So I’ve been thinking a lot recently about break up songs. Not that I’ve been listening to a lot of them necessarily, but they have crossed my play list from time to time, such as this morning when I found myself playing “Song For the Dumped” by Ben Folds Five about three times on the way to work, singing along, and especially loudly during the chorus. It’s a good thing my windows were up, or I would have gotten a lot of looks. I probably still did.
Regardless, there are certain songs at times in your life that hit you a certain way and it got me thinking about good break up songs or songs about lost love. Here are a few of my favorites. As usual, I’ll either embed or link to a YouTube video or some other source for the song if possible. Of course this list is just from my limited collection, and a few suggestions from friends, so it’s far from exhaustive.
Weird Al Yankovic – One More Minute
I figured I would start out with one that’s a little bit funnier, or sillier in it’s approach just to get things started. At least this way you can have a good chuckle at your pain before you start lying in bed at night, crying, and slashing at your wrists with plastic cutlery. This is of course one of many Weird Al songs about love gone wrong, but this is my favorite.
Ben Folds Five – Song For The Dumped – NSFW language
This is a classic as far as break up songs go. There’s nothing quite the opening line, that seem to be sort of understanding, which is then followed by “FUCK YOU TOO!” and one of the most fun choruses from any song to sing ever. Even if you haven’t been recently dumped, this is still one of my favorite songs to blast out of the car speakers and sing along to.
Warren Zevon – She’s Too Good For Me
While writing this entry and going through my iTunes library, I was reminded of this song. And I have to say, this one hit me like a ton of bricks. I hadn’t even really thought about it until now, and really listened to the lyrics. Especially the chorus:
I want her to be happy
I want her to be free
I want her to be everything,
She couldn’t be with me
I’d wait here for a thousand years,
If she’d come back to me
I have everything she wants,
But nothing that she needs
This is off of his last album, entitled “The Wind”. And since this is Warren Zevon I have to remind you, that no matter how heart broken you may be, always remember to enjoy every sandwich.
Electrasy – Morning Afterglow
Holy crap this one took me back. I was obsessed with this band back when I was a Junior in High School. I had heard them on the soundtrack to Titan AE, another of my obsessions that year, and fell in love with their brand of Brit-pop. They really should have done better than they did here in the states, but oh well, such is the way of music. They just never were in the right place at the right time.
This is a great song about the love you want, the love you need, but you know you can’t have.
Ben Folds – Cologne
This is one of my favorite songs off of his new album. This album was written almost immediately after his divorce. In one interview I heard him say that he walked out of the courtroom and into the studio. It shows on a lot of the tracks, this one included. It’s a song about moving on, leaving the past behind you and saying goodbye to someone who has been part of your life for a long time.
I would also like to add, this is my favorite arrangement of the song, as this version more closely reflects the one released on his “fake” leaked version of the album before it was released, with the studio version differing pretty greatly.
Avenue Q – There’s A Fine, Fine Line
I don’t know what to say about this one, besides I just really like this song. Okay, that’s it.
And last but not least… The greatest song of love lost ever…
Air Supply – All Out Of Love
Seriously! I love this song! I don’t know what it is about it… But it’s probably one of my favorite songs EVER! And even more so when you’re feeling a little down… A little, dare I say it… Out of love.
Here are some honorable mentions that were suggested by some friends:
Bob Dylan – Idiot Wind
J. Geils Band as performed by Adam Sandler – Love Stinks
Queen – It’s Late
Serj Tankian – Saving Us
