Steve's iPod Playlist (Vol. 3 --Break Up Songs)

My latest installment of my playlist series is my breakup song playlist. This is kind of funny because I've never really had a major break up. I just find these songs interesting, and I love the emotion some of them convey. Some of these songs are sad, some funny, and some down right nasty. Hope you enjoy the list. Watch for adult content warning on a few songs, avoid playing these songs for the kids.

1.) Should have Said No-- Taylor Swift: One of Taylor's less well know songs. I swear if you listen you can picture scenes from the Ross & Rachel break up episode of Friends (Season 3, episode 15 &16).

2.)H-A-T-R-E-D-- Tonio K.: ADULT CONTENT WARNING: It starts off like a folk lament and transitions to a punk rock rant at an ex calling her every name on the planet. How every guy would LIKE to handle their break-up. As the music fades though you hear him say, "but then again maybe with a little couples therapy we could work this out"

3.) One More Minute-- Weird Al Yankovic: Hilarious country sound song. "I'd rather spend eternity eating shards of broken glass than to spend one more minute with you." Breaking up has never been so harshly fun.

4.) Better Than I Thought It'd Be-- Trace Adkins: After his girl leaves, he finds that eating cold pizza and watching what you want on TV isn't as bad as he'd imagined. pretty funny.

5.) Ur So Gay (live acoustic version) --Katy Perry: ADULT CONTENT WARNING Katy disses on an ex boyfriend who was part of the metro-sexual crowd. Petty harsh. The version from her MTV unplugged album is classic, with audience participation. On the video she explained that she knew it was time to break up with him when he started wearing her jeans.

6.) In Pictures-- Alabama: Ok, I'm not sure if this is a song about a broken marriage, or just the hardship of a musician always on the road. But the sadness of watching a child grow only in pictures just makes me cry.

7.) What She's Doing Now-- Garth Brooks: A classic song about the girl who leaves your life, but never leaves your thoughts.

8.) Dontcha Want me now?-- Debbie Gibson: A scorned girlfriends asks her ex if he's missing her. If she isn't just what he'd wanted now that he's tried a few other choices.

9.) Knowing Me, Knowing You-- ABBA: Once comprised of two married couples, the supergroup was two divorced couples at the height of their fame. Amazing two me that the two girls so passionately sing these words, penned by their ex's.

10.) Ain't No Sunshine-- Adam Again: the classic Bill Withers tune, cover here in an amazing version by Gene Eugene and his band Adam Again. You know the song, check out this version.

11.) Tell Me on a Sunday-- Bernadette Peters: From the amazing one woman musically by Andrew LLoyd Webber (Song & Dance) A young British woman starting on her own in America tells her boyfriend exactly how she wants to break up, knowing it will happen sooner or later.

12.) Can't Be Really Gone-- Tim McGraw: Looking around the house he sees all the signs that she will come back. Half read books, favorite clothes, all the things she wouldn't leave behind.

13.) Hurting Each Other-- The Carpenters: We know we're in love, but we keep doing stupid things that hurt the other person. And Karen's voice can just make you melt.

14.) According To You-- Orianthi: Besides Orianthi's amazing guitar work, smart lyrics about a girl who is leaving a guy who doesn't appreciate her in favor of a guy who thinks she's amazing. changes keys and tone when going from one guy to the other in the lyrics.

15.) Gonna Get Along Without You Now-- She & Him: Actress Zooey Deschanel is so brilliant in her musical outing She & Him. This upbeat break up song from Volume 2 is catchy fun and smart. Yes, we were good, but I'll be moving on now.

16.) All Out of Love-- Air Supply: Pure 70's sap. You know the song, and as much as you hate to admit it, you love it too!

17.) Walls Of Silence-- Leslie Phillips: An amazingly smart and sharp look at divorce, and the communication break downs that usually lead there.

18.) Loving This Way-- CollinRaye: A painfully accurate picture of a relationship where both people know they are wrong for each other, and finally say "I'm tired of loving this way."

19.) What About The Love We Made-- Shelby Lynne: A divorced couple dividing their possessions, realizing how hard it is on their daughter, and how they can't divide her love in two.

20.) Jar of Hearts-- Christina Perri: Amazing emotional powerful song, about a guy who goes from girl to girl emotionally tearing them apart. And one girl who says, no, you can't come back and do that to me again. LOVE THIS SONG!!!

Steve's iPod Playlist (Vol.2.2 --Destress Music continued)

Today I will continue my look at my Destress Playlist. This list is a list of songs that help me when I get stressed out (which NEVER happens) I will try to explain what tunes I use for different situations, and how they help me, although the power of music is sometimes hard to explain.

11.) Hold Me, Jesus-- Rich Mullins: The late Rich Mullins is the only artist with multiple entries on this list, because he had a way of touching your heart and making the spiritual real in your everyday life. This song is a cry for Jesus to hold you through the hard times. My favorite line, "I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want than take what You give that I need". Ain't that the truth.

12.) Let the Waters Rise-- Mikeschair: A new song by a relatively new group. This song passed the goose bump test the first time I heard it. It basically says that there will be troubles in life, life isn't easy, but with God on your side, bring it on, "Let the Waters Rise".

13.) I Still Believe (The Great Design)-- The Call: This song was huge when I was in college. A version was featured in Lost Boys. It was covered by Russ Taff, Tony Vincent, and several others. But it is the original by The Call with the powerful voice of the late Michael Been that still gives me goose bumps and makes me sing along "I'll march this road, I'll climb this hill, upon my knees if I have to. I'll take my place upon this stage, I'll wait till the end of time for You, like everybody elses."

14.) No Place Closer to Heaven-- Charlie Peacock: My all time favorite singer/songwriter gives us a beautiful love song. Is it man to woman, friend to friend or creation to creator. I think this song covers all three. It is truly a haunting song I can hear again and again with out it ever growing old.

15.) Sanctuary-- Daniel Amos: Terry Taylor, front man of the enigmatic Daniel Amos (and several other groups) is annoying at his worst, but an utter genius at his best. Here you see the later as he describes Jesus as his Sanctuary...that place of strength and security you can run to when you don't have the strength to go on.

16.) Hold On-- Kansas: from the first of three albums from Kansas' Christian period (The time after Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope found Christianity, but before they left the band to form AD). This is the only album from this period to feature the trademark Steve Walsh vocals. And the vocals lift the listener to new heights. "Outside your door He is waiting, waiting for you. Sooner or later you know He's got to come through. No hesitation and no holding back. Just let it all go, and you'll know you're on the right track."

17.) Answers Don't Come Easy-- Leslie Phillips: From her final project for the Christian market Leslie (Sam) Phillips here does something that mainstream Christin music of the mid 80's rarely did. She deals with struggles of faith, and admits that answers don't come easy. This song really rips at my heart because a friend of mine from college, who really was not into Christian music told me how much this album touched him because of her openness and honesty. Shortly after this, he ended his own life. Obviously answers didn't come easy in this situation.

18.) Dare You to Move-- Switchfoot: Late one evening when I was feeling very depressed, I flipped on VH1 and the video for this song was on. I cried my eyes out, and fell instantly in love with this band. Jon foreman is SO amazing at expressing the frailty of life, and the importance of living every moment for God. A real life saving song.

19.) Somewhere-- Rich Mullins: Rich's fervent cry to be taken away "Somewhere beyond these reasons and feelings. Somewhere beyond the passion and fatigue" This song will lift me up when I feel the most spiritually and emotionally drained.

20.) Magnificent-- U2: From their latest album, No Line on the Horizon, Bono and the boys deliver the praise anthem with the most killer bass line. You can't help but get chills as you listen...full volume is best so you can feel the power pulsing in the bass.

21.) Hallelujah-- K.D. Lang: I have at least 10 versions of this song on my iPod. I think K.D.'s is probably the one that soothes me most. Her voice is so pure, and the arrangment just lifts me up.

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS. Hope you can find a song or two here to relieve your stress as well.