Breakup songs by Western bands. World-famous classics and popular tracks.

Goodbye to YouSCANDAL

Scandal, Patty Smyth – Goodbye To You (Official Video)

Scandal was a popular band that featured the sole female member, Patty Smyth, as the vocalist, and showcased a strongly American pop sound characteristic of the early 1980s.

This piece is a song released in 1982.

Amid its brisk, crisp, and upbeat major-key tone, it bids a “goodbye.”

SummerSUM41

Sum 41 – Summer Music Video

Sum 41 is a Canadian punk rock band that has been actively performing from 1996 to the present.

Their vocalist, Deryck, gained further recognition after being known as Avril Lavigne’s ex-husband, though they divorced after three years.

With that in mind, listening to their songs makes them feel like deeply bittersweet heartbreak anthems.

AddictedSimple Plan

Simple Plan – Addicted (Official Video)

Simple Plan is a Canadian band that’s so popular they could be considered one of the country’s defining acts, having performed at the closing ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

The vocalist, Pierre, has a boyish voice that makes their breakup songs sound especially heartrending.

I Remember YouSkid Row

Skid Row – I Remember You (Official Music Video)

A rock ballad about the end of a relationship.

It was released in 1989 by the American heavy metal band Skid Row and reached No.

2 on the New Zealand charts.

It has been covered by artists such as DJ Deckstream and The Ataris.

Tainted LoveSoft Cell

Soft Cell – Tainted Love (Official Music Video)

Soft Cell is a British new wave duo.

Although the original title means “Tainted Love,” for some reason the Japanese title translates it as “Immaculate Love,” which is the complete opposite in meaning.

The song is about “I don’t need this love that’s become so tainted anymore.”

Running BackTHIN LIZZY

Thin Lizzy – Running Back

It’s a song by Thin Lizzy, the rock band from Ireland.

The laid-back rhythm makes it really pleasant to listen to.

It’s included on their 1976 album Jailbreak.

The lyrics compare a sad love affair to an American football game.

Somebody ElseThe 1975

The 1975 – Somebody Else (Official Video)

A gem of a love song that portrays the end of a passionate romance and the struggle of entering a new relationship.

Released in February 2016 by the British band The 1975, this track delicately expresses lingering attachment and jealousy toward a former lover.

Its sound, reminiscent of 80s synth-pop, and Matty Healy’s emotive vocals strike a deep chord.

Included on the album “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It,” it was also featured in the film “The Edge of Seventeen.” It’s a perfect choice for soothing the pain of heartbreak or for anyone wrestling with complex romantic feelings.