Of all the themes explored through music, love is by far the most popular one. Whether it’s a passionate and irrational love that originated spontaneously from an adventure, or a fairytale romance that ended tragically because of different factors, our feelings for someone else translate perfectly into the art of music. A singer who I think has the ability to interpret love incredibly well is Adele. Her songs just get to me, and I feel like they always capture what love is really like. If we look at her lyrics closely, we can notice a pattern, where she focuses on a specific kind of love: lost love. “Hello,” “Rumor Has it,” “Send My Love,” “We could’ve had it all,” and of course, “Rolling in the Deep” are some examples of songs where Adele says it didn’t work because it wasn’t meant to be, and even though we wanted it to happen, we had no choice but to put an end to it. The following verse in her song “When We Were Young” illustrates this feeling:
I was so scared to face my fears. Nobody told me that you’d be here. And I swear you moved overseas. That’s what you said, when you left me
This song is the perfect example of Adele’s musical talent for taking about former lovers. Her style is perfect for those moments when we think about what could have been, or why it had to end like that. Adele’s songs can sometimes bring you down to tears, but they also give us hope, telling us there is someone out there waiting for us. If Adele has touched your heart, you’re going to like the following songs about lost love.
Adele – “When We Were Young”
Blink 182 – “I Miss You”
Green Day – “Wake Me Up When September Ends”
Charlie Puth’s song is on this list because it’s dedicated to a lost love who has moved on and is now with someone else. His inner conflict is very relatable for anyone who still has feelings for an ex. Sometimes, it takes time to learn to let go of that person who we once shared intimate moments, secrets, and love with. He sings ¨I just heard you found the one you’ve been looking … I wish I would have known that wasn’t me, cuz even after all this time I still wonder, why I can’t move on just the way you did so easily?¨ You can sense his frustration because the feeling of seeing the person you love being with someone new is not only painful, but also devastating. He then reminisces about their past love, and holds on to the hope that she will one day come back to him.
Charlie Puth – “We Don’t Talk Anymore”
Avril Lavigne – “Wish You Were Here”
Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”
In her documentary, Five Foot Two, Lady Gaga talks about her past relationships and the challenges she had to overcome, like her illness, in order to stay strong. Gaga associates her break ups to difficult moments of her life, like when she and her former fiancé called off their wedding. “Million Reasons” is the perfect example of a song about a past relationship that could have lasted longer, but not enough commitment or will was put into it. She sings “I’ve got a hundred million reasons to walk away but baby I just need one good one to stay,” telling us that despite the frustration in their relationship, there was still a possibility, a window, to save it, but there are things that not even love can fix.
Lady Gaga – “Million Reasons”
Toni Braxton – “Un-Break My Heart”
Michael Bublé – “Home”
Kelly Carckson – “Since U Been Gone¨
Gavin DeGraw – “Not Over You”
Pink Floyd – “Wish You Were Here”
The reason why there are so many songs about past loves is because during our solitary and lonely moments, we tend to remember those times that brought us joy. However, we fail to remember that love is still out there, waiting for us to go get it. In Adele’s “Someone Like You,” for instance, she talks about a broken heart that cries about losing a relationship that she couldn’t stay away from or resist. It reminds us that we make our decisions based on moments, and that sometimes the best solution for a complicated relationship is to break up. If those hearts get back together, it’s because it’s meant to be – if not, it’s because life has other plans for us.
Images by Chris and Ruth
Click on any of these articles for more articles on love and music:
15 Songs That Prove We’re All Afraid Of Commitment
5 Songs About What It Feels Like To Love Someone You Can’t Have
15 Songs To Tell Someone You’re Not In Love Anymore