---
title: "The Perfect Song For… A sad breakup"
description: "Who hasn’t gone through a painful breakup and found solace in a song? One of the oldest breakup songs is Who’s Sorry Now, written in 1923 and recorded by Connie Francis in 1958."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "PODCAST"
author: "Tim Cohen and Fred de Vries"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/timcohenandfreddevries/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-07-the-perfect-song-for-a-sad-breakup/"
published: "2024-09-07T10:00:15"
updated: "2024-09-06T11:57:31"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 364
---

# The Perfect Song For… A sad breakup

> Who hasn’t gone through a painful breakup and found solace in a song? One of the oldest breakup songs is Who’s Sorry Now, written in 1923 and recorded by Connie Francis in 1958.

By Tim Cohen and Fred de Vries · Published 7 September 2024, 12:00 SAST · Updated 6 September 2024, 13:57 SAST

## Key points
- In this tear-stained podcast episode, join the musical journey through the heartbreak highway as Tim Cohen, Fred de Vries and special guest Lloyd Coutts explore the power of breakup songs, from Dolly Parton to Joy Division, offering a playlist to soothe the shattered souls of the lovelorn.
- Breakup songs have a long history rooted in ancient British folk tales and American blues dirges, with hits like I Will Always Love You and You Oughta Know resonating through the ages.
- In a podcast episode, hosts Tim Cohen and Fred de Vries, along with special guest Lloyd Coutts, explore the healing power of breakup tunes, featuring tracks like Moments by The Kinks and Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division.
- Listeners are invited to share their favorite breakup songs and suggestions for the perfect heartbreak anthem by contacting the hosts at perfectsongfor@gmail.com.
- Follow Tim Cohen and Fred de Vries on social media for more music insights and updates on ThePerfectSongFor podcast.

## Content

It got her a number four position in the Billboard Hot 100.

But of course the history of this particular genre goes back much further, to ancient British folk tales and American blues dirges.

The most famous breakup song is arguably I Will Always Love You, written in 1973 by Dolly Parton and made famous by Whitney Houston some 20 years later. And who doesn’t remember Alanis Morissette’s furious You Oughta Know, or Soft Cell’s electronic version of Tainted Love.

There are thousands and thousands of breakup songs, from hateful to completely devastated. They provide comfort, a bed of words and melody to wallow in and overcome our grief. Artists understand us better than anyone else.

So, in [this podcast episode](https://open.spotify.com/episode/5bR7w0gr1iZokYFYoTrnyV?si=3f1c94d3ea8848c2), we swim in tears, trying to find the perfect song to match the sad departure of your loved one.

[Spotify audio](https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/5bR7w0gr1iZokYFYoTrnyV?utm_source=generator)

We also have a special guest, journalist and musician Lloyd Coutts, who has written a number of near-perfect breakup songs himself. Listen to Tim Cohen, Fred de Vries and Lloyd Coutts discussing the various stages of grief and the nine tunes that they think will heal the broken-hearted.

You’ll hear Moments by The Kinks, Eucalyptus by The National, Songbird by Eva Cassidy, Everybody Hurts by R.E.M., One More Week by The Ponies, Where Are You Tonight by Cowboy Junkies, Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division and Most Of The Time by Bob Dylan.

Now get those tissues out, and tell us what you think. Which crucial ones did we miss? And what is your favourite breakup tune? **DM**

*You can listen and subscribe to*ThePerfectSongFor … podcast about the perfect song*on*[*Apple podcasts*](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-perfect-song-for-a-podcast-about-the-perfect-song/id1736161552)*,*[*Spotify*](https://open.spotify.com/episode/2JOvSbqFFTK30yA1r6JXMj?si=6773ad8d65874d21&nd=1&dlsi=74721ec83c3c441e)*and*[*iono*](https://iono.fm/p/3666)*. Full versions of the songs are in Spotify and Apple playlists; perfectsongfor@gmail.com*

*Contact the hosts of the podcast or email us your suggestions and alternatives at*[*perfectsongfor@gmail.com*](mailto:perfectsongfor@gmail.com)

*You can also follow the hosts on X: @perfectsongfor Insta: #perfectsongfor*

*Tim Cohen is the business editor of Daily Maverick. Fred de Vries* *is an author, writer, journalist and South Africa correspondent for Elsevier Magazine and De Groene Amsterdammer. He writes regular music columns for Platenblad in the Netherlands and Vrye Weekblad in South Africa.*