Top 20 Greatest Heartbreak Ballads

When it comes to heartbreak in pop music, we typically think of breakups and other romantic woes. But Lewis Capaldi’s hit song “Someone You Loved,” had an unlikely inspiration. Rather than being about a romantic partner as many assumed, the Scottish singer actually wrote it about the loss of his grandmother. Even though he released it some time after her passing, the piano ballad is so raw and touching it feels like it could have been recorded the next day. The soft instrumental contrasted with Capaldi’s belting creates a moving listening experience, fit for heartbreak of any variety.

Going to the DMV and getting your driver’s license can be annoying, but has it ever felt this devastating? With this song about a girl who gets her license without her ex by her side and recalls their relationship, Olivia Rodrigo delivered a truly great angsty anthem. The mellow ballad starts out slow and steady, before ramping up into a tour de force that displays a maturity well beyond the singer’s years. And how about that key change? Staying on theme with car sound effects and motor metaphors, the song’s stakes feel epic, and Rodrigo’s earnestness really drives the point home. It made it clear that she’s a talented songwriter and storyteller with a bright future ahead.

Often sampled but never surpassed, this song went on to inspire endless heartbreak ballads. On “Ex-Factor,” Lauryn Hill reveals a more vulnerable side of herself while lamenting the push and pull of a toxic relationship. Even though she knows the subject is bad news, she keeps giving him more chances in the hopes that he’ll change. However, the breakdown in the song’s last quarter seemingly signals the end of things. The repetition of Hill’s pleas for her lover to show he cares almost operate like a getting-over-you spell. Covered by the likes of Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, and more, “Ex-Factor” is still the crown jewel of neo soul heartache songs.

With a cozy guitar element that brings to mind a warm fireplace, this ballad’s lyrics are anything but reassuring. Through “Let Her Go,” one-man band Passenger, also known as Mike Rosenberg, delivers a message to “the grass is always greener” types who don’t appreciate what’s in front of them. Using the second person perspective to speak directly to the listener, the folk pop track is especially poignant for those who’ve dumped someone and regret it. If taken as a cautionary tale, it could also prevent potential heartbreak before it arises. However you incorporate this multipurpose ballad into your playlist, it’s sure to bring the waterworks.

The conversation may have run dry, but our tears certainly haven’t. On her cover of “Torn,” Natalie Imbruglia explores the dangers of mismanaged expectations before letting them go. Falling in love with the idea of someone as opposed to who they are is a common mistake, and she gets into all of the specifics. Touching on embarrassment, disappointment, and apathy alike, “Torn” almost cycles through the stages of grieving a relationship. The music video takes it to the next level, with falling set pieces showing it was all a sham. But despite the bummer lyrics, Imbruglia’s soft vocals and the closing guitar leave listeners with a sense of comfort and calm, perfect for rebuilding after heartbreak.

When you’re dealing with an emotional dilemma, sometimes there’s no better solution than to just wail through your feelings. That’s what Bono does in one iconic moment of this song. But his iconic wail isn’t the only thing that makes this song great. During this power ballad, Bono highlights the struggle of balancing his professional and personal lives. It's a great examination of how hard it is to be there for others and yourself at the same time. The relatable lyrics and utility as a breakup anthem make “With or Without You” a quintessential U2 song. Thanks to Bono’s remarkable vocal range and The Edge’s mesmerizing guitar leads, this is one track we couldn’t do without.

Ballads are usually slow and somber, but not this one! It’s simply too irresistible to skip the nightlife circuit. Despite her status as Swedish pop royalty, Robyn is a convincing underdog on “Dancing On My Own,” where she competes for the attention of her ex in a crowded club. While she doesn’t quite achieve her goal of closure or reconciliation, she still creates over four minutes of sad pop perfection in the process. Drums, bass, synths, and Robyn’s vocals fire on all cylinders, acting as a bittersweet nod to those who’d rather cry in the club than on the couch.

There are few better ways to express breakup pain than through a power ballad. On this top 10 hit, Jon Bon Jovi puts every ounce of his vocal power forward. He makes it known that he’ll continue loving his former partner. Although Bon Jovi knows she’s moved on, that doesn’t change how he feels about her. The electric guitar, piano, and strings all add emotional resonance. But the song’s greatness mainly lies in Bon Jovi’s vocals. It sounds like he’s leaving everything he has on the track. While we could’ve also gone with “You Give Love a Bad Name” we appreciate this song for its more sensitive nature. How long will we love this track? Always.

Since “End of the Road” was the number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1992, we can tell that a lot of people were in their feelings then. Although it also works as a graduation song, this heartfelt ballad from beloved R&B group Boyz II Men functions best in a romantic context. It’s aimed at people who don’t know how to say goodbye to someone you love or who don’t fully comprehend how their relationship could end. With its gorgeous vocal harmonies and passionate but sensitive lyrics, “End of the Road” shows the timeless power of R&B. We keep playing this great song over and over again because it would be too hard to say goodbye to it.

If you think you’re lonely now, just wait until this song starts playing. The success of “We Belong Together” actually marked a happy moment for Mariah Carey and her career in the mid-2000s. But there’s no denying the R&B jam is a downer by all other metrics — in the best way, of course. Even the radio seems to be taunting Carey on the track, as she’s unable to escape other heartbreak ballads on the airwaves after a bad split. At one point, she even has to pause because the situation is so heart-wrenching. Even all these years later, the song remains relatable for when nothing’s going right and no one else can seem to replace that one special person.

Love isn’t the only thing in the air tonight. Phil Collins has given us countless amazing tracks, and this one contains some particularly heartbreaking revelations. After all, the odds in question refer to the likelihood of the song’s central duo getting back together. Collins recorded it for the ‘80s movie of the same name, but he apparently also had a personal connection to the subject matter. Reportedly inspired by his divorce from his first wife, you can feel the pain that accompanies a relationship ending in every lyric he penned. And if you take a listen now, you’ll see that the Grammy-winning tune has aged like a fine wine.

Part of what made The Beatles so iconic was how naturally they could express familiar emotions through song. This mournful ballad has a fairly minimal setup of Paul McCartney on acoustic guitar while being accompanied by a string quartet. For just over two minutes, McCartney sings about the shock of a happy relationship ending. He lets all of his feelings shine through. McCartney’s hurt, confused, and wishes things could be as they were before. But it’s clear that there’s no going back and he must move forward. With countless covers and extensive acclaim, “Yesterday” is a song that speaks to generations of heartbroken people.

Staying in a band with someone you’ve broken up with is no small feat. And it’s even more impressive if you’re processing your post-relationship feelings with them with music. “Don’t Speak” was first written as a love song. But when Gwen Stefani and No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal broke up after seven years together, she turned it into one of the 90s best alt-rock anthems. “Don’t Speak” is a proudly one-sided song. Stefani doesn’t seem to allow a word in edgewise because she already knows what he’ll say. Thankfully Stefani and Kanal were able to keep working together on music like this. “Don’t Speak” continues to say volumes to us about breakups.

This ballad is so somber its singer could barely get through it. Although Bonnie Raitt has often included “I Can’t Make You Love Me” on her setlists, she’s reportedly struggled to perform the track due to the technical and emotional toll it takes. Just look at her reaction when she finishes singing it at the 1992 Grammys. The adult contemporary hit mourns the end of a relationship, when it’s clear that the narrator’s feelings are sadly one-sided and they have no choice but to admit defeat. Whereas another vocalist might turn the slow rhythm into a plodding funeral dirge, Raitt’s ability to sit with the stillness and melancholy makes the track timeless. This is one you won’t want to turn down.

Only one person could turn a red scarf into a ten-minute masterpiece. “All Too Well” had been a favorite of Swifties since its initial 2012 release, and for good reason. It’s heart-wrenching. But it gained a whole new life when Swift yanked the somehow even more emotional ten minute version out of the vault nearly a decade later. Oh, and she wrote and directed a critically acclaimed short film that brings the devastation to life. Featuring her most vulnerable and personal lyrics, the power ballad captures the pain that comes with a defunct relationship, and the memories that play on a loop. The song’s magic lies in its haunting storytelling — even in its vivid specificity, “All Too Well” is all too relatable.

Standing as arguably the best album about relationships dissolving between bandmates, “Rumours” sees Fleetwood Mac put everything on the table musically and emotionally. Lead single “Go Your Own Way” is just as much of a knockout now as it was then. Lindsey Buckingham tells his departing partner Stevie Nicks to do what she wants next. However, the pain in his voice and his occasionally spiteful words show he’s not ready to say goodbye. “Go Your Own Way” builds to an intense finish. When everyone in the band feels like they’re letting out all their emotions at once, you’re invited to do the same.

Adele has written plenty of great songs about heartbreak. But if we had to highlight one, it would have to be “Someone Like You.” Serving as the closing track on her stunning album “21, the song became a number-one hit without any gimmicks. Listeners were mesmerized by a thoughtful piano progression and Adele’s captivating vocals. Although she feels hurt by her ex, she doesn’t want him to have anything but a happy life. Adele knows how to express breakup hurt in so many ways. But on “Someone Like You,” she shows that she can carry the deep pain with grace and determination.

Written by Prince and first appearing on The Family’s debut album, “Nothing Compares 2 U” ended up as Sinéad O'Connor’s signature song. Released only eight days into 1990, “Nothing Compares 2 U” set a high standard for breakup anthems that decade. O’Connor’s powerhouse vocals immediately catch your attention. She beautifully expresses the conflicting emotions of being able to enjoy her independence while also declaring she misses someone to a painful extent. Who this person is isn’t as important as how they made O'Connor or all of us feel while listening to this powerful track. Few breakup anthems can compare to this song.

After a heart has been broken, it often takes time to heal and be made whole again. But “Un-Break My Heart” demands a faster solution. In this show-stopping ballad, Toni Braxton insists that her ex reverse his decision to end things and the hurt he’s caused her. The desperation in her voice shows she knows that she’s asking for something she can’t have. But that doesn’t mean she’ll try any less. While this number-one smash won Braxton a Grammy, be warned that it might break your heart the next time you listen to it.

If a singer can go completely unaccompanied for a portion of the song and still keep you invested in their breakup anthem, you know you’ve found a legendary song. Whitney Houston made this cover of a Dolly Parton song into a masterpiece. The narrative focuses on a person who has truly accepted that their relationship doesn’t work. However, there’s still plenty of love left between the duo. The way Houston goes from a quiet performance to absolutely belting the lyrics shows the range of her talent and reflects the range of emotions a breakup can bring. It feels like no stone is left unturned in this tragic romantic ballad. We will always love Houston for giving her all for this tremendous breakup song.