Top 10 Essential Sad Girl Songs
#10: “Liability” (2017)
Lorde
This is the song you listen to when you need someone to validate your feelings. Lorde doesn’t mince her words as she sings of feeling dispensable in relationships. With emotionally charged vocals, she conveys the pain of being left behind by friends as they grow weary of her. At the end of the day, she’s alone with her demons, dancing with her loneliness. Yet, even then, she doesn’t shrink herself. “Liability” is ultimately a declaration of self-love, of feeling adequate, even if everyone convinces her otherwise. She may be heartbroken now, but she’ll always have herself to fall back on.
#9: “Lover Is a Day” (2016)
Cuco
If the act of spiraling into a vortex of unresolved emotions were a song, it would be this one. Cuco’s stream of consciousness is nearly a prayer, driven by lush synths that sound like they belong in a daydream. The lyrics hold the kind of vulnerability that will never reach its destination. Our narrator is constantly stuck between baring his soul and hiding it away, and the endless loop is mirrored by the repetitive chorus of the song. Cuco sounds both dejected and hopeful, which is the grey area we’ve all found ourselves in at some point. The song is potent enough to awaken those memories in a split second, and that’s why it’s dangerous.
#8: “Drivers License” (2021)
Olivia Rodrigo
What’s a sad girl anthem without the devastation of losing a love that felt like forever? Olivia’s debut hit paints a picture of young love that’s not frivolous or fleeting. Her lyrics portray the depth of the relationship and thus, the pain of the betrayal that followed. The track is strikingly candid, enough that it sparked rumors about who Olivia might have written about. However, its true strength lies in how relatable it is, whether that be to a teen experiencing their first love, or a grown-up on the edge of a mid-life crisis. After all, breakups hurt all the same, no matter how equipped you may be to handle them.
#7: “Moon Song” (2020)
Phoebe Bridgers
Listening to this song on repeat has to qualify as masochism. The lyrics recall a rocky relationship, defined by push and pull, that leaves our heroine begging for love. Her devotion was in stark contrast to his indifference, but even then, she’d pluck the moon for him if she could. Undeterred by his change of heart, she holds on to a false sense of hope so fragile, it could crack at any moment. This is expressed musically by how carefully Phoebe sings, so much so that even her pauses start to take on meaning. Her gentle, raspy vocals are front and centre as the track is stripped of needless ornamentation. This rawness is what makes it even more profound.
#6: “Picture You” (2023)
Chappell Roan
The Midwest Princess’s unique brand of sad and sexy is inimitable. “Picture You” is neither innocent nor provocative. It is a desperate plea to be seen and desired by the one person who matters most. Roan’s voice is characteristically velvety, but there’s a gravitas to it, which is offset by the dreamiest falsetto segments. The emotional journey of the song is similar. It goes from sultry to lovesick, but the ache in her voice remains unchanged. This complexity is what has put Chappell Roan in a league of her own.
#5: “The Night We Met” (2017)
Lord Huron
Besides being a TikTok favorite, this song is the classic soundtrack to a poor soul’s sleepless night. It’s worth wondering what Lord Huron put in this song because it is downright addictive, even if the tears it brings are unstoppable. Evoking the type of regret that makes you want to rip your heart out, “The Night We Met” will have you rethinking your entire life. It lingers long after it ends, and listeners are left staring into the abyss, watching distant memories flash before their eyes. If you want to take things up a notch, just check out the duet version of the record featuring Phoebe Bridgers.
#4: “I’m Your Man” (2023)
Mitski
All songwriting is poetry, in one way or another. However, in this song, Mitski masters that art form to a divine degree. “I’m Your Man” is not your usual love song, or even a love song at all. It is written from the perspective of the patriarchy that looms over us all. What Mitski taps into is her internalized version of the same. That voice inside her head is unkind, but rather than deeming it unwanted, she comes to terms with it. The track is atmospheric and even meditative, but strangely unnerving. That’s the Mitski effect we know and love.
#3: “Glimpse of Us” (2022)
Joji
If you find yourself listening to this song at 3 AM on a random Thursday, just call your ex. Joji has a reputation for making the most devastating melodies. On top of them, he neatly lays out morally ambiguous lyrics that work even and especially if you were the bad guy in your relationship. That’s not a niche everyone targets, and no one does it better than Joji. In “Glimpse of Us”, he’s a little too honest about stringing someone along while being stuck on a former lover. However, his voice holds so much pain that for a moment, you almost want to root for him. After all, he’s only human, and so are we.
#2: “Video Games” (2011)
Lana Del Rey
The queen of melancholia never misses. As the inventor of the sad girl aesthetic, Lana has tugged at our heartstrings from the moment she stepped into the music scene. Her debut with “Video Games” was as strong as it gets. Music lovers everywhere were instantly taken with her forlorn sound. The lyrics revolve around an ordinary but unfulfilling relationship that Lana is settling for. It’s the life she has chosen, setting aside her own aspirations. Still, she can’t help but dream of an alternate reality, where she loves and is loved with the fiery passion she craves. Without a doubt, this song gets more and more poignant with time.
#1: “When the Party's Over” (2018)
Billie Eilish
The final boss of sad girl music has arrived. The voice of our generation, Billie Eilish, has a way of reaching the deepest parts of our hearts with her music. “When the Party's Over” is one such song. The words may be hers, but it is the listener who feels exposed. The track’s exploration of the end of a romance and the mixed feelings it conjures is spot-on, to say the least. There’s blue despair running through its veins, but it is also tinged red with rage. Billie’s ethereal vocals are enough to make us teary-eyed, but the song also has a therapeutic quality. Dare we say, it’s the perfect catharsis.
Who’s the top artist on your sad girl playlist? Tell us in the comments down below!