Why we love breakup songs

Columbian singer-songwriter Shakira, touted to be the queen of Latin music, recently made headlines when she released "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53," collaborating with Argentine DJ Bizarrap.

Released on January 11, the song which makes direct jibes at her ex, Spanish former-football player Gerard Pique, broke all records racking up over 55 million views on YouTube within 24 hours of release, becoming the most watched Spanish song. Such was its unprecedented popularity, the song surpassed over 15 million streams on Spotify, topping the streaming service's top 50 global playlist.

Shakira's new single seemed to address the fallout of the 11-year-relationship, Pique's alleged betrayal, and she did not shy away from name-dropping the soccer player's new girlfriend.

Merely a couple of days later, American pop-sensation Miley Cyrus, popular for essaying the role of Hannah Montana, released her latest song "Flowers" which became the fastest to reach 100 million streams on Spotify. The energetic revenge song which celebrates her singledom dropped on January 13--her ex-husband and Australian actor Liam Hemsworth's birthday. There are multiple references in the song, including a mention of their house burning down in a wildfire in 2018.

It is also alleged that the song is a response to a Bruno Mars' song "When I Was Your Man", which was dedicated by Hemsworth to Cyrus on their wedding in 2018. While the original by Mars includes the lines, "I should have bought you flowers, and held your hand', Cyrus's version spells, "I can buy myself flowers, and I can hold my own hand."

Unless you've been living under a rock, you have come across hundreds of reels of these viral songs which have topped music charts across the globe. What is it about breakup, or revenge songs that resonate with us?

"Music and words have a huge impact on the psyche; the younger generation in particular finds solace in songs. When public figures write and sing about their breakups, it humanises them and their experiences, which are often shared by the song's listeners. The listener feels connected to the words, which are a representation of these universal feelings, some of which are often not spoken out aloud. These songs also provide a shared experience to those who have experienced a breakup," explains Mehek Rohira, therapist at The Mood Space.

While many singers including the likes of Taylor Swift and Adele have been singing about heartbreak, diss tracks have been a major part of the hip-hop scene for years, and have enjoyed popularity. "It's like a connection of rage, savageness, sass, and inspiration. No doubt it takes courage to come out of the bad phase and turn those hot burning emotions into something inspiring for the generation. Diss tracks, in general, are often opinionated but the part where you're accepting everything, dealing with your demons, and eventually coming out as the best version of yourself is a big win for your own self and I guess, that's all that matters in the end. These are not just songs, these are anthems," poses Abhay Arora, curator of ‘That Music Project', an Instagram page exploring narratives surrounding Bollywood and indie music.

Shakira savagely sings about how she won't take Pique back even if he begs, and how her fitness-enthusiast ex should spend time training his brain, not just spend hours in the gym. She channels her rage, but comes out indestructible as she sings, ‘you thought you'd hurt me, but you've made me stronger, and women don't cry anymore, they get paid'. It is no wonder that women have adapted these songs as anthems of self-love, and empowerment according to Rohira.

She adds, "Such songs are also a shift from the typical female narrative - women are no longer waiting to be saved by their Prince Charming. They are independent, ambitious, and self-sufficient. For some, these songs may also be a reflection of the modern woman and add to one of the reasons why people personally resonate with these songs."

Singer-songwriter Kriti B. agrees, "Miley's song is an anthem for women because women also want to experience being a human being, the gender that has always been asked to adjust to not being treated well is finally standing up feeling empowered and learning the fact that we don't need a man to validate our existence."

Offering insights into what goes into producing such spirited music Kriti says, "Breakup songs, from the point of view of a musician work in two ways--emotional release and empowerment. Writing a song helps in venting those pent up emotions. As a listener, it provides a sense of relatability. ‘I thought I was the only one who felt this way' is something I've heard quite a few times when I have performed. I think because we feel too vulnerable to talk to people about it and feel judged."

Read More: Techno, Punjabi Blues & Anime Pop: Top music trends that dominated the year 2022