10 Best Revenge Songs For the Broken-Hearted

Music is one of the most powerful tools to use when we are feeling lonely and deeply hurt. In the span of two days, Miley Cyrus and Shakira took the internet by storm with their latest singles, "Flowers" and "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53." The "revenge song" has become a staple for musicians going through heartbreak, especially those with famous exes. Cyrus' track seems to be an inverted version of Bruno Mars's "When I Was Your Man" which fans pointed out was her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth's song to her, while Shakira's new song is quite clearly taking shots at Gerard Piqué and his new girlfriend, Clara Chia Marti. 

No matter where you are in your breakup, there's something powerful about a revenge song that artists have clearly realized. These 10 songs are bound to make you feel like a new person and remind you just how strong you really are.

After a few years of being divorced from Hemsworth, Miley Cyrus has finally released a single about their 10-year-long relationship. The couple definitely had their fair share of drama, but as we can see, Cyrus has come to terms with her past.   

Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" is one of the most significant breakup songs of the early 2000s. With a mix of pop, rock, and electronic sounds, it is the perfect song to blast through your house as you let it all out.

Although this song isn't so well-known, it still hits the spot if you're in need of a strong, independent, female voice. Nicki Minaj expresses how much she regrets one of her past relationships and prays that her ex "burns in hell." Don't we all sometimes?

Shakira and Piqué’s breakup has been messy since the beginning. The pair was together for nearly 12 years and had two children together, before announcing their divorce in June 2022. In her latest release, Shakira expresses that she was out of her ex's league and how he left her stronger than ever.

This song is for a specific type of ex: one that is so high on his horse that he doesn't even pay attention to his significant other. Carly Simon's hit has been surrounded with speculation for years about who the song was about, but no one actually knows for sure. In 2015, Simon confirmed that only the second verse is about Warren Beatty, her partner from the early 1970s.  

Tate McRae has recently risen to fame for her heartfelt and deeply emotional music. In "Don't Come Back," McRae is under the impression that her boyfriend is thinking about ending their relationship, but she assures him that she won't be phased by it at all. There is no going back. 

"Bust Your Windows" is based off of real events from Jazmine Sullivan's past relationships, she admitted in a 2015 interview. If you're angry, just like she was, this is the perfect song to sing along to. It'll get your heart pumping and energy flowing.

It's no secret that Taylor Swift is the master of breakup music, and she has countless of songs to prove it. This one in particular is about one of her early splits as a teenager. If you're feeling nostalgic and want to feel like a 16-year-old again, listen to this.

Although originally meant to be a country song, Beyoncé successfully created one of the best R&B records of all time. "Irreplaceable" tells the story of a woman who has been cheated on by her lover, but she assures him she won't miss him when he leaves. It's the perfect tune if you need to feel some self-love.

If there could be any female-empowerment anthem, this song would be it. Although it was not originally written to be a love song, the lyrics mean different things to each listener. With her potent voice, Gloria Gaynor reminds everyone that they will survive whatever hardship comes their way.