Valentine's Day sucks. You have to hear about everyone's "valentine" or who's going to be their valentine, whereas you don't have one. Because for some reason, everyone but you is in a relationship. Of course, there are a couple of cures for Feelingdepressedbecauseeveryonehasasignificantotherbutyou syndrome. But after awhile, listening to The Smiths, eating ice cream and watching Titanic gets to be a bit redundant. Luckily I compiled a list of songs, for all who are alone on the worst day of the year.
Note: Some of the video links may not work on this page, but open them in a new tab and you will be able to hear the songs.
Antwon - SKULLKRUSH
San Jose rapper Antwon weaves a story of a destructive relationship, that he cannot get out of it. Hence his saying "I'm not around you much / but when I am / I feel my skull crush". He also raps over Salem's "Skullcrush", for good measure.
R.E.M. - So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
From the prolific college rock band, Michael Stipe's lyrics are the highlight of this song, whereas most of the time he mumbles though them with strange non-sequiturs. But on "So. Centra Rain (I'm Sorry)", Stipe tells a straightforward story of a bad relationship with lines such as "..but you never called". But when he sings "I'm sorry!" repeatedly through the chorus, you wonder who's fault it is.
Cities Aviv - W E T D R E A M
Memphis via Brooklyn rapper, Cities Aviv just left a girl he met on tour. He's on the flight back to Memphis, thinking about all the drugs he'll be taking to forget this. He's frozen like this New York City weather. Instead of crying, he lets these lyrics flow like water from his eyes.
Caribou - Odessa
Canadian electronic musician, Dan Snaith, under his Caribou moniker tells the story of a woman leaving a relationship (and taking the kids with her). Compared to the other songs on this list, it's not as depressing, because we see the woman break free from the man's stifling grip and starting a life anew.
Girls - Vomit
Based on a true story, lead singer Cristopher Owens sings about going off into the night and searching for his missing girlfriend. He's addicted to this abusive relationship, letting her just disappear whenever she wants. A song so powerful, by the time Owens reaches the end singing, "Come into my heart / my love", you feel his pain.
Kanye West - Blame Game (feat. John Legend)
On this highlight from Mr. West's, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Yeezy and his girl have just broken up. But it's not over with their splitting. They're spreading rumors about each other, try to make each other jealous and her brother uses his money to buy coke! By the time Chris Rock steps in at the end, for an end of song skit, it feels like a relief.
Gang of Four - Anthrax
This song if for all the people who vow never to be in a relationship/love ever again. Just listen to the lyrics, "love'll get you like a case of anthrax / and that's something I don't wanna catch". Gang of Four paint love to be more of a deadly disease than an normal human trait.
Dr. Dre - Bitches Ain't Shit (feat. Snoop Dogg, Dat Nigga Daz, Kurupt & Jewel)
This song's for the fellas. So "Bitches Ain't Shit", is pretty sexist and ladened with misogyny. Yet, as someone who's ever felt betrayed, or used by a girl, this song hits pretty close to home.
Cloud Nothings - Cut You
Another song about a destructive relationship (there are and will be a lot of these!). What's interesting about this song, is how Dylan Baldi is the one causing the destructive relationship. Whereas in many songs, the singer is the victim. But Baldi is the one causing it, with the bridge "I miss you, cause I like damage / I need something I can hurt".
Fugazi - Promises
I don't know why, but when punk bands aren't writing political songs, they write great break up songs. Such as the case with Fugazi's "Promises". Ian MacKaye starts the song sounding like he's making a promise to someone ("we will be / forever), until the chorus when him and Guy Picciotto both scream "PROMISES ARE SHIT!" in unison.
Bloc Party - Talons
"Talons" is off Bloc Party's 2008 album, Intimacy, which is a break up album. But "Talons" is the song where Kele Okereke lashes out at his ex. He thinks he's escaped her grasp, but every night, the thoughts of her come back. He goes through his head of what went wrong before he asks this question: "oh when did you / become such a slut?!"
Madvillain - Fancy Clown (feat. Viktor Vaughn)
DOOM gets into a fight with his alter ego (Viktor Vaughn) over his ex. A song so interesting, personable and strange, that it's something you have to hear.
Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way
Of course this song would be on here. Fleetwood Mac were masters of their craft. They made radio friendly pop music, that contained personal subject matter underneath the surface. "Go Your Own Way" is basically a "screw you" song. Go your own way and do what you want. I don't care about you any more.
Joe Jackson - Is She Really Going Out With Him?
Joe Jackson isn't really depressed or angry in this song. He's just confused. He sees "pretty woman walking with gorillas" down his street. He just doesn't understand why these women are drawn to these men, leaving him to ask the question, "is she really going out with him?".
Grimes - Skin
Grimes' music is always very atmospheric and it's almost impossible to understand what she's singing on many of her songs. But when you hear snippets here and there in "Skin", you notice that the song's about a break up with lyrics such as "you act like nothing ever happened / but it meant the world to me".
Japandroids - I Quit Girls
After going through a break up that was terrible, what do you want to do? You never want to be involved with a member of that sex again in any way. This is exactly what Brian King sings about on the closing song of Japandroids' excellent Post-Nothing. "After her" he quit girls.
Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire - Build-a-Bitch
Even though the song's title refers to females, the "lesson" of the song applies to everyone. eXquire has just broke up with his girlfriend, and this time he's had it, so he decides to "Build-a-Bitch". And his bitch is perfect. She likes all the same music and movies as him. They have sex and play Wii. But soon eXquire has a realization. All these problems involving relationships are life. They'll happen no matter what. You can't build no bitch.
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