Joanna Marie O. Santos
June 03, 2022

Breakups are hard for everyone, no matter what stage of a relationship you’re in. We’re all familiar with the five stages of grief and while not a lot of us may see it, those who have had their hearts broken also go through the five stages namely: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. But fear not, we’re here to help you get through that with music.   Even if you’re not heartbroken, listening to breakup playlists is something that we’re all guilty of doing because we feel a little sentimental.   We all have different music tastes, but some songs just hit different. That said, here are 10 songs that you might want to listen to for every breakup grieving stage.Â

Denial

  The denial comes first in the stages of grief and it usually happens in the first couple of days and weeks after a heartbreak. Sometimes, we pretend nothing happened and we try to move on from it. It's that numb feeling that we have when we're still trying to convince ourselves that this has happened and it can no longer come back. If you’re still trying to convince yourself, let these songs help you get through this stage.  

Tilaluha by SB19

    Pa'no nga ba mapapawi, labis na pagdurusa? Kung wala mang pag-asa Turuan mo naman akong limutin ka   Tilaluha is a ballad that talks about the hardships of moving on from a relationship. The song is still hopeful, but it ultimately talks about that time after a break-up where you're still trying to make sense of everything and still holding on to the hope that things could still work out. Ultimately, though, we have to let go of relationships no matter how hard it is and move on from them.  

Sa Huling Sandali by December Avenue

    At sa bawat minuto Ako'y 'di natuto Ipilit mang iba ako'y maghihintay sayo Ikaw ang aking kapiling sa huling sandali Kasalanan ba kung puso natin ang magwawagi   Sa Huling Sandali, as a love song, awakens that feeling of denial that happened because of a defied relationship. It was the right love at the wrong time, only making it more painful. But that we have to continue living in a reality where we have to remember the pain, while accepting that it's over, makes it more heartbreaking.  

Anger

  Anger is a basic human emotion, and it's normal to feel that way after a breakup. Whether you're angry at yourself, your former partner, or the factors that influenced your breakup, it's common to feel angry, and it's very natural. You don't have to feel bad about it either. Just sing your heart out to these beats and things might get better.  

Traitor by Olivia Rodrigo

    You betrayed me 'Cause I know that you'll never feel sorry For the way I hurt You'd talk to her When we were together You gave me your word But that didn't matter   Olivia Rodrigo's Traitor is another heartbreak anthem that caught the public's attention after its release. Rather than being an upfront song about how much heartbreak hurts, Traitor speaks more about the reflection after the heartbreak. There's the feeling of betrayal, looking at what went wrong, and those moments in the moving-on process where you both love and hate a person. The song also tackles a bit of that small feeling of betrayal that people experience when they see their past partners moving on with someone else. Traitor is a song that's perfect for those rainy nights when you're up for a feels trip.  

All Too Well (10-Minute Version; Taylor’s Version from The Vault) by Taylor Swift

    And you call me up again just to break me like a promise So casually cruel in the name of being honest I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here 'Cause I remember it all, all, all Too well   Another popular heartbreak song that pulls at heartstrings is Taylor Swift's All Too Well, further amplified by its extended 10-minute version. Like Traitor, the song reminisces on a past relationship and ruminates on why the relationship ended. There’s a bit of anger because of what happened in the past, and having to relive that experience by thinking about it makes it even more bittersweet. If the shorter version doesn't give you the feels, the 10-minute version will surely give you something to mull over.  

Bargaining

  When we're experiencing pain, it's very hard to accept that things have ended there and there's nothing we can do about it anymore. Bargaining is a stage where we ‌make deals with ourselves or a higher being to make things work again. Sometimes, we also act in certain ways to make us feel better or make scenarios in our head with "what if" questions. If you're at this stage, these songs might be for you.  

Masyado Pang Maaga by Ben&Ben

    Parang kay bilis ng 'yong pag-alis Teka lang teka lang teka lang muna Sa'n nagkamali pwede bang bumawi Teka lang teka lang teka lang muna   This breakup anthem from critically acclaimed OPM group Ben&Ben takes us to feelings of confusion and pain, of how a relationship we’ve worked so hard to build crumbles in what seems to be an instant. Caught in the aftermath, the persona walks themself through what happened and how it slipped from their hands. Because it’s become part of who we are, we take whatever’s left of a relationship and negotiate ways to try saving it… that is, if it isn’t too late.  

The Scientist by Coldplay

    I was just guessing at numbers and figures Pulling the puzzles apart Question of science, science and progress Do not speak as loud as my heart   For some, bargaining involves rationalizing how the relationship ended. It entails exploring possibilities of a second chance, of a way back to the start. They attempt to isolate their point of view and make unbiased conclusions on what went wrong and how it could have been fixed. Still, this stage of grief deprives the person of the next stage necessary for moving on.  

Depression

  When you're getting over a breakup, it's normal to experience feelings of longing and sadness. Sometimes, the pain that we experience from these can get very intense that it can affect us for months or years. That said, here are some songs that might help you at this stage.  

Hindi Tayo Pwede by The Juans

    Hindi tayo pwede dahil una pa lang Alam naman nating mayroong hangganan At kahit ipilit, hanggang dito na lang   The narrative of "Hindi Tayo Pwede" is simple - it's not unrequited love but a more painful type of love where we try to force a relationship to work when, in fact, it has reached its dead end. It hurts to admit it, but sometimes we have to let go no matter how hard it hurts. Sometimes, relationships don't really work no matter how hard we want them to and that's why we have to let go, even if it's painful.  

Crooked by G-Dragon

    I used to believe in you alone and I was happy But like a joke, I am left alone You used to promise me with your pinky finger But in the end, nothing ever lasts forever In the end, you changed…   Here’s one for the Kpop stans. G-Dragon is known for being a great lyricist and one of the best in Kpop at that. Crooked is an old but gold song that tells us about what happens in our heads when we’re overcome by grief, sadness, and pain. It gives that sense of wanting to rebel just to get rid of the sadness deep inside.  

Acceptance

  Acceptance comes when most of the pain and grief caused by the breakup gradually subsides. While we may never get over it, the best we can do is learn to live again and to move towards a better day. If you're ready to move on, listen to these songs.  

Paubaya by Moira Dela Torre

    At kita naman sa 'yong mga mata Kung bakit pinili mo siya Mahirap labanan ang tinadhana Pinapaubaya, pinapaubaya Pinapaubaya ko na sa kanya   A breakup playlist will not be complete without Paubaya by Moira Dela Torre. After its release, the song immediately caught the public's attention. The song isn't just a narrative of unrequited love, but it's a narrative of letting go of who we thought was the "right" person for us only to find out that our relationship will not work. It's a heart-wrenching song that talks about our hopes for love and the future, only for them to crumble down because things wouldn't work either way.  

Mitsa by Ben&Ben

    Pag wala na naman tayong nararamdaman Pag wala na naman din itong pupuntahan Ay mabuti pang sabihin na'ng Salamat salamat Salamat salamat Mahal   Mitsa (Salamat) is a song that symbolizes the acceptance of the end of a relationship. It sends a message to listeners that even though the relationship didn't work out how we expected it to, we should still be grateful for the memories, lessons, and feelings that it gave us. Some things must end - no matter how beautiful it is, and we have to bid our farewell and be grateful for it.  

Honorable Mentions

  We also have a couple of songs that didn’t quite make the cut, but we’d still like to include them for the message that they convey to their audiences. It might not be a part of the stages of grief anymore, but we have songs for when you've finally moved on or if you’re at a stage of unrequited love.  

For When You’re Finally Saying Goodbye: Thank u, next by Ariana GrandeÂ

    I've got so much love Got so much patience I've learned from the pain I turned out amazing   Apart from its catchy tune, Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande is impactful because of its message. While it isn't necessarily a heartbreak anthem, the song talks more about what happens after that heartbreak and the lessons learned after the failed relationships. It's also empowering in a way that it sends a message to people that they can choose to grow no matter how hard the breakup was for them. It's not a goodbye or a diss track but it's a song that tells you about choosing to be the best version of yourself after all the pain while still being thankful to your exes for teaching you valuable lessons so you don't repeat the same mistakes.  

Because Unrequited Love Hurts Just as Much: Sa Panaginip Na Lang by Alamat

    Sa panaginip na lang Kung saan tayo'y masaya Sa panaginip ko Tayo'y masayang magkasama   Sa Panaginip Na Lang by Alamat is an ode to all of us who have, at one point, dreamt of being with someone only to be met with unrequited love. It's a pop-rock ballad that tells the story of someone who would rather live in a dream where they could be with their loved one rather than the reality without them. While reality without “the one” does hurt, it’s one that we, unfortunately, have to face, but know that you aren’t alone. Let this song be a jam that accompanies you through your sentimental moments.   Breakups are hard, but that doesn’t mean that you have to go through them alone. For most of us, it takes a while to get over a relationship but you are never alone and when you felt like you have no one to turn to, you can always rely on music to be your comfort.Â