Ok, so I’m taking off soon to spend the weekend with a couple of my best gal pals in the whole wide world for some much-needed decompression. I fully intend not to blog this weekend, but I have a project for everyone to work on in my absense (if it takes longer than the weekend, that’s fine).
Remember The Modern Gal’s musical mission? That thing turned out so awesome, that I’ve been determined to make it an annual event.
Well, scratch that. It may be a biannual thing, because I’ve decided it’s time for a new CD: a Modern Breakup Therapy CD.
We’ve all been through really, really sucky breakups, and I’m sure we’ve all turned to music in our time of pain. Unfortunately, this week I’ve had a poor selection of good breakup music available in my car so I’ve been stuck on a CD of really, really bad 70s music from the Modern Dad (we’re talking the Carpenters, people — possibly good for a breakup but NOT for my street cred).
There are two classifications of breakup music. The first is the obvious mopey music — music that sounds like you feel. Something to listen to when you need to wallow a bit (and we all know a bit of wallowing is important in these situations). The second is kick-ass music. Music that will quite literally kick your ass hard enough to get you off the couch when you need to pull it together.
So my NEW musical mission for you is to suggest up to two songs — one of each kind of breakup music — to be included on the Modern Breakup Therapy CD(s).
For reference, here are some songs I’ve pulled out after every bad breakup I’ve gone through:
1. “Never is a Promise” by Fiona Apple and pretty much the entire Fiona Apple Tidal album. I’ll likely be listening to it on the drive to South Carolina. (You get a little bit of wallow and a little bit of kick-ass all on one album).
2. “If You Could Read My Mind” by Gordon Lightfoot. Ok, yes. We’ve established many times here that my music taste is bad. It’s classic 70s singer-songwriter, but the lyrics are so painfully poetic that they can make my heart hurt even when I’m at my happiest.
3. “There You Go” by Pink. This song came out right at the time that I ultimately brokeup with my high school boyfriend, and I totally had it on repeat in my car. Pink could totally kick my ass and everyone else’s.
Ok, Modern Friends. Get to work! I’ll catch you on the flip side of this weekend.
MG – I have been off the blogging for like, ever, and this is the first post I’ve read since I started school. Which is weird timing, because I am soooo good at breakup cd’s! I digress. I don’t believe in mopey breakup songs, so here are good get off the couch ones:
Tears Dry On Their Own – Amy Winehouse
Through With You – Maroon 5
DOA – Foo Fighters
That Old Pair of Jeans – Fatboy Slim
Kerosene – Miranda Lambert
and OF COURSE Irreplaceable – Beyonce
OMG, I have so many to choose from.
My No. 1 choice though is “What is this feeling?” from Wicked.
Now, bear with me. Both my lovely editor and I agree that this is one of the world’s best hate duets. After all, I mean, how can you not love lyrics when the chorus goes: “Loathing! Unadulterated loathing! For your face, your voice, your clothing. Let’s just say, I loath it all. Every little trait no matter how small, makes my flesh begin to crawl.”
I think “Bye, Bye” by Jo Dee Messina is a great pick-me-up post-break up song.
Now, my lovely ed burned me a copy of her best breakup mix, aptly titled “TWice Broken-Hearted.” (Can you tell we have a special relationship?)
Some of her highlights:
“Barricades Brick Walls” – Kasey Chambers (rage) and “Not Pretty Enough” (sadness” also by her;’
“I Could Hurt You” – Aimee Mann
Just go straight for the Pantera. I’d start with “Fucking Hostile” and work it out from there. Put away all the breakables in the house first.
Personally I like “U Make Me Sick”. Can’t remember who it’s by, but it’s on the Save the Last Dance Soundtrack. I used to blare it and automatically feel better. For mopey, I vote for “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilara. While the song is slow, it’s not 2 mopey because it’s a great “pick-me-up” message.
i like where mickey is going with pantera- ‘love’ helps get some of the aggression out.
for a more uplifting song i would go with vienna by billy joel – it’s just a beautiful song.
keep feeling better MG 🙂
I was actually thinking of you today and that if we knew each other more personally I'd like to make you a cd. So here I am suggesting more than 2 songs:
1. "The World Goes Madly On" by The Weepies
2. "Better In Time" by Leona Lewis
3. "Say What You Need to Say" by John Mayer
4. "Love Stinks" J. Geils Band
5. KICK A$$ SONG = "DEFYING GRAVITY" from Wicked.
"Something has changed within me,
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by
the rules of someone else's game
Too late for second guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts,
Close my eyes, and leap
It's time to try defying gravity"
I noticed someone else suggested "Loathing". The whole soundtrack is damn good.
And this is just funny…
Flight of the Conchords "Businesstime". I hope it makes you laugh!
Ok my lovely Brit perspective says for your ‘i know i’ll get over this song: Ashes by Embrace and for your mopey song of blahness may I suggest I wish I never Saw the Sunshine by Beth Orton
I’m just so impressed that for such a young lady, you would actually like Gordon Lightfoot. You remind me a lot of my daughter (Legally Brunette) both in your blog and in your eclectic taste. Also, you’re both smart, strong, talented women who should never settle for less than what you deserve. Always remember that.
When I broke up with my very last ex, I listened to Hopeless by Train over and over and over again (that was before Train started to suck) and start bawling every single time.
I mixed in a little Reel Big Fish for balance. Nothin’ and F*** Off were my favorites, because if you sing along, you get to yell lots of obscenities, and I really needed to blow off steam. Of course, I fully recognize that I may actually be the only person in the world past the age of 16 who still likes RBF.
Hope you have a great weekend with your ladies!
How has no one mentioned Alanis Morissette? Classic breakup music right there. I still bust out “You Oughta Know” every time I’m angry about something.
I downloaded a bunch of songs from the iTunes Essentials “Melancholy Mix” awhile back, and one in particular is great —
A Girl Called Eddy — “Tears All Over”
It’s odd because it kind of straddles the line…the title and the woman’s post-sobbing voice make it seem sad, but the music of the song is so uplifting in the end.
Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Conner
Over You – Daughtry
I like 5 Finger Death Punch, also, but I usually go through an “I want to break someone’s face!!” in my break-up cycles, so.
for wallowing: World Without Tears – Lucinda Williams
for kicking that ass: So What – Pink
And for reading, “How to Survive the Loss of a Love.” Really helped me through a bad time.
I love So What by Pink and Starts With Goodbye by Carrie Underwood.
You Oughta Know — someone already mentioned it above but it was the first, and the only, song to come to mind. and it’s rumored that she wrote it when she broke up with Uncle Joey 🙂
Ashes by Embrace
The Freshman by The Verve Pipe
Only two? What?!
Irreplaceable by Beyonce
Linger by The Cranberries
I Can’t Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt
Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler
This is a tough mission, MG!
I definitely agree that “You Outta Know” is hands-down the best breakup song ever. Actually, I used to listen to that entire album when I was angry at men. It’s good for the soul.
Others:
“Long, Long Time” by Linda Ronstadt
“I Hope that I Don’t Fall in Love with You” by Tom Waits
“But Beautiful” by Billie Holiday
“Single Ladies” by Beyonce (I kind of adore this song)
Definitely put some PINK into the mix.
How about…
Fuck It I dont want you Back by Emaon
These boots are made for walking Nancy Sinatra
Goodby mye lover by James Blunt
hi! i’m new to your blog (national de-lurking week brought me out). some of my favorite breakup songs (primarily melancholy wallowing):
“second option” caitlin cary and thad cockrell
“lua” bright eyes
“ever the same” rob thomas
“you are what you love” jenny lewis with the watson twins
“lost cause” beck
“fall apart again” brandi carlie
“got carried away” trashcan sinatras
“cry on demand” ryan adams
“it’s not” amiee man
get off the couch:
“dry your eyes” the streets
“got love to kill” juliette and the licks
“hit ’em up style (oops!)” blu cantrell
Anything on The Weepies, Say I am You album.
From: “Not Your Year”
Every day it starts again
You cannot say if you’re happy
You keep trying to be
Try harder, maybe this is not your year.
Breathe through it, write a list of desires
Make a toast, make a wish, slash some tires
Paint a heart repeating, beating “don’t give up, don’t give up, don’t give up.”
**officially delurked”