10 Breakup Songs to Help You Move on With Your Life
There are a few things that you need in your Breakup Survival Kit: mostly, a healthy diet (or a chocolate cleanse — same thing, right?) and your BFFs. While these must-haves will be there to get you through the initial blow, there’s nothing better than some tunes to jam to along the way. Whether you’re a down-home country girl or love your Coachella-worthy indie darlings, check out these 10 breakup songs sure to suit every taste in music.
1. “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith: If you’re the type of gal who needs a nice cry accompanied by a tub of ice cream, the soul-driven, sappy tunes of Sam Smith are perfect to help you through your heartbreak.
2. “White Horse” by Taylor Swift: Ahh, Taylor; either ya love her or ya hate her. If you’re #TeamTay, you’ve got a ton of breakup tunes to choose from. We chose “White Horse” because it’s vintage Swift; this song is the essence of the raw, teenage TSwift emotions that are the perfect catalyst to help you get over your ex.
3. “Record Year” by Eric Church: Eric Church toes the line between rock and country, and it works. In “Record Year,” he explains that his musical successes are rooted in a breakup that caused him to turn to old music records as therapy.
4. “F*** Apologies” by JoJo: Your teenage self will love the throwback to JoJo, and your current self will love blasting this tune in the car as you think about why you’re not sorry for moving on. What better therapy is there?
5. “Best Thing I Never Had” by Beyoncé: You didn’t think we’d make any sort of playlist without including Bey, did you?! While Beyoncé has tons of great breakup tunes (how could we ever forget about “Irreplaceable”?), “Best Thing I Never Had” is great to belt out or solemnly listen to if you’re in a pop-music mood.
6. “Miss Movin’ On” by Fifth Harmony: Sometimes, the best cure for a broken heart is a great girl band. Fifth Harmony encompasses pop with a little ballad flare, and “Miss Movin’ On” is great for the phase of a breakup where you’re ready to get on with your life.
7. “Tompkins Square Park” by Mumford and Sons: If bluesy-alternative is your style, the entire Wilder Mind album is the ultimate pairing for a bottle of wine and some ice cream. (Especially when you’re trying to get over a boo.)
8. “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” by Billy Currington: Country music is full of emotions — bad and good and everything in between — and heartache is no exception. Billy Currington masters this emotion in this song: Plus, you might fall for him after listening to his dreamy, husky voice.
9. “So Much Better” from Legally Blonde: The Musical: Musicals were created to express the human condition — and there is no character better at expressing her feelings than Elle Woods. This song tells the story of when Woods was accepted to an elite law group at Yale alongside her ex-boyfriend and embarked on a mission to prove him wrong. What if everyone had that kind of confidence during a breakup?!
10. “Happy Ending” by MIKA: You alternative girls will love this pop-esque jam that’s great to sing along (or sob) to. No matter your style of coping, this song will be sure to get you your alt fix and help you through your heartbreak.
What’s your go-to breakup song? Let us know @BritandCo!
(Featured photo via Larry Busacca/Getty)
