The realisation that you are the second option in a romantic relationship is one of the most unpleasant and demoralising feelings. The experience of being passed over for someone else or demoted can have a lasting effect on our hearts and thoughts, regardless of whether it occurred in a romantic or friendship relationship or even in work-related situations. Being second choice agony is only one of the many complicated emotions that music has always served as a cathartic release for. In this article, we analyse some of the best songs about being second choice, with a focus mainly on romantic relationships, duh.
Songs about the agony of not being someone’s first choice have been painful and relatable for as long as recorded music has been because songwriters and musicians have drawn from their own personal experiences and observations. These songs give those who have experienced the hurt of rejection, unrequited love, or being marginalised a voice. These songs give people who have faced the anguish of not being someone’s top priority comfort, understanding, and a sense of connection with their contemplative words, sincere melodies, and engaging performances.
We will explore a wide variety of musical styles in this investigation, from emotional ballads to catchy pop songs, from heartbreaking rock anthems to reflective folk melodies. The songs we’ll listen to capture the range of feelings that come up when we realise we’re second-choice. We will investigate the underlying ideas and meanings of these songs, critique the musical arrangements, and analyse the lyrics to give insight on the common experiences they portray.
This article will lead you through a hand-picked list of the best songs that address the concept of being second choice, whether you have experienced the agony of being passed over in the past or simply wish to explore the emotional depths of human relationships. These songs serve as both a soundtrack and a reminder that we are not alone in navigating the complexities of love, friendship, and the emotional rollercoaster that go along with them. So let’s start this musical trip and look at the compositions that capture the painful reality of being second-choice by speaking directly to the heart.
14 Best Songs About Being Second Choice – Here are our recommendations!
14: Roses – Shawn Mendes
A hauntingly beautiful song that wonderfully expresses the emotion of unrequited love is Shawn Mendes’ Roses. The lyrics are filled with melancholy, with phrases like “I can’t have you but I’ll take what I can get’,’ evoking the longing of a heart for what it will never have. The song’s melody is shockingly cheery despite its depressing subject matter, adding a further depth of contrast and emotion.
As a result, the song is both sad and catchy, and listeners will remember it long after it is over. Roses is a brilliant illustration of Shawn Mendes’ extraordinary talent as a songwriter and is certain to rank among his most well-known songs.
13: Marry Me – Thomas Rhett
The touching ballad “Marry Me” by Thomas Rhett is about longing to live out the remainder of one’s days with the person you love. The song’s tune is instantly recognisable and will stick in your head for days. The words are straightforward yet exquisite. The song “Marry Me” is ideal for a first dance at a wedding or any other romantic occasion.
12: Your Type – Carly Rae Jepsen
The emotionally nuanced and musically sophisticated song “Your Type” by Carly Rae Jepsen discusses the challenges of finding love. A straightforward acoustic guitar line opens the song, which is shortly joined by a piano and drums. This develops the catchy pop sound of the song. Thoughts of happiness are generally linked with pop music and are subverted by the lyrics.
In her song, Jepsen laments the fact that she is constantly running across men who are “just not my type”. She talks about being disappointed and irritated with herself for not finding love. Both major and minor chords are used in the music, which reflects this feeling of emotional ambiguity.
11: Teardrops On My Guitar – Taylor Swift
American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has a song called “Teardrops on My Guitar”. The track was made available in 2007 as the follow-up single to her debut self-titled album. The pop song “Teardrops on My Guitar” is about unrequited love and has a lead character who is in love with a boy who does not reciprocate her feelings. The narrator of the song then makes the decision to create songs about him as a way to express her emotions. Music critics generally liked “Teardrops on My Guitar” for its simplicity and Swift’s vocal performance.
10: Invisible – Taylor Swift
This is the second of three Swift songs in this list, make of that what you will… The song “Invisible” by Taylor Swift is about feeling unnoticed and unappreciated. In a world that seems to be always moving on without them, the lyrics depict the struggle of a person to be noticed and heard. They try their hardest, yet they always feel like they are falling behind. The song conveys a message of hope and tenacity while addressing the universal experience of feeling invisible and alone.
The character in the song is adamant about finding their position in the world despite the obstacles. Even though they can feel alone and invisible, the song’s message is that they are not. Anyone who has ever felt unimportant or unseen will be able to relate to the song “Invisible” since it is both strong and sympathetic.
9: Heartbreak Girl – 5 Seconds Of Summer
In 2014, 5 Seconds of Summer released “Heartbreak Girl” as the second single from their self-titled first album. Members of the band Michael Clifford and Calum Hood wrote the song, and John Feldmann and Mike Green produced it. Pop punk with rock undertones, “Heartbreak Girl” has a similar sound to Blink-182 and All Time Low. The protagonist of the song is caught between two girls, and the lyrics discuss young love. In Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK, the song reached the top 10.
8: I Can’t Make You Love Me – Bonnie Raitt
The heartbreaking ballad “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt from 1991 is about the sad truth of unrequited love. The narrator of the song acknowledges that no matter how hard she tries, she can’t make her love interest feel differently about her. She continues by stating that she will hold onto her unwavering love for him despite the fact that she is aware it will never be reciprocated.
Raitt’s bluesy guitar playing and soulful vocals provide dimension to the song’s straightforward but powerful lyrics. Its timeless message still resonates with listeners today. “I Can’t Make You Love Me” is a touching statement of the anguish of unrequited love.
7: Second Choice – Anyta
Anyta’s sad ballad Second Choice, which narrates the tale of a failed relationship, is a beautiful song. The words describe the singer’s regrets and future anxieties while set to a piano and string background. Even though the song is depressing, it still contains a hopeful message because the singer begs for another chance. The song is masterfully composed and played, and it grabs the listener’s attention right away. Second Choice is a heartfelt and impactful song that will be with you for a very long time.
6: Watching You – Robinson
The ballad “Watching You” by Robinson has a mesmerising melody and is a heartbreaking song. The song’s lyrics describe the obsession of a man with a woman who seems to be beyond his grasp. The man keeps an eye on the woman and longs for the chance to talk to her. The song captures the common emotion of yearning for someone who appears out of reach. The music progresses to an emotional climax as Robinson’s strong vocal delivery expresses the intensity of the protagonist’s sentiments. The beautifully written song “Watching You” is bound to touch listeners’ hearts.
5: Not Pretty Enough – Kasey Chambers
Australian country music performer Kasey Chambers co-wrote and recorded the song “Not Pretty Enough”. It served as the lead single for her album ‘Barricades & Brickwalls’ and was released in September 2001. With a peak position of one on the ARIA Singles Chart and a Platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), the song was a commercial triumph in Australia.
The song’s international high was at number three on the American Billboard Country Singles & Tracks list. Chambers and her then-boyfriend Shane Nicholson collaborated on the song’s composition.
4: Hard – Why Don’t We
The cheery song “Hard” by ‘Why Don’t We’ discusses the challenges of a long-distance relationship. The theme of yearning to be with someone but being physically apart from them dominates the lyrics. This feeling is reflected in the chorus of the song, which contains the phrase “I Wish I Could Be There, But I’m So Far Away”.
The song concludes on a cheerful note despite the difficulties of a long-distance relationship. This is indicated by the chorus’s final line, which is changed to “I’ll See You Someday”. In the end, “Hard” is a song about the struggles of love, as well as the hope and tenacity that go along with it.
3: You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is an American singer-songwriter who has a song called “You Belong with Me” on her album. Big Machine Records put out the song as the third single from Swift’s second studio album, Fearless (2008), on April 18, 2009. After overhearing a male friend of hers argue with his girlfriend on the phone, Swift was moved to write “You Belong with Me”; she continued to expand the plot after that and drew comparisons to her own love life. The song is a power ballad hybrid with lyrics written from the viewpoint of a teen drawn to her closest friend of the opposite sex.
2: Irrelevant – Lauren Aquilina
From her debut EP Fools, Lauren Aquilina’s song “Irrelevant” was made available as the lead single. Aquilina was the song’s author, and Mike Crossey was its producer. It’s a piano-driven ballad with evocative lyrics and aquiline vocals. Critics gave the song excellent reviews, praising its production and Aquilina’s vocal delivery. “Irrelevant” received a gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry and peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. Josh Olins directed the music video, which was made available on August 28, 2012.
1: Cool Girl – Logan Mize
From Cleburne, Kansas, comes the country music performer Logan Mize. He launched his ‘Ain’t Always Pretty’ album in 2018, which featured the track “Cool Girl”. The song became Mize’s first number one hit of his career as it climbed to the top of the Country Airplay chart. It is a mid-tempo country tune “Cool Girl” with pop and rock influences.
The song is about a woman who is content with who she is and doesn’t strive to fit in with what society expects of her. The song has received appreciation for its upbeat message and for the lyrics that glorify independence and self-acceptance. “Cool Girl” was co-written by Logan Mize, Julie Lee, and Jimmy Robbins.
14 Best Songs About Being Second Choice – Closing remarks and thoughts
We have been through a range of emotions in our investigation of the top songs about being the second choice, from heartbreak and disappointment to resiliency and self-discovery. For those who have felt the anguish of not being someone’s first choice, these songs have provided a solace. They serve as a reminder that our worth and value go far beyond the part we play in the lives of other people.
The songs we have explored praise the strength and resilience that may come from these situations, even though being second choice might arouse feelings of inadequacy and rejection. They exhort us to believe in our own value, to find comfort in our own travels, and to acknowledge that, occasionally, being the second choice can result in unexpected chances and personal development.
These songs have demonstrated for us the ability of music to create a secure environment for emotional release, introspection, and healing. They provide empathy and validation, reassuring us that we are not alone in managing the difficulties of interpersonal interactions.
As we near the end of our investigation, it becomes clear that the songs about being second choice have a message for everyone. They serve as a reminder that, despite how painful it can be to not be someone’s first pick, this does not determine the worth of who we are as people. We gain a revitalised sense of self and comfort from others’ shared experiences thanks to the melodious expressions and beautiful lyrics.
So let us embrace the wisdom and courage discovered from these songs as we continue on our adventures. Let’s acknowledge that coming in second place does not lessen our value but rather encourages us to become more self-aware, grow personally, and seek out genuine connections.
Closing Remarks:
The best songs about being second choice ultimately tell us that how we view and appreciate ourselves is what gives us value. They enable us to celebrate our tenacity, accept our individuality, and find comfort in the tunes that speak to our emotions. Let’s keep looking to music’s transformational power for comfort and inspiration, understanding that every experience, including the agony of being passed over, contributes to our development as people and our path to self-acceptance.
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A music enthusiast who has taken his passion for music to the next level by starting his own blog. He spends most of his free time listening to new albums, attending concerts, and researching emerging artists.
What sets John apart from other music bloggers is his ability to connect with his readers on a personal level. His writing style is warm and engaging, making it easy for readers to relate to him as both a fellow music lover and someone who truly cares about the art form.
John’s love for music started at a young age when he discovered classic rock through his father’s vinyl collection. Since then, he has expanded his musical horizons to include everything from indie rock to hip hop and beyond.
As a blogger, John has found a way to share his love of music with others while also providing valuable insights into the industry.