The 10 Best Songs To Get You Through A Bad Breakup

The 10 Best Songs To Get You Through A Bad Breakup ©iStock/PeopleImages

After a breakup, it’s easy to turn to your old favorites… but unfortunately, sometimes the go-to breakup ballads will only make you way more depressed. If you’re coping with a broken heart, instead of listening to Taylor Swift on repeat for forever, try these songs that will get you out of bed and out of your head. This playlist has a little bit of everything, from the emo songs of your childhood to the dance pop that will make you actually want to get out from under the covers and try again.

  1. “Seventy Times Seven” – Brand New. Sometimes you need an old school throwback Thursday anthem to remind yourself that you will get over a break up. After all, when you look back on the end of your middle school and high school relationships, you don’t exactly regret that it’s over. An angry BN anthem will you have you screaming instead of crying, and that’s the first step to a full recovery.
  2. “Screaming Infidelities” – Dashboard Confessional. If you’re dealing with a cheater, this is the song you need so you know you’re better off without them. Sure, DC might lead you to curl up in a ball in bed and cry, but it’s certainly cathartic.
  3. “Mama’s Broken Heart” – Miranda Lambert. Once you’re done crying, put on literally any Miranda Lambert song to start planning your ultimate revenge. If “Mama’s Broken Heart” isn’t your jam you can always turn to “Gunpowder and Lead” which will really get your revenge fantasies flowing. “Baggage Claim” is another Miranda Lambert approved break up classic that’s perfect if your ex had more emotional baggage than you were ready to handle.
  4. “Die Young” – Ke$ha. Any song by an artist with a dollar sign in their name is guaranteed to get you in a good mood. Brush your teeth with a bottle of Jack and hit the dance floor looking for a rebound near you. If dying young just makes you imagine yourself with a whole bunch of cats, there’s always “Tik Tok” for the perfect pregame anthem for the best ladies night of your entire life.
  5. “Unbroken” – Demi Lovato. Now that you’re continuing your girl power anthems (feel free to throw a couple Spice Girls tracks into that Spotify playlist), you obviously need a song about how no one can ever actually hurt you. It might not actually be true, but if you listen to it and make it your mantra eventually it will be.
  6. “Bulletproof” – La Roux. Not only will this one get you dancing around in your apartment and amped up, it will remind you that if you’ve dealt with heartbreak before you’re basically an old pro by now. By the time this song is .5 seconds in you’ll be screaming along with the lyrics and by the time it’s over you’ll actually believe them.
  7. “Before He Cheats” – Carrie Underwood. Instead of Instagramming subtle digs at your ex, why not get real revenge? Not suggesting anything that’s prison-worthy, but there’s always hooking up with his best friend… Sure, it’s a little bit childish, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need to move on.
  8. “Dancing On My Own” – Robyn. If you’re looking for a Girls moment to embrace your inner hot mess express, Robyn will give it to you. Like C. Underwood and Miranda Lambert, Robyn is best listened to when you’ve been cheated on. Her songs are the perfect reminder that your ex will always downgrade. This works best when you’re dancing on your own in the comfort of your own home.
  9. “Survivor” – Destiny’s Child. What’s a break up mix without a little bit of Queen Bey thrown in? Even though she is married, DC knows how hard relationships can be. In fact, you can turn to DC for all of your end of relationship needs. There’s “Soldier” if you’re looking for someone way more hardcore than your ex, “Bootylicious” if you want to get a revenge body at the gym, and “Bills, Bills, Bills,” if your ex boo was kind of a scrub.
  10. “We Found Love” –  Rihanna. If you’re absolutely terrified of being single, this song will remind you that you can find love literally anywhere (even if it’s gross). Whether you find love on Tinder or a dive bar dance floor, just because your last relationship is dunzo doesn’t mean all hope is lost.
Margaret is a freelance writer who covers pop culture and fashion in New York City and currently writes for Page Six's Style section. Her work has been featured in Teen Vogue, xoJane, and Racked. She tweets about her crippling caffeine addiction and teen TV obsession here: @margaretabrams
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