11. “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” Beyonce (I Am… Sasha Fierce, 2008)
Whoever didn’t put a ring on Beyonce surely regretted it after watching this amazing video. This song is about showing your ex-boo what he missed, and that if he “Liked it then you should have put a ring on it.” It sounds almost like a taunt, and when you think about it, it is. You had your chance. All the single ladies? Now put your hands up!
12. “Really Don’t Care,” Demi Lovato Feat. Cher Lloyd (Demi, 2013)
If you want to summarize this song into one word, it would have to be “nope.” Do you want to get back together? Nope. Do I still love you? Nope. Why? Because I really don’t care. This sassy and spunky number from Demi celebrates forgetting the person who broke her heart. She confidently sings, “Now if we meet out on the street I won’t be running scared / I’ll walk right up to you and put one finger in the air / And make you understand, and make you understand / You had your chance, had your chance.” She doesn’t want you back in her life even if the stars and moon collide.
13. “Stronger,” Britney Spears (Oops!… I Did It Again, 2000)
In Spears’s first single “…Baby One More Time,” she sings, “My loneliness is killing me.” Two years later she sheds her inhibition and takes on a sexier persona. For “Stronger,” Brit’s third single in her second album, she affirms, “My loneliness ain’t killing me no more.” It’s this line that succinctly describes this song: it’s about being stronger and going her own way.
14. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Taylor Swift (Red, 2012)
No list of #hugot songs wouldn’t be complete without a Taylor Swift number. The best would be “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Don’t be fooled by its twee beat and music video. It’s surprisingly mature in that Taylor is willing to sever all ties with a guy. It’s a clean and swift (lol) breakup – the way it should be. And yes, it should be celebrated.
BONUS: “I Will Survive,” Gloria Gaynor (Love Tracks, 1978)
We wouldn’t finish this list without Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” the most important hugot song. It’s the most empowering breakup song in history and transcends age, social class, and gender. It’s the go-to karaoke song for every brokenhearted person and why not? Gaynor’s soaring vocals reeks of confidence that she will survive and make it after you. When she sings ““I will survive / As long as I know how to love / I know I’ll stay alive / I’ve got all my life to live / And all my love to give and I’ll survive / I, I, I will survive,” it’s impossible not to feel good about yourself, and that you, too, will survive and thrive.
Did we miss a song? Share it in the comments section below!
