Not every Valentine’s Day is all roses and romance. Whether you’re fresh out of a breakup, stuck on someone who’s moved on, or just feeling a little too in your emotions, the right song can hit exactly where it hurts.
From raw ballads to brooding breakup anthems, these 10 songs are the perfect soundtrack for when love isn’t in the air.
1. “The Hardest Part” – Olivia Dean
Best for: When moving on feels impossible.
Soft, soulful, and painfully relatable, The Hardest Part captures the bittersweet feeling of knowing a relationship is over—even when you still love them. Olivia Dean’s smooth vocals and honest lyrics make this a must-listen if you need a moment to sit in your feelings.
2. “All Too Well (10-Minute Version)” – Taylor Swift
Best for: When you need to relive every detail of the breakup.
Taylor Swift’s extended All Too Well is less of a song and more of an emotional event. From lost scarves to late-night drives, it takes you right back to a love that slipped through your fingers. If you’re ready to embrace the heartbreak spiral, this is the song.
3. “Somebody Else” – The 1975
Best for: When they’ve moved on, but you’re still in your feelings.
Moody, melancholic, and drenched in synths, Somebody Else is the soundtrack to watching someone you love slip away. The haunting chorus (“I don’t want your body, but I hate to think about you with somebody else”) makes this the perfect song for when you’re pretending you’re over it—but definitely aren’t.
4. “Before You Go” – Lewis Capaldi
Best for: When you’re stuck wondering what if?
Regret, guilt, and all the words left unsaid—Before You Go is about looking back at a failed relationship and questioning if you could have done something different. Lewis Capaldi’s emotional delivery makes this one feel way too real.
5. “Before You Leave Me” – Alex Warren
Best for: When you feel the heartbreak coming but can’t stop it.
Sometimes, the worst heartbreak isn’t the breakup—it’s the moment you realise it’s about to happen. Before You Leave Me is the desperate plea of someone watching their relationship slip away, knowing there’s nothing they can do.
6. “You Broke Me First” – Tate McRae
Best for: When they come back after breaking your heart.
If you’ve ever had an ex show up way too late acting like they care, Tate McRae’s You Broke Me First will hit home. The moody production and no-nonsense lyrics (“I don’t really care how bad it hurts”) make it the perfect song to play when you’re officially done.
7. “When You Love Someone” – James TW
Best for: When you’re dealing with slow heartbreak.
Not all heartbreak comes from dramatic breakups—sometimes, it’s just two people slowly growing apart. When You Love Someone captures that quiet, aching kind of sadness, where love is still there, but it’s not enough to keep things together.
8. “If You Were Mine” – Teeks
Best for: When you’re longing for someone you can’t have.
New Zealand’s own Teeks has a voice made for heartbreak, and If You Were Mine is no exception. This song aches with unrequited love and the pain of watching someone be happy without you. If you need a song to sit with your thoughts, this is it.
9. “The Night We Met” – Lord Huron
Best for: When nostalgia hits way too hard.
If you’ve ever wished you could go back to the before, The Night We Met will wreck you. The haunting melody and aching lyrics make it the ultimate song for when memories feel heavier than reality.
10. “I Will Always Love You” – Whitney Houston
Best for: When the love is still there, even if the relationship isn’t.
Few songs capture the bittersweetness of love and loss like I Will Always Love You. Whitney Houston’s soaring vocals make this a powerhouse ballad for when you know it’s over—but a part of you will always care.
Valentine’s Day can be tough when your heart’s not in the mood for love, but music always understands. Whether you’re crying it out with Olivia Dean, processing with Lewis Capaldi, or reminding yourself you deserve better with Tate McRae, these songs will get you through it.
Now grab your headphones, hit play, and let yourself feel it.
