Next up on BnB Music week: it's the break up song, otherwise known as "pack yo' sh!t" music. To be an effective break-up song, the tune needs to be crisp, concise, clear and not open to interpretation. When you put this song on repeat and put your hand out for the key, the scene should really sing, you know? When you blare this from the speakers while tossing clothes out the window, the song (and shoes whizzing by the ears) should really say it all. When my niece was walking around with her fist balled up singing JoJo's Leave (Get Out) I thought, aw – another generation learns. Music so often has the ability to say exactly what you would if you had a bank of writers scripting your life. I recall a girlfriend of mine getting a letter from her boyfriend. He started with, "Basically, gurl: my love has left." Yeah, next time, son just send a mixtape! So, in no particular order, here are 25 songs from my iPod Playlist called "Deuces!"
- After the Love Has Gone by Earth, Wind and Fire
- Walk on By by Dionne Warwick
- Consider Me Gone by Sting
- Moving Out by Billy Joel
- There you go/So What by Pink
- I've gotta move on/Separate Ways by Lalah Hathaway
- Epiphany (I'm leaving) by Chrisette Michele
- Call Tyrone by Erykah Badu
- My Happy Ending by Avril Lavigne
- Breakin' the habit by Linkin Park
- Don't Speak/Ex-Girlfriend by No Doubt
- Irreplaceable by Beyonce
- Been Loving you (a little too long) by Otis Redding
- You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi
- Too much, too little, too late Johnny Mathis w/ Deniece Williams
- I used to love him/Ex-Factor by Lauryn Hill
- I fall to Pieces by Patsy Cline
- Bye, Bye, Bye by NSYNC
- Cry me a River by Harry Connick Jr (h/t to Justin Timberlake tune by same name)
- F.O.D. (F! off and Die) by Green Day
- Goodbye Girl by Go West
- Goodbye to You by Michelle Branch
- He Wasn't Man Enough for me by Toni Braxton
- Hit em Up style by Blu Cantrell
- Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles
I'm also going to go Honorable Mention for those songs that are about a break-up coming but you still wanna stop it before it happens:
- I Try by Will Downing
- Neither one of us by Gladys Knight and the Pips
- Don't Leave me Girl by Guy
- Don't you want me by Human League
- Don't Leave me this way by Thelma Houston
- 50 ways to leave your lover by Paul Simon
- Ain't gonna let you (break my heart again) by Bonnie Raitt
- Careless Whisper by Wham!
- Never Loved a Man by Aretha Franklin
- Mr Wrong by Sade
In my mind, my life is a great movie with a soundtrack to match. Next time I throw up the peace sign and moonwalk backwards out of some dude's life (cue the wind machine for my hair and roll the smoky mist in from the left), I need my tunes right. So BougieLand, whatcha got? What is the greatest break-up song EVER? What is your favorite break up tune?
65 comments:
I think 2 other great breakup songs are CeCe Peniston's "Keep On Walking" & Kim Syms, "Too Blind To See It."
You are not alone. That level of weepin', whinin' and wailin' should be left to the Keith Sweatts of the world. Not a McKnight.
I'm all about Sting and the Police. If he sung it, I got it.
Wooooo! I rides for that 7 Whole Days!!!
I feel like Chrisette Michele's "Blame it on Me" needs to be in here somewhere.
That song was THE song to describe my situation. It was perfect. It's why I cry when I remember LH is crazy...
You listed some really good & really classic ones. I love most of them.
One of my favorite break up songs is Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor".
Love it!
New to the site, but had to share one of my faves from my college days...played this one on a trip back to school for the ex & dared him to change my CD...
Stranger In My House - Tamia
Who sings that old school song - Where did we go wrong?
I don't ever want to see you again - Uncle Sam
We're not making love no more - Dru Hill
Why - Annie Lennox
Take A Bow- Madonna & Babyface
did anyone else get to hatin' on Brian McKnight's One Last Cry?
OneChele,
You missed that classic by Toni Braxton -- "Love Shoulda Brought You Home Last Night"
Craig David -- "Walking Away"
Well, in honor of my personal heroine Lena Horne, I have to go old school: Stormy Weather
I went a different way- I played "I Get Around" by Tupac on my way out the door. (Don't judge me) Not your traditional break up song but she got my point.
I forgot about Take a Bow - that's such a good one
I learned from the best - Whitney Houston
You always have the best stuff!
She did kinda go way to the left, did she not?
Well - you gotta have the Break Up Song by All American Rejects
BWAHAHA at kicked in the ass by love song - whole new subgenre?
Ooh - good ones!
Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson . Young and poppy but it says what needs to be said
Killing Me Softly - I'll go Roberta Flack or Fugee version
Come Back to me - Janet Jackson (more of a baby come back song)
Well then I should add No More Drama by Mary J
I'd add I Just Want it To Be Over by Keyshia Cole (not usually a fan, but this one is on point) and Enough Crying by Mary J. Blige.
Welcome! And the image of ya'll driving along with you giving off the "change the music and die" vibe is priceless!
You went IN! DEEP cut on Sting's Consider Me Gone. I'll toss one into the ring: Toni Braxton's 7 Whole Days and a throwback Ain't No Sunshine Bill Withers
Michael Buble's Lost
Love a good break up song. How about - Prince - Nothing Compares 2 U
No judging but a hard side-eye. Hard.
In line with your "you know it's over but want to stop it": Ain't Too Proud to beg by the Tempts
and then one I'll apologize for but love : Gone by NSync
THANK YOU for reppin' A. Hamilton - brilliant artist, his voice is pure soul goodness
a-ight a-ight gangsta gotta soft side - She's Outta my Life MJ FOREVER!!!! Hall and Oates She's Gone
Go head then. Since you brought up MJ, how about J5 - I want you back or Who's Loving You?
I've noticed a theme of songs where the person is kicking someone to the curb or wanting to forget about them or something along those lines. How about some anguish?
1. Please Don't Go - BIIM
2. Lonely Heart - BIIM
3. End of the Road - BIIM
4. I'm a Mess - Anthony Hamilton (this one is a must hear)
5. Don't Go - Mary J. Blige
Funny I never was a big BIIM fan but they had a good handle on the break up. I could certainly go on and on with the 90's alone but I'll stop there. Great post btw.
Good looking out - I don't know how I made a list without my Boyz II Men! They can tear up a "kicked in the ass by love" song
You have to forgive me, I forgot what a true gentleman looked like... LOL
Oh that brings up Sade - Mr. Wrong!
A true gentleman's break up songs is "Just To Keep You Satisfied" by Marvin Gaye or "Lady Of My Life" by Michael Jackson.
Shake it off - MC!
there was a great song by Blacque called I'm Good, does anyone else know it?
Probably this doesn't really count as a break up song, but I heard it on the radio last week and it reminded me of the end of my last relationship: Kenny Rogers 'The Gambler,' in particular the line, "you got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away, know when to run....'
Keep on Walking .....You.Can. Just.Go Brilliant! Love Ce Ce
I have a few to add:
1. We Can't be Friends--Deborah Cox and RL
2. How's It Make You Feel--Jill Scott
3. Reminiscence--Mary J. Blige
4. Valediction--Foreign Exchange
Now the Deborah Cox joint might be more of a getting over a break-up song but it was the first one that came to mind.
You hit it on the head: I Used To Love Him - LBoogie and Mary J Blige.
Also, Not Gon Cry - Mary J!!!
Keep On Walking has always been my favorite CP song. A lot break up songs have you sitting around, crying all day & feeling sorry for yourself. This song makes you want to dance!
he kinda played himself with that track but Anytime is a great tune
OK you mentioned break up songs. What about break up albums?
Marvin Gaye's Here My Dear
MeShell NdegeOcello's Bitter
As far as songs I'll back to the tortured prince of blue-eyed soul Lewis Taylor with two songs; Satisfied and Whoever.
How could I forget Jody Watley's, "Looking For A New Love?"
Oh my, sounds like a story in there...
Yes, one of my SOs gave my quite the side-eye when I commenced to playing this on repeat along with Keyshia Coles - Guess What. He was like, "Are you trying to tell me something?"
Marvin Gaye's double album "Here My Dear"
Thought of a few more:
Jay Z, "Song Cry"
Tina Turner, "Fight No More"
George Michael, "Different Corner"
Kelis, "I Hate You"
Also, Not Gon Cry - Mary J!!!
Win!
Even though I'm not a big Ye fan, Heartless is a pretty decent break up song.
Ahem... (I'll just do the first 5 I can think of, cause we could be here all night if you let me start rooting around in my collection)
1. Learn the Hard Way - Brandy
2. Did You Ever Love Me - Deborah Cox
3. Let Me Go - 3 Doors Down
4. It's Over Now - 112
5. Better That We Break - Maroon 5
And 2 that = "Don't call me no mo"
When You Think Of Me - Eric Benet
Doin Just Fine - Boyz II Men
Love Don't Live Here Anymore--Rose Royce, simply classic! says it all!
Nothing Left to Say--Mint Condition, gotta rep my all time fav band who has a song for my every mood!
Great Post! I'll go classic rock: Go Your Own Way, Fleetwood Mac
Good choice!
I was thinking of Jay's song! And while we're on George Michael - I guess Careless Whisper could sort kinda blend in
We can't forget Vivian Green... Gotta Go, Gotta Leave. Her albums rock ( please no side eye), unfortunately she was slept on... seriously!
No side eye at all. I once sent the lyrics from Emotional Rollercoaster to an S.O. via FedEx.
You're Not the Man - Sade
We Were 2 - Lalah Hathaway
Giving Up - Donny Hathaway
I Keep Forgetting - Michael McDonald
You Don't Know What Love Is - Rachelle Ferrell
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