The track is a quintessential example of and pop rock , characterized by:

"The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)" is a seminal 1981 power pop single by the American rock group the Greg Kihn Band. Written by frontman and bassist Steve Wright , it served as the lead single for their sixth studio album, RocKihnRoll . Historical Background and Inspiration

Kihn intentionally kept the songwriting straightforward, wanting to move away from the "intellectual" rock trends of the late 1970s—typified by bands like and Pink Floyd —in favor of a classic, relatable "boy meets girl, boy loses girl" theme. Musical Style and Themes