Heave Media

The Breakin' Hearts Mixtape

Don't break someone's heart - just let music do it.

All good things must come to an end. Or at least that’s the line you can feed someone when you are breaking their heart. Dating is difficult to begin with, but being the “bad guy” who calls it quits might be liberating in the end, but will more than likely offer up an extended period of guilt. Especially if you break their heart and the person cries. We know music can help heal a broken hurt, so surely it can help soften the blow before you actually break that heart. If you can’t find the words to say “we’re through,” take a cue from the mixtape this week and use some of these tunes to call it quits in the game of love.

Mayer Hawthorne - Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out - Leave it to some smooth soul music to make a break-up seem easy and matter of fact. Sure, it still hurts like hell, but everything seems rational when Mayer Hawthorne croons that he’s sorry, but it “just ain’t gonna work out,” proving that presentation is key during the big moments in life.

Rilo Kiley - Breakin’ Up - This is the sappiest, most carefree songs about ending a relationship. Of course you might want to wait until you’re alone to jump up and down and exclaim with Jenny Lewis that “ooh, it feels good to be free!”

The Pipettes - Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me - Maybe the person you are breaking up with is confused. They can’t take a hint, and they don’t understand when you explain to them that the relationship is done. Let the retro British girl group The Pipettes bluntly inform your ex (or soon to be ex) that their kisses are indeed wasted on you.

The Postmarks – Goodbye - This is the most sugary sweet song about leaving someone ever made. A cute girl lightly sings “don’t leave a key underneath the mat for me,” backed by a horn section and bells. If you are going to jump ship, pack your bags and leave, and really chicken out, just leave this song playing on repeat as you walk out the door. I think anyone with half a brain will get the message.

No Doubt - End It On This - Gwen and Tony from No Doubt use to be a couple, broke up, and wrote awesome music about the end of their relationship, including their standout hit “Don’t Speak.” Things worked out nicely after their relationship ended, so take advice from the couple turned friends and “end it on this.”

Sebadoh - Soul And Fire - Enough optimistic upbeat songs to soften the blow while breaking up with someone. Sebadoh brings forth a cold and calculated delivery of the gut wrenching line “I think our love is coming to an end.” That’s about as blunt, honest, and frigid as you can get folks.

Death Cab for Cutie-Tiny Vessels - All right, I know three Death Cab for Cutie songs is excessive, but they really are the leaders in music made by sensitive guys that feel bad about breaking hearts. Ben Gibbard writes about his fair share of personal heartache, but he’s chewed up and spit out many girls in his music as well. He basically sleeps with a girl, and then realizes immediately that he doesn’t care about her, yet softens the blow of his cruel behavior by writing tearjerker indie rock.

Death Cab for Cutie – The Ice Is Getting Thinner - Most people have been in the dying relationship. You stay in it, even though you both know that things are slipping and both are probably miserable. It’s not surprising. The idea of dying alone is terrifying, and who doesn’t like attention and sex, even if it’s dwindling? When the time comes to call it quits for good though, play this song. I think the message will be clear.

Death Cab for Cutie - Someday You Will Be Loved - Still feel like an asshole for dating or sleeping with someone, panicking and wanting to get out immediately? According to this song, leave them a lovely note chocked full of optimism and hope for their future in love, and all will be forgiven. The idea is sweet, but I’d still want to maim the man that would leave this note on my nightstand.

Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye - As far as nostalgic “goodbye, I’ll never see you again but it’s been nice” songs go, Jeff Buckley takes the cake for the best farewell. You have the goodbye, the regret, the denial and second thoughts, and then the resolution that things are truly over. Buckley basically created a song version of break-up conversation, giving you a perfect template to follow along.

Posted by Lisa White on Jun 22, 2009 @ 9:00 am