Heartbreak hits: A journey through the anthems of anti-love

As the day of love rolls around for another year, many Britons are faced with the conundrum of what to do this Valentine’s Day. Whether you will be celebrating with your partner, or indulging with friends on a cosy Galentine’s Day, romance is in the air on February 14. However, the past decade has seen a steady rise in those rejecting the day, believing it is too commercialised, expensive, or just not something worth celebrating. As nearly half of Brits planned not to celebrate Valentine’s Day in 2024, maybe a mantra of anti-love is proving more popular in the country. This theme is all too familiar in the world of music.  

From ABBA’s ‘The Winner Takes it All’ following the brutal breakup of Agnetha and Bjorn, to Fleetwood Mac’s live rendition of ‘Silver Springs’ after their brutal breakup, love going wrong is a prominent theme in music. Whilst the more common way of dealing with your emotions is not belting a troublesome breakup song live with your ex, venting the turbulence of love comes naturally to artists in many different forms. A journey through the anti-love jukebox takes us from anger to genuine sadness, to all things pop, so prepare yourself for a journey to the heartbreak hotel (it’s going to be a bumpy ride). 

Women in pop have become the pioneers of the anti-love movement

Kicking things off, the world of love can often turn bitter and frustrating, and resentment towards a troublesome ex can cause some serious musical anger. Whether it be the repeatedly explicit lines of Lily Allen’s ‘Fuck You’, or the Taylor Swift vengeance classic, ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together’, women in pop have become the pioneers of the anti-love movement. There is something about the wit of these lyrics that makes them so relatable and listenable, with the power of the words feeling so punchy and prominent throughout. It would be unfounded to delve into the world of anti-love without considering the one and only Olivia Rodrigo. Her iconic breakup songs sent Rodrigo soaring into the music world at the age of just 17, encompassing the vulnerability of female rage, and the despair of lovers lost. The sadness brought about by ‘drivers license’ is something relatable to all, with her career reminiscing upon the bluntness of Alanis Morrisette, forging her discography into something truly game changing. It clearly takes Guts to be so expressive about your emotions, so kudos to Rodrigo for saving a generation of broken-hearted teens.  

Heartbreak is equally as sad, truly depressing in fact. And perhaps, as the night of Valentine’s Day draws to a close, your emotions may turn sadder. Anti-love can be melancholy, and difficult to find the right soundtrack for, but often the sadness involved in such lyrics does not flow through the tune. One of my favourite songs is ‘Tears Dry On Their Own’, by the great Amy Winehouse, with the jazz tone and beautiful voice truly encapsulating the despair of lost love, but in a way that feels lighter, and more listenable. In fact, I often opt for this kind of music over the likes of Sinead O’Connor’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, which often feels too sad, or Jeff Buckley’s ‘Lover, You Should’ve Come Over’, which is sometimes just a smidge too depressing. The perfect blend of this kind of genre may have to be the one-hit wonder classic, ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ by Gotye; I am often left wondering where this artist went after releasing one of the most thought-provoking anti-love songs ever written. From a personal level, I recommend avoiding the songs that feel too sad, and instead, give yourself a break, and happiness will hopefully come with it. 

Anti-love is a tough one, and a genre that is flooded with true sadness and confusion

Anti-love is a tough one, and a genre that is flooded with true sadness and confusion. However, in an anti-love world, it is hard to remember the true love you have for your friends, your family, and even your everyday life, which is often left unrepresented in music. Anti-love is quite a harsh way of looking at things, and I bet even if you are feeling staunchly anti-love this Valentines Day, there will be someone around you that truly loves you back. Indulge in the classic love-hating songs, have a dance and celebrate with friends, and remember to love yourself and your music this Valentine’s Day.