20/01/2023
Why A song for Love Break up?
Please read to the end
You've been through a break-up. You're experiencing all the emotions - rage, grief, sadness and tears.
Coping strategies? You might binge a show, binge fast food, or unload your emotions into your private diary.
Or, if you're a world-famous musician, you might decide to record a scorching diss track taking aim at your ex.
Then, upload it to the internet, stand back and watch the sparks fly.
At least, that's what Shakira did with Out of Your League, her song about footballer ex Gerard Piqué which has broken YouTube records.
And she's not alone. Fans are convinced Flowers, by Miley Cyrus, is about her ex Liam Hemsworth.
Not that pop superstars turning their raw emotions into songs is a new thing. Just ask Adele or Taylor Swift - both queens of the break-up ballad.
Or Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and Justin Bieber - just some of the big names thought to have released heartbreak-inspired hits.
But what's the trick to recording the perfect break-up song? And why are they so satisfying to listen to?
A (lost) love story
The main reason for the genre's popularity is probably obvious: most of us get dumped (or do the dumping) at some point in our life.
It hurts. We can relate.
That's according to music school principal Martin Wright, who works at the British and Irish Modern Music (BIMM) Institute in Brighton.
He says the best break-up songs are all about the narrative.
So what's the story?
"If it's me breaking up with you, it's about empowerment, liberation and freedom," says Martin.
"But if it's you breaking up with me, it might be about sadness, bitterness and even sometimes revenge."
In Out of Your League, Shakira impressively manages to combine most of these elements into a single line:
"I won't get back with you, not if you cry, not even if you beg."
Why, why, why?
Then there's the next ingredient - why the breakup is happening.
"Is it lovers scorned, or could it be something along the lines of life moving on and falling out of love?" asks Martin.
