Good morning heartache:
I have always turned to music as a solace during any major, bad relationship ending in my life. For many years friends would always ask me, “Why do you have so many b***h did me wrong songs?” and I would reply, “When one does me right, I’ll write something else!” I have been unlucky in love, but luckily this has allowed me to turn lemons into lemonade, and write some amazing songs. Three, from the Cliff Beach catalog, are as follows (All written by me):
Gotta let you go
I recall writing this song lyric very easily. I have only had one long term relationship, and it was great material for songs about anguish and wanting to get out quickly. I was given full artistic license to exaggerate the situation, but the fact was still clear; When you are trying to push someone away sometimes it makes them cling to you more, only making it more difficult to get rid of them.
Notable Lyric: “But you keep comin’ back ain’t that some bullsh*t; this thing is critical; take me literal; you make me miserable; I gotta let you go.”
Final goodbye
So many times in relationships when you have no clear exit strategy you keep coming back to them. People eventually ignore when you tell them you've broken up for good, because they know that you will get back with that person again, and so they just wait for the inevitable to happen. At the end of this relationship all my stuff ended up at the Goodwill, so believe me, that goodbye WAS final!
Notable Lyric: “You can’t break my heart cause it’s already broken; See I’m tired of your bullsh*t and I’m tired of your lies; so pack your sh*t; this is my final goodbye.”
Let Me Down
This was the lead track on both; Who the Funk is Cliff Beach? and Stripped Down & Unplugged, and probably one of my strongest song’s lyrically, to date. I was in a f**ked up relationship, with a girl, that was on again, off again, and she took me through a whole lot of changes. In the end, I cared about her and she cared about me, but it was not meant to be. I was angry; I was emotional; and I let it all pour out on the musical canvas. I painted a very clear picture of how I felt in that moment, and immortalized it in song. The catchy rhythm and melody are there to make it seem happier than it is. There are three sides to every story(their side, my side, and the truth), but I can only tell my side.
Notable Lyric: “I really think that she’s a burglar, wish I could get all the time that she stole! If you’re gonna let me down… just let me know.”
My Top 5 breakup songs
The topic of breakups is no stranger to modern day song lyrics (Taylor Swift’s career basically depends on it), and I thought it would be only fitting to share a few of my all-time favorite breakup songs. I have chosen a few oldies and a few more recent classics, with a mix of covers and originals, crossing genres, to show that breakups have no boundaries and affect us all. I have written the artist, the song title and the songwriters in parentheses below:
1.) Paul Simon -50 ways to leave your lover (Paul Simon)
This song was written after Simon’s first divorce and has to do with a female (in a bar it sounds like) giving a man advice on how to get out of a bad relationship quickly. I really enjoy the use of the different guy’s names in the chorus (Jack, Stan, Roy etc.) to emphasize that it can happen to anyone, and everyone is the same. From the Still Crazy After All These Years album, and a big hit in 1975, it is still great after 40+ years.
Notable Lyric: “There must be fifty ways to leave your lover; You just slip out the back, Jack; Make a new plan, Stan; You don't need to be coy, Roy; Just get yourself free.”
2.) Sinead O’Connor- Nothing compares 2 U (Prince)
Prince has always been lauded as an amazing songwriter and is one of those artists, like Dylan, when you cover them you can score a big hit (think Chaka Khan- I feel for you or Alicia Keys- How come you don’t call me?). This song was a very obscure album filler track, by a Prince off-shoot called “The Family” that Sinead picked up and released in 1990. It had heavy rotation on MTV, with a now iconic video, and such raw passion and emotion. A definite classic!
Notable Lyric: “It's been so lonely without u here; Like a bird without a song; Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling; Tell me baby where did I go wrong; Cause nothing compares; Nothing compares 2 u.”
3.) Ceelo Green- F**K You! (Bruno Mars, Ceelo Green, Philip Lawrence, Brody Brown, & Ari Levine)
This song was written by an up-and coming Bruno Mars, with his writing partners, “The Smeezingtons”, and Ceelo Green. It was written channeling the vibe of Chic Freak Out, where they were using song to mask their disdain, in this instance about the record company that was pushing them to write more hits for Ceelo’s new album. It had a great lyric video that pushed the single and the album to the top of the charts, thanks to some great old-school production and Ceelo’s pristine vocals. He has the charisma and charm to pull of the lyrics; which are tongue and cheek and very to the point.
Notable Lyric: “See you driving 'round town with the girl I love and I'm like f**k you; I guess the change in my pocket wasn't enough, I'm like f**k you and f**k her too!”
4.) Isaac Hayes-I just don’t know what to do with myself (Burt Bacharach and Hal David)
I have been a long time, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach and Hal David fan, since my friend Jason Ray first introduced me to this treasured, 60s songbook of gems. There are so many great versions from Dusty Springfield to The White Stripes, but in my opinion the best version, is the hot , buttery soul of Isaac Hayes, who’s baritone croon only intensifies the sadness of David’s Lyrics and Bacharach’s melody, with this definitive version.
Notable Lyric: “I just don't know what to do with my time; I'm so lonesome for you it's a crime; going to a movie only makes me sad; Parties make me feel twice as bad; When I'm not with you; I just don't know what to do.”
5.) Gotye- Somebody that I used to know (Wally De Backer aka Gotye)
This song was inescapable a few years ago. It reminded me of Sting a little, and I had never heard of these artists before, but loved the simplicity of the video and the production. It even inspired me to write a song based on its sentiment and chord progression, the unreleased Still in love with you, though I have changed it so much now you wouldn’t even notice. That being said, I thought he nailed it out of the park, and featuring Kimbra was a nice touch. I knew it was going to be an international smash hit from the first time I heard it. Unfortunately it did get overplayed, but it still never lost its appeal to me, because it was THAT GOOD!
Notable Lyric: “But you didn't have to cut me off; Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing; and I don't even need your love; But you treat me like a stranger and it feel so rough; No you didn't have to stoop so low; have your friends collect your records and then change your number; I guess that I don't need that though; Now you're just somebody that I used to know.”
So next time you have a relationship ending, instead of going to Facebook to change your relationship status, or donating their juicer and slower cooker to Goodwill (Can you tell I’m still upset by that?), why don’t you pull out your acoustic guitar, or keyboard, and notepad and make the next , You Outta Know? Happy listening to the aforementioned tunes below.
Do you have a favorite break-up mix? Please post in the comments music links, so we can all feel that Summertime Sadness!
I have always turned to music as a solace during any major, bad relationship ending in my life. For many years friends would always ask me, “Why do you have so many b***h did me wrong songs?” and I would reply, “When one does me right, I’ll write something else!” I have been unlucky in love, but luckily this has allowed me to turn lemons into lemonade, and write some amazing songs. Three, from the Cliff Beach catalog, are as follows (All written by me):
Gotta let you go
I recall writing this song lyric very easily. I have only had one long term relationship, and it was great material for songs about anguish and wanting to get out quickly. I was given full artistic license to exaggerate the situation, but the fact was still clear; When you are trying to push someone away sometimes it makes them cling to you more, only making it more difficult to get rid of them.
Notable Lyric: “But you keep comin’ back ain’t that some bullsh*t; this thing is critical; take me literal; you make me miserable; I gotta let you go.”
Final goodbye
So many times in relationships when you have no clear exit strategy you keep coming back to them. People eventually ignore when you tell them you've broken up for good, because they know that you will get back with that person again, and so they just wait for the inevitable to happen. At the end of this relationship all my stuff ended up at the Goodwill, so believe me, that goodbye WAS final!
Notable Lyric: “You can’t break my heart cause it’s already broken; See I’m tired of your bullsh*t and I’m tired of your lies; so pack your sh*t; this is my final goodbye.”
Let Me Down
This was the lead track on both; Who the Funk is Cliff Beach? and Stripped Down & Unplugged, and probably one of my strongest song’s lyrically, to date. I was in a f**ked up relationship, with a girl, that was on again, off again, and she took me through a whole lot of changes. In the end, I cared about her and she cared about me, but it was not meant to be. I was angry; I was emotional; and I let it all pour out on the musical canvas. I painted a very clear picture of how I felt in that moment, and immortalized it in song. The catchy rhythm and melody are there to make it seem happier than it is. There are three sides to every story(their side, my side, and the truth), but I can only tell my side.
Notable Lyric: “I really think that she’s a burglar, wish I could get all the time that she stole! If you’re gonna let me down… just let me know.”
My Top 5 breakup songs
The topic of breakups is no stranger to modern day song lyrics (Taylor Swift’s career basically depends on it), and I thought it would be only fitting to share a few of my all-time favorite breakup songs. I have chosen a few oldies and a few more recent classics, with a mix of covers and originals, crossing genres, to show that breakups have no boundaries and affect us all. I have written the artist, the song title and the songwriters in parentheses below:
1.) Paul Simon -50 ways to leave your lover (Paul Simon)
This song was written after Simon’s first divorce and has to do with a female (in a bar it sounds like) giving a man advice on how to get out of a bad relationship quickly. I really enjoy the use of the different guy’s names in the chorus (Jack, Stan, Roy etc.) to emphasize that it can happen to anyone, and everyone is the same. From the Still Crazy After All These Years album, and a big hit in 1975, it is still great after 40+ years.
Notable Lyric: “There must be fifty ways to leave your lover; You just slip out the back, Jack; Make a new plan, Stan; You don't need to be coy, Roy; Just get yourself free.”
2.) Sinead O’Connor- Nothing compares 2 U (Prince)
Prince has always been lauded as an amazing songwriter and is one of those artists, like Dylan, when you cover them you can score a big hit (think Chaka Khan- I feel for you or Alicia Keys- How come you don’t call me?). This song was a very obscure album filler track, by a Prince off-shoot called “The Family” that Sinead picked up and released in 1990. It had heavy rotation on MTV, with a now iconic video, and such raw passion and emotion. A definite classic!
Notable Lyric: “It's been so lonely without u here; Like a bird without a song; Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling; Tell me baby where did I go wrong; Cause nothing compares; Nothing compares 2 u.”
3.) Ceelo Green- F**K You! (Bruno Mars, Ceelo Green, Philip Lawrence, Brody Brown, & Ari Levine)
This song was written by an up-and coming Bruno Mars, with his writing partners, “The Smeezingtons”, and Ceelo Green. It was written channeling the vibe of Chic Freak Out, where they were using song to mask their disdain, in this instance about the record company that was pushing them to write more hits for Ceelo’s new album. It had a great lyric video that pushed the single and the album to the top of the charts, thanks to some great old-school production and Ceelo’s pristine vocals. He has the charisma and charm to pull of the lyrics; which are tongue and cheek and very to the point.
Notable Lyric: “See you driving 'round town with the girl I love and I'm like f**k you; I guess the change in my pocket wasn't enough, I'm like f**k you and f**k her too!”
4.) Isaac Hayes-I just don’t know what to do with myself (Burt Bacharach and Hal David)
I have been a long time, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach and Hal David fan, since my friend Jason Ray first introduced me to this treasured, 60s songbook of gems. There are so many great versions from Dusty Springfield to The White Stripes, but in my opinion the best version, is the hot , buttery soul of Isaac Hayes, who’s baritone croon only intensifies the sadness of David’s Lyrics and Bacharach’s melody, with this definitive version.
Notable Lyric: “I just don't know what to do with my time; I'm so lonesome for you it's a crime; going to a movie only makes me sad; Parties make me feel twice as bad; When I'm not with you; I just don't know what to do.”
5.) Gotye- Somebody that I used to know (Wally De Backer aka Gotye)
This song was inescapable a few years ago. It reminded me of Sting a little, and I had never heard of these artists before, but loved the simplicity of the video and the production. It even inspired me to write a song based on its sentiment and chord progression, the unreleased Still in love with you, though I have changed it so much now you wouldn’t even notice. That being said, I thought he nailed it out of the park, and featuring Kimbra was a nice touch. I knew it was going to be an international smash hit from the first time I heard it. Unfortunately it did get overplayed, but it still never lost its appeal to me, because it was THAT GOOD!
Notable Lyric: “But you didn't have to cut me off; Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing; and I don't even need your love; But you treat me like a stranger and it feel so rough; No you didn't have to stoop so low; have your friends collect your records and then change your number; I guess that I don't need that though; Now you're just somebody that I used to know.”
So next time you have a relationship ending, instead of going to Facebook to change your relationship status, or donating their juicer and slower cooker to Goodwill (Can you tell I’m still upset by that?), why don’t you pull out your acoustic guitar, or keyboard, and notepad and make the next , You Outta Know? Happy listening to the aforementioned tunes below.
Do you have a favorite break-up mix? Please post in the comments music links, so we can all feel that Summertime Sadness!