The breakup song ( they do n't write ' Em ) - wikipedia The breakup song ( they do n't write ' Em ) `` The Breakup Song '' redirects here. For the American Hi - Fi song, see The Art of Losing. `` The Breakup Song ( They Do n't Write ' Em ) '' Cover art of the U.S. release Single by The Greg Kihn Band from the album RocKihnRoll B - side `` When the Music Starts '' Released May 1981 Format 7 ``, 12 '' Recorded 1980 Genre Power pop pop rock Length 2 : 56 ( album version ) 2 : 50 ( single version ) Label Beserkley Songwriter ( s ) Greg Kihn, Steve Wright Producer ( s ) Matthew King Kaufman The Greg Kihn Band singles chronology `` Remember '' ( 1978 ) `` The Breakup Song ( They Do n't Write ' Em ) '' ( 1981 ) `` Sheila '' ( 1981 ) `` Remember '' ( 1978 ) `` The Breakup Song ( They Do n't Write ' Em ) '' ( 1981 ) `` Sheila '' ( 1981 ) `` The Breakup Song ( They Do n't Write ' Em ) '' is a song written by Greg Kihn and Steve Wright and recorded by American rock band The Greg Kihn Band. It is the first single from the band 's fourth studio album, RocKihnRoll ( 1981 ). The song 's musical style encompasses pop rock and power pop. Contents 1 Meaning 2 Release 3 In popular culture 4 Track listing 5 References 6 External links Meaning It celebrates the quality of break - up songs in rock 's earlier times, as the narrator laments both his recent breakup and the fact that they do n't write good breakup songs anymore. Release The song reached # 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and # 5 on the Billboard Top Tracks chart. In popular culture It has been featured in several films, including Let Me In ( 2010 ), The House of the Devil ( 2009 ), The Groomsmen ( 2006 ) and Beautiful Girls as well as the hit video game Grand Theft Auto V ( 2013 ). It was sampled in `` Gone '' by Yelawolf on his Arena Rap EP. It was also featured in a season five episode of `` The Sopranos. '' Track listing 12 '' Maxi ( AS - 11506 ) `` The Breakup Song ( They Do n't Write ' Em ) '' - 3 : 42 `` The Girl Most Likely '' - 3 : 46 `` Ca n't Stop Hurtin ' Myself '' - 4 : 30 `` Valerie '' - 2 : 44 7 '' Single ( B - 47149 ) `` The Breakup Song ( They Do n't Write ' Em ) '' - 2 : 50 `` When the Music Starts '' - 2 : 34 References Jump up ^ Dave Marsh ; John Swenson ( 12 October 1983 ). The new Rolling stone record guide. Random House / Rolling Stone Press. p. 273. ISBN 978 - 0 - 394 - 72107 - 1. the entire nation 's pop - rock sensibility was so benumbed that when Kihn recorded his first competent tune in the genre, `` The Breakup Song ( They Do n't Write ' Em ), '' Jump up ^ Neal Walters ; Brian Mansfield ( 1998 ). MusicHound Folk : The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink. ISBN 978 - 1 - 57859 - 037 - 7. with power - pop hits including `` The Breakup Song ( They Do n't Write `` Em ) '' in 1981 Jump up ^ `` THE BREAKUP SONG ( THEY DON 'T WRITE ' EM ) by GREG KIHN BAND ''. Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 17. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics The Greg Kihn Band ' Greg Kihn ' Ry Kihn ' Robert Berry ' Dave Danza ' Dave Lauser Steve Wright Larry Lynch Robbie Dunbar Dave Carpender Gary Phillips Greg Douglass Tyler Eng Dennis Murphy Craig Kirchoff Pat Mosca Joe Satriani Jimmy Lyon Studio albums Greg Kihn Greg Kihn Again Next of Kihn With the Naked Eye Glass House Rock RocKihnRoll Kihntinued Kihnspiracy Kihntagious Citizen Kihn Singles `` The Breakup Song ( They Do n't Write ' Em ) '' `` Jeopardy '' Related articles Beserkley Records `` I Lost on Jeopardy '' Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Breakup_Song_(They_Don%27t_Write_%27Em)&oldid=853915061 '' Categories : 1981 singles 1981 songs Greg Kihn songs Beserkley Records singles Songs written by Greg Kihn Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 7 August 2018, at 19 : 54 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who sings they don't write like that anymore
Answer: The Greg Kihn Band