Sunday, September 09, 2007

Heartbreak List


Using the beloved itunes and ipod, I listen to two podcasts a week. I listen to Car Talk and This American Life. They are free on itunes and bring much joy, reflection, and humor to my life while I clean the kitchen, drive to Ikea, or participate in general life activities.

I listened to a particularly connective episode of This American Life this weekend. It was from last week and it was titled Break Up.

It has been awhile since I went through a break up, let alone one where I was being dumped, yet this topic hooked me.

Like all episodes of This American Life, there are several stories throughout the hour, but Starlee Kine's tale of heartbreak hit a nerve. She tells about her relationship with "Anthony", the corniest relationship she ever had. The kind where they talked for hours, listened to hours of music...corny music too...and to make it even more corny, he dumped her on New Year's Eve. She tells about how they listened to a lot of Phil Collins during their relationship. At first, it was an ironic-lark kind of thing, but then they found a true appreciation for Phil Collins.

Starlee talks about love songs and more specifically, break-up songs. I don't have much use for them anymore, but I do like them because they are just so darn sad. When I was broken up with once, all I did was listen to sad songs and would search out the saddest song I could find. My friend Janelle was really into this past time. When we were in junior high, we'd talk about how it was better to be in the depths of despair than content. Man, I am glad I am not 15 again.

After the break-up, Starlee turned to music. Well, I don't want to tell the story because she tells it so much better. Listen to it here.

So, in honor last week's This American Life, I will share my top ten Break-Up Songs! Feel free to add to the list. There are just too many to have just ten. And don't be surprised if there are some deliciously guilty pleasures on this list.

  1. You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette
  2. Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers
  3. Somebody's Crying by Chris Isaak
  4. I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You by Colin Hay
  5. With or Without You by U2
  6. Bell Bottom Blues by Eric Clapton
  7. Dreaming With a Broken Heart by John Mayer
  8. Can't Let Go by Lucinda Williams
  9. Against All Odds by Phil Collins
  10. You Were Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson

4 comments:

Aaron said...

I love listening to the Car Talk and This American Life podcasts, although I listen to them at work if I am doing something for which it wouldn't ruin my concentration to listen to them. I too found the breakup story involving Phil Collins quite interesting. At first I was only half listening to it, so I had to back ir up to hear that she did indeed talk to Phil Collins.

Anonymous said...

Chicago's greatest hits. That's all I'm going to say.

Rhiannon

Carm said...

Someone Else's Star by Brian White was one song that was a sad one... And Missing You by John Waite... I could do a top ten list of my own. I might have to check out the podcast and do just that!

patrick | steed said...

I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You is, to me, the greatest breakup song ever. But not even just breakup. Even just heartache over someone you can't have. I'll have to think about this some more.