Your terrible go-to heartbreak song

[MeanOldLady]

You know what I'm talking about. The one you play on seeming infinite loop when you're done pretending you want to have a good time and move on, and succumb to sitting alone, running the entire relationship through your mind, playing some sappy, terrible breakup song as the soundtrack. I need to know what that song is. And don't try to sneak in a good song. I am very serious when I say "terrible" and "sappy," with emphasis on sappy, and on terrible, but especially sappy. "Well 'When Your Lover Has Gone' is a heart-wrenching song that really connects with--" NO! No good songs.

Mine is Simply Red's "Holding Back the Years." This is not a place of judgment; this is a place of compassion and sharing.

[Cub Mistress]

Hallelujah. Pretty much anybody's version. How anyone can view that as a religious song is beyond me, it is heartbreak set to music.

[Joey P]

Sorry, I'll never hear Holding Back The Years without picturing Holding Back The Ears...go ahead, Google it, I'll wait.

Anyways, it's not sappy and it certainly doesn't qualify as 'not good' but mine is Positively 4th Street.

[Scumpup]

I ain't missing you...

[salinqmind]

Just off the top of my head, "Hurts So Bad", various artists, but I like Little Anthony and the Imperials.

"Still" by Lionel Ritchie. I cried a river of tears over a breakup when that song was out.

[blondebear]

There's A Heartache Following Me by Pete Townshend

[Qadgop the Mercotan]

Suicide is painless

[MeanOldLady]

Originally Posted by Joey P

Anyways, it's not sappy and it certainly doesn't qualify as 'not good' but mine is Positively 4th Street.

Originally Posted by Qadgop the Mercotan

Suicide is painless

Unacceptable responses. "I Ain't Missin' You" is borderline.

"Still" by Lionel Richie. Have I just been out-lamed?

[Turble]

Mine is a toss-up between the already mentioned "Positively 4th Street" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today".

[Kasper1014]

How Do You Mend A Broken Heart by the BeeGees.

[Fenris]

I had a fight with a long-term girlfriend on a weekend home from college. It was one of those fights where you really couldn't step back from stuff that had been said, you KNEW things were over between you, even if they were unresolved. The breakup WAS the fight, all that was left was the...paperwork, so to speak...and then and had to drive back to school (about 4 hours) at night, in a thunderstorm. and Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse Of the Heart" came on.

I don't care how silly the video was, I don't care how hyper-over-dramatic and angsty the lyrics are*, that is my go-to break-up song. I don't know if it counts as good or not. The tune is great, the lyrics are over-the-top drama, but...evocative...maybe if it were sung to a guitar and a piano as opposed to a 100 piece orchestra better suited for Wagnarian opera by someone who can put more feeling than "LET'S BE LOUD!" into it it would be a good song. But the Tyler-version? Not so much.


*Although, I gotta admit, "I don't know what to do/I'm always in the dark/We're livin' in a powderkeg/and givin' off sparks" pretty much described my feelings right then, perfectly.

[jali]

I'm Not Your Superwoman by Karyn White.

Screaming the chorus used to help me.

[Scumpup]

Originally Posted by Scumpup

I ain't missing you...

The back story here is that, though I had a lot of girlfriends over the years and I'm on my third marriage, there was only one who ever broke my heart. I walked away from my life up to that point to be with her. I should note that this was in the mid-to-late 90's and we were both professionals nearing 40, not "teenagers in love.
So, the next several steps involved a divorce from my first wife, being threatened with a sawed-off by my new love's ex, losing all my friends because my ex got custody of them, and just all manner of drama.
the next few years were, easily, the best of my life. I won't bore you with details except to note that we both liked 80's music. She liked "I ain't missing you" and I used to tease her for liking such a drippy song.
At the time, I did part-timework as a deputy sheriff. I was away on that business one weekend and when I got back she had moved out. I've never seen her again. She did not leave a note or otherwise ever give me any explanation. A couple years ago, a mutual acquaintance told me she married a guy the same age as her father and that they live about 30 miles away. He suggested I make contact with her. I never did, there was no good outcome of it that i could see.
when I hear, "I Ain't Missing You" it reminds me of her and I lose some of the bounce in my step. I still think it is a drippy song, though.

[RealityChuck]

Randy Newman's "Just One Smile," though it's hard to find, so I usually go with Blood Sweat and Tears's version. Gene Pitney or Dusty Springfield would also work.

[An Gadaí]

Honey.


/thread

[Sefton]

Gloomy Sunday by the inimitable Billie Holliday

Ordinary World by Duran Duran

[Alpha Twit]

I'm So Lonesome I could Cry by B.J. Thomas

I've Got A Mind To Give Up Livin by Paul Butterfield

Just When I Needed You Most by Randy Vanwarmer

If You Remember Me by Chris Thomspon

[chacoguy]

Rough God is what I listen to when I despair.

[WhyNot]

My first thought is Don't Speak. Got every cliche in the book, but there's nothing like it for belting out pain over a break up. When it's a romantic heartbreak, this is my go to catharsis.

Me second thought was Calling All Angels (the Jane Siberry one). Anguish, but also the ray of hope theme going on, and another fun one to sing along with. The concert memory I treasure most was hearing this live and singing along through streaming tears.

But then I read the thread, and Hallelujah is a way better answer.

[Mosier]

What's love got to do with it?

[Equipoise]

I didn't hear this song until years later, but my first marriage broke up because of infidelity. Now whenever I hear this song it reminds me of that. I like the utter contempt so beautifully rendered.

"If So"

I ask you, now tell the truth
I ask you, was it worth the price you paid
If so...

I know you loved me darling
But I need to know, did you mean to hurt me so
If so...

Go away, very far away, take your leave
I'll never hate you, I'll never think of you
And I'll never grieve

Did you want it all... free love
Did it satisfy, was it your intention to deceive?
If so...

...

For those who like really angry Fuck You songs, Zoe's "Hammer" is a great one. Violent and funny.

"If I had a hammer, I'd hit you on the head
I wouldn't stop a-pounding til I knew you were dead

If I had a dagger, I'm sure I'd drive it in
I wouldn't stop a-twistin' til you repent all your sins

...

If I had a dollar, I wouldn't give you a single dime
I'd spend it all on myself and show myself a good time"

[KinkiNipponTourist]

Never Gonna Fall in Love Again, Eric Carmen.

[Ranchoth]

"Casey would waltz with the strawberry blonde/and the band...played...on...!"

[dropzone]

Originally Posted by Fenris

The breakup WAS the fight, all that was left was the...paperwork, so to speak...and then and had to drive back to school (about 4 hours) at night, in a thunderstorm. and Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse Of the Heart" came on.

I don't care how hyper-over-dramatic and angsty the lyrics are*, that is my go-to break-up song. I don't know if it counts as good or not. The tune is great, the lyrics are over-the-top drama, but...evocative...maybe if it were sung to a guitar and a piano as opposed to a 100 piece orchestra better suited for Wagnarian opera by someone who can put more feeling than "LET'S BE LOUD!" into it it would be a good song. But the Tyler-version? Not so much.


*Although, I gotta admit, "I don't know what to do/I'm always in the dark/We're livin' in a powderkeg/and givin' off sparks" pretty much described my feelings right then, perfectly.

That is a great song! And a pretty good breakup song. Jim Steinman has always done over the top breakup songs, like Two Out of Three Ain't Bad.

[dropzone]

Originally Posted by Ranchoth

"Casey would waltz with the strawberry blonde/and the band...played...on...!"

Eve, you shouldn't use Ranchoth's login.

[Kimmy_Gibbler]

Nothing beats Nico's These Days

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xkg...ese-days_music

"I've been out walking
I don't do too much talking these days
These days
These days I seem to think a lot
about the things that I forgot to do
.... And all the times I had the chance to

* * *

Please don't confront me with my failures;
I had not forgotten them."

The anthem of so many of my pity parties.

[Kimmy_Gibbler]

Honorable mention for "It's Not Right (But It's Okay) (Thunderpuss Remix)"

Break it down for a mothafucka, Miss Whitney.

[LegendHasit]

Mariah Carey's "Someday" comforted me during a very bad, heart-wrenching "soul mate" breakup in '91.

A few years later it came true.

[CanvasShoes]

Roxette "Must Have Been Love"
Garth Brooks "Make You Feel My Love"

[amarinth]

Because of the explicit direction of the OP - I'm not mentioning the good heartbreak songs ("Hallelujah" is a good song, overused in film and tv and a bit of a cliche, but it's a good song) - so here are the horrible ones

"Against All Odds" (AKA "Take a Look at Me Now") - Phil Colins
"All Cried Out" - Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam
"Didn't We Almost Have It All" - Whitney Houston
"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" - Toni Braxton featuring Kenny G
"This Ain't a Love Song" - Bon Jovi

[Ranchoth]

Originally Posted by dropzone

Eve, you shouldn't use Ranchoth's login.

...que?

(I just wonder who would have come up if I'd gone with George Jones)

[Dendarii Dame]

For me, it's "I Am a Rock" by Simon & Garfunkel

For whoever lived in the apartment above mine about 25 years ago, it was "At This Moment" by Billy Vera. That song was played about twenty-five times in a row.

[dropzone]

Originally Posted by Ranchoth

(I just wonder who would have come up if I'd gone with George Jones)

Since that is THE GREATEST COUNTRY SONG OF ALL TIME it wouldn't qualify for the thread.

[Larry Borgia]

A lot of people here didn't read the OP. It asks for terrible songs, not good songs.

Don't have much to contribute myself. If I got my heart broke, I'd just get drunk and put on some loud heavy rock.

[salinqmind]

Oh, I didn't notice the 'terrible' heartbreak song, either!

I'll have to change my answer, since I gave two 'good' examples. I will go with....oh.....BeeGees "How Do You Mend A Broken Heart", also. Not that it's so very terrible, but it's one of their lesser efforts and sort of frivolous if you REALLY are heartbroken.

[JohnGalt]

Although I agree with I Am a Rock, my go-to song was always Cherish by the Association: Cherish Lyrics - it's just so sad.

[WhyNot]

Originally Posted by Larry Borgia

A lot of people here didn't read the OP. It asks for terrible songs, not good songs.

Oops, sorry. I'll claim temporary dyslexia. By the time I got to the reply button, I had already reparsed the title in my head as "Your go-to terrible heartbreak song."

So yes, then, "Don't Speak" would be it.

[MeanOldLady]

Originally Posted by jali

I'm Not Your Superwoman by Karyn White.

Screaming the chorus used to help me.

I remember singing the hell out of this song when the worst heartbreak I had ever endured was the cute boy in class not giving me a Valentine's Day card. Ridiculous.

Originally Posted by An Gadaí

Honey.


/thread

Wow. Very strong performance.

Originally Posted by amarinth

"Against All Odds" (AKA "Take a Look at Me Now") - Phil Colins

Ah yes, this one comes up always for me as well. Not on infinite loop, no, but it will come up at some point every single time.

So for some reason "Holding Back the Years" was in my head, trying to get it out, I scoffed to myself, my god, what a horrible song. Then I said, "Hey, go easy on that song. It has cried you through every break up you have ever had."

Btw, "Holding Back the Ears" -- Wtf?

[Scupper]

Atmosphere - Joy Division

Mysterious Ways - U2

[SaharaTea]

"I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys. I don't even know what the lyrics are supposed to mean. But it's awesome to sing along with after a crappy breakup.

[tanstaafl]

You said terrible, so...

Time For Me to Fly - REO Speedwagon

"I make you laugh, and you make me cry. I believe it's time for me to fly"

[dropzone]

Originally Posted by An Gadaí

Honey.

Originally Posted by MeanOldLady

Wow. Very strong performance.

A stronger performance, now with more Officer Judy!

[Declan]

I'd put my vote out for Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow and pictures

Declan

[Cub Mistress]

Originally Posted by WhyNot

Oops, sorry. I'll claim temporary dyslexia. By the time I got to the reply button, I had already reparsed the title in my head as "Your go-to terrible heartbreak song."

Yeah, I somehow changed it to "terrible heartbreak song" in my head too.

out of the Wayback machine: Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive.

[MeanOldLady]

Originally Posted by SaharaTea

"I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys. I don't even know what the lyrics are supposed to mean. But it's awesome to sing along with after a crappy breakup.

I can't believe this. You do not listen to Backstreet Boys when you're wallowing in a breakup.

Originally Posted by tanstaafl

You said terrible, so...

Time For Me to Fly - REO Speedwagon

"I make you laugh, and you make me cry. I believe it's time for me to fly"

This is pretty awful, yup, but those pants make up for it.

[Blank Slate]

Rita Coolidge - We're All Alone

Last time I had a broken heart I played this one song over and over and it was fucking terrible. God I HATED that song, so I tortured myself endlessly with it. The melody is maudlin and the lyrics are bad 7th grade poetry. If I owned a gun I would have shot the stereo and then myself.

[gwendee]

No link, for which you should probably be grateful:

I'm Not Lisa

[Rucksinator]

Originally Posted by Dendarii Dame

For me, it's "I Am a Rock" by Simon & Garfunkel

For whoever lived in the apartment above mine about 25 years ago, it was "At This Moment" by Billy Vera. That song was played about twenty-five times in a row.

Apparently Alex P. Keaton was living above you.

I was going to recommend "Goodnight Elisabeth" by The Counting Crows as a good song to listen to to make yourself feel bad about getting dumped, but apparently that's not what the OP is about. So, nevermind.

[SweetLucy]

"Freebird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd (I can't hear the song without bawling)
"Time" by the Alan Parsons Project

[River Hippie]

Eric Clapton's version of "Further On Up The Road"