Top 12 songs about breakups #2

“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
Is this the ultimate breakup song? It's impossible to sing the chorus without puffing your chest out and holding your head up defiantly, even if you're happily married. Perhaps surprisingly, "I Will Survive" wasn't inspired by heartbreak but was written for Gloria Gaynor by her producers as a pick-me-up while she spent six months in hospital recovering from a back injury. She was in a back brace when she recorded it, which probably added to the sincerity with which she states her intention to survive (she was happily married at the time). Famously, "I Will Survive" was actually the B-side of her single Substitute. Thankfully, DJs flipped the record over and it went on to win the 1979 Grammy for Best Disco Recording and become an anthem for gay men and downtrodden women everywhere.

“D.I.V.O.R.C.E.” by Tammy Wynette
Despite being best known for singing the feminist-angering "Stand By Your Man," Tammy Wynette had already tackled marital separation, a year earlier with her 1968 single "D-I-V-O-R-C-E." The First Lady of Country's first U.S. number one hit was sung from a wife and mother's point of view, spelling out the words so as not to upset her young children about the impending fate of their family life. Tammy herself had already been married twice (one divorced, one annulled) by the time she recorded the song and would go on to marry a further three times. She sure knew what she was singing about.

“These Boots Are Made For Walkin” by Nancy Sinatra
When the late Lee Hazelwood wrote "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" he intended it as a "joke song" and included it in his own repertoire. But when Frank's daughter Nancy Sinatra heard him sing it, she felt it sounded mean and would be far more "cute" coming from a woman. Lee added a seedy touch to Nancy's 1966 single by instructing her to sing it as if she were a 16-year-old girl ditching a 40-year-old man! The single was a worldwide chart topper just as her recording contract was up for renewal. The resulting bidding war added an extra element to the lyrics' celebration of independent women.

“I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” by Otis Redding
Most breakup songs depict those resigned to their broken heart, some are even resentful, but in reality most relationships end with some undignified pleading from the jilted party. Such an action would be futile unless you possessed the unearthly vocal power of soul legend Otis Redding. Penned by Redding and Jerry Butler, and released in 1965, "I've Been Loving You Too Long" is the sound of a man with nothing left to lose. Literally on his knees, Otis begs his lover not to end the affair, even though he admits: "You are tired and your love is growing cold". The record fades out on the great man repeatedly screaming: "I love you", seemingly in vain.