Break Up Songs

Breaking up hurts. Bad. But whether you’re on the receiving end of the bad news, or laying it on the line for an unsuspecting other, there can be comfort in knowing that nearly everyone feels the fallout from the big heave-ho at one time or another, and that includes our brokenhearted Break Up Songs Essentials artists, who transform the pain of parting into something transcendent. Like Lady Antebellum, who detail the depths of late-night desperation on the full confession “Need You Now.” Or Cee Lo Green, who gives the former owner of his heart a righteous, raunchy retro kiss-off on “F**k You.” And Kelly Clarkson, who’s doing just fine, thank you, on “Since U Been Gone.”

“No More Tears (Enough Is Enough),” declare Barbra Streisand and the late Donna Summer on their double-strength duet, but we’ve got way more break up songs in Next Steps.

Even a H.A.M. rapper like Kanye West has feelings; he just tries to keep them out of sight, if not quite out of earshot on a heart-baring “Love Lockdown.” Every artist has his or her own splitsville scenario, so while neo-soul siren Erykah Badu is telling it like it is on a scorching live “Tyrone,” jazzy Britpop combo the Beautiful South sing a story-song of sweet, sweet just deserts on “A Little Time.” Emo outfit Boys Like Girls are feeling the after-effects of romantic overindulgence on “Love Drunk,” as Miranda Lambert rewards her wayward lover with some honky-tonk H-E-double-L on a white-hot “White Liar.”

That feels a little better now, doesn’t it? Keep the musical healing process on track in Deep Cuts.

REO Speedwagon have found a quick route out on their classic-rock fare-thee-well “Time for Me to Fly;” but after spending so much time luring loved ones into his boudoir d’amour, Teddy Pendergrass just can’t find the way to call it a day on his sorrowful soul surrender “It’s Over.” The Ben Folds Five features one indignant ivory-tickler on a brash and bitter “Song for the Dumped,” but Lily Allen is feeling far more cheerful at the thought of a certain someone’s suffering on a so-long-sucker “Smile.”