A Breakup Playlist to Get Over Your Ex
- Emma Zoe Polyak
- Feb 14
- 4 min read
Along with love, often comes heartbreak. Fear not, we've got you covered for all of the messy emotions that occur when relationships don't work out (including, better yet, especially friendship breakups). From the soulful tunes of Erykah Badu's “Green Eyes“ to the cathartic “Happier Than Ever“ by Billie Eilish, listen to the full playlist here, and read what we have to say about some of the songs below!
“Green Eyes” by Erykah Badu
Worth every second of its 10 minute journey, “Green Eyes” is a raw jazz-infused odyssey through the cycles of heartbreak. Shifting tempos and emotions unravel like a diary entry – vulnerable, defiant, contradictory, and deeply real. Badu’s soulful delivery and poetic lyricism pulls you into her turmoil, exploring love, jealousy, regret, and self-realization with hypnotic, genre-blending brilliance. – KayJ
“Pookies Requiem” by SAILORR
“Pookie’s Requiem“ by SAILORR is a hauntingly beautiful blend of dreamy synths, melancholic melodies, and ethereal vocals. A love letter to something lost, it weaves longing, reflection, and quiet rage into a hypnotic soundscape. The track drifts between sorrow and serenity, leaving listeners suspended in its ghostly embrace. – KayJ
“I Hate Texas” by mxmtoon
I Hate Texas is just such a relatable song. It’s about feeling like a person ruined a place you both held dearly and wanting to run away as far as you can. Hoping to forget the person but also hoping they will never forget what they put you through. A combination of country and pop but undeniably mxmtoon! – Nina Duine
“Sorry Not Sorry” by Bryson Tiller
The song is basically him saying he’s not sorry for his success or cutting people off who didn’t believe in him. It’s that energy of moving on, bossing up, and not looking back. If you’ve ever felt underestimated or had people switch up on you, this song hits different—it’s a reminder to focus on yourself and let your success do the talking. – Gustavo
“Expert In A Dying Field” by The Beths
The bittersweet realization that you’re out of reasons to remember all the little things about someone you once loved has never been described better than by The Beths. This has always been my breakup song of choice – it fully encompasses loving and letting go, and the struggle that comes with realizing that it’s time to close a chapter in your life, no matter how much you wish it wasn’t or how much you may miss it. – Jordan Ames
“Touchy Subject” by Peach PRC
Peach PRC has always had a very real, very direct way of writing her lyrics. There’s no questioning what she means when she puts a song out, and it’s something I’ve always loved about her music. “Touchy Subject” puts in perspective what it’s like to be reminded of what could have been, even after you’ve moved on. It’s knowing you want to wish someone the best but not being able to, it’s knowing that things went how they did for a reason even when it hurts, and it’s reminding yourself that change happens and that you’ll make it through. – Jordan Ames
“Figure 8” by Paramore
In one of my favorite songs Paramore has ever put out, they perfectly portray how it feels to lose yourself in a relationship, only to wake up one day and see that you’ve become everything you swore you’d never be. Spinning yourself in endless circles just to please someone who never deserved you, “Figure 8” is the moment where you finally snap out of it and come back into your own. – Jordan Ames
“Back To December“ Taylor Swift
“Back to December“ is a song about regret, where Taylor Swift reflects on past mistakes in a relationship and wishes she could change things. She expresses the pain of wanting to make things right but realizing she can't undo the past. With heartfelt lyrics and a soft melody, the song captures the struggle of dealing with regret and the longing to go back and do things differently. Swift’s vulnerability shines through as she apologizes for her actions, knowing it’s too late to fix them. The song’s emotional depth makes it relatable to anyone who’s ever wished they could turn back time and make a different choice. – Nik Baez
“Happier Than Ever” by Billie Eilish
I don’t know about you, but I remember SCREAMING the lyrics to “Happier Than Ever” when it came out. As the title suggests, the song is about the feeling of relief when certain people are out of your life. The track starts softly, but around halfway the tone shifts, and the song becomes a pounding, rageful breakup anthem. Eilish has described the song as being about “nothing even specific that they did. You’re just not happy being with them. You can’t even explain it. I can’t even explain.” While we may not be able to explain it, we can definitely feel it. – Emma Zoe Polyak
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