Here are the 70 best heartbreak songs of all time

The delicate matters of the heart have inspired some of the greatest songs ever made.

To love hard is to expose oneself to the possibility of hurting hard. This crushing feeling has inspired several musicians to craft timeless records that continue to cater to heartbreak and its varying complex emotions.

These classic records capture the pain of unrequited love, of romance gone sour, and of love that held promise but faltered to the challenges of everyday life.

Whether it's genre-fusing Afrobeats records, hard-hitting hip hop tracks, or soul-wrenching R&B songs, there's a plethora of heartbreak songs to help sooth an aching heart.

Best heartbreak songs of all time

Best Afrobeats Heartbreak Song

For generations, Nigerian stars have crafted era-defining songs that tell the story of love gone sour.

From Styl Plus's iconic smash hit 'Imagine That' to Burna Boy's global hit 'Last Last,' Afrobeats is filled with a plethora of heartbreak songs.

1. Burna Boy — Last Last

2. P Square — Omoge Mi

3. Omah Lay — Understand

4. Arya Starr, Ckay — beggie biggie

5. Djnee – Ego

6. Style Plus – Imagine That

7. Darey Art Alade – girl I used to know

8. Asa — Bibanke

9. Banky W — Don't break my heart

10. Kizz Daniel — Fuck you

11. Niyola – Toh Bad

12. Ric Hassani — Thunder Fire You

13. P Square — Am I Still That Man

14. P Square — Say Your Love

15. Arya Starr, Giveon - Last Heartbreak Anniversary. 

16. Show Dem Camp — WYW 

17. Chike – Out of Love

18. Omah Lay — Soso

19. BNXN – Pidgin and English

Best Hip Hop Heart Break Songs

While Rappers often put up a tough exterior, they also sometimes have their hearts broken like everyone else.

Heartbreak has inspired rappers to craft songs with poignant lyrics and moving delivery. Here are some of the best hip-hop heartbreak songs.

1. Kanye West - Heartless

2. Tupac - do for love

3. Cardi B - Be careful with me

4. Big Sean - I don't fuck with you

5. J Cole - Nothing Lasts Forever

6. XXXTentacion - Remedy For a Broken Heart

7. Wale - The breakup song

8. D ‘D'Angelo - Breakups to makeups

9. Kendrick Lamar - Count Me Out

10. Drake - Marvins Room

11. Juice Wrld - Lucid Dreams

12. Eminem - Space Bound

13. Kanye West - Blame Game

14. Immortal Technique - You never know

15. Nas - undying love

16. Kendrick Lamar - Opposite Attracts

17. Tyler, the Creator - IFHY

18. Nicki Minaj - Bed of Lies

19. Kanye West - Runaway

Best R&B Heartbreak Songs

Nobody tells the story of love and heartbreak quite like R&B stars, who deploy soulful melodies and colourful lyrics to craft emotionally charged songs. Here are some classic R&B heartbreak songs.

1. Whitney Houston – I'll Always Love You

2. Adele – Someone like You

3. Whitney Houston – I have nothing

4. Adele – Hello

5. Rihnanna – Take a Bow

6. Beyonce – If I were a boy

7. BoysIIMen – To the end of the road

8. Toni Braxton – Unbreak My Heart

9. Usher – Burn

10. Justin Timberlake – Cry Me a River

11. Erykah Badu – Tyrone

12. Olivia Rodriguez – Drivers License

13. The Smiths – I know it's over

14. Beyonce – Irreplaceable

15. Bruno Mars - When I Was Your Man

16. Frank Ocean – Ivy

17. Chris Brown - Please Don't Judge Me

18. Lewis Capaldi - Bruises

19. Jordin Sparks feat Chris Brown - No Air

20. Halsey - Without Me

REAL ALSO: 10 Notable Feats By Nigerian Female Artists

Best Heartbreak Pop/Country/ soft Rock/ songs

1. Taylor Swift - Bad Blood

2. Bob Dylan – Don't Think Twice. Its Alright

3. Zach Bryan — I remember everything

4. Bill Withers — Ain't No Sunshine

5. Al green— How can you mend a broken heart

6. Leonar Cohen — Hallelujah

7. Bonnie Wraith — Can't make you love me

8. Lizzo– Truth Hurts

9. Carole King — It's Too Late

10. No Doubt – Don't Speak

11. NYSNC — ByeByeBye

12. Eykah Badu — Tyrone

13. Taylor Swift - Death By A Thousand Cuts