'Every breath you take ' The Police this seemed to be played all the time after the end of my first serious relationship in 1983
'Love on the Rocks' Neil Diamond
'You've lost that loving feelin' Righteous Brothers.

Oldies but goodies

Words and music by Kris Kristofferson

Don't look so sad;
I know it's over;
But life goes on and this old world will keep on turning.
Let's just be glad we had some time to spend together
There's no need to watch the bridges that we're burning.

Lay your head upon my pillow,
Hold your warm and tender body close to mine.
Hear the whisper of the raindrops
Blowing soft against the window
And make believe you love me one more time
For the good times.

I'll get along; you'll find another;
And I'll be here if you should find you ever need me.
Don't say a word about tomorrow or forever.
There'll be time enough for sadness when you leave me.

Lay your head upon my pillow,
Hold your warm and tender body close to mine.
Hear the whisper of the raindrops
Blowing soft against the window
And make believe you love me one more time
For the good times.

The Wrens - She Sends Kissess

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK3AMhNpg_k
(the video is a bit silly - but the band never made one themselves AFAIK)

From my (much) younger years, Another One Bites the Dust and from my divorce Think Twice, Celine Dion. Both make me smile with the memory now!

The White Stripes - You Don't Know What Love Is, You Just Do As You're Told

Numb by Linkin Park - perfect summary of reason for break-up

And when I'd recovered from the split it was a song called "Shut up" - dont' know the band but again, lyrics were spot on.

GNR have some funny, in-your face break-up songs. My personal favourites are 'Back Off Bitch' and their classic parody track, 'Used To Love Her'.

Divine - You Think You're A Man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiIJOB0GLW4

I Will Survive (of course)

and nobody's mentioned I'm Still Standing by Elton John...

Both defiant and feelgood!

Michelle Branch - Goodbye To You

(The single version sounds more empowering and 'defiant', if you will, but I find her voice a little too whiny in some parts. The album version is sadder and more reflective, but her voice sounds better on it.)

Much of Alanis Morissette's back catalogue could fall into this category, but I won't make a list

I Hate Your Guts - Pride & Glory
Get The F**k Out - Skid Row
Used To Love Her - G'N'F'R

I'm not bitter honest

Amy Winehouse - Wake up alone sums up what I think everyone feels when they have to deal with the end of the relationship.

After listening to that, put Kelly Clarkson - Since you've been gone on. Favourite it seems!

I'm working on getting on the Lily Allen - Smile mindset....!

Thought I would just give this a little bump as I believe everyone needs some of these songs sometime in their life. Anyway, my top break up songs would be:

1) Hard-fi - Better do better - some of the lyrics in this really hit fairly hard, and tells a great story of really hitting rock bottom, however, the ending message is positive overall

2) Eamon - F**k it - Its a bit chavish I know, but its gotta be one of the ultimate songs if your relationship ended on a bitter note, totally sticks it to the cow

3) Kieth urban - tonight I wanna cry - not a very positive song overall, but good if you just want a good cry, however the sense of hopelessness may not appeal to some

4) Too sorry for apologise - sleep the pain away - same as 3

5) Roy orbison - crying - same as 4 and 3

all out of love - air supply
love on the rocks - neil diamond

So Happy- Theory of a Deadman

Has to be Kelly Clarkson, in years to come she will be remembered as the Breakup Queen.

Since You been Gone-Obviously
Behind these Hazel Eyes-Tells the full story of a relationship basically
Walk Away- Love the shouty "Just LEAVE!" towards the end
Breakaway-"I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly, though its not easy to tell you goodbye"
Never Again-Does it hurt? To know I'll never be there, bet it sucks, seeing my face everywhere it was you, who chose to end it like you did.
Don't Waste Your Time -Especially if you ended it, "Don't waste your time, trying to fix, what I want to erase, what I need to forget"

I don't need to fall at your feet,
Just because you cut me to the bone.
And I won't miss
the way that you kiss me,
we were never carved in stone.
If I don't listen to the talk of the town,
Then maybe I can fool myself.

I'll get over you, I know I will.
I'll pretend my ships not sinking.
And I'll tell myself,
I'm over you.
Cos I'm the king of wishful thinking

Thats the one for me, (Go west - King of wishful thinking by the way - 80s classic.

Wake me up when september ends - Id just broken up with my first proper boyfriend at the beginning of september after seeing Green Day at Leeds Festival when I first heard this song. I cant bring myself to listen to it, it makes me weep and I know thats not what the song or the video were about.

Has to be 'Heart Of The Matter' by Don Henley.

Probably one of the best breakup songs ever written.
As he says in this intro to it 'It took 42 years to write and 4 minutes to sing'

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FLgUuHl2xJo

Taio Cruiz - Movin On

'I can't wait till you gone away, so then I can move On'

Sugababes' Ugly :sleep: .

"And if I'm ugly then so are you... Then so are you...".

Now that I'm ugly or anything !

jordin sparks - tattoo

Rise - Gabrielle is a good one! The lyrics anyway.

Leona Lewis - Better In Time

"Thought I couldn't live without you, it's gonna hurt when it heals too, but it'll all get better in time."

Bob Dylan - When you go your way and I go mine - off Blonde on Blonde

But the best and possibly the best single ever

Joy Division - Love will tear us apart again