Country music and blues tend to have the very best breakup songs to mope over. However, alternative rock has produced quite a few excellent songs for lamenting a broken relationship. Let’s take a look at just four of our favorite alternative rock breakup songs!
1. “The One I Love” by R.E.M.
This famous R.E.M. hit is often misunderstood. Due to the title, many listeners think that the song is a dedication of sorts to the people we love. In fact, quite a few couples through the years have used this song as their “first dance” tune at weddings.
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Unfortunately for them, this song isn’t about new, budding love at all. The song is actually about the people we’ve left in the dust and the partners that have been used to entertain a flight of fancy in lieu of serious commitment. That notion isn’t exactly comforting, but a song like “The One I Love” can help you deal with a particularly nasty breakup.
2. “Black” by Pearl Jam
Who doesn’t love a little bit of grunge when they’re feeling down? This Pearl Jam classic is a particularly angry and vengeful song about a breakup and the confusion that follows. If you’re feeling very bitter at this point in your breakup, give this one a listen. The MTV Unplugged version is quite beautiful, too.
3. “Pictures Of You” by The Cure
Robert Smith is a master at writing love songs. He’s more or less been with his wife since they were 14 years old, after all. Nobody knows longstanding love quite like him. However, he’s a dynamic songwriter who can also write a sad lost-love song or two as well. “Pictures Of You” isn’t exactly a breakup song, but it is a moody and mystical tune that can soothe your soul if you’re lamenting the loss of a relationship.
4. “Nobody’s Baby Now” by Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
When it comes to alternative rock breakup songs, some might not see this track as particularly alternative. However, “Nobody’s Baby Now” by Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, as well as the whole of the 1994 album Let Love In, are excellent post-punk gothic rock pieces of work that definitely lean toward alternative rock. This specific song is a breakup gem about losing the one you love and being stuck with the question, “Why?”
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