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1. You’re So Vain—Carly Simon
Nothing helps dull the pain of a bad breakup like a gripe session about the ex – and Carly Simon’s 1972 hit is just that. With bitterness in her voice (and Mick Jagger on backup vocals), Carly recounts a love affair with a narcissistic philanderer. From the picture she paints, you almost have to feel sorry for the unnamed (though undoubtedly well-known) cad who served as her inspiration.
2. Trouble in Mind—Various Artists
3. Kiss Off—Violent Femmes
What ranks this among the great breakup empowerment anthems is the mid-song countdown of why the ex can “just kiss off into the air.” Lead singer Gordon Gano ticks off ten reasons, including heartache, headache, loneliness and, of course who can forget: everything, everything, everything, everything.
4. You Keep Me Hangin’ On—The Supremes
As if getting dumped weren’t bad enough, the ex who insists on checking up on you after the fact is just plain cruel. Diana Ross sings about the ”Aha!” moment when she realizes her former flame is dangling his love in front of her simply to feed his own ego. Now that she’s seen the light, she tells him confidently to take a hike so she can move on.
5. The Sign—Ace of Base
Ever waffle about a relationship until a defining moment pushes you over the edge? This is exactly what Swedish pop band Ace of Base refers to in their 1993 dance hit. We never find out exactly what the trigger point was, but we can imagine it was heavy. If you can’t seek solace in the song’s tempo, find it in the theme: Living well is the best revenge.
6. Hit the Road Jack—Ray Charles
You can’t really tell who’s to blame in this 1961 breakup song – essentially, a volley between Ray Charles and his backup singers. Ray is broke, and his girl seems to be an old shrew who wants him out. (What’d you say?) No matter whose side you take in this song, singing it feels good.
7. Goodbye to You—Scandal (featuring Patty Smyth)
One can only pine so much over lost love before the stress becomes too overwhelming. Rock band Scandal, along with then-front woman Patty Smyth, released the unapologetic breakup tune Goodbye to You in 1982. The sound defines the decade, while Patty’s performance tells us that she’s finally had enough.
8. Since U Been Gone—Kelly Clarkson
You’re clearly over the heartbreak hump when you realize that your life is way better without your former flame weighing you down. With unbridled energy, former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson sings about the stupidity you feel from being duped by a lying scoundrel and the liberation that comes from “so moving on.”
9. Respect—Aretha Franklin
You know a relationship is in trouble when you literally have to spell out the problem to your significant other! That’s what the Queen of Soul did when she couldn’t get any respect from a man who wanted her to fork over a load of cash. Good thing she walked. But, hey, we suspected from the first few notes of the song that Aretha was going to TCB by the end of it.
10. I Will Survive—Gloria Gaynor
After nearly 30 years, Gloria Gaynor’s disco megahit remains the ultimate empowering breakup song, and there’s no wonder why: It’s danceable, powerful and inspiring. A tale of triumph over heartbreak and of newfound inner strength, this song has been adopted as the theme for various social movements and ranked No. 489 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Songs of All Time. How’s that for survival?
eHarmony Advice Readers: What song helped you through a breakup?
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