The Ultimate Friendship-Breakup Mixtape
I was catching up with a friend a few months ago when she whipped out her phone and stumble-sang an original verse she wrote to the “girl, so confusing” remix. (Yes, she pulled up the instrumental on YouTube.) We were at a fancy restaurant, seated next to two internet-famous cooking personalities murmuring over their grilled squid. She had just recapped a recent spat that had been gnawing at her, involving a frustrating, job-obsessed close friend. They were not speaking. She didn’t know what to do about it. So, inspired by Charli XCX and Lorde’s musical and emotional reconciliation, she wrote her own bravura attempt to “work it out on the remix.” Ultimately, she had decided not to text this masterpiece to her intended recipient. Meanwhile, I got dinner and a show.
This all might seem silly, but what is a girl supposed to do during a friend conflict? It’s a circumstance for which there are few scripts, and while some friendships explode, others trail off mysteriously with no discussion. You never know whether to acknowledge the relationship’s demise or simply let it peter out. Or do you fight for it? In any case, the damage lingers. I still mope over my college roommate. Upon graduation, she vanished, then two years ago moved to an apartment a block away from me by pure coincidence. She might still live there. But I haven’t seen her, and she disappeared from social media, so I wouldn’t know. I text sometimes, trying my luck, like a pathetic ex-situationship who can’t take a hint.
Maybe you have a similar story. Whatever the circumstances of your lost friendship, you deserve the music to help you process it. Here at the Cut, we’ve compiled the ultimate friendship-breakup playlist to cater to your every mood, whether you’re feeling rage, grief, gratitude, or acceptance. Who knows? Maybe you’ll bond over one of these songs with a new friend.
“Missing U,” by Robyn
“girl, so confusing,” by Charli xcx
“Bad Friend,” by Rina Sawayama
“Dead to Me,” by Kali Uchis
“Hit ’Em Up,” by 2Pac
“Fake Love,” by Drake
“Lost One,” by Jazmine Sullivan
“Real Friends,” by Camila Cabello
“Ex’s,” by GloRilla & Lil Durk
“Sadness As a Gift,” by Adrianne Lenker
“Clean,” by Taylor Swift
“End of a Friendship,” by Julia Jacklin
“Francis Forever,” by Mitski
“Skeleton Song,” by Kate Nash
“Hannah Sun,” by Lomelda
“alright,” by Yaya Bey
“I Hate U,” by SZA
“People, I’ve been sad,” by Christine and the Queens
“Becky,” by Be Your Own Pet
“Flesh Without Blood,” by Grimes
“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life),” by Green Day
“Yes I’m Changing,” by Tame Impala
“Complicated,” by Avril Lavigne
“Ignorance,” by Paramore
“Friends That Break Your Heart,” by James Blake
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