Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The Angry Break-Up Playlist

I am happily married. I want to say that before I get into the meat of this post.

Dan with his second-biggest fans after the race. They ate more pizza than he did.

Last night the kids and I watched Dan do his second Dash n' Dine 5K. It was hot and windy, that dry oven-like wind we often get here in the summer, and he didn't feel great. In fact, he was a minute slower than he was on the same course last month. But we all still had lots of fun. Now this series is over, so I have to find some other races for him to do, so I can continue to live through him.

That's what husbands are for, right?

So now that I've established that what I'm about to say has nothing to do with Dan or our marriage.....

I'm really into angry break-up songs lately.

I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I'm injured and starting to feel like running has broken up with me. Plus, reading all the great race reports lately makes me feel like the freaky girl who never gets invited to the school dances. Or maybe it's because, with the exception of my college boyfriend, a truly nice person, all the guys I dated before Dan were losers. Maybe it's because my sister went through a break-up recently, and while it wasn't particularly angry, she's sad and I've been trying to think of ways to buck her up (so far she's ignoring my suggestion that she take up running). Maybe it's because I find anger motivating when I'm trying to push myself. Maybe it's because I really like Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know." Maybe it's because I'm getting a little tired of my current recumbent bike playlist (music is an absolute must on the recumbent bike).

So I decided to put a list of songs together that are all about breaking up, hating the person you broke up with, getting stronger post-break-up. Here's what I came up with:

Somebody That I Used to Know
Don't Come Around Here No More
Better Man
Here's a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)
One More Minute
I Hate Myself for Loving You
These Boots are Made for Walking
I Will Survive
The One I Love
Goodbye to You
It's Not Right But It's OK
Far Behind

Anyone else find this kind of thing motivating? What are your favorite angry break-up songs?

19 comments:

  1. Stronger!!!! Love that one lately.

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  2. When my daughter broke up with her boyfriend of 2 years last fall (it still pains me...I loved that kid :( ), a few days after, he posted almost this exact same playlist on FB.  I have a playlist on my iPod called "Scott's break-up songs".  Maybe you two should be FB friends!  :)

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  3. FUN!!! Hmmm ... it's been so long since I've considered such tunes ...
    Pink - So WhatBeatles - Day Tripper(More Beatles) - I'm Looking Through YouBilly Joel - My LifeCarole King - You're So VainGarth Brooks - Friends in Low PlacesJohnny Cash - JacksonPatty Smyth - Goodbye to YouThe Pogues - Fairytale of New YorkQueen - I Want to Break FreeTemptations - Can't Get Next to YouWarren Zevon - Poor, Pitiful Me

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  4. Oh, this is fun!  You have some great songs here.  How about "How do you like me now?" I love that song, and it TOTALLY makes me think of my ex-husband.

    While I'm not injured, I definitely get what you're saying about reading everyone else's race reports.  I'm feeling left out for sure.  I miss having a race to write about, and this living vicariously thing only carries you so far. 

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  5. You Oughta Know by Alanis Morisette should be on the list too.  Hm, not what I'm listening to, but whatever keeps you going I say.  Hm, keep going... I should listen to my own advice.

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  6. I love angry break up songs, esp that Gotye on the top of your list, but my all time favorite is "Superhero" by Ani Difranco - great lyrics sung with anger, pain, angst.

    my favorite part
    "if i was naked and screaming

    on your front lawn

    would you turn on the light and come down

    screaming, there's the asshole

    who did this to me

    stripped me of my power

    stripped me down"

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  7. HAHAHA!  I love how you started this post with a great story about your husband.  ;)

    I'm terrible with song names - if it has a fast beat though, I'll probably use it.  Although lately, only during stair climber workouts - my long relay prohibits music.

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  8. I think you're missing some Adele in there..she's always good for a list like this! isn't it funny how we go through phases like this? I'm sure some psychiatrist could analyze all this and come up with something! ; )

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  9. "Wake-Up Call" by Maroon 5 is definitely a pissed-off break up song that is great for running.

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  10. I love music that is dramatic so that makes me a sucker for angry songs.  One of my favorites is "F^&K Authority" by Pennywise.  So yes, I am right on board with you on this one and me and my hubby have been married almost 23 years.  So my love has nothing to do with the breakup part either!

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  11. Shakira - Si Te Vas (there's literally a lyric about the new chick the guy wants to leave her for and how every new broom sweeps well, but the wrinkles will eventually cut her skin and the cellulite will invade her legs and then the guy will be sorry and come crawling back all tail between his legs - damn! :)

    Pink - Leave Me alone I'm lonely (not quite break up, but similar)

    Kelly Clarkson - Stronger

    That's what comes to mind off the top of my head, but there are so many good ones!

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  12. Yea! I like angry music, especially for a nice long run

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  13. I get "I Hate Myself for Loving You" stuck in my head and wander around singing it for days.  It makes my husband a little nervous.  Great playlist!

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  14. I'm not sure I have anything to add, but I will say that I've never been big on running with music and recently figured out that part of the problem is that I was listening to stuff I like, not necessarily choosing good "running" music- might have to give some of these a try! :)

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  15. The breakup song on my playlist that came to mind first was "She Fucking Hates Me" by Puddle Of Mudd.  I could probably come up with more for your playlist without cussing. :-)

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  16. I love that Gotye song. The kids hate it. I ran my half PR very angry 6 days after running a very poor marathon (mentally quit at mile 9). Does Pitbull have a breakup song?

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  17. I love that Gotye song. I know it's about breaking up, but it's such a happy tune, that I can't really think of it as angry! I always have to turn it up when it comes on, and I shout along to the lyrics in the car, freaking out all the other drivers.  Oh and I LOVE Betterman too. This is a really good playlist. My breakup list would probably be less about the lyrics and more about the tone; for instance, White Zombie, Metallica and Incubus might be on it. Loud and angry!

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  18. just listening to Adele and had to come back to say "Someone Like You" is another one!

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