Pop Divas Prove They’re Stronger After Breakups: From Shakira to Olivia Rodrigo

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Valentine’s Day has ended. Maybe you can still smell the flowers and see some leftover chocolate wrappers from those who got them. It’s that day when love is in the air, but not everyone’s feeling it. Some of us are single and that’s totally cool. But for those who do want to celebrate, scrolling through Instagram and seeing all those lovey-dovey posts doesn’t help much. But then there are those who might be dealing with a recent breakup, feeling angry or sad. 

Probably, 99% of the world’s population has experienced a breakup and knows how painful it can be, including the music queens themselves. Yep, sometimes we forget that they too have had their hearts broken. However, as Shakira said in her music session with Bizarrap, ‘women don’t cry, women invoice,’ we can turn pain into art, and in the process, why not make a few million like them?

Just before we start, we don’t mean crying is bad, because it’s not. So, can you think of any breakup songs that also empower you or help you in the process?

Shakira – «Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53″

Of course, this list has to kick off with the Colombian sensation, who, alongside Bizarrap, has completely transformed the music industry. Their first collab, the session #53, has become a global anthem, but for Shakira, it’s more than just a hit song—it’s deeply personal. Filled with subtle references to her ex-boyfriend Gerard Piqué and her current partner, Shakira has shown us all how to handle tough situations with grace, and it’s definitely paid off for her.  

Together, they’ve achieved some remarkable milestones: their session became the most-watched Latin song on YouTube in 24 hours (63 million views); the fastest Latin song to reach 100 million views on the platform; the most streamed Latin song on Spotify in 24 hours (14.93 million streams); and the most streamed Latin song on Spotify in a week (80.6 million streams). 

Moreover, Shakira has written several breakup songs targeted at Gerard, suggesting that her next album will probably be packed with lyrical punches aimed at the soccer player. 

Miley Cyrus – «Flowers«

Just a few days ago, the 2024 Grammy Awards took place, and it was a big year for female artists who took home several awards. Among them was Miley Cyrus, who’s no stranger to heartbreak. She’s turned her emotional experiences into some of her best songs, like «7 Things» inspired by her breakup with Nick Jonas in 2009, and songs reflecting her relationship ups and downs with Liam Hemsworth. 

One of her recent hits, «Flowers,» has allowed her to express herself more openly than ever before. Winning her first Grammys with this song was a significant achievement for her career. During her performance, she even acknowledged this milestone, changing the lyrics to celebrate her Grammy win. 

«Flowers» has also become the most streamed song of 2023, with over 1.6 billion streams worldwide. It’s been a huge success! It’s clear that breaking the heart of someone like Miley Cyrus might not be the best idea. 

Dua Lipa – «New Rules«

Dua Lipa is someone who really understands the importance of embracing yourself and having confidence, and she’s proven it with every song she puts out. It’s hard to pick just one of her songs because she has several that inspire us to be strong, empowered women and move past our pain.

In that song «IDGAF,»the British singer talks about a past relationship where she wasn’t treated well. She’s sure things won’t go back to how they were, and she’s not willing to let anyone take advantage of her anymore. And in «Don’t Start Now,» she’s basically saying, ‘if you don’t want to see me… don’t show up.’ 

But even though Dua’s all about empowerment, she’s also been open about how some of her songs were inspired by heartbreak, and we can see it clearly in «New Rules,» the song that made her a superstar. In that track, she talks about unrequited love and gives us three steps to help us get over someone, just like she did. 

Olivia Rodrigo – «drivers license«

With this song, the world got to know Olivia Rodrigo, and a new pop sensation was born, one who continues to make waves in the music industry. The song tells a story of heartbreak rooted in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, where she portrays Nini Salazar-Roberts. It was during this project that she met Joshua Bassett, with whom she had a relationship until the lockdown. 

The song reflects her feelings of devastation after he quickly moved on. Shortly after their breakup, news broke that the actor was dating Sabrina Carpenter. Yes, another Disney love triangle. 

Adele – «Rolling in the Deep»

Adele is a woman who has also experienced a great deal of heartache in her life. However, if we’re being selfish, we have to admit that these experiences have given us two of her greatest songs: «Rolling in the Deep» and «Someone Like You.» The first song was responsible for catapulting her career, but it’s a song that speaks of betrayal. In fact, Adele tells her ex-partner how he played with her heart and emotions. She herself has confessed that she composed this single just hours after their breakup. 

The song «Someone Like You» also emerged from this failed relationship. Undoubtedly, Adele had to endure the pain of the breakup, but she didn’t come away empty-handed. It’s worth noting that this song moves beyond the bitterness or anger of the previous one and is a song that she wrote to find closure and peace regarding her ex. 

Taylor Swift – Upcoming New Album

This is not a competition, but if it were, there is definitely an undisputed queen when it comes to talking about breakups and exes: Taylor Swift. Some of the artist’s best songs have been born from failed relationships. At the Grammy awards 2024 ceremony, the artist announced that her next studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, will be released on April 19th. Given the album’s title and knowing the singer, many fans believe that the songs will revolve around her breakup with Joe Alwyn. 

However, you don’t have to wait to hear Taylor’s songs about heartbreak, as she already has several in her repertoire. One of them is «Getaway Car» from her Reputation album. In this song, the artist talks about those ‘transitional’ relationships that many people use to forget about others. «We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together» takes us back to that first breakup when you’re a teenager, you know, what could be considered a canonical moment. 

Other Swift songs we can recommend if you want to hear about her breakups are: «Mr. Perfectly Fine,» «Cardigan,» «Dear John,» «Better than Revenge,» «Back to December,» and «I Knew You Were Trouble.» 

Ariana Grande – «Thank U, Next»

Ariana Grande came out with one of those great songs that any friend would recommend if you’re going through a breakup. In «Thank U, Next,» instead of being bitter about her exes, she chooses to show love and gratitude to all those who played a role in her romantic journey.

Actually, the song is all about self-love. Ariana, known for hits like «Break Free,» lists the lessons she learned from each relationship and how they’ve helped her grow as a person. It’s a mature way to deal with breakups, showing resilience and growth. 

Katy Perry – «Wide Awake«

Katy Perry also has a collection of breakup songs, suggesting that she finds comfort in the recording studio whenever she goes through a romantic split. Among these songs are «Hot and Cold» and «Ur So Gay,» which were written about past partners from her early days before she became famous. 

After her divorce from Russell Crowe, she wrote several songs reflecting on their relationship, such as «Wide Awake,» «Circle the Drain,» and «Ghost.» 

Selena Gomez – «Lose You To Love Me»

It feels like it was just yesterday when Selena Gomez dropped «Lose You To Love Me,» a song dedicated to Justin Bieber, and it moved people worldwide. This song marked the end of their tumultuous relationship, which had its fair share of highs and lows over almost a decade. In one of the song’s verses, Selena sings about coming to terms with the breakup and realizing that it was ultimately for the best. 

Since its release in late 2019, «Lose You To Love Me» has become one of Selena’s most popular songs, amassing over 1 billion streams on Spotify and 469 million views on YouTube. It’s a powerful anthem of self-discovery that resonated deeply with her fans and captivated audiences worldwide as the lead single from her album «Rare.» 

Undoubtedly, there are many iconic singers who have taught us valuable lessons about navigating heartbreak. While some songs express sadness, others empower us, but they all contribute to healing our souls in their own way. 

Original article in Spanish for LOS40 Spain.