Break Up Songs

My husband and I were talking recently about how much we love a good break up song. Now that we are in a stable, joyful relationship we have kind of forgotten their power, and how it's so natural to pour your feelings into each word and mean them and love them. Each of us, like most of the human race, has had painful breakups during which we coped with mournful and spiteful songs and the following is a compilation of some of our favorites.

1.) Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know

Even if you're not into indie music, tell me you can't see yourself belting that at an intersection causing others to stare. It's haunting, and real and brilliant.

 2.) The Mountain Goats- No Children

 "and I hope when you think of me years down the line
you can't find one good thing to say
and I hope that if I found the strength to walk out
You'd stay the hell out of my way"

John Darnielle has always been one of my favorite lyricists. The music is almost jaunty and his words are penetrating to the core of every awful break-up.

 3.) Kelly Clarkson- Since U Been Gone

This one is obvious. I think middle school students everywhere have coped with this song. It's simple, straight forward and easy to scream. A classic among millenials.

 4.) Avett Brothers - Tear Down the House

"And, bulldoze the woods
That I ran through
That carry the pictures of me and you
I have no memory of who I once was
And I don't remember your name"

 This is probably my favorite. In the midst of despair, rebuilding and moving on, but not there yet. Acknowledging the hurt, and that because of our relationships we change and grow as people- even if we fight the fact that a person we despise, has changed us.

Those memories however, are like ghosts. For some of us, hometowns are like ghosts. And this song is mournful, sad and slow, and so vivid in imagery it will take you to the hurt and back.

 5.) Cee Lo Green- F(orget) You

And although there's pain in my chest
I still wish you the best
with a "forget you"

One word- fun. This song for me fits in the stage of grief after the mourning and more in the "it would be awkward if we ran into each other" phase. We've all been there. Over it, but not wanting to see the person in our sweats at target.

There are some other great ones. Torey would suggest anything by Brand New, I'd probably throw in an Adele song or two, Sometime Around Midnight by the Airborne Toxic Event http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJi2z3tGKIg , Jarrod Niemann's Lover, Lover. An addition from a dear friend is For Today, by Jessica Lea Mayfield. It's wonderful- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJfcd_xmjHg

But these are our top 5, what are yours?