Top 20 Break-Up Songs

In life and love, no one escapes unscathed. At some point in time, almost everyone will experience a broken heart. Maybe you've finally gotten the nerve to profess your undying love to the person you've been nearly-stalking for months, only to have them reject you. Maybe you've just experienced the end of a ten-year relationship. Though the pain of heartbreak can be very temporary in some cases, it hurts all the same. They say music soothes the savage beast. Well, there may be no beast more savage than one who is nursing a broken heart. In no particular order, here are 20 of the very best tunes to heal a broken heart.

Love Stinks by J. Geils Band- The ultimate song for the broken-hearted, drunken pessimist fresh off the "dump" truck! Can anyone think of this song without immediate total recall of Adam Sandler's performance in The Wedding Singer? "And so it goes, till the day you die"... who needs this rotten emotion anyway?

You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette- No one wants to believe they are replaceable. What's even worse is when you're still reeling from a split and you realize that your former partner has moved on rather easily. After all, their mourning period should be at least as long as yours, right? Rest assured, she will never be as good as you anyway... and you're here to remind him of that.

Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson - A cornerstone to a successful relationship is honesty. When you feel that the whole thing was based on lies, it becomes easy to walk away. Obviously, you're better off "so moving on". Kelly Clarkson helps us to remember that sometimes the best thing is to let go and rediscover ourselves.

Cry Me A River by Justin Timberlake- There are many "chick anthems" that cover the topic of infidelity, but rarely do you see a strapping, young tough guy like Justin Timberlake revealing his heartache so bluntly. Maybe some of us girls could take a cue from Justin when a no-good, lying cheater crosses our paths. "The bridges were burned. Now it's your turn to cry".

I Hate Myself For Loving You by Joan Jett- We women are very complex creatures; and sometimes we just don't make sense. Somehow, even the smartest of ladies often find themselves completely smitten with someone who isn't worth a dime. We know we can do better, and certainly we deserve it, but somehow we just can't break free from the lure of the bad boy. As your dignity melts away, Joan Jett's mantra holds the potential to remind us we're all better than that.

My Happy Ending by Avril Lavigne- We've all been there: you are convinced that you've found your soul mate, and then it all fades away like a storybook fantasy gone wrong. One of the most frustrating ways to end a relationship is vaguely, and no one wants to be left wondering: "Was it something I did?". Unfortunately, in many young relationships, the lack of closure and the inability to see past the present convince many scorned teen lovers that their own happy ending is impossible.

Survivor by Destiny's Child- R&B is not my typical musical genre of choice,and alhough I can appreciate the exceptional talents of the divalicious trio, Destiny's Child is not a musical act that I traditionally follow. With that said, I humbly profess that "Survivor" is the greatest musical tribute to the empowered dumpee. Line after fist-pumping line demonstrates the strengths gained after cutting the dead weight of a bad relationship, ending with the wisdom we all should muster under such circumstances: "After all of the darkness and sadness, soon comes happiness. If I surround myself with positive things, I'll gain prosperity".

Picture by Kid Rock with Sheryl Crow- There comes a point in the life of every man and woman when we truly realize the difference between someone to share a night with and someone to share a life with. Any companion can serve the purpose of filling a lonely void, but we can't deny the irresistibility of the "one" who really matters in our lives. "I put your picture away. Sat down and cried today. I can't look at you while I'm lying next to her".

You'll Think of Me by Keith Urban- Even when the pain is great, and memories linger heavily, a person needs to find a way to save face in light of unrequited love. When a relationship ends, sometimes the best thing to do is clean out the closet. Rid yourself physically, and emotionally of the loose ends that you want so desperately to cling to, and let them be the one to regret. "Take your memories - I don't need 'em... but you'll think of me".

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad by Meat Loaf- I have always thought that this was the most painfully honest song, and I absolutely love it. Unlike the relationship that ends without closure, Meat Loaf provides a refreshing take. With respectful sincerity, he belts out the virtue of his heart: "I want you. I need you. But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you". After trying so hard for so long, sometimes we need to accept the undeniable truth, some relationships just aren't meant to be.

Heart of Glass by Blondie- "Once I had love, and it was a gas. Soon turned out to be a pain in the ass"... can you get more blunt than that? Haven't we all found ourselves a little disillusioned with love at some point? When we're riding high, it's glorious, but overall "Love is so confusing. There's no peace of mind". When it feels bad more often than good, it's time to hit the road.

Hard Habit to Break by Chicago- Everyone wants to feel special and appreciated. When your relationship becomes a routine and you feel like an unnoticed fixture in your home, it's natural to drift apart. The longing you felt all that time often transfers to the one who ultimately finds themselves alone; a small vindication, a little too late to save the love.

All Out of Love by Air Supply- I do try to avoid the clichés at all costs, and "All Out of Love" is nothing if not cliché when it comes to breakup songs. However, this song is absolutely mandatory for the good, therapeutic cry that is required to jump the initial breakup hurdle.

Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone) by Cinderella - Ain't it the truth?! All too often, it takes loss to reach appreciation. The music video that accompanies "Don't Know What Ya Got..." is set on a beach, where vocalist Tom Keifer breathlessly belts out the tear-jerking lyrics, guitar in hand, with the wind gusting through his hair. The peace and serenity carries through in both the audio and the video. By the time you reach this stage, you're the one holding the cards, and it's them missing you.

Blame It On Your Heart by Patty Loveless- It may take a few practice rounds to get the lickety-split quick vocals down, but once you do, you'll find yourself feeling better with each recitation. It's a feel-good song to share on a girls' night, when the guys have made a beeline for the doghouse. You've washed your hands of them anyway. "You'll need some sympathy, but don't be calling me".

I Will Always Love You by Dolly Parton- We should all reach this point: "I wish you joy and happiness. But above all this, I wish you love". We show we've really found a point of healing and stability when we can honestly say we don't want to claw our ex's eyes out.

Lesson In Leaving by JoDee Messina - What comes around goes around, "Somebody's gonna do to you what you've been doin' and I hope that I'm around to watch 'em knock you down". Revenge is sweet, and a scorned lover thrives on vindication.

How Do You Like Me Now by Toby Keith- We've seen the talk shows where a once-ugly duckling updates an old crush with their stunning new look. It's a genuine comfort to rub it in their face and remind them of what they could've had. Oftentimes, seeing the mate they chose provides its own sense of revenge as well. After all, you turned out far better.

What Might Have Been by Little Texas- Broken hearts do mend, but your first love always seems to hold a special place in your heart. You've moved on and have no regrets, but a part of you will always wonder "what might have been", even if you wouldn't change a thing.

Just Take My Heart by Mr. Big- You know, by sheer instinct, when a longtime relationship is dying. Sometimes you can do nothing but watch it slip away. This type of breakup may not carry the shock of an abrupt dump or the betrayal of infidelity, but the absence of a longtime partner can create a void that takes a greater length of time to accept. "Just take my heart when you go. I don't have a need for it anymore. I'll always love you, but you're too hard to hold".

The most important thing to remember during a breakup is that the heartache really is temporary. Think of it as a time of introspection and growth. Like any grieving period, you're entitled to a period of mourning. Cry it out, and rely heavily on music therapy. Then, emerge stronger, more confident, and eager for the future that awaits you. When one romance ends, it's usually just a way to make room for a better one.