Top Ten 80's breakup songs

By Dave Savage

Staff Writer 80sRockRadio.net

October 11, 2022 

 After every harsh breakup, there was always those songs on the radio that helped you through the pain. Journey “I’ll Be Alright Without You,” is a “feel good song” about being single. It has always made me feel better after the initial sting of a breakup. Sometimes those songs on the radio made it worse. If you were listening to Bryan Adams “Victim of Love,” or Cinderella’s “Don’t Know What You’ve Got,” you were in a dangerous and vulnerable area. Drugs and alcohol only exasperated your current emotional condition, and this had the potential of winding up in another restraining order. 

Why did I have to drive by her work!

The History: summer of 1987

Church youth group campout somewhere in the woods of Parker County, Texas and the faint roar of the interstate traffic in the near distance, this wild teenager finally lost his virginity! We did it on her grandfather’s cot. Her granddad didn’t like Mexicans, so banging his granddaughter on the very cot he provided, made it that much more of a wonderful experience. Bon Jovi “Never Say Goodbye” played on the radio after my metamorphosis. After we broke up several months later, she told me that she stayed up all night listening to “Alone” by Heart. Peeking out the living room window, she was wishing I would come back to her.  Why the hell would I come back after she cheated on me!?!!?!? I came back. 

When that finally ended, I was shattered and listening to my Def Leppard cassette, Hysteria, over and over again for about three months in that hellhole of emotional heartache.  The song, “Love Bites” summed it all up. Lesson learned; never get into a relationship when someone’s virtue was lost. 

Poison “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” can describe the relationships I had in the 80’s, and pretty much all the ones I’ve had since then. The only difference is, now I can reminisce the times I had back then and smile when I remember those pains. Every time I hear one of my favorite 80’s breakup songs on the radio like John Waite “Missing You,” I am thankful for those heartache experiences that made me stronger.  I don’t need therapy, I just need my 80’s rock music! 

When they stomp your heart, it doesn’t always end like a John Cusack movie, holding up a boombox, instead it ends with you scream-singing the song by The J. Geils Band, “Love Stinks”

So, ride off into the sunset like the emotionally screwed-up superhero that you are, David Coverdale has got your back, “Here I Go Again” is playing in your background!

Wanna hear the rest of the playlist? Check out our 80’s Breakup Songs playlist on Spotify.

10. Journey “I’ll Be Alright Without You”

9. Bryan Adams “Victim of Love”

8. Cinderella “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)”

7. Bon Jovi “Never Say Goodbye”

6. Heart “Alone”

5. Def Leppard “Love Bites”

4. Poison “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn”

3.John Waite “Missing You”

2. The J. Geils Band “Love Stinks”

1. Whitesnake “Here I Go Again”