We’ve all been in the situation where we need to sit down and listen to a song that says hey, I don’t need you. Whether it is due to going through a bad break-up, losing a friend, or feeling worthless, sometimes we just need to sit down and get all of our emotions out. Nothing helps getting through a bad day than an intense ballad full of contempt and scorn aimed at the person who quote on quote did you wrong. What are the criteria for the perfect “screw you” songs? Obviously it has to have lyrics that are disdainful and adequately send the message that said person initiates vomiting whenever they are thought of. Not only does the song need good lyrics, it also needs vocals that back up the emotions of the lyrics. Whether it is an aguish filled screamer, or a distressed songstress, powerful vocals add meaning and increase the validity of the lyrics.
Now I’m not a music connoisseur or anything but I know how things make me feel, and nothing makes me feel like beating some ass more than an intense guitar solo or drum beat. Although the music does not necessarily have to be angry in order to be a great “screw you” song, it certainly does increase the adrenaline and help the listener vent more efficiently. Speaking of venting, the song must be relatable in order to help with the healing process. No one wants to hear a song about a fairytale life when they are stressed out and pissed at the world. Personally, I want to hear songs that I can connect to on my emotional journey towards soothing my pain. It helps to know that if the artist got through it, then we can probably get through it. Ultimately, the songs need to be emotional and let the listener know that the artist doesn’t need whoever or whatever it is they are talking about.
Recently, as I was trying to get through a painful breakup, I carefully comprised a list of five songs that are the epitome of the perfect songs that say, “Life is great without you, and I hope I never have to see your ugly face again.” May these songs be beneficial and help with the healing process like they helped me.
“I Hate Everything about You” by Three Days Grace
Besides the fact that the title adequately gets the point of the song across to the artist’s audience, this is the perfect song to rock out to when thinking about that one person that nobody can stand. Let’s start with the fact that Adam Gontier, the lead singer of Three Days Grace, has no problem telling his ex-girlfriend that he, well, hates everything about her. Although some may argue that the lyrics are not very dynamic and comprise of 3 repeating verses, they do a great job of getting his scornful message across. He questions the love for his ex-girlfriend when he contemptuously claims, “Only when I stop to think about it, I hate everything about you. Why do I love you?” something no girl wants to hear. It is kind of hard not to get the point when he screams out this chorus full of hate. One could argue that there are other alternative rock songs that could take the place of this one. For example “All these things I hate about you” by Bullet for my Valentine has an equally infuriated title, however; it lacks the harmonization of livid lyrics and intense instrumentals making it kind of unbelievable. What I like the most about “I hate everything about you” is that it builds up anger just like how it would build in a real life situation. Starting off with a slow guitar and drum combo and then exploding with a drumroll, piercing vocals, and a blast of the electric guitar when reaching the chorus enables the listener to really feel how much fury is built up inside of him, making this the perfect song to lash out to.
“Cleaning out my Closet” by Eminem
Contrary to the popular belief that Eminem is a want to be black rapper who just writes about how his life sucks, he is actually a lyrical genius. Taking a closer look at the song, “Cleaning out my Closet”, shows just how much pain he has been through in his life. Although the rap has a basic beat that is easy to bob your head to and not very complex, the combination of Eminem’s lyrics and vocals make it an awesome song that clearly says, “I hate you”. The compelling lyrics are an exemplary rebuttal to how badly his mother has treated him. When Eminem spits the line, “see what hurts me the most is you won't admit you was wrong, bitch, do your song, keep tellin' yourself that you was a mom,” the listener knows that the he is pissed and wants his mom to realize how much she hurt him. What makes this song relatable is the fact that it is so personal. Many people have felt betrayed by a family member or someone who they thought would always be there for them, enabling them to make a personal connection to Eminem. Another rap song that could be considered for this category is,” Sky’s the Limit “by Lil Wayne. However, although the song does possess some lyrics that describe how he’s mad at the world, other lyrics such as, “Self-made G, and them bitches know the business,” make the song cliché and hard to relate to because the majority of us are not self-made millionaires. Eminem does not hold back any of his emotions, and his hurt is prevalent in the furious tone of his voice as he tears his mother apart. The listener can actually feel the pain and resentment that he is feeling through the power of his vocals. Although Eminem’s songs may not be appealing to many adults because of the immense usage of profanity, sometimes dropping the “F” bomb is the only way to express your anger.
“Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood
Now I know what generally comes to mind when a country song is mentioned; oh great, another depressing song about a lying no good cheater that leaves his girl and drives away in the sunset. However, “Before he cheats” is not your typical country song. Carrie Underwood does an exemplary job letting her ex know that she is not a force to reckon with; especially when she’s equipped with a set of keys and a bat and is not afraid to use them. Also, it doesn’t hurt that she puts down her ex’s new lover because let’s be honest, as girls we can’t resist a good trash talking about the frivolous wench that took our man. What I like about, “Before He Cheats” is that it isn’t your typical poppy girl-power song. Starting off with a slow ¾ drum beat and violin combo, the song builds up tension until it reaches the crescendo and you know she is about to do work on his car. Carrie clearly wrote this song for her ex-boyfriend but what makes it great is that anyone who has ever been cheated on, guy or girl can feel empowered by listening to her robust vocals which exemplify the rage she is feeling. Carrie’s normally sultry vocals take a sharp turn as she belts out the chorus, “I took a Louisville slugger to both head lights, slashed a hole in all 4 tires, and maybe next time he'll think before he cheats,” and lets everyone know that if you mess with her, she will get you where it hurts the most. We can all agree that nothing depicts the picture of sweet revenge and says bite me like a bashed in headlight.
“Fuck You, Very Much” by Lily Allen
Alright, so the title of the song may not be very classy but before you roll your eyes with disgust and turn away, give the song a chance. This is probably one of my favorite songs because it isn’t dedicated to a boyfriend or girlfriend like the majority of the songs we talked about. It is a jab at society and all of the small minded people that inhabit it. What makes this song a perfect fit for the “screw you” genre are her sardonic lyrics. Lily Allen’s humorous lyrics essentially tell anyone who thinks that being gay is wrong or being different is weird to well, fuck off. Anyone who has ever felt angered or offended by the negative comments spoken by conformists would get a kick out of this song. Her quirky voice is a nice change of pace to the quintessential angry vocals associated with songs in this genre. Although hardcore vocals and rage-filled guitar solos are great to listen to when you’re angry, sometimes it helps to listen to a song that chills you out instead of making you want to drive someone’s head through a wall. The 4/4 drumbeat and elegant piano playing harmonized with Lily’s lively voice makes the song gentle on the ears, yet with lyrics like, “Cause we hate what you do and we hate your whole crew so please don't stay in touch,” she lets her audience know that their negativity is not welcome around her. One can listen to this satirical serenade to calm down and laugh at the ignorance in the world.
“Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap
While going through my previously mentioned break-up, I listened to this song on repeat for a week. Before listening to this song, take a seat because it is so emotional that it has been known to knock people off of their feet. Contrasting from the other songs in this top five list; there are absolutely no instrumentals in this ballad and Imogen Heap’s voice is the only source of melody in this song. Many people would argue that a song without instrumentals is like soup without salt; completely bland. However, Imogen Heap pairs her unique baritone voice with profound metaphors to sardonically make it known to her ex that even though he deeply hurt her, she can see through his lies and realize that she is glad they broke up. By painfully singing, “mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut outs, speak no feeling no I don't believe you, you don't care a bit,” the listener can tell that her ex was full of empty words and she is over it. What makes this song so relatable is that the listener can actually feel how she felt when she found out that her significant other broke up with her throughout the song; a complex feeling that most of us have had before. Rising from alto to soprano, her astounding vocals go through the highs and lows of the emotional stages that she feels; first the bewilderment, then the pain, and then finally the anger. The lyrics in the song are perfectly harmonized with her voice because her tone changes along with the words; connecting the listener with her pain and allowing the soul to pour out all of its emotion and heal.
Ultimately the perfect song that says “screw you” has to be relatable and enable the listener to release all of their harnessed emotions. The vocals must be powerful and successfully back up the words that they are singing; if they don’t then the artist just looks like a hypocrite and will probably just piss off the listener even more. Depending on the listener’s mood the instrumentals can either be hardcore if they are angry, or mellow when they just want to sit down and cry. However, the one thing that is not subject to change is the fact that the song has to be heartfelt and convey the message that the artist is disgusted by whatever it is they are talking about. Listening to songs that fit these criteria can effectively help someone vent feelings of mass destruction and shitty people; without winding up in jail.
