The Mushpit's Teenage Playlist: Break-Up Anthems

You say it won’t happen but there you are again, sobbing into your garlic and herb dip wondering what went wrong. Gross. Once you peel yourself off the sofa you know the only comfort you’ll find is in the arms of your favorite break up anthem, playing it steadily on repeat 24/7 as you slowly rebuild your personality and forget the arsehole who never quit playing games with your heart.

To make sure you’re always prepared, here are three of our favorites:

THE ELECTRONIC BREAK UP

AVRIL – “I’M WITH YOU”

Well, I guess this wasn’t really a break up because your relationship was purely textual, but hey, you’re still totally gutted he stood you up outside Hollywood Bowl. He was the first guy you’ll refer to as your ‘ex’ (uuuh-lot), and you want all your friends to know about it. For this, you need a song that sounds like an exploding elephant made of broken hearts.

Enter Avril. She’s complicated, just like you.

Though she went on to participate in some seriously un-girl power lyrics (um, “Hey, hey, you, you, I don't like your girlfriend/ No way, no way, I think you need a new one”), gurl knew her way round a break up. And seriously, if a Canadian-come-Camden mega-babe in a wife-beater isn’t enough to get you through this short-lived moment of devastation, then maybe it’s time to tune into something waaaay more serious. Like Deftones.

THE FIRST HEARTBREAK. YOU’RE INCONSOLABLE (KIND OF)

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – "SCAR TISSUE"

Being broken up with when you’re 15 sucks, but what doesn’t suck is finally understanding the true sentiment of songs like “Scar Tissue.” Way before Kings of Leon were the stadium rock band both dads and tweens respected, Anthony Keidis was Q Magazine’s sob rock icon. Anyway, just remember, this is probably the first and last time you’ll sit on the top deck of the 43 pining for a boy who wares trucker hats and raps along to Dizzee Rascal. Enjoy it.

THE "OH SHIT, THIS WAS YOUR SOULM8"

ELLIOTT SMITH – "NEEDLE IN THE HAY"

You’re 18. You’ve almost definitely lost your virginity by now. You’ve just done you’re A-levels, for fuck’s sake. You’ve legitimately joined adulthood and then disaster strikes: your first love runs off with your best friend. Girl, you’re gonna need a seriously heavy-duty Walkman to deal with the amount of spins this Elliott Smith song is about to get. On top of everything, your hormones are making life a bitch right now, but luckily ES totally gets you. Forget letting your Dad take you to Pizza Express to cheer you up, "Needle In The Hay" is the only friend you have right now. You will cry yourself to sleep, but you’re not going to stab yourself in the chest, 'cause that’s just too emo.

Read more girly pop stuff at The Mushpit!

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