Situationships are the new “it’s complicated” (if you’re old enough to know what that means) – they’re relationships without commitment, an arrangement which allows people to experience the benefits of being in a romantic relationship, but while also still holding onto their single status.
The latest dating label is one that is soaring in interest online, with 214% more Google searches for the term globally than in 2022, but is also one that can easily lead to heartbreak when it becomes clear that there are different expectations from each person in the quasi-relationship.
While many singletons will soon be looking for a warm winter fling to get them through the cold seasons ahead, others will be reeling from the breakdown of their summer situationships with plans to hibernate alone for the next few months.
Now, as Google searches for “best break up songs” rise by 17% globally, experts at PracticalPie.com share how listening to sad music can help to process grief, and reveal the most popular breakup songs to listen to if you’re going through a situationship breakup this winter.
The Most Popular Breakup Songs
By analyzing the top 100 public playlists on Spotify that feature the word “breakup” for how many times certain songs are featured, experts at PracticalPie can reveal that the song ‘traitor’ by Olivia Rodrigo is the most popular breakup song on Spotify, featuring no less than 170 times across public breakup playlists.
Rank | Song Title | Artist | No. Public Playlists |
1 | traitor | Olivia Rodrigo | 170 |
2 | Before He Cheats | Carrie Underwood | 134 |
3 | you broke me first | Tate McRae | 124 |
4 | thank u, next | Ariana Grande | 120 |
5 | good 4 u | Olivia Rodrigo | 112 |
6 | Lose You To Love Me | Selena Gomez | 96 |
7 | Someone You Loved | Lewis Capaldi | 93 |
8 | Really Don’t Care | Demi Lovato | 89 |
9 | happier | Olivia Rodrigo | 87 |
10 | drivers license | Olivia Rodrigo | 86 |
Not only does Olivia Rodrigo take top spot on the breakup playlist with hit song ‘traitor’, but the talented singer/songwriter has a further 12 songs feature within the top 100 breakup songs, and a total of four songs in the top 10 alone; ‘good 4 u’ (on 112 playlists), ‘happier’ (on 87 playlists), and ‘drivers license’ (on 86 playlists) also feature.
Country darling Carrie Underwood’s breakup bop ‘Before He Cheats’ is the second-most popular breakup song in Spotify’s top 100, featuring on 134 breakup playlists, while fellow country star Tate McRae takes third spot with hit ‘you broke me first’ appearing in 124 public playlists. Ariana Grande rounds out the top four spots with iconic hit ‘thank u, next’, which features on 120 breakup playlists, while Olivia is back in fifth spot with high-angst hit ‘good 4 u’ appearing on 112 lists.
Looking at the top 100 breakup songs, Olivia Rodrigo needs to be crowned the breakup bop queen with 13 of her songs appearing in over 1,020 breakup playlists on Spotify. Following Olivia is popstar Taylor Swift with nine songs appearing in the top 100 breakup songs, across more than 450 breakup playlists.
Taylor’s most popular breakup song is unsurprisingly ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor’s Version)’, which appears on 61 breakup playlists, followed by ‘Picture to Burn’, featuring on 60 playlists.
The artist with the third-most songs featured in the top 100 breakup songs is British heartthrob Lewis Capaldi, with songs on 235 breakup playlists. The troubled singer has four songs featured within the top 100, the most popular of which is ‘Someone You Loved’, which appears on 93 breakup playlists.
How Sad Music Helps to Process Emotions
Listening to sad songs when you’re sad can be a really therapeutic way to help process feelings and emotions, as well as offering a way to release negative thoughts and feelings you might be holding on to from a breakup.
Courtney Beatey from psychology advice website PracticalPie.com explains five ways that listening to breakup songs can help you get through a tough breakup.
Emotional catharsis
Sad songs like breakup songs often contain lyrics and melodies that reflect the emotions and experiences associated with grief. Listening to this genre of music can provide an outlet for our own feelings, allowing us to release pent-up emotions and experience a sense of catharsis. It can also help us to feel less alone in our grief, knowing that others have been through it and survived the process themselves.
Validation of emotions
Grief is a complex and overwhelming emotion. Sad songs help to validate the range of emotions we may feel when we’re grieving, and let us know that it’s okay to experience sadness, anger, or confusion during the process.
Expression of unspoken thoughts
It can be really hard to find the words to express how we’re feeling sometimes, especially when dealing with grief. Sad songs often convey sentiments that resonate with our own experiences, helping us to articulate how we’re feeling, and giving a voice to our inner thoughts.
Connection to memories
Certain songs can be linked to specific memories or people in our lives, so listening to these songs can be a way to hold on to and remember loved ones, as well as relive the experiences and emotions associated with those memories.
Distraction and relaxation
Music, in general, has the power to distract us from overwhelming emotions and provide moments of relaxation and calm. It can offer us a brief respite from intense sadness and help us to regain some emotional balance.
Courtney Beatey from psychology advice website PracticalPie.com says: “It’s important to understand that while listening to breakup songs can be a really helpful tool in processing a breakup, it may not work for everyone.
“Humans all have different ways of coping with heartbreak, and what works for one person may not work for another. If you find that your grief is becoming overwhelming or interfering with your daily life, it’s important to seek support from friends, family, or a mental health professional who can provide guidance and assistance in your grieving process.”
For more information on how to deal with a breakup, please visit PractialPie.com