In anticipation of Valentine's Day, our thoughts turn to romance and relationships. Love songs are fine, but breakup songs are fun! In January, we asked our patrons and staff "What are your favorite songs to say 'Good riddance?'" And for the unrepentant romantics among us, "What are your favorite songs to say 'Baby, come back?'"
We met online on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at noon to share and discuss these songs in our monthly music discussion group, Music Talk. The full Music Talk: Breakups and Makeups playlist is now up on Spotify and you can follow Alachua County Library District's account for more playlists to come. You can find many of the music CDs with these songs in our catalog or on our new streaming service, hoopla.
Don't forget to mark your calendar for the next Music Talk! We'll meet on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m. on Zoom for Music Talk: Family Favorites. March is "Sing with Your Child Month." In preparation, we'd like to know what are your favorite songs for children. These could be songs you enjoy sharing with the little ones in your life or they could be songs that you remember loving as a child. Email librarian Cameron with your song choice, along with a sentence or two about why you chose it. He’ll add it to the ACLD Music Talk: Family Favorites playlist on Spotify and have it queued up to play during the live program. If you don’t have a song in mind, come to the program anyway to hear some great tunes and join in on the conversation.
These are our favorite breakup songs and makeup songs:
“Hi, it’s Me” and “Deal With It” by Ashnikko
“In one song she’s trying to remind herself to keep from making the same mistakes with a guy and in the other she’s telling the guy they are over, so just deal with it.” – Melissa J.
“Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé
“This will make you jump up and dance around the living room with friends while you celebrate and boast of your newly found freedom and the pitiful condition you watched your ex walk away in.” – Tabre W.
“Bleed Out” by Blue October
“I think the best breakup songs are heavy with angst, and this one surely is. The lyrics speak from the perspective of someone who gives in a relationship and never receives anything back, and the imagery the lyricist uses is very to the point and intense. It’s dramatic and beautiful in its sadness.” – Sally F.
“Un-Break My Heart” by Toni Braxton
“Secrets by Toni Braxton was the second CD I ever bought. This track got played on repeat when my first love broke up with me.” – Beth N.
"Private Number" by Judy Clay and William Bell
“Pop music, at its best, gives a rush by packing outsized emotions into bite-sized packages, and this song is a perfect example. Within just a couple of verses and choruses of “Private Number,” we feel the pain of longing and the joy and relief of reunion. Judy Clay and William Bell were each roughly 30 when this song was released (ancient, as far as pop music goes), but their advanced age serves the song. The couple in the song have loved each other too long to be separated by something as trivial as distance or “other fellas.” I’ve listened to this song probably a hundred times, but the way Clay sings ‘Welcome home/Nothing’s wrong’ gets me every time.” – Cameron B.
“Cry Me a River” by Lisa Ekdahl
“I love the whole CD, When Did You Leave Heaven. I love her voice, it is so not what I think of when I think ‘jazz.’ I love Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Billie Holiday – those deep, sultry voices. Lisa is so light, I think it lets the emotion and beauty of the lyrics shine through. And when that first love kept stringing me along, boy did I cry a river over him.” – Beth N.
“I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” by Aretha Franklin
"Everyone else knows a breakup needs to happen, but the stupor of love won’t allow it. This feeling is celebrated, and feels so good, in Aretha Franklin’s 'I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)'…Yes, Aretha!” – Tabre W.
“F*** You” by CeeLo Green
“There is nothing as cathartic as cursing at the top of your lungs while singing this song.” – Janna H.
“If Loving You is Wrong, I Don’t Want to be Right” by Luther Ingram
“It is a song of forbidden love and the lyrics are ones that tell how some people try to justify doing wrong - cheating. The music and the beat are really what draw the person in. Very popular in its day.” – Phillis F.
"Breaking Us in Two" by Joe Jackson
“‘Breaking Us in Two’ is the saddest breakup song I can think of and the couple never even splits up. Whatever spark there was has flickered out, but they’ll probably stay together out of inertia, I guess. Joe Jackson’s depressing insight is that relationships are less likely to end in flames than in resignation and indifference. Still a jam, though.” - Cameron B.
“So Far Away” and “It’s Too Late” by Carole King
“Carole King’s Tapestry album got me through some of my darkest breakup days. Definitely very old school, but also classic. There are many great songs on the album, but two of them helped me to unleash the sadness and fury after parting ways. ‘So Far Away’ speaks to the physical and emotional distance of two lovers. ‘It’s Too Late' is the ultimate in realizing that there’s no repairing a relationship and it’s heading for a breakup.” – Cindy B.
“Curious” by Hayley Kiyoko
“‘Curious’ is a bop. And it gets bonus points for looking at queerness and going back into/refusing to leave the closet.” – Mercedes G.
“F***Your Sunshine” by Łaszewo
“This song by Łaszewo acknowledges the hurt of a breakup while also laying down a strong boundary of where the person stands now in not letting their ex-lover back in their life.” – Sofia E.
“Trash” by Little Mix
“This is the perfect ‘good riddance’ song and is super fun to scream-sing in your car - a must for any good breakup playlist.” – Jordyn C.
“Don’t Call Me Up” by Mabel
“Another great ‘good riddance, we’re moving on’ song, but this one is PERFECT for dancing around your house while working through that breakup.” – Jordyn C.
“I Don’t Want to Get over You” by The Magnetic Fields
“I love it, especially this verse ‘Or I could make a career of being blue / I could dress in black and read Camus / Smoke clove cigarettes and drink Vermouth / Like I was 17, that would be a scream / But I don't wanna get over you.’”– Kristen F.
“You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette
“No explanation necessary, I think. My generation’s cathartic song about being dumped and replaced.” – Melissa J.
“I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt
“‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ is my all-time favorite breakup song. This song captures the feelings and emotions of unrequited love. It also helps to deal with the acceptance that comes when someone you love does not return your feelings.” – Nicole W.
“Keep on Loving You” by REO Speedwagon
“On the making up side, a power ballad came right into my brain, and even though the lyrics aren’t exactly about making up, it could be about unconditional love and forgiveness.” – Cindy B.
“Traitor” by Olivia Rodrigo
“Teenagers know all about heartache and Rodrigo knows how to put it to song.” – Janna H.
“The lyrics and sentiment of this song mirror the mix of raw emotions one goes through during a breakup (and possibly considering a makeup).” – Jeremy M.
“I Don’t Feel Like Loving You Today” by Gretchen Wilson
“This song is so honest. Relationships are hard. Sometimes you don’t like the person, sometimes they treat you badly. But they’re the ONE. And even though they screw up, you’re going forgive them, get over it, and be with them always.” – Beth N.
“You Just Don’t Wanna Know” by Marvin Winans
“‘You Just Don’t Want to Know’ is a lean-back-and-sip-tea-while-you-softly-cry-alone type of song.” – Tabre W.
“One More Minute” by ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic.
“Here’s one to make everyone laugh.” – Sally F.
Some other favorite breakup songs:
“Moral of the Story” by Ashe, “I Hope” by Gabby Barrett, “I Will Survive” by Cake, “Cold As You” and “When It Rains It Pours” by Luke Combs, “Don't Start Now” by Dua Lipa, “I Don’t Care About You” by Lake Street Dive, “I Think I Need a New Heart” by The Magnetic Fields, “What Hurts The Most” by Rascal Flatts, “Check Please” by Haley Reinhart, “Hell of a Girl” by SAYGRACE, “Whiskey Glasses” by Morgan Wallen, “Like I Loved You” and “Mercy” by Brett Young, “(Not) the Love of My Life” by Yuna