Obviously, we all know that as the song says "breakin' up is hard to do" but as a person who's no stranger to bad breakups I've found that music is definitely something that has kept me together through the toughest of relationship times. More experienced readers of the blog will notice that many of these breakup songs listed below have been put as "Playing In The Background..." to a lot of my breakup related blog posts. This particular post though was inspired by my conversations with two friends over the past week about relationship woes, breaking up, and finally getting over it, those conversations quickly turned toward what music they were listening to. You will see that all the songs I've listed are sung by straight women. Like straight women, as a homo I deal with men and all of their bullshit as well so we can definitely relate.
Below I have compiled my top 25 breakup songs, all of which have helped me a time or two, or eighteen. These songs have been the soundtrack of many a lonely sad night in my life. The songs listed here are fairly new, most released within the past ten years or so. I've included all of their info, name of the song, artist, and album so you can go buy (or download) these songs and listen to them for yourself.
This list changes all the time as new songs come out and as new breakups happen. I'm sure that there will be selections that you will know and relate to on the list, others you may not agree with and may want to add to or subtract from the list. Just like every person, every breakup is different so please feel free to leave your breakup music suggestions in the comments section by clicking on the "comments" link at the end of this blog post.
Here we go:
#25
"I Ain't Trippin'"
by Cherish
from the album "The Truth"
The song's message:
Cherish sees their man with another girl and they're cool with it because their all broken up and over it. It's all good homie.
Sample lyric:
"I ain't even trippin (trippin)/And I ain't even mad/Cause me and you been over which means that I been over you..."
My comments:
I think every breakup should start with an uptempo number.
#24
"Losing U"
by Amerie
from the album "Because I Love It"
The song's message:
Amerie's ex is triflin' and he's just no good. She's over it and even though he wants to come back she won't let him because she realizes that him being out of her life is the best thing for her.
Sample lyric:
"Na na na/Na na na/Na na na/Na na na/Losing you was so easy to do/Na na na/Na na na/Na na na/Na na na/Losing you was the best thing to happen to me..."
My comments:
Even if your ex totally dumped you, isn't begging to come back and probably isn't even thinking about your ass the song is still nice to sing along to.
#23
"A Better Man"
by Toni Braxton
from the album "More Than A Woman"
The song's message:
Like Amerie's ex, Toni's ex is triflin' as well and she realizes that after all of his mistreatment that she has to let him go because there simply has got to be a better man for her.
Sample lyric:
"...I've got to get used to not having you around/God gave me the strength/And the courage I need/To move forward with my life/I have to let it be/But it's OK/I Understand/You've got to leave/I won't cry no more/Baby what for?/You don't shed a tear for me..."
My comments:
AMEN Toni AMEN! There just simply has to be a better man for you!
#22
"Your Gonna Miss"
by Ashanti
from the album "The Declaration"
The song's message:
Ashanti is upset over the breakup from her ex and even though there is a part of her that wants him back she realizes that she needs to move on but she also knows that he's gonna miss her anyway.
Sample Lyrics:
"It's killin' me to think that you don't want it no more/I shoulda learned my lesson when you f*cked before/You said some things/I said some things/Seems like this thing is over/Cuz you ain't called since you been gone/But I ain't gonna stress about it anymore/And I ain't gonna cry another night alone..."
"I can't help but think that when your love is gone/Although I find it hard to keep myself from holding on/And when I try to justify what you did wrong/It's like I'm constantly reminded that I can't move on..."
My comments:
This song MUST ALWAYS be listened to with the next song on the list.
#21
"So Over You"
by Ashanti
from the album "The Declaration"
The song's message:
Ashanti went through a hard breakup with her ex man after which she was trippin' for minute, home crying and shit, but now she's over it.
Sample lyrics:
"Said I'm finished with it/Ain't no more hurtin' over here/I done lost my cool for just a minute/But I'm back and I'm doin my thing again..."
"I've had enough/Boy I swear this time I'm done/You can pack up all your stuff/Frankly I don't give a f*ck/I'm so over you..."
"I got my swagga back again/And no, I'm not tryna be your friend/And no, ain't no hittin' this again..."
My comments:
Listen to this song over and over again until you believe it!
#20
"Should Have Known"
by Robyn
from the album "Robyn"
The songs message:
Robyn is mad at herself because her ex played her and she knew that he was no good from the start.
Sample lyrics:
"Should have seen it comin'/I shoulda f*ckin' known/How could I let you play me?/I don't even know..."
"...And then you blamed it all on me/I should have known that's what liars always try to do/It wasn't me it was you/You're the fool..."
My comments:
Did me and Robyn date the same guy?
#19
"Be Ok" feat. Will.i.am
by Chrisette Michele
from the album "I Am"
The song's message:
Chrisette decided to be okay even though her and her ex broke it off and he's with someone else.
Sample lyric:
"I'ma take my Lexus to the mall/Get a little black dress just because/Me and my boo just broke it off/I'ma be fly although he's gone..."
My comments:
I'ma take the bus to 125th street and buy a little navy blue Yankee fitted. Whichever mode of transport you take me, you and and Chrisette are gonna be ok.
#18
"Fool 4 You"
by Cherish
from the album "Unappreciated"
The song's message:
Cherish's man has messed up one too many times, cheating on them with all kids of women, buying all kinds of jewelry and shit. They're over it and decided to never be fools no more.
Sample lyric:
"...Cause I ain't no fool for you no more/Won't be no fool for you no more/I ain't no fool for you no more/I ain't no fool for you no more...."
My comments:
Just close your eyes and let this classical sounding piece wash over you. I've put this one on repeat MANY times. Even if he didn't cheat we've all been fools for someone in some way. Trust me if you've ever been a fool in any way you can relate.
#17
"No Fool No More"
by EnVogue
from the album "Best Of EnVogue"
The song's message:
After all of the tears and the pain EnVogue finally realizes that things need to change. They "see through his lies" and are "finally wise" and are really leaving this time.
Sample lyrics:
"No room for sad regrets/Cause the past is done and gone/And I've learned that it's time that makes you wise/And truth that makes you strong..."
"...Gonna pull my heart together/Gonna leave the past behind/Gonna get to somethin' better/Put you out of my mind/I'm gonna be strong/I'm gonna be fine/I just want you to know/That I'm not gonna be no fool no more/No fool no more/Not like before/Not the way it used to be/No fool no more..."
My comments:
I've cried many a tear to this one. one of my favorite EnVogue songs ever.
#16
"Gotta Get My Heart Back"
by Keyshia Cole
from the album "Just Like You"
The song's message:
Keyshia realizes that she has fallen way to hard for a guy that obviously doesn't feel for her the same way and has to get her heart back to the way it was before she fell for this guy
Sample lyric:
"I know where I/Went wrong when I/Loved you more then I loved myself/I would have done anything for you/Aye, aye, aye, aye/And I learned when I/Realized you didn't love/Me the way that I loved you but now I know./It's hurts inside..."
My comments:
Ever loved someone way more than they loved you and finally realized that you're crazy and that something must be done? This is the song for you.
#15
"Melt My Heart To Stone"
by Adele
from the album "19"
The song's message:
Adele is dealing with this guy who is playing games with her emotions, stringing her along and hurting her feelings. At the end of it all she realizes that she's the only one in love. Damn.
Sample lyric:
"As you tear your way right through me/I forgive you once again/Without me knowing/You've burnt my heart to stone/And I hear your words/That I made up/You say my name/Like there could be an us/I best tidy up my head/I'm the only one in love/I'm the only one in love..."
My comments:
This acoustic ditty is the shortest and the saddest of the list. You ARE NOT to listen to this song under the influence of alcohol or drugs and don't put it on repeat more than three times. I wouldn't want you to do anything stupid.
#14
"Stepping Stone"
by Duffy
from the album "Rockferry"
The song's message:
Duffy tells her ex that she will never be his "stepping stone", his part time lover. That he can't pick her up and put her down anymore.
Sample lyric:
"You got your kicks/You get your kicks from playing me/And the less you give the more I want so foolishly..."
My comments:
You breaking up with the guy that keeps picking you up and putting you down when he feels like it? This is the song for you.
#13
"No Sittin' By The Phone"
by Vivian Green
from the album "A Love Story"
The song's message:
My girl Viv realizes that her ex is gone and that his ass ain't coming back. She also realizes that he was no good anyway and that it's for the best and decides to move on with her life.
Sample lyric:
"We used to sit over there/That was your favorite chair/But now I sit here alone/No use crying bout it/I'll have to do without it/And no I won't sit by the phone/It's not like you did me right/I was just comfortable and used to you/Now I see, I must first love me/And maybe Mr. Right will come strolling along..."
My comments:
Lyrically, one of the best songs on here. This jazzy number captures the essence of the breaking up and moving on process.
#12
"If"
by Destiny's Child
from the album "Destiny Fulfilled"
The song's message:
The girls realize that their man is no good and they had to go, he was "playing around with them raggedy heifers" and all and they weren't having it. Even though they are alone now they are comforted by the fact that they were true and gave their all when they were in the relationship and that he's gonna miss them.
Sample lyric:
"If you don't know/Now you know you're gonna miss/My love/And I ain't stressing 'bout a doggone thang/Cause I was true when I gave you/My love/If you search you will never find another love like/My love/You’re gonna miss me/I ain’t got time while you sit around and play with my/My love..."
My comments:
You know you're much better than that ragged heifer he's playing with nowadays anyway! Fuck him!
#11
"Be Mine!"
by Robyn
from the album "Robyn"
The song's message:
Robyn was in love with a guy who never really was truly hers and he never will be hers. She's all in love with him and he keeps telling her 'Robyn, girl I don't want you', but she still longs for him. After a while she finally realizes that it just ain't gonna happen.
Sample Lyrics:
"For the first time, there's no mercy in your eyes/And the cold wind is hitting my face and you're gone/And you're walking away/And I am helpless sometimes/Wishing's just no good/Cause you don't see me like I wish you would/Cause you never were, and you never will be mine/No, you never were, and you never will be mine..."
My comments:
On the album this song is pretty upbeat, so much so that you may miss the sadness of the lyrics. If you want something a little better to cry to search the internet for the live, slower, sadder AOL Sessions version of this song it's a rival to #15.
Stay tuned for the top 10...
What song do you predict will be number 1?
What's your number 1?
Let me know in the "comments" section below this post.
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Playing In The Background...
"Breaking Up Is Hard To Do"
by Neil Sedaka
from the album "Neil Sedaka, The Definitive Collection"
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