The 5 Stages of a Breakup, According to Stephen Puth’s New Single “Look Away”!

Stage 1: Trouble in Paradise?

Some wise soul once said it’s easy to see the beginning of things and harder to see the ends. Don’t ask who, I probably saw it on Twitter, okay? When a relationship starts a downward spiral, there’s always those little moments that plant seeds of doubt, making you question every single thing. In the first verse, Puth sings: “I don’t want to jump to these / Jump to these conclusions but I fell.” Don’t worry Stephen, you’re not alone. If you say you’ve never jumped to conclusions, then, well, you’re definitely lying. He continues: “Maybe I’m paranoid / Got these thoughts, in, in my head / Yeah, that I can’t avoid.” Quick tip: if you think you’re seeing red flags, don’t -- and I repeat, DON'T -- ignore them! Go with your gut, always.

Stage 2: Changes in Behavior and Intimacy

For anyone who’s ever had their heart broken, the early warning signs expressed in “Look Away” might hit too close to home. In the chorus, Puth sings: “I was looking at you the other day / Yeah, you used to look in my eyes / Now you look away.” First of all, ouch. Second of all, avoiding eye contact is a clear sign of trouble. What are they hiding? In the second verse, Puth sings: “Couldn’t help but realize / Realize you kissed me kinda weak.” Avoiding eye contact? Check. Not wanting to be intimate? Check. All signs point to Break-up Central. But I’m getting ahead of myself...

Stage 3: Blaming Yourself

It’s not you, it’s me. Are people still saying that? Puth sings: “Maybe I’m just making a, making a big deal over nothing.” See above where I said don’t ignore red flags and go with your gut. He then goes on: “Maybe you’re so beautiful, beautiful / It makes me insecure.” I think it’s completely normal to feel a bit of insecurity if your partner is starting to act withdrawn, but that doesn’t invalidate your feelings.

Stage 4: Denial

Just like in the Stages of Grief, denial plays a big role in the aftermath of a break-up. No one wants to admit their relationship is ending. Puth sings: “I don’t want to think about, think about you with nobody else,” because honestly, who would want to imagine their partner moving on? Talk about painful. I feel you Stephen, I feel you.

Stage 5: Acceptance

When Puth discussed the songwriting process with his brother Charlie, he said they wanted to “talk about something universal that almost everyone goes through in a breakup.”  They came to a consensus that, at the end of a relationship, “there is that fight that ends in silence.” As the song ends, Puth sings one final “now you look away” before it cuts out. There’s no trailing off of beats. Just a sudden, definite end. While the decline of a relationship can be slow and painful, there comes a point when both people know it’s really over. It sucks, and it hurts, but accepting reality is a crucial part of healing from heartbreak.

While the song’s message is obviously emotional and relatable, the laidback verses and upbeat chorus come together in the perfect mix for a Summer hit in the making. The intro reels you in with a catchy beat and soon enough you’ll be nodding and foot-tapping along to this bonafide bop.

Make sure to listen to “Look Away”, out today on Spotify!