5 Break-Up Songs That Won’t Let You Wallow

So, you’ve been dumped. Or, maybe you did the dumping but are feeling plagued by memories of love and laughter and sex and just want to call up the dumpee one more time. Who can you turn to in such a time of need? Family? Usually. Friends? Certainly. A loyal pet? Absolutely. In times of great romantic trials and tribulations, I often find myself returning to the same support system over and over again. One that, if selected with proper finesse, never fails to lift my spirits a bit — or at least come through with a rallying cry of “Hey, Rose! I get you!!”

Okay, there are a lot of sad and sappy breakup songs. Sadness and sappiness aren’t inherently bad things, and it’s a wonderful thing to hear your emotions mirrored in slow, weepy melody. Those songs, though, are a dime a dozen. The following songs are about going outside and getting over whomever happens to be getting you down (N.B. There are a few handfuls of songs that are about the mistress and not the cheater; I’m not into that. I’d prefer to be furious at the person who I was actually in a relationship with and in my opinion this is an important enough distinction to mention). Turn them up! Sing along! Then go outside and do whatever the hell you want! These songs won’t take no for an answer.

1. No Doubt – Doormat

I’m not your carefree, nor sugarless/Nor the gum on your shoe/I’m not wrapped around your finger/Nor am I wrapped around you

Okay, I love No Doubt. This song is entirely made up of metaphors that Gwen Stefani is not (and neither are you).

2. Yeasayer – ONE

But I thought you should know/You don’t move me anymore/And I’m glad that you don’t/Cause I can’t take it anymore

Yeasayer reminds you that you’ll want to go back, but you won’t because you’re a strong and resolute badass.

3. Big Mama Thornton – Hound Dog

You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog/Been snoopin’ round my door/You can wag your tail/But I ain’t gonna feed you no more

There’s nothing quite like a big, powerful voice screaming the blues in your ears. Why would you want anything to do with an old hound dog?

4. Crystal Castles ft. Robert Smith – Not In Love

And we were lovers/Now we can’t be friends/Fascination ends/Here we go again

Not only are you not in love, you’re probably at a dark club with flashing lights having your face melted off. It’ll make you heal faster, I’m sure.

5. Magnetic Fields – You Must Be Out of Your Mind

I want you crawling back to me/Down on your knees, yeah/Like an appendectomy/Sans anesthesia

It’s okay to put this on repeat for weeks on end, I swear. This song is simple and pretty and cuts like a knife. Perfect!

It was really hard to get this list down to five. I left out a Good Charlotte song (Dance Floor Anthem) because I figured most people would never hit play and a beautiful acoustic Lauryn Hill song (I Get Out) because it turns out it’s really about her relationship with the music industry and the Illuminati. It’s beautiful, though, so have a listen!

Any suggestions that should be immediately added to my ever-growing collection of songs that support a breakup? I’d love to know! Leave a comment below.

Written by Rose Shapiro