Music Recommendations for the Isolated Part 3: Break-Up Songs

Apr 8

Apr 8 Music Recommendations for the Isolated Part 3: Break-Up Songs

The end of a relationship can be difficult. It doesn’t matter if you ended it or someone else did, there’s a need for closure that the other person can’t always provide. That’s when music can help. I’ve created four playlists for every type of break-up. Links for each playlist are provided below (for Apple Music) and a 10-song sampler of each playlist is provided for non-Apple Music patrons.

Dumped & Devastated

Click Here To Listen on Apple Music
Click Here To Listen on Spotify

This playlist is pretty self-explanatory. Getting dumped is brutal and can leave you with too many thoughts and emotions to work through alone. So I’ve compiled nearly 200 songs (over 12 hours) of songs to help you get out the anger and frustration(s) you feel while also letting you mourn the end of a relationship that you weren’t expecting to end.

Without You - Harry Nilsson
Somebody to Love - Queen
Siberia - Backstreet Boys
Last Thing On My Mind - Steps
I Was Wrong - A R I Z O N A
Think Twice - Celine Dion
How Come You Don't Want Me - Tegan and Sara
Moving Mountains - Usher
Bitter End - Erik Hassle
Hopeless - Khalid

Get Away From Me / I’m Better Off Without You

Click Here To Listen on Apple Music
Click Here To Listen on Spotify

This playlist works on two fronts: if you ended a relationship with someone and now you feel free away from them or if you’ve been dumped and instead of sadness, you realize that you’re better off and you’d never get back with them no matter the circumstance. This playlist will have you feeling good about the end of your relationship and even mocking your ex. With a good mix of fast and slow tempos, this should cover all styles and emotions that you might be going through. Even though it’s over and you’re not going back, you might need closure and this playlist is the equivalent of key-ing their car or burning their house down. You get the same satisfaction without the orange jumpsuit.

Call You Back (feat. Haley Dekle) - Cool Company
You Broke Up With Me - Walker Hayes
Maybe You’re Right - Miley Cyrus
The Hardest Part Of Breaking Up - 2gether
O.V.E.R. U - Daniel Bedingfield
My Camera Never Lies - Bucks Fizz
It's Over - Jesse McCartney
Fuqboi - Hey Violet
Ugly Heart - GRL
Thinkin’ ‘Bout Somethin’ - Hanson

Take Me Back / I Need You

Click Here To Listen on Apple Music
Click Here To Listen on Spotify

This playlist too has two uses: 1) If you didn’t treat your partner well enough and they did the right things and left you, the break-up could have been the wake-up call you needed. This playlist can help you reflect and realize just how important that person was to you and how badly you need them back in your life. Or 2) You ended a relationship and then afterward realized that you made a mistake and you’d do anything to get them back. Whether you ended it or they ended it with you, these songs will help you realize how much you want that person back.
*If you listen to this playlist and don’t get any desire to go back to your ex, then this relationship is dead and you need to refer to the previous playlist (Get Away From Me / I’m Better Off Without You) to help you move on to the better things awaiting you.

Maybe - Ingrid Michaelson
I Still… - Backstreet Boys
The Man Who Can't Be Moved - The Script
Hard to Say I’m Sorry - Chicago
Crawl - Chris Brown
Not Over You - Gavin DeGraw
What Kind of Fool Am I - Rick Springfield
If You See Her - LANY
Don't Write Me Off - Daniel Bedingfield
Just Take My Heart - Mr. Big
Get Her Back - Robin Thicke

Time to Move On

Click Here To Listen on Apple Music
Click Here To Listen on Spotify

This playlist is the most complicated one. Originally this playlist was intended for people that knew there was an expiration date on their current relationship and rather than waste the next few months (or years) being miserable, it’s best to cut the cord and move on. This playlist is for when that isn’t an easy decision. Many of these songs show someone in anguish about what to do in their current relationship. Sometimes staying with that person is easier because even though there are more bad times than good, it’s familiar. Ending that and moving on is scary because change is scary. You don’t know what the future holds. You feel that pain with this playlist and hopefully, you can gain the strength to do whatever is right for you while listening to this as well.

This playlist later took on another purpose too: many of these songs work for trying to move on from an ugly break-up. I’ve had friends tell me that his playlist is perfect for after you’re done mourning the relationship with the “Dumped & Devasted” playlist, coming to this one can help you pick up the pieces and move onto the next phase of your life (I also think my Feel Good playlists works for that). Songs like “Sorry” (Daniel Bedingfield), “Back to Me” (Daya), “Be Alright” (Dean Lewis), “Cheers for the Tears” (Soleima) and more take on a new meaning when this is your mindset.

It takes real strength and bravery to leave a bad relationship knowing that you deserve better - especially when the future is unknown. I hope everyone that reads this is helped by this playlist. Healing takes time and I’ve always found music to be the best medicine when friends and family can’t help.