad songs that will sink right down with you.

From the latest hits and popular tracks to timeless breakup anthems, we offer a wide-ranging selection that crosses eras and genres.

If you’ve found this article right in the midst of heartbreak, you’re sure to discover the songs you need.

[2026] Western breakup songs: Tear-jerking tracks to listen to after love ends (71–80)

In The StarsBenson Boone

Benson Boone – In The Stars (Live)

In The StarsBenson Boone

Benson Boone is an American artist who is active not only as a singer-songwriter but also as a multi-instrumentalist.

His voice has power, but at its core it’s gentle, making it an excellent match for ballads.

In “In The Stars,” that appeal of his is on full display; even so, it’s the poignancy of the lyrics that stands out even more.

Though the lyrics are abstract, it’s likely a song about bereavement, and it features numerous phrases that strike straight to the heart.

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We Belong TogetherMariah Carey

Mariah Carey – We Belong Together (Official Music Video)

We Belong TogetherMariah Carey

Released in 2005 from the album The Emancipation of Mimi, this song is an R&B ballad that pours out a heartfelt yearning for a former lover.

Realizing the magnitude of the love they lost, the protagonist pleads from the depths of their heart, “You and I were meant to be together,” rendered with care over simple piano and a restrained beat.

As they see themselves reflected in old soul numbers playing on the radio, a mix of regret and longing becomes powerfully palpable.

The late-song leap into the high register feels like an outright explosion of pent-up emotion.

Spending 14 weeks at No.

1 in the U.S.

and finishing as the top song of 2005, this classic offers comfort to anyone unable to forget a past romance or looking to reexamine a relationship with someone dear.

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When You’re GonAvril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne – When You’re Gone (Official Video)

When You’re GonAvril Lavigne

It expresses the feeling of needing you, a woman.

The lyrics are written so that many people can relate to them, so it’s a song I want people to hear who are in long-distance relationships and can’t see their partners, or who have broken up but still love and need him.

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Man in the mirrorMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson – Man In The Mirror (Official Video)

Man in the mirrorMichael Jackson

This is a song I want men to listen to! I think it gives you a chance to reflect on yourself after a heartbreak and grow.

This song is truly great.

It’s a good song no matter when you listen to it.

It gives you the courage to try again.

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you broke me firstTate McRae

Tate McRae – you broke me first (Official Video)

you broke me firstTate McRae

When it comes to breakup songs, many people imagine ones that put sadness and pain front and center.

But there are also those who’d say, “I don’t want to listen to some gloomy breakup song.” For people like that, I recommend ‘you broke me first.’ Released in 2020 by Tate McRae, this track is a cathartic breakup song where the singer fires off some biting lines at an ex who quickly found a new partner after the breakup, only to come crawling back wanting to rekindle things once that relationship ended.

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