Alanis Morrissette
Valentine’s Day is on us again tomorrow and while the world of music loves to gush about the mushy side of love, they’re just as fond of writing about the gloomy and angry side of it.
So, with that in mind, we’ve got a list together for everyone out there who might not have a beau in their lives and wants to have a good old rant against all those horrid love hearts hanging around and gifts of teddy bears and chocolates being delivered to that person in the office.
We’re not interested in the tear-jerkers, so no Adele here then, we’re just looking at the songs that will get us bitter lot through this 24 hours without even a smudge on your makeup.
Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know
It picked up the Grammy for Record Of The Year and was the biggest selling single in the UK last year, but Gotye’s ballad of a relationship gone very wrong makes itself a perfect match with this most annoying of holidays.
The song’s duality is a fantastically original approach though, giving us both sides of a realistically messy breakup in a nicely detached and unsympathetic way.
Click here to download Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know
Kelly Clarkson – Since You’ve Been Gone
While most breakup songs deal with the sadness, not all relationships and meant to last. In fact, getting out of them can be like getting out of a prison. This is something summed up perfectly in this hum-dinger of a track from Kelly Clarkson.
From the rousing guitar riff to the soaring vocals, everything about this song screams freedom. And that, more than anything, sums up what this wee list is all about.
Click here to download Kelly Clarkson – Since You’ve Been Gone
Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way
A lot of heartbreak songs are not so subtly written about specific people (we’re looking at you Miss Swift) but none are quite as clearly directed as Fleetwood Mac’s classic track.
During the recording the amazing album rumours, Fleetwood Mac were imploding with the band being torn apart by drugs, drink and crumbling love. Most publically, singer Stevie Nicks left guitarist Lindsey Buckingham for the arms of drummer Mick Fleetwood and fuelled Buckingham into writing this classic track.
We won’t argue against using the whole of the wonderfully bitter Rumours as the perfect tonic against the terrors of Valentine’s Day, but if you’re to only pick one track, make sure it’s Go Your Own Way.
Click here to download Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way
Alanis Morisette – You Outta Know
There is no fury like a woman scored, and Alanis makes sure to remind everyone exactly why that phrase is banded around so often with this rip-snorter of a track.
This was the song that truly launched Alanis into the stratosphere in the nineties and is truly an anthemic track for anyone who’s ever been on the bad end of a break up. From the snarling guitars to the driving rhythm that urges the song on throughout, this is a brilliantly angry track that always makes for a great listen.
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
While this might not be the original version of the song, or by any means the last, Soft Cell’s version of this song remains the iconic rendition and gets the balance of weird perfectly right.
A song all about the pain of being cheated on, this piece of synth-pop brilliance is the perfect accompaniment
Click here to download Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Cee Lo Green – Forget You
Enough of this moping around, let’s just move on with our lives and get over that rubbish someone. That’s what Cee Lo Green’s trying to do, but that little stab of animosity still there. So, what better way to let it out than with a good old insult?
Cee Lo Green’s song is the perfect mix of anger, humour and just enough devil-may-care attitude to make it a great addition to our little anti-love in.
Click here to download Cee Lo Green – Forget You
Nancy Sinatra – These Boots
A wonderfully independent track from decades ago, this classic Nancy Sinatra song sums up everything we want to stand for. Tired of his lies? Just get on that pair of boots and get walking out of the door.
Nancy told us all to do this way back in 1966, and it’s both a sentiment and a song that are just as current in 2013.
By the way, this is the only version to listen to. Anyone who even mentions the Jessica Simpson travesty should be thrown instantly from your social circle.
Click here to download Nancy Sinatra – These Boots
Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
She’s the queen of these songs, with most of her career based off the break-up song. None quite sum up the way we really want to feel about Valentine’s Day than the song that kicked off her latest album and got everyone’s tongues wagging as to exactly who it was all about.
While it might not be the most mature song ever written, or even the most mature Taylor Swift song written in fact, but it’s wonderfully spiteful and independent content makes it perfect for this list.
Click here to download Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Puddle Of Mudd – She Hates Me
We’ve all been in a relationship that just didn’t go right, and there’s plenty of songs to go with it. However, Puddle Of Mudd’s entry on to this list see the other shoe being worn. What if you were the one to scorn the other and break the relationship?
We don’t know what they did, it really doesn’t matter to be honest, this is a fantastically funny song about being the oaf in a relationship, even if you had all the best intentions.
Click here to download Puddle Of Mudd – She Hates Me
Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
What else do we need to say really, it’s all in the title of the song. It might be over three decades old, but this is a track that feels purpose built for anyone wanting to swear off love for lent and put any mention of the dreaded day to the back of their minds.
Click here to download Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
Feel suitable prepared for this season of horribly oversized stuffed animals and chocolates? If not, then what song do you use to tell the day to buzz off? Let us know in the comments section below.