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“Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division

“Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division appears on 138 radio countdowns from 30 stations between 1980 and 2026. Its best result is #1 on the WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005), and it was voted number one on three countdowns in total. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #661 alternative song of 2005 and #4 alternative song of all time.

138countdowns
30stations
#1best position
3#1 finishes
18top 10 finishes
1980–2026years charted

Watch

Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Video from YouTube (Joy Division). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" reached the shops in June 1980, a Joy Division single with no album to call home, and by then Ian Curtis was gone: the band's singer had taken his own life a month earlier. It is impossible to hear it now without that shadow falling across every bar. Curtis drew the words from his own failing marriage and his struggle with epilepsy, and the song regards a love gone sour with a clear, terrible calm. The writing credit is shared four ways, between Curtis, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris.

It sits at a bleak crossroads, cool enough for the synth-pop crowd and dark enough for the gothic rock one, and it hasn't dated a day.

The years have only made it heavier. It went to number one in New Zealand, and in Britain it has gone double platinum on more than 1,200,000 sales and streams. NME crowned it the greatest single ever in 2002, Rolling Stone has placed it among its 500 greatest songs 3 times, in 2004, 2010 and 2021, and it has long since become one of the records that define its era.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

All Rock Formats

Year-end countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
2005 73 CD101 Columbus, OH CD101 Top 101 Songs of 2005 101

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
– 138 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 200 Songs of the 1980s 200
1980 3 John Peel (BBC Radio 1) John Peel's All-Time Festive Fifty (1980) 50
1981 3 John Peel (BBC Radio 1) John Peel's All-Time Festive Fifty (1981) 50
1982 3 John Peel (BBC Radio 1) John Peel's All-Time Festive Fifty (1982) 50
1987 17 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1987) 100
1988 235 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1988) 496
1988 8 Live 105 Live 105 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1988) 501
1988 31 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 200 Songs of All-Time (1988) 200
1988 19 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1988) 100
1989 274 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1989) 495
1989 10 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1989) 500
1989 1 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1989) 100
1990 14 Live 105 Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1990) 299
1990 16 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1990) 100
1990 1 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1990) 100
1991 14 (tie) Live 105 Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1991) 302
1991 12 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1991) 500
1991 4 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition) 1002
1991 32 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1991) 100
1991 2 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1991) 100
1992 25 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1992) 500
1992 12 Live 105 Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1992) 299
1992 20 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1992) 100
1993 34 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1993) 100
1994 47 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1994) 497
1994 21 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 500 (July 1994) 500
1994 118 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1994) 500
1994 41 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1994) 100
1995 224 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1995) 500
1995 45 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 300 (July 1995) 300
1995 29 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1995) 100
1996 65 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1996) 500
1996 44 Q101 Q101 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (1996) 500
1996 110 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1996) 498
1996 27 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1996) 100
1997 53 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1997) 100
1998 82 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1998) 488
1998 41 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1998) 100
1998 16 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1998) 100
1999 49 Channel 104.9 Channel 104.9 Top 101 Songs of the '80s (February 1999) 104
1999 90 91X 91X Fat 500 Songs of All-Time (July 1999) 500
1999 152 Q101 Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1017
1999 25 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 300 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 300
1999 104 WFNX WFNX Top 500 Songs of All-Time (June 1999) 500
1999 693 107.7 The End The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1077
1999 82 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999) 500
1999 87 CD101 CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 2000
1999 30 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999) 1002
1999 46 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1999) 150
2000 30 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000) 500
2000 87 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2000 43 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2000) 100
2000 3 John Peel (BBC Radio 1) John Peel's All-Time Festive Fifty (2000) 50
2001 31 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001) 498
2001 87 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2001 1373 WFPK WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time 2000
2001 66 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2001) 100
2001 65 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 500
2001 455 WBRU WBRU Modern Rock Top 500 (2001) 500
2002 11 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002) 500
2002 87 CD101 CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) 2003
2002 57 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2002) 100
2002 37 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) 2002
2003 8 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003) 500
2003 87 CD101 CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 2004
2003 71 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2003) 100
2003 8 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) 2044
2004 326 107.7 The End The End Original Alternative 500 (May 2004) 500
2004 83 CD101 CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 2005
2004 386 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 500
2004 289 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2004) 885
2004 63 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2004) 100
2005 1 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005) 500
2005 70 CD101 CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 1994
2005 767 99X 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005) 1000
2005 87 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 500
2005 49 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2005) 100
2005 36 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 100 Brit Songs of All-Time (May 2005) 100
2005 66 96.5 The Buzz 96.5 The Buzz Top 96 of the 70s & 80s 96
2006 297 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 17 Live 105 Live 105 500 Co-Op Countdown (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 2 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2006) 499
2006 32 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2006) 100
2006 298 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006) 500
2006 9 107.7 The End The End Top 107 Resurrection Songs (December 2006) 107
2007 129 CD101 CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) 2008
2007 30 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2007) 100
2007 117 WTMD WTMD Top 897 Songs of All Time 897
2008 292 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2008) 500
2008 100 CD101 CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) 2009
2008 29 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2008) 100
2009 482 Live 105 Live 105 Memorial 500 Song List (2009) 500
2009 101 CD101 CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) 2010
2009 48 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2009) 100
2009 281 WYEP WYEP 913 Essential Songs 913
2009 4 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (2009) 100
2009 635 WXPN WXPN 885 Desert Island Songs (2009) 885
2010 108 CD101 CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) 2011
2010 29 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2010) 100
2011 109 CD101 CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011) 2011
2011 35 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2011) 100
2012 206 WYEP WYEP Top 500 Songs Countdown 500
2012 41 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2012) 100
2012 861 WXPN WXPN 885 Greatest Rock Songs (2012) 885
2013 111 CD101 CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013) 2012
2013 53 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2013) 100
2014 114 CD101 CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) 2013
2014 27 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2014) 100
2014 158 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2014) 885
2015 40 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2015) 100
2016 44 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2016) 100
2016 186 WYEP WYEP 913 Countdown 2016 913
2017 60 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2017) 100
2018 63 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2018) 100
2018 92 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs 892
2019 3 KEXP KEXP Listeners' Favorite Songs of All Time 627
2019 51 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2019) 100
2020 139 WXPN WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time 2020
2020 52 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2020) 100
2021 28 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '80s 909
2021 32 WYEP WYEP 2021 Labor Day Countdown 168
2021 56 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2021) 100
2022 56 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2022) 100
2022 5 KEXP KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022) 491
2022 855 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time 1055
2022 30 X96 X96 Top 500 Alternative Songs of All Time 500
2023 11 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 850 Songs of the 1980s 850
2023 41 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time 909
2023 256 WYEP WYEP Countdown to Fall 2023 1229
2023 67 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2023) 100
2023 104 ALT 104.5 ALT 104.5 Top 104 of ALT Time 104
2024 548 WYEP WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years 1049
2024 44 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2024) 100
2025 94 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2025) 100
2026 40 WFPK WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '80s 498
2026 355 WYEP WYEP Greatest Songs of All Time 1180
2026 404 KXT KXT 917 Song Countdown 917

Also listed as: Love With Tear Us Apart.

Charting alongside it in 2005

Best songs of 2005 →
  1. 1Best of YouFoo Fighters
  2. 2Feel Good Inc.Gorillaz
  3. 3Beverly HillsWeezer
  4. 4The Hand That FeedsNine Inch Nails
  5. 5HolidayGreen Day
  6. 6Speed of SoundColdplay

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