# Whiny Break-up Songs & Empowering Break-up Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 5, 2013, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179 "2013-06-05T03:04:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hottius\_Maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@Hottius\_Maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hottius_Maximus)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/1 "2013-06-05T03:04:57Z")
What songs come to mind when you think of a whiny singer crooning about a broken heart or lost love? I’ll give my own examples of what I mean. Songs like “This Old Heart Of Mine” (any version), “The Cheater” by Bob Kuban, and Connie Francis singing “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” reflect a narrator that is pining for somebody that mistreated them and yet they STILL want this person BACK in their love lives–PATHETIC! These are examples of whiny breakup songs. In contrast, “These Boots Are Made For Walking” by Nancy Sinatra, “Evil Woman” by ELO, or “Red Rubber Ball” by The Cyrkle actually has the narrators telling the offending parties that they are finished with them and their nonsense, and how much better the narrators feel by ridding themselves of these negative people. So what can the SDMB members come up with? I’m sure that there are plenty of examples out there. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/2 "2013-06-05T03:18:32Z")
Jane Olivor, _[Beautiful Sadness](http://www.lyrics.com/beautiful-sadness-lyrics-jane-olivor.html)_ Just because it’s over doesn’t mean it didn’t happen Doesn’t mean it wasn’t beautiful, even with the pain ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/3 "2013-06-05T03:38:47Z")
I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor ---
**Author:** ![Kasper1014](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c89c15/32.png) [@Kasper1014](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kasper1014)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/4 "2013-06-05T03:48:45Z")
Silver Springs by Fleetwood Mac ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/5 "2013-06-05T03:52:02Z")
Heart Like a Wheel - McGarrigles’ version: Some say death is a tragedy It comes once and it’s over But my only wish is for that deep dark abyss For what’s the use of living with no true lover ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/6 "2013-06-05T04:29:51Z")
A couple of great kiss-off songs: John Entwistle’s darkly hilarious [I Feel Better](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwIhnyXw3Eo) _When I’m feeling sad I remember that you were the worst lay I ever had And I feel better_ Steppenwolf’s [Who Needs Ya](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC9wT4aEyRg) _Now you can save your lip Just pack your grip And leave a trail of smoke behind you!_ ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/7 "2013-06-05T06:06:55Z")
“Song For The Dumped”-Ben Folds Five [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MjkMh0tKCZo/hqdefault.jpg "Song for The Dumped- Ben Folds Five") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjkMh0tKCZo) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/8 "2013-06-05T10:38:41Z")
Most whiny, please don’t leave me break up song: Boys II Men’s End of the Road. Most empowering has got to be Cee Lo Green’s Fuck You. Healthiest break up song: Green Day’s Good Riddance. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/9 "2013-06-05T11:24:49Z")
A great kiss-off song: [“One More Minute”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWhpk-8QLFQ) by Weird Al Yankovic. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/10 "2013-06-05T11:40:58Z")
> [@Hottius\_Maximus](#): > > What songs come to mind when you think of a whiny singer crooning about a broken heart or lost love? “You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you.” She sings it like it’s an self-empowering put-down of her ex – but since you can’t help but figure there’s nothing vain about just being accurate, she kinda sounds less _‘I am so totally over you’_ and more _‘I remain obsessed with the Most Interesting Man In The World, à la Dos Equis, and will keep going on and on about him. He once said we made such a pretty pair! Did I ever tell you that? We didn’t need dialogue! We had faces!’_ ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/11 "2013-06-05T12:48:12Z")
empowering _Smile_ by Lily Allen ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/12 "2013-06-05T13:49:02Z")
I don’t have an example at hand but I hate songs where the singer, always female, says some variant of “You’re going to miss me so much but I’ve already forgotten you”. Honey, he broke up with you and he’s off watching TV, eating pizza and planning how to get into your best friend’s pants while you’re at home writing songs about him. You already lost that fight. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/13 "2013-06-05T13:56:03Z")
[I’ll Sail This Ship Alone](http://www.muzu.tv/thebeautifulsouthdemon/ill-sail-this-ship-alone-music-video/713854/) by **The Beautiful South** : If, if you swear that you no longer care Well then I’ll sail this ship alone I’ll sail this ship alone Between the pain and the pleasure I’ll sail this ship alone Amongst the sharks and the treasure If you would rather go your way then go your way I’ll sail this ship alone Well they said if I burnt myself alive That you’d come running back ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/14 "2013-06-05T14:52:33Z")
Whiny: How Am I Supposed To Live Without You (When I’ve Been Loving You So Long), by Michael Bolton Empowering: We Are Never Getting Together Again, by Taylor Swift ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/15 "2013-06-05T15:46:14Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I don’t have an example at hand but I hate songs where the singer, always female, says some variant of “You’re going to miss me so much but I’ve already forgotten you”. > > Honey, he broke up with you and he’s off watching TV, eating pizza and planning how to get into your best friend’s pants while you’re at home writing songs about him. You already lost that fight. Unless he’s sitting around writing “Somebody That I Used To Know”. Good gods that is the whiniest ass song ever. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/16 "2013-06-05T16:50:53Z")
The Byrds - [Feel A Whole Lot Better](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaYqfI_tCkM). ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/17 "2013-06-05T17:05:11Z")
For whiney ass, there’s Loudon Wainwright III’s “Unrequited to the Nth Degree”. And maybe even Clapton’s “Bell Bottom Blues”. On the other hand, David Bromberg’s “I Refuse To Be Your Fool!” is pretty much an FU to the girl. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/18 "2013-06-05T17:13:05Z")
Bob Mould’s “Out of Your Life”: Definitely empowering, and a song I couldn’t listen to when it came out because it hit a little too close to home at the time. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6Z07ds8xglk/hqdefault.jpg "Bob Mould - Out of Your Life") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z07ds8xglk) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/19 "2013-06-05T17:23:35Z")
So, which side does _“You Oughta Know”_ fall on? Kinda whiny, but it also kicks ass. ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179/20 "2013-06-05T17:48:42Z")
“Screaming Infidelities” by Dashboard Confessional is easily the whiniest. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whiny-break-up-songs-empowering-break-up-songs/660179.md?page=2)