{"id":65463,"date":"2023-12-29T20:26:30","date_gmt":"2023-12-29T20:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/12\/29\/the-best-breakup-songs-and-albums-of-2023\/"},"modified":"2023-12-29T20:26:30","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T20:26:30","slug":"the-best-breakup-songs-and-albums-of-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/12\/29\/the-best-breakup-songs-and-albums-of-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Breakup Songs and Albums of 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo<\/span> TAS2023 via Getty Images;Jason Kempin\/Getty Images for MTV<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From teaching Us<\/em> to buy ourselves flowers to figuring out if it\u2019s over now, 2023 was filled with epic breakup songs, albums and diss tracks to help Us<\/em> mend our broken hearts.<\/p>\n

Kelsea Ballerini<\/strong><\/a> dominated this year\u2019s charts with her EP, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat<\/em>, which is inspired by her divorce from ex-husband Morgan Evans<\/strong>. The album initially dropped in February and included five songs detailing the breakdown of a relationship between two partners growing apart.<\/p>\n

As she played the songs live on tour \u2014 and during a memorable appearance on Saturday Night Live<\/em><\/a> in March \u2014 Ballerini began tweaking the lyrics of her track \u201cBlindsided,\u201d taking shots at Evans\u2019 own divorce ballad, \u201cOver for You.\u201d The raw and emotional live delivery of her song \u201cPenthouse,\u201d meanwhile, went viral online, inspiring Ballerini to rethink her EP entirely.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs [soon as] I played \u2018Blindsided\u2019 on SNL<\/em>, [fans] were like, \u2018We need the \u2018Yeah, Sure, Okay\u2019 version. And then when I started \u2018Penthouse\u2019 live, it kind of just changed and evolved every night,\u201d she exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em><\/a> in August. \u201cAnd then one day, on a whim, I just changed one word and it took on a whole new life and they were like, \u2018We need that version.\u2019 It\u2019s called \u2018The Healed Version.\u2019 I never made that up! That was them.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good)<\/em>, a second version of the EP that dropped in August, Ballerini includes her lyrical swaps, along with a live version of \u201cPenthouse\u201d and two new songs<\/a>: an extended version of \u201cInterlude\u201d and \u201cHow Do I Do This,\u201d about finding new love post heartbreak.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been in a new relationship<\/a> for a while now, and people have seen that,\u201d Ballerini told Us<\/em>, referencing her romance with boyfriend Chase Stokes<\/strong>. \u201cSo I feel like it\u2019s a really appropriate time to catch everyone up and to be able to move the narrative from the past to the present.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keep scrolling for the best breakup songs, albums and diss tracks of 2023:<\/p>\n

Rolling Up the Welcome Mat<\/em>: Kelsea Ballerini<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Ballerini finalized her divorce from ex-husband Evans at the end of 2022 and swiftly delivered a country breakup EP for the ages, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat<\/em>, in February.<\/p>\n

Although songs like \u201cPenthouse\u201d and \u201cJust Married\u201d break hearts with lyrics<\/a> of a disillusioned marriage, Ballerini reshaped her pain into hope when she rereleased the EP in the summer with the new title, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The updated version features Ballerini channeling her freshly \u201chealed\u201d perspective on love with lyrical revisions on a live rendition of \u201cPenthouse\u201d and an expanded version of \u201cBlindsided,\u201d that calls out her ex\u2019s own breakup song, \u201cOver for You.\u201d<\/p>\n

GUTS<\/em>: Olivia Rodrigo<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Olivia Rodrigo<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s highly anticipated sophomore album, GUTS<\/em>, was released in September. The lead single, \u201cVampire,\u201d topped charts for months ahead of the album\u2019s release, followed by \u201cBad Idea Right?\u201d and \u201cGet Him Back!\u201d<\/p>\n

Although fans speculated that \u201cVampire,\u201d which refers to a \u201ccool guy\u201d older than Rodrigo sucking her dry, is about her ex-boyfriend Zack Bia<\/strong>, others suggested the track was about another former flame: Adam Faze<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Throughout GUTS<\/em>, Rodrigo manages to express heartbreak while also including more complicated notes of regret, temptation, insecurity and longing. Songs like \u201cMaking the Bed,\u201d in which she seemingly reflects on the consequences of \u201cplaying the victim\u201d in a previous split, give the album a mature and relatable spin.<\/p>\n

For All the Dogs<\/em>: Drake<\/strong><\/p>\n

Drake<\/strong>\u2019s eighth studio album, For All the Dogs<\/em>, dropped in October, followed by an expanded Scary Hours Edition<\/em>. The rapper takes shots at everyone on the record, from exes \u2014 notably, Rihanna<\/strong> on \u201cFear of Heights\u201d \u2014 to his professional rivals.<\/p>\n

\u201cRed Button,\u201d a track on his Scary Hours<\/em> version, includes bars seemingly aimed at Kanye West<\/strong>, Pusha T<\/strong> and Joe Burden<\/strong><\/a>. The songs aren\u2019t all insults though: he also tips a lyrical hat to Taylor Swift<\/strong><\/a>, alluding to their ongoing friendly battle for No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100 list.<\/p>\n

For All the Dogs<\/em> also details Drake\u2019s experience with romantic splits. On the lead single, \u201cSlime You Out,\u201d he teams up with ex-girlfriend SZA<\/strong> to revisit a breakup from the perspective of both partners. Bonus track \u201cYou Broke My Heart\u201d \u2014 in which Morgan Wallen<\/strong> nabbed a feature in the music video \u2014 savagely closes out the album with the words, \u201cF\u2014k my ex.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Flowers\u2019: Miley Cyrus<\/strong><\/p>\n

Miley Cyrus<\/strong> made her musical comeback with Endless Summer Vacation<\/em> <\/a>in March. The album, which is divided into two parts, opens with an energetic first act representing the morning. The more frenetic second act gives way to the vibes of a warm summer night.<\/p>\n

The lead single, \u201cFlowers,\u201d quickly soared to the top of the charts, with fans speculating the song was referencing her marriage and subsequent divorce from Liam Hemsworth<\/strong>. (The song\u2019s music video<\/a> was released on his birthday and seemingly referenced Hemsworth\u2019s workout routine.)<\/p>\n

Other tracks expand on her feelings about heartbreak<\/a>, from expressing regret for her own actions in a past relationship on \u201cJaded\u201d to accusing an ex of infidelity on \u201cMuddy Feet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Think Later<\/em>: Tate McRae<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tate McRae<\/strong><\/a> is living out every girl\u2019s breakup fantasies on her sophomore album, Think Later<\/em>, which dropped in December.<\/p>\n

The hockey-themed LP is everywhere, seemingly referencing McRae\u2019s ex NHL athlete Cole Sellinger<\/strong>, with the singer even donning goalie gear on the album\u2019s cover.<\/p>\n

The lead single, \u201cGreedy,\u201d went viral for its self-affirming lyrics, while the second single cheekily sends kisses to her \u201cExes.\u201d Emotional tracks like the ballad \u201cGrave\u201d offer a more tender side to McRae\u2019s past relationships, while the compelling \u201cWe\u2019re Not Alike\u201d calls out a former friend who turned out not to be a \u201cgirl\u2019s girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>10 Reasons Taylor Swift Was the Queen of Our Hearts in 2023<\/a>
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\n\t\t\tBuda Mendes\/TAS23\/Getty Images Taylor Swift doesn\u2019t celebrate her birthday until December 13, but she spent all year dominating the pop culture landscape. Already a 12-time Grammy winner, Swift\u2019s career skyrocketed even further with the debut of her highly anticipated Eras Tour and its subsequent concert film, both of which broke records across the board. She [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018You\u2019re Losing Me,\u2019 1989 (Taylor\u2019s Version)<\/em>: Taylor Swift<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Swift is known for her masterful ability to pen a universally relatable breakup song for all, but she shocked fans in May with the surprise release of a bonus track from her 2022 album, Midnights<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re Losing Me\u201d seemingly depicts the slow disintegration of her romance with ex Joe Alwyn<\/strong>. The pair were together for nearly six years before their split in April, but \u201cYou\u2019re Losing Me,\u201d which was penned in December 2021, hints that<\/a> their issues began long before that.<\/p>\n

In the gut-wrenching ballad, Swift sings of a relationship that is \u201csick\u201d with \u201closs\u201d and \u201cindecision\u201d despite her best efforts to move forward. \u201cHow can you say you love someone you can\u2019t tell is dying?\u201d Swift asks in the second verse, begging him to \u201cchoose\u201d her by the chorus.<\/p>\n

In October, Swift dropped another batch of songs for heartbroken fans with the rerelease of her fifth studio album. 1989 (Taylor\u2019s Version)<\/em><\/a>, with several tracks rumored to be about ex Harry Styles<\/strong>, featured four new tracks about letting go of an on-off relationship, including \u201cIs It Over Now?\u201d where Swift sings of having to watch a former flame find new love in the public eye.<\/p>\n

Chemistry<\/em>: Kelly Clarkson<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Clarkson\u2019s 10th studio album, which dropped in June, was heavily inspired by her divorce from ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.<\/strong> From singing about grief and rage to acceptance, Clarkson takes listeners through the journey of healing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In Chemistry<\/em><\/a>\u2019s opening track, \u201cSkip This Part,\u201d Clarkson channels the particular pain of a new breakup. \u201cI feel every break as I realize my fate \/ I succumb to the taste of betrayal,\u201d the lyrics read. \u201cI try numbing the pain with my sweet Mary Jane, but I know this escape isn\u2019t stable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRed Flag Collector\u201d and \u201cI Hate Love\u201d are other angsty headbang-worthy songs, while \u201cMe\u201d and \u201cMy Favorite Kind of High\u201d are perfect for moments of self-discovery and the first flutters of new love<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Snow Angel<\/em>: Rene\u00e9 Rapp<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Not all of Rene\u00e9 Rapp<\/strong>\u2019s inaugural album is about romantic heartbreak, but it does explore themes of breaking up with old versions of yourself and people you once knew<\/a>. There are, of course, a few tracks about old love and bitter memories, like \u201cI Hate Boston,\u201d which details despising a place because of the reminders it reignites inside of you.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere on Snow Angel<\/em><\/a>, which was ironically released in August, \u201cThe Wedding Song\u201d is a softer reflection on an old relationship, while \u201cTummy Hurts\u201d seemingly describes having to watch a toxic ex move on.<\/p>\n

\u2018Kill Bill\u2019: SZA<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cKill Bill\u201d off SZA<\/strong>\u2019s SOS<\/em><\/a> album, which dropped in June, is a tongue-in-cheek revenge track that is a cleverly coded reference to Quentin Tarantino\u2019s 2003 film of the same name, taking star Uma Thurman\u2019s story line about settling the score with her former boss and applying it to former romance<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While the song begins with promises of maturity and \u201cseeing a therapist\u201d to help her move on, the track slowly progresses into a hyperbolic determination of revenge. \u201cI might kill my ex, not the best idea \/ His new girlfriend\u2019s next, how\u2019d I get here?\u201d sing asks, plotting out her next move. \u201cI might kill my ex, I still love him though \/ Rather be in jail than alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018I Know It Won\u2019t Work\u2019: Gracie Abrams<\/strong><\/p>\n

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