Playlist: Discovering Your Ex Is A Shitty Person

Posted byAli

on July 18, 2012

You've already done the breaking up part, but now you're realizing your ex is a shitty person. It's okay, we all have (at least) one. I prescribe this playlist as an antidote to most shitty ex situations. Whether you're just coming to terms with your wasted time, celebrating your single status, or just really fucking pissed, no worries. I've got you covered.

STREAM THE PLAYLIST HERE

Gives You Hell - The All-American Rejects
Shut Up And Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
God Must Have Spent A Little Less Time - Toxic Audio
Take Me Or Leave Me - Rent, Original Broadway Cast
Don't Drink Poison - Le Tigre
Gold Guns Girls - Metric
Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) - Beyoncé
Letter Read - Rachael Yamagata
Burning Bridges - Chris Pureka
Hate (I Really Don't Like You) - Plain White T's
Fuck You - Vitamin String Quartet
Dickhead - Kate Nash
Funhouse - P!nk
So Long - Ingrid Michaelson
Tired Of It - The Waffle Stompers
Shake It Out - Florence + The Machine
I Don't Know - Lisa Hannigan

Discovering Your Ex Is A Shitty Person from Autostraddle on 8tracks.

Add your favorite shitty ex related tracks in the comments below!

Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit Crystal up on Formspring and someone of the team will make it for you.

80 responses to “Playlist: Discovering Your Ex Is A Shitty Person”

Zahra (member)
July 18, 2012 at 1:16 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Is there a spotify version of this playlist/other playlists?

1
1. Ali (member)
  July 18, 2012 at 6:19 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I don’t happen to have a Spotify version of it, no darling. Sorry. I dunno about the other playlists, this is my first one.
  
  0
2. jenn
  July 18, 2012 at 9:07 pm Permalink Reply
  
  there is now
  
  2
terracottatoes (member)
July 18, 2012 at 1:21 pm Permalink Reply Report user

this has been discussed in several comment threads lately, but i neeeeeed to say this. i need to talk about this incredible phenomenon, that being the IMPECCABLE TIMING autostraddle has about the publication of its posts. and this is not some horoscope reading-too-much-into-coincidences shit, you guys. (it totally is). it’s freaky though, for reals.

anyway, i am going to be blasting this for the rest of the day and totally not having any feels (liesssss). many thanks!

Wow! 24
AJS
July 18, 2012 at 1:41 pm Permalink Reply

Come Pick Me Up – Ryan Adams
Tears Dry On Their Own – Amy Winehouse

2
Cassandra (member)
July 18, 2012 at 1:46 pm Permalink Reply Report user

HOW DID YOU KNOW

10
1. Cassandra (member)
  July 18, 2012 at 1:52 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I have to second terracottatoes. Me and ex’ve been broken up for four months and I’ve been doing the “let’s be friends we’re both good people it just wasn’t right” dance for 3.99 of them. And then THE WEEK she blows all that out of the water and I hit Rage Speed 11 about what a fucking shitty person she actually is/was to me, bam, AS playlist.
  
  Please never use your powers for evil.
  
  11
  1. terracottatoes (member)
    July 18, 2012 at 2:11 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    7
    1. Cassandra (member)
      July 18, 2012 at 2:23 pm Permalink Reply Report user
      
      Why are we not in the same place so we could have 27 drinks and talk about our feelings.
      
      5
      1. Cassandra (member)
        July 18, 2012 at 2:24 pm Permalink Reply Report user
        
        Like WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE and HNNGGGH
        
        2
        
        terracottatoes (member)
        July 18, 2012 at 2:45 pm Permalink
        
        i feel like we could get drunk and sing the entire hercules soundtrack, what do you say
        
        6
        
        Cassandra (member)
        July 18, 2012 at 3:41 pm Permalink
        
        YES FOREVER, how about now? Is now good for you?
        
        3
  2. Ali (member)
    July 18, 2012 at 2:45 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    Dear Terracottatoes and Cassandra,
    
    It’s because I’m psychic.
    
    Love,
    Ali
    
    6
  3. E (member)
    July 19, 2012 at 2:22 am Permalink Reply Report user
    
    x2, man. x2.
    
    1
Rose (member)
July 18, 2012 at 2:20 pm Permalink Reply Report user

“Red Rubber Ball” by The Cyrkle is the best shitty-ex song ever.

1
andalso (member)
July 18, 2012 at 3:03 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Ali – be honest. Did you make this playlist because you somehow knew I’ve been Googling combinations of “Shake it Out breakup playlist hate her stupid ex” repeatedly for the last week?

That’s impossible for you to have known, you say?

I don’t believe it.

Timing. Thanks.

6
1. E (member)
  July 19, 2012 at 2:24 am Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I’m now honestly curious – how many people have googled that during the past week and of that number, how many are on this website right now?
  
  3
  1. DarcyOH (member)
    July 19, 2012 at 4:04 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    If I hadn’t googled it yet, now I will.
    
    0
giles (member)
July 18, 2012 at 3:12 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Oooooo Burning Bridges

4
1. bookbound (member)
  July 18, 2012 at 9:20 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  oh shit, yes. totally the soundtrack (on repeat) of my last breakup…
  
  2
  1. giles (member)
    July 18, 2012 at 10:30 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    Gad zooks are we the same person?!
    
    1
Sar (member)
July 18, 2012 at 3:25 pm Permalink Reply Report user

have you been….stalking my fb? o.0!!!! jk but for real this was amazing today :O

2
1. Lj (member)
  July 18, 2012 at 9:25 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  THIS. right @sar27? LOL!
  xoxo
  
  0
  1. Sar (member)
    July 19, 2012 at 4:52 am Permalink Reply Report user
    
    for real. ikr
    
    0
Christina (member)
July 18, 2012 at 4:30 pm Permalink Reply Report user

What You Are – Audioslave
Good Will Hunting By Myself – Ludo
Don’t Ask Me – OK Go
Your Guts (I Hate ‘Em) – Reel Big Fish

Uhh, not that I made a playlist for this exact reason last summer, or anything.

3
Digger (member)
July 18, 2012 at 4:43 pm Permalink Reply Report user

The “folkie” in me feels compelled to mention the Joan Baez/Indigo Girls cover of “Don’t Think Twice”..just love that line “…Goodbye is too good a word, babe…” Like yeah..There was nothing “good” about you or this!

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1. kira
  July 18, 2012 at 5:10 pm Permalink Reply
  
  Oooh that cover is amaaaaazing. That song in heavy rotation got me through some bad times.
  
  1
  1. Digger (member)
    July 18, 2012 at 5:17 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    ♫ “I’m not saying you treated me unkind..Could have done better, but I don’t mind..You just sort of wasted my precious time..But don’t think twice, it’s alright” ♫
    
    2
2. Sherri (member)
  July 19, 2012 at 6:41 am Permalink Reply Report user
  
  There’s a pretty great Brandi Carlile/Indigo Girls version too! Love it
  
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Hansen (member)
July 18, 2012 at 4:49 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Best best best “I fucking hate my ex” song is “No Children” by the Mountain Goats.

3
1. Jen
  July 18, 2012 at 6:49 pm Permalink Reply
  
  “I hope you die; I hope we both die!”
  
  1
2. Krissy (member)
  July 18, 2012 at 7:29 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Oh damn I just suggested this in a comment down at the bottom! Oh well. Great minds think alike. It is a beautifully angry song.
  
  0
Carmen (member)
July 18, 2012 at 5:04 pm Permalink Reply Report user

only the extremely emotionally vulnerable are allowed to listen to “fire burns” without judgement.

0
Chloe (member)
July 18, 2012 at 5:46 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Get Gone – Fiona Apple

2
1. girlwithglasses (member)
  July 18, 2012 at 8:35 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  YES! ‘Limp’ is also a great angry tune.
  
  Also Skunk Anansie’s “Glorious Pop Song” – the chorus lyrics are “You’re still a fucker”, and it’s got some great sing/clap-along bits, too!
  
  1
Molly (member)
July 18, 2012 at 5:48 pm Permalink Reply Report user

too fucking relevant

3
Megan (member)
July 18, 2012 at 5:52 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Does “Believe” by Cher work? Is that just me?

4
Anna (member)
July 18, 2012 at 6:19 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Ali, I LITERALLY just got off the phone with my best friend, where I was telling him I’ve realized my ex is a horrible person. GET OUT OF MY BRAIN.

1
1. Anna (member)
  July 18, 2012 at 6:20 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Also, this playlist is perfection. Your taste in music = A+.
  
  1
  1. Ali (member)
    July 18, 2012 at 7:22 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    Dear Anna,
    
    Thank you. I credit the lesbian/queer/bi hive-mind.
    
    Love,
    
    Ali
    
    2
DPreezy (member)
July 18, 2012 at 6:25 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Like I said on Facebook when I saw this post: Is my ex-girlfriend a shitty person? No. Is she a grade A, legendary thundercunt? Absolutely.

15
1. Kat (member)
  July 18, 2012 at 7:44 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  “thundercunt” is my new favorite word. Also, could be my favorite superhero.
  
  13
Julia (member)
July 18, 2012 at 6:51 pm Permalink Reply Report user

“Good Luck” – Lisa Kekaula Feat. Basement Jaxx

1
1. bookbound (member)
  July 18, 2012 at 9:22 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  ^THIS times a million! I was just about to post this. Such a triumphant, rocking, “I don’t need you anyway and I’m stronger/better without you” song AND video.
  
  0
however (member)
July 18, 2012 at 6:57 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I approve, Lisa Hannigan forever

0
Anna (member)
July 18, 2012 at 7:05 pm Permalink Reply Report user

‘done wrong’ by Ani DiFranco
‘going down’ by Ani DiFranco
…hell, most of ‘Dilate’, really. ‘superhero’, ‘dilate’, ‘napoleon’, though that last one could arguably just be about a friend.

But my most intense song of Ani’s, ‘marrow’, would be my ‘ex is a shitty person but Im not that far behind sometimes’ song.

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1. Vanessa (member)
  July 18, 2012 at 7:36 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  oh dear lord ani.
  
  “and you are so lame
  you always dissapoint me
  it’s kind of like our running joke
  but it’s really not funny”
  
  this will never not remind me of that one specific human. jesus.
  
  2
  1. Melrose
    July 18, 2012 at 8:54 pm Permalink Reply
    
    Have we been dating the same person?
    I just broke up with my gf less than 7 days ago.. Actually, I emailed to tell her yet Again that she was still treating me like a bloody option and only wanting me when she’s distraught or needs to be bailed out of jail or from some bender or… And then when the weekend comes along or when I need her, she ain’t there. An you know what that bitch did? Nothing! Haven’t hard a word from her. Mind you, this is 3 days after she declared her undying love for me and how she doesn’t want to lose me and how she wants to treat me much much better than she has been… Thing is, knowing all this doesn’t make the tears and the pain go away
    
    0
    1. theboattimes (member)
      July 18, 2012 at 10:40 pm Permalink Reply Report user
      
      *internet hug*
      I hope things get better soon. <3
      
      0
Krissy (member)
July 18, 2012 at 7:27 pm Permalink Reply Report user

No Children by The Mountain Goats? Eh? Ehhhh?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRP6egIEABk

(but this is only if your ex was a really really shitty person)

3
Kristin (member)
July 18, 2012 at 7:34 pm Permalink Reply Report user

“I didn’t know what hate felt like, not the hate that comes after love. It’s huge and desperate and it longs to be proved wrong. And every day it’s proved right it grows a little more monstrous. If the love was passion, the hate will be obsession. A need to see the once-loved weak and cowed beneath pity. Disgust is close and dignity is far away. The hate is not only for the once loved, it’s for yourself too; how could you ever have loved this?”

If you like this playlist you should probably read The Passion by Jeanette Winterson while you are listening to it.

4
1. A Born Nyan Cat (member)
  July 18, 2012 at 8:12 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  ^THIS!
  
  1
leslie (member)
July 18, 2012 at 9:05 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Yeah, Oh Yeah by the Magnetic Fields. It’s dreary and hateful as FUCK.

2
C Dubs (member)
July 18, 2012 at 9:19 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Rootless Tree – Damien Rice

When you get to yell “Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you and all we been through.”

2
DB
July 18, 2012 at 9:52 pm Permalink Reply

For the country folks out there: “Damn Liar” Cheley Wright(the explicit version of course!)

1
e (member)
July 18, 2012 at 10:21 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Just the Same but Brand New by St. Vincent

1
LA Cee
July 18, 2012 at 11:18 pm Permalink Reply

First off, gotta say I love the playlist. It’s hard for me to relate – my girlfriend’s ex is a shitty person. I’ve seen what it can do. That said, I’m afraid I was the shitty person in my last relationship. If I were my ex, I would be listening to

“Breakfast After Ten” by Blue October

You got to make her know how it feels to miss you
Let her know you’re swapping spit
You’re not the one with all the problems
You’re not the one with all the problems
She’s the one that’s full of shit

1
1. E (member)
  July 19, 2012 at 3:03 am Permalink Reply Report user
  
  blue october holllllaaaaa / epic flashback to being 15 and moody, damn
  
  0
Rebeca (member)
July 18, 2012 at 11:34 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Seventy times seven by Brand New?

“Have another drink and drive yourself home
I hope there’s ice on all the roads
And you can think of me when you forget your seatbelt
and again when your head goes through the windshield”

hahaha. my goodness. has such emo angst ever been written?

Also. Everthing ever recorded by Taking Back Sunday, in particular “you’re so last summer?”

0
1. Kayla
  July 20, 2012 at 3:47 pm Permalink Reply
  
  Who does emo/angsty breakups better than Taking Back Sunday? No one. Ever.
  Also, Seventy times seven was the only cure for my tiny broken baby dyke heart.
  
  0
RHGAL (member)
July 19, 2012 at 3:16 am Permalink Reply Report user

…. I just found out my current non ex is awesome! MEOW

2
Mel Muffins (member)
July 19, 2012 at 3:39 am Permalink Reply Report user

When I was going through a bad break up and right before I drew the courage to leave that decade long exercise in co-dependency, I listened to a lot of Michelle Featherstone. It’s my Mistake and Over You are really good.

Also, Think of Me by the Eyeliners is awesome. Or Slit your own Throat by the Used if you’re still super angry.

1
Lindsey (member)
July 19, 2012 at 4:03 am Permalink Reply Report user

How did you know? It’s like you met my Ex Girlfriend. Now I’m a little sad for you too…..

1
Tallee
July 19, 2012 at 4:15 am Permalink Reply

I’m personally of a fan of Bullet proof – La Roux.
It also encourages me thinking of cute girls instead of batshitcrazyex’s.

3
Tricia (member)
July 19, 2012 at 6:35 am Permalink Reply Report user

sigh – funny how the “hate” ebbs and flows; it can fade away and be manageable and then something will trigger it to come back with a vengeance.

am jealous sometimes of those girls who have such great “friendships” w/ their ex’s.

Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know – New Song but has been good for me recently

1
1. andalso (member)
  July 19, 2012 at 2:23 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Somehow despite “Somebody That I Used to Know” being played on a loop on every radio station in the world for the last 2 months, I didn’t actually listen to the words until last week.
  
  But you didn’t have to cut me off
  Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
  
  Is somehow exactly how I feel. Fml.
  
  0
Sherri (member)
July 19, 2012 at 6:52 am Permalink Reply Report user

made one of these for a friend recently
Survivor (destiny’s child)
You Oughta Know (alanis)
F**k it I don’t want you back (Eamon)
Irreplaceable (Beyonce)
also cold hearted. yes the paula abdul song. that happened.

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B
July 19, 2012 at 8:24 am Permalink Reply

Next Girl – The Black Keys

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coffeeandthepaper
July 19, 2012 at 5:00 pm Permalink Reply

ooooh, this is awesome.

another good post-breakup chris pureka song: “cynical”.

0
Laura (member)
July 19, 2012 at 7:16 pm Permalink Reply

my friend and i spent the last hour of our 13 hours road trip yesterday singing along to “burning bridges” on repeat. what i’m trying to say is i love that song.

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Clary Terrell (member)
July 20, 2012 at 12:13 am Permalink Reply Report user

I have no experience in this area, so I don’t know if this’d help, but a great song that was written for a shitty ex is ‘Song in This Book’ by the Jane Austen Argument. (Or, as it was introduced by Tom the first time I heard it, ‘This is a song about the first guy I fucked!’)

http://music.thejaneaustenargument.net/track/song-in-this-book

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Hilary (member)
July 20, 2012 at 3:54 am Permalink Reply Report user

“Fuck Was I” by Jenny Owen Youngs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZUgFP2LO44&feature=related

It just sort of sums up my last relationship-y thing.

1
Coral
July 22, 2012 at 11:05 am Permalink Reply

Darwin Deez: Bad Day

Joshua Radin: You Got Growin’ Up To Do

Gotye: Somebody That I Used To Know (Feat. Kimbra)

Michael McDonald: I Keep Forgetting

John Mayer: Slow Dancing In a Burning Room

Safetysuit: Stay

0
kpee
July 25, 2012 at 9:04 am Permalink Reply

fire sign by the gossip (for lifffffe)

0
Rebekka @ Becky's Kaleidoscope
July 28, 2012 at 12:58 pm Permalink Reply

Rain On Your Parade – Duffy

“I’m gonna rain on your parade, no I won’t take it again.”

0
Creatrix Tiara
July 29, 2012 at 5:56 am Permalink Reply

“Unlovable” by Darren Hayes; the sheer anger in it stunned me the first time I heard it. I used the line “do I remind you of a part of you that you don’t like” in an art project (originally a kiss-off to an ex who I’m still ambivalent over) by painting it on a rainbow flag and it’s getting great traction at queer rallies.

1
jessica (member)
July 29, 2012 at 5:15 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Deuces:: Chris Brown

0
Tiffany (member)
August 19, 2012 at 8:50 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I hope it’s not to late to say that this is perfect. And I don’t think that’s the lager talking.

0
Bertha Mason lives (member)
September 3, 2012 at 11:03 am Permalink Reply Report user

“Here’s to Your Fuck” by the Gits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tjgrdWgRzE&feature=related

“Too Bad on Your Birthday” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, which is especially good for when something bad happens to the ex, whether your post-breakup life is going well or not. Pure, distilled schadenfreude.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWNp3N30JKs

And “Vindictive” by the Slits or “My Give a Damn’s Busted” by Jo Dee Messina, for when your ex tries to get you back and you’re not buying it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrLMm5d6lqg

0
Rebecca (member)
January 14, 2013 at 6:36 pm Permalink Reply Report user

It feels like such a cliche to suggest it, but I always like Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know – specifically for Kimbra’s bit. Damn if it didn’t feel relevant at the time.

0