Are you single? Congrats! All the reason to be extra kind to yourself today, because it’s Singles Day! Hit some bars with your friends, treat yourself to an extra long swiping session on Tinder or allow yourself some peace of mind because you don’t have to take care of anyone but yourself.

The life of a bachelor has its pros and cons, which is what artists like John Mayer, Rita Ora, and Jason Derulo know all about. Want to know what they have to say in their songs? We’ll list the 5 best hits about single life!

Singles Day

The first Singles Day was organized in 1993 at the University of Nanking in China, in response to Valentine’s Day. Various theories about its origins have been floating around, but it’s likely that the day was initiated by a couple of single (male) students who considered it to be a good excuse to chase the ladies. Initially, this holiday only involved the male counterpart, though these days, single ladies are allowed to join in on the fun. But why does this holiday occur on 11-11? It’s actually not a coincidence! These four ones symbolize being by yourself.

Commercial Craze

Obviously, you’re free to celebrate being single every day, but on the 11th of the 11th many people will be joining in on the fun. In China, several activities are organized on the date, including blind dates and parties in clubs and karaoke bars.

What’s even bigger is the commercial craze surrounding this holiday.

If you’re an online shopper, you may have noticed how (web)shops offer their products for incredibly small prices, so you can treat yourself to the best gifts, guilt-free.

Soundtrack of a Single Life

The ups-and-downs that a single person has to deal with come in many shapes and sizes. Getting over your lovesickness, falling in love, doing exactly what you feel like doing

Whichever category of the single life you are a part of, there’s a high chance that you will recognize yourself in one of the following songs.

5. Broken-hearted singles: Solo – Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato

In the catchy hit Solo Demi tells us about her recent single status, though this wasn’t her decisionOuch! She tries to get her ex out of her head, but it’s not working just yet.

‘Cause every time I read your message
I wish I wasn’t one of your exes
Now I’m the fool
 (s-solo, solo, everybody) 

Since you been gone, been dancing on my own
There’s boys up in my zone, but they can’t turn me on
‘Cause baby, you’re the only one I’m coming for
I can’t take no more, no more, no more  

I wanna f-woop-woop-woop, but I’m broken hearted
Cr-cr-cry, but I like to party
T-t-touch, but I got nobody
Here on my own
Solo – Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato

The inspiration for this hit came from a heavy break-up that Clean Bandit’s Grace Chatto went through. She explains in an interview with the London Evening Standard:

“I’ve been going through a difficult break-up for a long time and the message [of this song] is you can’t just replace an ex-partner with someone else. You have to be strong in yourself. I’ve never been through a break-up like this before … I was always the type of person who would go straight into another relationship.”

Her advice for getting through an emotional rollercoaster like this include working out, yoga, spending lots of time with your friends and being careful with your alcohol consumption. Sounds pretty solid to me!

4. Relieved singles: Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson

A break-up can also bring on a big sense of relief, something that Kelly Clarkson personally has in Since U Been Gone.

Here’s the thing, we started out friends
It was cool but it was all pretend
Yeah, yeah, since U been gone

You’re dedicated, you took the time
Wasn’t long ‘til I called you mine
Yeah, yeah, since U been gone 

And all you’d ever hear me say
Is how I picture me with you
That’s all you’d ever hear me say  

Everything seems to be alright… Though now that she’s no longer with her ex, she feels better than ever:

But since you been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I’m so moving on, yeah yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get
What I want
Since U been gone
Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson

In an interview with MTV Kelly Clarkson states:

“It’s like that relationship that you’ve been in and you thought it was going well and then all of a sudden you’re like, ‘Oh, wow, no it’s not, I guess.

In the music video you can see all the ways in which you can deal with a surprise like this… 😉

3. Happy singles: Ridin’ Solo – Jason Derulo

After putting all your frustrations to rest, you can finally start to enjoy the life of a bachelor. Someone who knows all about this is Jason Derulo. In his hit Ridin’ Solo he shares the blissful feeling that accompanies his single status.

I’m feeling like a star, you can’t stop my shine
I’m lovin’ cloud nine, my head’s in the sky
I’m solo, I’m ridin’ solo
I’m ridin’ solo, I’m ridin solo, solo  

Yeah, I’m feelin’ good tonight
Finally doing me and it feels so right, oh
Time to do the things I like
Going to the club everything’s alright, oh  

No one to answer to
No one that’s gonna argue, no
And since I got that hold off me
I’m livin’ life now that I’m free, yeah
Ridin’ Solo – Jason Derulo

Jason Derulo wrote this song at a time when a relationship was coming to an end:

“I finally realized, it’s okay to be alone. It’s okay to be single, it’s okay to ride solo.”

Are you enjoying every part of being single? Then this song is the one for you!

2. Singles with a fear of commitment: Let You Love Me – Rita Ora

Rita Ora on the other hand has had it with being single; she would like to be in a relationship, though she doesn’t quite know how to get started.

And every time it gets too real
And every time I feel like sabotaging
I start running (again)  

And every time I push away
I really wanna say that I’m sorry (yeah)
But I say nothing (yeah)  

See I wanna stay the whole night
I wanna lay with you till the sun’s up
I wanna let you inside
Oh, heaven knows I’ve tried  

I wish that I could let you love
Wish that I could let you love me
I wish that I could let you love
Wish that I could let you love me
Say what’s the matter, what’s the matter with me?
What’s the matter with me?
Oh, I wish that I could I let you love
Wish that I could let you love me now
Let You Love Me – Rita Ora

In this track, Rita Ora wants to show you a different side of herself; a side in which she takes on an extremely vulnerable position:

“It takes me a long time to open up to someone in a relationship. So sometimes it’s very difficult to love me. And I keep myself very guarded and it’s hard for me to trust people”.

Here’s to everyone that’s having a hard time opening up, we’ve found your soul sister!

 

1. Content singles: Perfectly Lonely – John Mayer

The life of a bachelor can also be entirely fine. Even more so, John Mayer would describe it as ‘perfect’. In Perfectly Lonely he lets us know that he loves how he doesn’t have any responsibilities as a bachelor.

Nothing to do, nowhere to be
A simple little kind of free
Nothing to do, no one to be
Is it really hard to see  

Why I’m perfectly lonely
I’m perfectly lonely
I’m perfectly lonely, yeah
‘Cause I don’t belong to anyone
Nobody belongs to me

However, he does highlight the fact that he wouldn’t be opposed to a relationship if the opportunity would present itself:

And this is not to say, there never comes a day
I’ll take my chances and start again
And when I look behind on all my younger times
I’ll have to thank the wrongs that led me to a love so strong
I’m perfectly lonely
Perfectly Lonely – John Mayer

That’s a surprising statement coming from the man with a seemingly endless list of famous exes, including Jennifer Aniston and Taylor Swift. On top of that, John Mayer has been quite the pessimist when talking about his former lovers. As a result of his notoriety, celebrities are being advised to dodge him completely!

Currently the singer-songwriter is single, and he has been for a while, turning Perfectly Lonely into a personalized soundtrack. This might be the best mindset to have when being single. Enjoy every moment of it, but make sure to be open for love when it does come around!

Do you know another song that is on point in describing the bachelor life? Let us know in the comments!

Continue Reading

Did you know Ariana Grande, Pink, Shakira and Sam Smith also have written amazing songs about single life? Check the links to find out!

Stay up to date!

Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and subscribe to our monthly newsletter (no worries, no spam! 😇)

 


– Solo is written by Camille Purcell / Demitria Lovato / Frederick Gibson / Grace Chatto / Jack Patterson © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management, 2018.
– Since U Been Gone is written by Lukasz Gottwald / Martin Karl Sandberg © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., 2004.
– Ridin’ Solo is written by Jason Joel Desrouleaux / Jonathan Rotem © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, 2010.
– Let You Love Me is written by Finn Keane / Fred Gibson / Ilsey Anna Juber / Linus Thure Wiklund / Noonie Bao / Rita Ora © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., 2018.
– Perfectly Lonely is written by John Mayer © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reach Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, 2009.
📸: Kal Loftus