Your taste in music might contain multitudes, but there's one thing that can be found in any genre: sad love songs. As long as musicians—and the fans who listen to them—have broken hearts, we'll have endless options for our postbreakup soundtracks. In fact, when we asked the Glamour staff to share their favorite sad love songs we received a full list that included everything from crooners like Frank Sinatra to mid-aughts indie rockers Death Cab for Cutie to pop superstars like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. But even though their picks cross decades and genres, they're all perfect for those times when you just want to be in your feelings.
Whether you're fresh off a split yourself or simply in need of a cathartic cry, see our list of the 51 best sad love songs, below.
1. “Beloved Wife” by Natalie Merchant (1995)
I've never bothered to google whether this song is actually about the loss of a wife—I'm too busy bawling. Her strained voice! The gorgeous piano and melody! The lyrics! If it weren't so crushing, I'd have it on repeat every day. —Perrie Samotin, digital director
2. “Sandcastles” by Beyoncé (2016)
"Sandcastles" is a soft, quiet ballad—which is relatively rare for Beyoncé, the queen of empowerment anthems. While the more high-energy songs from her Lemonade album get the most attention (see: "Formation," "Hold Up," etc.), I find this song to be deeply moving. In large part because we know she's singing about her relationship struggles with Jay Z. —Anna Moeslein, senior entertainment editor
