Break ups are tough, don’t we all know it. But now is not the time to break out the sad song played on the world’s smallest violin…or at least not quite. While sad music may seem like the cure for all our breakup sorrows, there are other emotions we go through during a breakup that music can also help us cope with. I’ve gathered up a list of songs for the six stages of a breakup so you’re not constantly suffering through sad boi hours.
- Stage One: Denial
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No one wants to accept that their fairytale happily ever after has finally ended, and probably not too happily. During this stage, you might not understand where it all went wrong. You might feel stupid for not seeing it sooner, or for thinking you could make it work, so it’s important to not feel like you’re alone in feeling this way. These songs will show you across various situations, similar or different to your own, of people who have also had a hard time believing their love stories are really over:
Relapse by Carrie Underwood
I hate you, I love you by Gnash
Stay with me by Sam Smith
Say something by A Great Big World
Fire and Rain by James Taylor
- Stage Two: Anger
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By now, you understand that your relationship is officially over, and you’re probably pissed about it. Maybe your ex broke up with you, maybe he treated you poorly during your relationship, or maybe they aren’t as upset as you are. For whatever reason, you’re fueled with rage. Conveniently, many people have felt the same way and even wrote songs about it! Here’s a list of the songs that make us feel like it’s okay to act insanely rash and crazy:
U + UR Hand by P!nk
Do re mi by Blackbear
Undo it by Carrie Underwood
Picture to Burn by Taylor swift
FU by Miley Cyrus
Black Widow by Iggy Azalea
- Stage Three: Sadness
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Ahhh yes, the stage we’re all most familiar with that with that we believe will last forever and ever (and ever and ever etc). Fortunately, there’s still three more steps after this one so fear not! You will get through this seemingly never-ending grief. In the meantime, here are some songs to get you in your feels till you’re sick of them:
River of tears by Alessia Cara
Because of you by Kelly Clarkson
It will rain by Bruno Mars
Need you now by Lady Antebellum
I Fall apart by Post Malone
Jar of Hearts by Christina Perry
Die of A broken heart by Maddie and Tae
(This list is never ending as it is apparently a very popular motivation for iconic songwriting)
- Stage Four: Jealousy/ Competitiveness
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You’ve made it through the sad stage! Woohoo! But you’re not quite through the wringer yet. You’ve only just convinced yourself that your “fine,” which we all know never means you’re fine. Stalking your ex on all forms of social media, keeping on the lookout for other girls they’re with, going out and posting with the intent of making them jealous? Not the top-ranking examples under the definition of “fine.” But here are some songs that will make you feel like they are:
Rumor has it by Adele
Before he Cheats by Carrie Underwood (clearly Carrie is your girl for all your breakup needs)
Hot Girl Bummer by Blackbear
Girl Crush by Little Big Town
- Stage Five: Apathy
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This is probably the worst stage of all. At this point, you’ve given up on feeling anything that all. You no longer care about whether you look like you’re fine, because you know that you’re not. You don’t even understand why people get into relationships anyway because of all the pain you risk suffering, and you don’t want to feel the way that you do. And yet somehow, that’s still a definable feeling. I may not be good at explaining it, but thankfully these songs do a much better than I do:
Someone you loved by Lewis Capaldi
Amnesia by 5 Seconds of Summer
The Lonely by Christina Perry
Nobody’s home by Avril Lavigne
Sorry by Halsey
- Stage Six, The Final Stage: Acceptance and Moving On
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Congratulations! You’ve finally come to the realization that you don’t need your ex! And what a glorious time this is. You finally start to feel like you again. You understand, or are beginning to understand, that for whatever reason, they weren’t meant to be your happily ever after. Whatever, you’re too good for them anyway 😉. These songs will tell you all about reclaiming your independence like a boss:
Since You’ve Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
Irreplaceable by Beyoncé
Shout Out to My Ex by Little Mix
Big Girls Don’t Cry by Fergie
You Don’t Do it for Me Anymore by Demi Lovato
Going through a break up is one heck of an emotional rollercoaster. Music is the perfect outlet to help get us through the ride, especially since it’s one you’ll probably go through again and again (we hate to see it). However, you’re much stronger because of it, and less likely to fall for someone who will hurt you in the same way. And that makes you one step closer to never needing this playlist ever again.