Breaking up might be hard to do, but that doesn’t mean you have to go through it without listening to some great music. This list of songs can help you through any phase of your break up, whether it be the beginning “sad” phase, the “anger” phase, or even the “denial” phase. So put away that box of his stuff and take down that old picture of her, and prepare to join the company of the 20 artists who have been seated on the same “break up” boat that you just bought a ticket for!
20. AZ Yet: Hard to Say I’m Sorry
As we all know in break-ups, sometimes it doesn’t matter how hard it is to say you’re sorry. This break-up song represents a classic case of denial. Sometimes, even though we know it’s over, it is just too hard to say goodbye!
19. Kelly Clarkson: Since U Been Gone
Kelly Clarkson’s smash, Since U Been Gone, reminds you that even though a break-up might not be your idea, sometimes it’s the best thing for you. Don’t feel sorry for yourself, find yourself. Don’t conform to any relationship…It’s not worth it in the end! Go out there and ‘get what you want’.
18. Fergie: Big Girls Don’t Cry
Oh, Fergie Ferg. Big girls do cry, and we all know it, but we appreciate you keeping up the pretenses. Fergie represents a side of break ups that are rarely showcased. The side that doesn’t involve anger and bitterness. Written from the perspective of a girl calling of a relationship in order to figure herself out, Big Girl’s Don’t Cry is probably one of the easiest songs on this list for people to relate to. Sometimes you can’t exactly pinpoint the problem, but you know something has to change!
17. Leonna Lewis: Bleeding Love
Nothing screams “toxic relationship” quite like Leonna Lewis’ hit, Bleeding Love. Every once in a while, that lover comes along that just takes everything out of you, and instead of listening to your friends and telling him/her to hit the road, you just keep going back for more! If you’re in the mood to sympathize and remind yourself of what not to do in a bad relationship, put on “Bleeding Love” pour yourself a glass of wine.
16. Destiny’s Child: Survivor
If you ever wanted a song to tell your ex just how much better you’re doing without him in your life, then Survivor by Destiny’s Child might be just the jam for you. Cutting to the chase, the very first line of the song says, “Now that you are out of my life, I’m so much better”, and then goes on to talk about how much richer, wiser, stronger and happier. Nothing says F U like telling your ex that you were the one obvious problem in your life!
15. Miranda Lambert: Gunpowder & Lead
With her fabulous “stick it to him” anthem, Miranda Lambert wants you to remember that you MUST stand you for yourself. Inspired from growing up listening to stories of Domestic Abuse, Gunpowder & Lead is about an abused woman who takes matters into her own hands. Even if you can’t take the lyrics to heart you can always sit back and envision it!
14. The Ting Tings: Shut Up and Let Me Go
Relationships can be tough and it always seems like someone is changing for the other person. Breaking up certainly isn’t the easiest thing to do, and The Ting Ting’s got it right when they sang, “Shut up and let me go, This hurts, but I can’t show”. This pop song hits on those last few moments before a relationship implodes, leaving with the inevitable, “Shut Up and Let Me Go”.
13. Pink: So What
Nobody does a break up quite like Pink. But her latest album, Funhouse, which was based entirely off of her tumultuous relationship with her ex-husband/current boyfriend Carey Hart. Pink is one tough girl, but parts of the song show off her sensitive side, proving that even tough girls need a ton of lovin’.
12. Rascal Flatts: What Hurts the Most
These country boys touch on a few break-up subjects that most of us are all too familiar with. Nothing is worse then seeing all of your old friends, knowing that you could have tried harder, and just getting up everyday! In “What Hurts the Most”, Rascal Flatts beautifully orchestrate the pain and heartache of a break up, before the feeling of anger sets in!
11. Miley Cyrus & Nick Jonas: Before the Storm
Everybody always remembers what it was like before things all went downhill. When teenage ex-lovers Miley Cyrus and Nick Jonas teamed up to record “Before the Storm”, no one expected such an adult song about the heartbreak you experience when ending a relationship. They sum up the break up pains best when they sing “I’m flooded with all this pain, knowing I’ll never hold you like I did before the storm”.
10. Carrie Underwood: Before He Cheats
Haven’t you ever had the urge to take a baseball bat to your ex’s car? Carrie Underwood can show you how. Before He Cheats, shows you how to unleash your anger on a cheating ex and maybe give him a little warning before he moves onto his next victim. Carrie is hard to sing along with but when you are in the car by yourself, crank it up and belt it out with her!
9. Jay-Z: 99 Problems
Jay Z might not really disclose the details of the break up in this song, but he lets you know one thing loud and clear. That bitch isn’t his problem anymore. For years fans have speculated the crimes this ex must have comitted in order to be compared to getting racially profiled or chased by the paparazzi, but no one has quite figured it out. If you just got out of a really bad relationship, feel free to put on your Yankees hat and dance around like a fool while rocking out to this video.
8. Jordin Sparks: Battlefield
Sometimes dancing around your room and singing into your hairbrush is a completely appropriate reaction to breaking up. And no song can better assist you in that endeavor than Jordin Sparks, “Battlefield”. Between her brilliant lyrics and her amazing voice, you’ll feel comforted and understood, and hopefully you’ll get out some frustration in the process!
7. Rihanna: Take a Bow
You can only hear “I’m Sorry, I love You, It won’t happen again” so many times before you have the urge to throw clothes out onto the lawn. In this break up tune, Rihanna tells it like it is. There is nothing like telling your ex they’re ugly when they cry. Score for Rihanna.
6. Kanye West: Heartless
Does ‘Heartless’ even need an explanation? Kanye’s smash hit just reminds you of the feelings you have right after a break-up. When none of it makes any sense and all you can ask yourself is, how could you possibly rip my heart out? This hit also is one that you know ALL the words to!
5. Alanis Morisette: You Oughta Know
With her “man-hating” ways Alanis Morisette’s Jagged Little Pill album rocked the music industry. You Oughta Know was a powerful single that helped you yell at the top of your lungs that no matter what mess you are left with, you can take sometime and question why a relationship ended…but at the end of the day occasionally you just aren’t the one to blame.
4. Justin Timberlake: Cry Me a River
You may remember Cry Me a River more for the video of Justin entering a “mock Britney Spears” house but the song is a a great “screw you” anthem! No matter what you do or how much you beg, if your significant other has had enough, there’s not a more hurtful message than “Cry me a river.”
3. All American Rejects: Gives You Hell
With the ULTIMATE screw you song, the All American Rejects reminded us of the concept that seeing an ex is ONE of the worst things that can happen. There aren’t many feelings worse that dealing with an ex and Gives You Hell can give you a soundtrack for those uncomfortable encounters.
2. Taylor Swift: Picture to Burn
Just throw all those pictures in a pile and light them on fire! Taylor Swift says don’t worry, he’s just another picture to burn! Taylor’s anthem just reminds you that the best is yet to come and he’s just not worth the time or energy. With a “good girl” version of how to break-up, Taylor inspires you to just imagine how miserable you can make it – by just in your mind.
1. Beyonce: Irreplaceable
Everything YOU own in a box to the left….Beyonce shows you how to pack up the junk belonging to your ex as well as taking back everything that belongs to you. Girls, don’t let him walk away with anything that you have earned. He can find another Sugar Mamma! Beyonce, as always, takes the more sensible, non-violent approach to a break-up – we know she’s to classy for drama.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I love “Barriers” by David Archuleta as a break up song. Have you heard that one? It is fabulous! Gives me a catch in my throat every time I hear it.
i think forever and always by taylor swift is a good one. (: