13 Songs That Encompass Unrequited Love

Reading Time: 12 min read

13 Songs That Encompass Unrequited Love features Anthony Hamilton, Calum Scott, Måneskin, SZA, and ZAYN.

There are few things that suck worse than unrequited love! Failing to have love reciprocated is a horrible, utterly painful feeling. That said, when it comes to a soundtrack – a musical compendium – what better source material than one-sided love? 🎧 13 Songs That Encompass Unrequited Love is exactly what the title says. Here, the plight of love, in all its unrequited hell, is exploited for our listening pleasure. Oh, the schadenfreude – of sorts… Anyways, 🎧 13 Songs That Encompass Unrequited Love features music courtesy of 🎙 Anthony Hamilton, 🎙 Calum Scott, 🎙 Clairo, 🎙 Måneskin, 🎙 SZA, and 🎙 ZAYN among others. So, get your speakers going – or headphones – and let’s dive right into these unrequited love songs!

1. SZA, “Shirt”

💿 SOS • 🏷 Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA • 📅 2022

“Blood stain on my shirt / New bitch on my nerves / Old nigga got curved / Going back on my word / Damn, bitch, you so thirsty.” Woo! Now that’s an assertive chorus, 🎙 SZA! The 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B artist returns with a bang on 🎵 “Shirt”. “Shirt” has been floating around for a couple of years, with an excerpt shared as early as Fall 2020. Now, after being teased, “Shirt” gets it just due, arriving as the 19^th track on her long-awaited sophomore album, 💿 SOS.

So, what does “Shirt” encompass? Matters of the heart, of course. SZA appears to be on the losing end. Basically, she’s let this man totally mess her up. In the chorus, excerpted above, she goes on to sing, “Still don’t know my worth / Still stressin’ perfection / Let you all in my mental / Got me lookin’ too desperate / Damn (You ain’t deserve).” The verses and the pre-chorus set up the anxious, bothered feelings of the singer. She is self-aware, at least, asserting, “Feel the taste of resentment / Simmer in my skin.” While we don’t wish SZA any of the love pain she’s experiencing, it’s sweet music to our ears. So is the rhythmic production by 🎛 Rodney Jerkins and Freaky Rob, which gives her the perfect inspiration to perform, beyond the sus, seemingly unrequited love itself. All in all, SZA delivers the goods on 🎵 “Shirt”. Yes, she’s in a sketchy place with the universal four-letter word but there’s nothing sketchy about this long-awaited, relatable, and well-produced single.

Appears in 🔻:

Awesome Songs: November 2022

2. Måneskin, “The Loneliest”

💿 RUSH! • 🏷 Epic • 🗓 2023

“You’ll be the saddest part of me / A part of me that will never be mine…” Oh, snap – those pesky matters of the heart are in play on 🎵 “The Loneliest”, an advanced single by Italian rock band, 🎙 Måneskin, from their 2023 album, 💿 RUSH!. Eye-catching front man 🎙 Damiano David (😍) and Måneskin prove once more they have talent. David is depressed to the n^thdegree because she will never be his. “In case of death, that’s what I want /… So don’t be sad when I’ll be gone / There’s just one thing I hope you know / I loved you so.” His heart is aching and pained so bad that he doesn’t mind if he dies. He confirms she’s crucial to his survival in the chorus: “You’re still the oxygen I breathe…” Oxygen is essential to survive, so, without her, things don’t look good. The premise is simple but relatable to anyone who’s experienced the plight of love, particularly unrequited, unreciprocated love. David sounds fantastic, singing in an undertone initially with incredible poised before unveiling the fullness of his pipes. Furthermore, it’s great to hear a truly spirited, rock-driven backdrop, including a guitar solo sandwiched between the final two choruses. “The Loneliest” begins a bit slow, but once the cards are revealed, and things progress, it’s pretty awesome.

Appears in 🔻:

Awesome Songs: October 2022

3. Clairo, “Partridge”

💿 Sling • 🏷 FADER / Republic • 📅 2021

“You move in your ways without a law / And I’ll force you to feel the weight I’m standing on / But the perfect harmony is lost.” 🎵 “Partridge” graces 💿 Sling, the 2021 sophomore album by alternative pop artist, 🎙 Clairo. “Partridge” commences with celestial “ooh” vocals. Musically, the live drums, robust bass line, and additional instrumental touches used throughout (piano, organ, and guitar) standout. Beyond the opening “oohs,” Clairo provides sweet ear candy with her poised but nuanced vocals. Additionally, “Partridge” moves beyond traditional harmonic progressions and beyond one tonal center/key.

Beyond the superb musical cues, the pen – the songwriting – must be highlighted as well. The personal nature of the lyrics make “Partridge” an authentic record. “Calling someone else is only harder / I’ll explain myself again,” Clairo sings, continuing, “Take the chance on someone’s daughter / She makes me feel like I’m the best.” These lines perfectly capture the unrequited love she has been experiencing. Unrequited love is ALWAYS a total bummer!

4. Conan Gray, “Yours”

💿 Superache • 🏷 Republic • 🗓 2022

🎙 Conan Gray gets better and better with time. He has so many pros: dashing good looks, a sublime voice, and a great personality that shines through his performances. One of his best songs to date is 🎵 “Yours” (💿 Superache) which catches the ears from the very first time you hear it. Gray and 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Daniel Nigro are a match made in musical heaven.

First and foremost, Conan Gray sings angelically. His voice is stunning as he conveys ample emotion. “I know I’m not the one you really love, I guess that’s why I’ve never given up,” he sings in the first verse, continuing, “‘Cause I could give you all you want / The stars and the sun, but still, I’m not enough.” “Yours” presents a strong, ultra-relatable case of unrequited love. We’ve all been there; Gray serves as our musical torchbearer. He wants this person to love him but it’s just not there. Two of the strongest moments come by way of the chorus and the bridge. “I want more, but I’m not yours / And I can’t change your mind,” he sings in the chorus. The bridge, the final section we hear, finds Conan admitting his stupidity in pursuing something going nowhere: “Can’t believe I chose you / Over all my best friends / What the fuck did I do / In the end? / Just to not be yours.” Conan shines like a beacon, exhibiting artistry, musicianship, and connection with the listeners. Unrequited love never sounded so good!

Appears in 🔻:

Awesome Songs: May 2022

5. Billie Eilish, “wish you were gay”

💿 When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? • 🏷 Darkroom / Interscope • 📅 2019

“Don’t say I’m not your type / Just say that I’m not your preferred sexual orientation / I’m so selfish.” Yeah, it’s not particularly surprising that 🎵 “Wish You Were Gay” ended up being controversial, thanks to how it references homosexuality . Like the songs that precede it on 💿 When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, 🏆 Grammy winner🎙 Billie Eilish takes a low-key approach to singing, yet still manages to pack a sizable punch. On “wish you were gay,” she opts for balladry and is successful as she portrays the relatable topic of heartbreak. In many respects, she checks off boxes but the glaring issue is the perceived homophobia. The narrative is that a guy that she liked dumps her, and she hopes it’s because of his sexual preference and not because of her. A bit sus, right 😬?

Appears in 🔻:

6. Anthony Hamilton, “You Made a Fool of Me”

💿 Love Is the New Black • 🏷 My Music Box / BMG Rights Management • 📅 2021

On 🎵 “You Made a Fool of Me”, 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 Anthony Hamilton oozes with soul and heartbreak. “You Made a Fool of Me,” which appears on his underrated 2021 album, 💿 Love is the New Black, is lushly produced by 🎛 Jermaine Dupri and Ramon Montgomery. It is idiomatic of neo-soul and adult contemporary R&B. As always, Hamilton gives an authentic, expressive, heartfelt, and nuanced performance. Furthermore, he truly ‘gives his all,’ especially easy to do given the circumstances constructed via the songwriting. As the title suggests, [She] “made a fool of” [Him] and doesn’t care about him the way he cared about her. It’s a classic case of unrequited love as well as cheating since she slept with another man – scandalous! Hamilton perfectly captures the pain of his heartbreak on this three-and-a-half-minute gem, masterfully preserving the sanctity of soul music. Everything feels right: the vocals, the lyrics and theme, and production.

Appears in 🔻:

7. Calum Scott, “Hotel Room”

💿 Only Human • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2018

“Oh, what I’d give / To hear you say that ‘I love you’ / But say it the way I do.” Those are key lyrics on the song, 🎵 “Hotel Room.” “Hotel Room” graces 💿 Only Human, the 2018 album by 🎙 Calum Scott. Scott gets personal, singing about a perceived romance that wasn’t. He liked a guy, went so far to tell him he loved him, only to find out his love interest wasn’t gay. Yes, the said guy expressed love to Scott, but not in the romantic, relationship sense.

On “Hotel Room,” Calum wishes this wasn’t a case of unrequited love, best summarized during the centerpiece, the chorus:

“There’s nowhere to run tonight

It’s just you and I in this hotel room

And say that ‘I miss you’

But say it the way I do

There’s nowhere to hide tonight

My eyes can’t lie, the way I feel for you

Just give me a moment, it’s all I ask of you

While I’m dying in this hotel room.”

Ugh – it totally sucks, doesn’t it? He still seems to hold out hope but, unfortunately, it seems as if he is left dying in his hotel room, all told 😢.

Appears in 🔻:

11 Hotel, Motel, or Inn Songs

8. Alec Benjamin, “The Way You Felt”

💿 **(Un)Commentary • 🏷 Elektra • 📅 2022**

“The way you felt in my arms, our chemistry was sacred.” Man, those are some personal, poetic, and heartfelt lyrics 🎙 Alec Benjamin! In 🎵 “The Way You Felt”, an single from his 2022 album, 💿 (Un)Commentary, Benjamin does an exceptional job of capturing the plight of love, particularly unrequited love and missing the experience of being in love itself (“I can take rejection / But you gave the impression / That this was the inception of something real”).

As usual, Benjamin checks off the boxes expected of him. The songwriting is a big attraction, and he and his team (🎼✍ Lenno, Sir Nolan, and RØMANS) pass with flying colors. There are some more ‘detailed’ lyrics, something you don’t always find in pop (“Is your heart just preconditioned for brevity / I don’t mean to accuse you of refusing longevity”). The chorus is a bit wordier than many, but filled with colorful lyrics and personality:

“The way you felt in my arms, our chemistry was sacred

Oh, I fell for your charm, I was so infatuated

But you left me in the dark and my heart completely vacant

Now I don’t know-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.”

Also, the production, courtesy of Lenno and Sir Nolan, works perfectly. There’s nothing too flashy, but again, it fits the artist, particularly those gorgeous, boyish vocals. Add his one-of-a-kind instrument to check off the list.

Appears in 🔻:

15 Marvelous Songs That Lead the WAY

9. Fantasia, “Bittersweet”

💿 Back to Me • 🏷 19 Recordings Limited / J • 📅 2010

“‘Cause when I think about you (it’s bittersweet, it’s bittersweet) / Guess I’ll always love you (it’s bittersweet, it’s bittersweet).” Ah, there’s nothing like an emotional, mature R&B song, particularly when it involves matters of the heart. 🎵 “Bittersweet” (💿 Back to Me, 2010) won R&B standout🎙 Fantasia her sole 🏆 Grammy. Furthermore, it” dented the Billboard Hot 100 at no. 74, and peaked at no. 1 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart. “Bittersweet” ranks among the best songs of Fantasia’s catalog, Her distinct voice shines as she expresses equal parts bitterness and sweetness, hence, bittersweet-ness! As the excerpted lyrics from the chorus suggest, the relationship has ended. She left him, yet she’s not over him/it. Hence, “That shit is bittersweet.” Why did she leave him? “Yes, I understand, we did have some good times / On the other hand, got me crying all night / It was too much for my mind.” There you go, folks!

Appears in 🔻:

10. ZAYN, “Fingers”

💿 Icarus Falls • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2018

One of the more interesting moments from 💿 Icarus Falls, the commercial flop of a sophomore album by 🎙 ZAYN, is the ‘anatomical’ track, 🎵 “Fingers”. “I know it’s taking all your strength to keep restrained / ‘Cause you got different things replacin’ / Old feelings that you’ve felt…” Oh, the plight of love! “Fingers” keeping things short. Stylistically, the record is in ZAYN’s niche – the sweet spot between pop and R&B. He delivers respectable vocals, sounding smooth, easy-going, and flaunting that beautiful tone. He sounds great in the first verse, dropping an f-bomb from the jump: “Fucked and I want ya / Looked and I loved ya / Stuck, now I need ya .Hopin’ I’d see ya…” The opening lyric is reprised on the chorus, where the listener once more gets the picture that ZAYN is ‘fucked up’:

“I’ve been fucked, and I want ya, I can’t even text ya

‘Cause my fingers ain’t working, but my heart is

If you wanna, let me know where you are, B

I can come and love ya (I can come and love).”

Basically, he’s so drunk he can’t properly text or convey his feelings for her. It’s not ‘brand-new’, but interesting.

Appears in 🔻:

11 Anatomical Songs – To Some Degree º

11. Amy Winehouse, “He Can Only Hold Her”

💿 Back to Black • 🏷 Universal Island • 🗓 2006

Despite the fact that 💿 Back in Black did NOT win Album of the Year at the 50^th Annual Grammy Awards, the soulful masterwork by the late, great 🎙 Amy Winehouse cemented its place in musical history. 🎵 “He Can Only Hold Her” didn’t receive the same amount of attention as 🎵 “Rehab”, 🎵 “Back to Black”, or 🎵 “You Know I’m No Good”, but it is just as elite as those standouts. The production (🎛 John P*Nut Harrison and Mark Ronson) is absolutely lit, fueled by a badass, vintage soul sample (🎵 “My Girl (She’s a Fox)” courtesy of 🎙 The Icemen). Unrequited in spirit, the love is one-sided. There are physical attributes mind you, but clearly Winehouse simply isn’t feeling him the same way he feels her or how she feels about her ex.

Appears in 🔻:

12 Totally Intriguing, ONLY Songs

12. Taylor Swift, “Teardrops on my Guitar”

💿 Taylor Swift • 🏷 Big Machine • 📅 2006

“Drew looks at me / I fake a smile, so he won’t see…” 🎵 “Teardrops on my Guitar” graced 💿 Taylor Swift, the 2006 debut album by 🎙 Taylor Swift. This record in particular helped propel Swift to superstar status. As the excerpted lyrics confirm, Swift was singing about boys from the start. “Drew” serves as a catalyst for so many gems Swift would pen about the opposite sex. “Drew talks to me / I laugh ‘cause it’s so damn funny,” she sings in the second verse, continuing, “That I can’t even see / Anyone when he’s with me.” Later, the third verse is also dominated by the center of her affection. Besides DREW of course, the biggest attraction on “Teardrops on my Guitar” is the incredibly catchy, memorable chorus:

“He’s the reason for the teardrops on my guitar

The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star

He’s the song in the car

I keep singing, don’t know why I do…”

Appears in 🔻:

13. Sam Smith, “Leave Your Lover”

💿 In the Lonely Hour • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2014

“Pack up and leave everything / Don’t you see what I can bring?” 🏆 Academy Award and Grammy winner 🎙 Sam Smith sings on the chorus of 🎵 “Leave Your Lover” from their debut album, 💿 In the Lonely Hour. Smith assert themselves as a capable and compelling lover – the perfect replacement for their love interest’s current boyfriend. Smith adds, “Can’t keep this beating heart at bay / Set my midnight sorrow free / I will give you all of me / Just leave your lover, leave him for me.” Possibly the lyrics exaggerates things, but when one is in love, infatuation seems to be amplified and over-amplified greatly. The heart definitely wants what it wants and at the time, Smith desired this guy who was already taken. There’s an interesting, likely unintended oxymoronic moment when Smith encourages to “Pack up” yet follows up with “…leave everything.” Yes, we know what he means but still, how you gonna pack things and leave everything 😜.

Appears in 🔻:

Leave: 5ive Songs No. 27

13 Songs That Encompass Unrequited Love [📷: 19 Recordings Limited, Big Machine, BMG Rights Management, Brent Faulkner, Capitol, Darkroom, Elektra, Epic, FADER, Interscope, J, The Musical Hype, My Music Box, RCA, Republic, Top Dawg EntertaUniversal Island; Alena Darmel, cottonbro studio, Kam Pratt, Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels; MarieSylvie Degueurce via Pixabay; Charlotte Knight on Unsplash]

13 Songs That Encompass Unrequited Love | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on January 2, 2023January 2, 2023