Breakups and divorce are stressful things to deal with. One way to get through these times is to listen to music created by people who understand the situation at hand. Artists have sung about many sorts of separations over time. Here are just a few notable tunes that have risen in fame over the years.
Christina Perri – Jar of Hearts
Christina Perri’s dream was to move to Los Angeles and be able to focus solely on creating her own music, but it wasn’t easy. After a marriage and divorce, she retreated across the country. Upon resurfacing, she was armed with a self-written song that was powerful yet haunting. The lyrics encourage listeners to be brave and move on from the heartache that they have experienced in the past. It cuts just deep enough, but has a strong message to tell: There’s no sense in going back to someone who continues to cause pain. Every possible chance has been taken and every promise has been broken.
Bon Iver – Skinny Love
This song was written about a specific time in a relationship. The part where it’s understood that there is no longer any weight in it– or perhaps there never was. There is no nourishment to keep it on its feet, no healthy reason why it has been continuing on this long. The connection has faded, and the relationship is starving. It’s a sad realization to have, but crucial to recognize.
Beyoncé – Irreplaceable
The most successful single in 2006, “Irreplaceable” is one of Beyoncé’s most popular songs to date. Its catchy tune informs the wrongdoer that he wasn’t one of a kind. He messed up, and his presence won’t be missed. There are plenty more fish in the sea. Breakups are unfortunate, but loneliness is easily remedied.
Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
Artists put themselves into their art. That’s just what Ian Curtis did, who was the lead singer and lyricist of Joy Division. It wasn’t discovered until later how much of his personal life had fueled the lyrics for this particular song. Written about a failing marriage, a doomed affair, and personal conflicts, this song is quite dark. It’s an autobiography about someone who finds himself in a difficult place in life, and is unsure how to proceed. Either choice will bring pain to a loved one. However, the beat counteracts those lyrics by having an amazing combination of bass, synthesizer, guitar, and drums. Some may even find it uplifting despite the brooding lyrics.
Bob Dylan – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
Sometimes it isn’t right for one person to have all the blame. Everyone messes up at one point in time or another. This song is an example of that. The lyrics croon out the fact that the relationship was less than perfect, and it’s fine. It would be of no use to try to change anything, because it has already been a waste of time thus far. It’s a song about lost love. The reality that sometimes relationships don’t turn out very good.