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| Screencap from Alanis Morissette's music video for "You Oughta Know" |
It's Valentine's Day and it's the time of year where people couple up and enjoy each other's company. Unfortunately, this doesn't work out for everyone. Due to circumstances, love isn't in the air on that particular holiday. A few years ago, I wrote a blog with recommended music for putting you in the mood and for those who aren't so fortunate, here's a list that will help you out.
1. "Love Stinks" by J. Geils Band
This song, originally released in 1980, really hit home with the heartbroken crowd when Adam Sandler sang in in the movie The Wedding Singer. There's anger, pain, and even vengeance in this song and is a good way to kick of this list.
2. "Cup of Coffee" by Garbage
Shirley Manson has a wide range of emotions that can be found in her lyrics, but "Cup of Coffee" may be the best. The lyrics, along with perfectly matching music, set the mood for a breakup song. The emotion that comes through can be felt by and sympathized for by anyone who has ever been dumped. This song expresses what it's like for one person of a relationship to not have full closure in their relationship. Sadly, this song had no music video, but I can imagine a real dark, black and white one could have been shot.
3. "Completely Miserable" by Lit
The Orange County band's music video for this song took on public attention when they got Pamela Anderson to star in it. The band is eaten alive by a 50 foot woman-sized version of the former Baywatch star. Lyrically, the song reveals a guy who knows the relationship is bad for him and that he's giving up everything that makes him happy at a shot to be with the girl. Yes, he may get the girl in the end, but it can be asked if it is worth it in the end?
4. "Pictures of You" by The Cure
The goth rock band which released a ton of songs about love and breakups, really hit a chord with this song. The song focuses on a person who is essentially reliving memories with a past loved one by looking at the pictures he has of his former loved one. The lyrics reveal a person who regrets his relationship ending with his significant other.
5. "The Thrill is Gone" by BB King
You can make a list such as this without including a good blues song and it doesn't get much better than BB King when it comes to blues music. A legendary blues artist and one of the best guitarists to ever live, BB King's "The Thrill is Gone" is an essential song on any good anti-Valentine's Day list.
6. "Don't Speak" by No Doubt
It wasn't their first hit song, but it was the song that solidified Anaheim's No Doubt into becoming a A-list rock group. Written by Gwen Stefani after her breakup with bassist Tony Kanal, the song pulled on the heart strings of everyone going through a breakup in the 1990s.
7. "You Ougtta Know" by Alanis Morissette
Released around the same time period as No Doubt's "Don't Speak", Alanis Morissette took a different approach to her famed break up with Full House star Dave Collier. She ripped him apart and empowered women to be able to express their anger for being left for another woman. Morissette's lyrics were sharp and memorable. This song had lyrics such as:
"Does she know how you told me you'd hold me until you die, 'til you die, but you're still alive"
"And are you thinking of me when you fuck her?"
"And every time I scratch my nails down someone else's back I hope you feel it"
8. "I Will Survive" by Cake
Yes, Gloria Gaynor performed the more successful version of this song, but it was too dance-able for me to include on this list. Cake, who also released a hit cover to this song, added a more angry tone to it, even dropping F-bombs where Gaynor probably should have.
9. "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley
Originally inspired by a man who leapt out of a window to commit suicide, the lyrics of a broken-hearted person were added to this song to make it one of the biggest break-up songs of the 1950s.
Another member of the early rockabilly movement which included Elvis, Roy Orbison released this song in 1961, which became one of his biggest hits over his Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame career.
The 21st century saw its share of breakup music as well, but it was really Michelle Branch's "Are You Happy Now?" that kicked off the breakup music in the pop/rock genre in the 2000s when it was release in 2003. Used to her more hopeful tracks released on her previous album, Branch released this song as her second hit album's lead single, showing she had more depth in her musical repertoire.
12. "Foolish Games" by Jewel
The Alaskan acoustic guitarist really changed things up when she released this single which is accompanied by sad piano music. Jewel's voice really conveys her depression after a hurtful breakup and was one of many breakup songs released by strong female lead singers in the 1990s.
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