The Best Breakup Songs

December 12, 2009

Angry, Empowering, and Sad Songs to Help You Mend

Having a bad breakup? We've all been there! Here's a collection of fabulous breakup songs that you can use as your angry or sad soundtrack right now.

What's the best therapy a nasty breakup? A date with Jack Daniels? No, that's a bad idea. A date with Ben and Jerry? A slightly better idea, but still a bit on the self-destructive side. Instead, drown your sorrows with that age-old, alcohol and calorie free remedy-- the breakup song. Make yourself a mix CD or an iPod mix and blare the heck out of it in your car or on the treadmill.

Breakup songs are not hard to find. When you think about it, there's probably more of them out there than romantic love songs for weddings and such. Here's an eclectic list of breakup songs for you to choose from to suit your mood.

Angry Breakup Songs. We all have those moments when we blare angry music at full volume on our stereo in an attempt to release those toxic feelings. Here are some awesome angry breakup songs:

Tori Amos-- Precious Things
Pat Benatar-- Love is a Battlefield
Ben Folds Five-- Song For the Dumped
Black Eyed Peas-- Shut Up
Ray Charles-- Hit the Road Jack
Sheryl Crow-- Anything But Down
Ani DiFranco-- Outta Me, Onto You
Elton John-- Love Lies Bleeding
Evanescence-- Call Me When You're Sober
Fleetwood Mac-- The Chain
Fleetwood Mac-- Go Your Own Way
J Geils Band-- Love Stinks
Green Day-- Good Riddance
Greg Kihn-- The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)
Avril Lavigne-- So Much For My Happy Ending
Alanis Morisette-- You Oughta Know
Pearl Jam-- Black
Tom Petty-- You Got Lucky
The Police-- Can't Stand Losing You
The Postal Service- Nothing Better
REM-- The One I Love
Sad Love Songs. Sometimes you just want to cry and feel sorry for yourself after a breakup. That's probably not a good long term habit, but we've all been there, and a pity party now and then never hurt anyone. Here's some fabulously sad and pathetic breakup songs when you just want to feel down for awhile:

The Beatles-- Yesterday
Michelle Branch-- Goodbye to You
Toni Braxtron-- Unbreak My Heart
Coldplay-- The Scientist
Neil Diamond-- Love On the Rocks
Guns N Roses-- November Rain
Lauryn Hill-- Ex-Factor
Thelma Houston-- Don't Leave Me This Way
Jewel-- You Were Meant for Me
Carole King-- It's Too Late
Barry Manilow-- Can't Smile Without You
Sinead O'Connor-- Nothing Compares 2 U
Righteous Brothers-- You've Lost that Loving Feeling
Roxette-- It Must Have Been Love
Roy Orbison-- Crying
Elvis Presley-- Heartbreak Hotel
U2-- With or Without You
Usher-- Burn
Wham!-- Careless Whisper
Empowering Songs. These are the inspirational songs you play yourself when the initial pain has subsided and you're trying to make sense of things. The message of these songs is, "You hurt me, but ha! I'm strong and I don't need you." Here's some great empowering breakup songs:

Cher-- Believe
Cher-- Strong Enough
Christina Aguilera-- Fighter
Destiny's Child-- Survivor
Lara Fabian-- I Will Love Again
Gloria Gaynor-- I Will Survive
M People- Moving on Up
Scandal-- Goodbye to You
Nancy Sinatra-- These Boots are Made For Walkin'