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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Temple chapter.

No matter what stage you’re in of your breakup — whether it be the “beginning ugly cry” stage, the “bad-ass over it” stage, or the “just trying to move tf on” stage, I have cultivated the ULTIMATE list of songs to get you through this tough time. It’s true what they say — music really does heal the soul if you allow it to, and at one point or another, we all really need to let it. So if you’re looking for some serious break up bops, you have come to the right place. 

Stage One: Songs for the Sad

Okay… so we all know crying is key to starting the healing process and ~none~ of us like it, but if you’re going to do it, do it right. Here are some top-notch sob songs, that if you haven’t already, you should give a listen to (and for the full effect, singing along is certainly required).

  1. “So-Sick” – Ne-Yo

  2. “Someone Like You” – Adele

  3. “Circles” – Post Malone 

  4. “Fall Apart” – Post Malone

  5. “Good Riddance” – Green Day

  6. “Lose You to Love Me” – Selena Gomez

  7. “The Night We Met” – Lord Huron

  8. “Ivy” – Frank Ocean

  9. “Someone You Loved” – Lewis Capaldi

  10. “Cigarette Day Dreams” – Cage the Elephant

  11. “Stay” – Rihanna

  12. “i hate u, i love u” – Gnash

And for the love of all things good, please do NOT cry over this person a second longer than necessary — wipe those tears, put on a fresh coat of mascara and start blasting the next list of songs. Believe me, they’ll help! (P.S. notice this list is the shortest, there is a reason for that! Don’t keep yourself cooped up for longer than need be. Move on to stage TWO!)

Stage Two: Songs for Remembering WHO YOU ARE 

Hurray! You’ve decided you’re over the crying, and even if you’re not, you’re over the sad music at least. Breakups suck, and often times we forget just how amazing we are on our own, but I’m here to remind you. You were happy before you met them, and you’ll be happy again now that they’re gone. It’s alright not to be 100% just yet, but these tunes are almost guaranteed to help you get there. (I recommend dancing to this set).

  1. “Sunday Best” – Surfaces

  2. “Mambo No. 5” – Lou Bega 

  3. “No Scrubs” – TLC 

  4. “Irreplaceable” – Beyonce 

  5. “Bulletproof” – La Roux

  6. “Don’t Call Me Up” – Mabel

  7. “No Drama” – Tinashe

  8. “Miss Independent” – Ne-Yo

  9. “Love Myself” – Hailee Steinfeld

  10. “F**k You” – CeeLo Green 

  11. “Juicy” – Doja Cat 

  12. “Truth Hurts” – Lizzo

  13. “You Oughta Know” – Alanis Morissette

  14. “Grow a Pair” – Kesha

  15. “wish u the best” – blackbear

While there are about a hundred more great songs I could list, these are the top ones I listened to on repeat to get my ex off of my mind, and myself back on it! The time has come to stop thinking about your happiness with them, and to start focusing on your happiness with yourself! Embrace the awesomeness of being happy on your own — it’s a powerful thing! 

Stage 3 : Songs for Moving On 

Congrats! You’ve either made it to the end of the cycle, OR you’re ready to take the final step there. Maybe you are at the tail-end of the anger phase, or you’re just ready to be happy with yourself (or someone else) and it’s time for the happy music! The right song can have you smiling and in a great mood almost immediately, and it’s high time you start dancing to the sound of these happy beats. (Oh yes.. It is now time to sing and dance — get up and get jamming).

  1. “Tongue Tied” – Group Love

  2. “Helena Beat” – Foster the People 

  3. “Lisztomania” – Phoenix

  4. “Movin’ Up” – Quality Control

  5. “Blueberry Faygo” – Little Mosey 

  6. “Look at Her Now” – Selena Gomez

  7. “Glitter” – BENEE

  8. “Magic in the Hamptons” – Social House

  9. “Chlorine (Alt Mix)” – twenty one pilots

  10. “This Head I Hold” – Electric Guest 

  11. “thank u, next” – Ariana Grande (Of COURSE)

  12. “Used to Love You” – Gwen Stefani 

  13. “Caroline” – Amine

  14. “Cough Syrup” – Young the Giant 

  15. “The Walker” – Fitz and the Tantrums 

I hope some of these songs are music to your ears and help with any emotions that you may or may not be trying to work through. All in all, music is such a powerful source of energy — the right soundtrack can set your mood for the whole day if you let it! Don’t let the pain of a heartbreak take over your life, sift your way through it with a healthy outlet like dancing around to some of these powerful songs! 

 

Shannon Forman

Temple '22

Shannon is a Sophomore at Temple University in the Fox School of Business. She is writer for Temple's chapter of Her Campus, a lover of all things Pinterest related, and an avid online shopper. When she's not in class you can find her either curled up rewatching Vampire Diaries for the 100th time or on her laptop scrolling through Pinterest pages!
When Rachel isn't obsessively drinking iced coffee by the gallon or binge watching true crime videos on YouTube, you can probably find her writing about her failed love life. She is currently a  junior (*she's ancient*) journalism major at Temple University, and is a Her Campus Temple Campus Correspondent, a Temple Student Government Social Media Manager and a 2020 Owl Team Student Coordinator.