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Breakups never sounded so satisfying! Join us as we dive into the most unforgettable anthems of getting even and moving on with style from the 2000s. From sassy callouts to empowering rebounds, these tracks capture every shade of revenge served with a catchy beat. Whether it's smashing headlights or singing your way to strength, these songs brought their own brand of payback to the soundtrack of a decade.
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00:07Welcome to Ms. Mojo and today we're counting down our picks for the best
00:11songs that talk about getting back at an ex. These songs all came out between
00:162000 and 2009 when break-up songs were at their peak.
00:29Number 20, White Liar, Miranda Lambert.
00:40Miranda Lambert has built quite a legacy for herself as a country singer and she came out
00:45of the gate in the early aughts with some of her most infamous songs to date. One of those is
00:50White Liar, which doesn't hold back in exposing lies, deceit, and presumably cheating. The song
00:56details how little white lies add up and eventually ruin everything, but the revenge
01:01twist comes at the end when Lambert expresses that she played him right back.
01:06Here's a bombshell just for you, turns out I've been lying to you.
01:13The song is iconic on its own, but the music video really delivers the revenge. We see
01:18her leave with the best man and we have to say we love this for her.
01:21And I don't know why, why liar.
01:29Number 19, Fighter, Christina Aguilera.
01:39Sometimes the best revenge is none at all. And that's exactly what we get with this battle cry of
01:45a tune from Christina Aguilera. The lyrics in Fighter detail how she was crushed by her partner's
01:50actions. But instead of letting that get her down, she builds herself right back up.
02:02It's a great twist on a revenge song, because we assume that getting back at someone is the
02:07best revenge. But using their actions to become a fighter proves that sometimes it's better to be
02:12grateful rather than spiteful, because in doing so, she reclaims her power. Aguilera has built her
02:19legacy on empowering women through song, and this tune is no exception.
02:31Number 18, I don't want you back. Amen.
02:40If there's one thing better than a revenge song, it's a revenge song that spurs an answer song.
02:46This is the tale of Eamon's blunt and legendary song that is definitely a rant about his breakup.
02:51In it, he talks about being done, being mad, and being over it. It's very relatable for anyone
02:57who's fresh off a breakup and living in the anger stage of grief. But R&B artist Frankie had something
03:08to say about this outspoken song. She clapped back with F U R B, or F U right back, which
03:15details the
03:15other side of the story. And by the end of this whole ordeal, we really don't know whose side we're
03:21on.
03:21Really make me more. I had better sex all alone.
03:28Number 17, So Yesterday, Hilary Duff.
03:37Even as a teenager, Hilary Duff was very in tune with adult-like feelings, including those surrounding
03:43breakups. This is the case for So Yesterday, where she details the end of her romance marked by him
03:49moving on and her essentially being unbothered. Duff talks about not returning his possessions
03:54and not returning any feelings for someone who doesn't have feelings for her.
04:01She lets it go and puts the past in the past, and it's the stuff anthems are made of.
04:06Even though So Yesterday has quintessential early-aughts language,
04:10it's still so relatable to anyone trying to move past a relationship.
04:22Number 16, Misery Business, Paramore.
04:32Paramore is a household name now, especially for those that were deep into their punk era in the
04:372000s. And this song is to thank in large part for that. It speaks to teenagers especially,
04:43as it highlights the chaotic anger that comes along with exploring the ups and downs of romance at that age.
04:56In Misery Business, we see the protagonist journey from having someone stolen from her,
05:01only for her to get the ultimate revenge of stealing him right back. While we acknowledge
05:06that some of the lyrics may be a tad controversial now, we still think this song will be iconic forever.
05:20Number 15, Kiss This, Aaron Tippin.
05:27While country songs are known for their tales of romance, breakups, and everything in between,
05:32some of the best ones also involve revenge. This is the case for this seminal tune by Aaron Tippin.
05:38Kiss This is a cheeky song about his ex wanting him back and him rejecting her, and of course,
05:43inviting her to kiss this. We love the light-hearted, funny feel of this song. And it really shows how
05:56much he's truly moved on from her. We think revenge is a meal best served with indifference. And that's
06:02exactly what Tippin serves up here.
06:10Number 14, Womanizer, Britney Spears.
06:18Britney Spears, icon, feminist, revenge song queen. In Womanizer, she does not hold back on calling out
06:25a womanizer on his ways. And not only is she not falling for it, she's making sure everyone willing
06:31to listen knows exactly who he is. She's truly a girl's girl. And this song highlights that fact,
06:37as she clearly doesn't want any other girl getting duped by this guy's womanizing ways.
06:49We're not surprised that Womanizer was one of Britney Spears' comeback songs in the late 2000s.
06:55Because let's be real, holding toxic men accountable never goes out of style.
07:01You're a womanizer, you're a womanizer, oh, womanizer, oh, you're a womanizer, baby.
07:06Number 13, Call Me When You're Sober, Evanescence.
07:10You're a womanizer, you're a womanizer, oh, womanizer, oh, womanizer, oh, you're a womanizer, baby.
07:17The title of the song highlights its essence, as it tells the tale of someone struggling with
07:23their partner's substance misuse. It's a tune that tragically rings true for so many listeners.
07:28And the words she sings illustrate the pain, the effort, and eventually the boundaries.
07:34Call me when you're sober.
07:41The point of this song is really driven home in the music video, where we see the main character
07:45locked away in a castle, let down by her prince charming. It's a beautiful way to show the
07:51difficulties the song is trying to portray. And in this case, the revenge is the taking back of her own
07:57power.
07:58I've made up your mind.
08:04Number 12, Smile, Lily Allen.
08:07Just when I see you cry, yeah, it makes me smile, yeah, it makes me smile.
08:14Lily Allen is not only an amazing musician, she's mastered the craft of making unfiltered music.
08:20And in doing so, she has made herself incredibly relatable. Who didn't feel the song,
08:26F you, deep in their soul after a messy breakup?
08:37However, the nuance and anger and smile makes it the revenge song that we can't get out of our minds.
08:42In it, she sings about her taking pleasure in his pain, which is certainly a form of revenge,
08:47if we've ever seen one. We don't know exactly who hurt her, but we love the happy,
08:52unbothered spirit of this upbeat song, despite its message.
08:56When I see you cry, yeah, it makes me smile, yeah, it makes me smile.
09:04Number 11, Bust Your Windows, Jasmine Sullivan.
09:08But right now I don't care about that part, I'll bust the windows out your car.
09:15Ever felt like getting some serious justice on your ex? Jasmine Sullivan, thanks to you, we feel seen.
09:21Sometimes revenge is cunning and sly. And sometimes it looks like letting go and moving on.
09:27But sometimes you're left with no choice but to bust the windows out of their car.
09:38Revenge is legendary when it's at its most unhinged. And that's definitely the vibe of Bust Your Windows.
09:44The lyrics are fairly self-evident, and the story is extremely satisfying. Because even if it didn't
09:50heal her broken heart, it no doubt felt good in the moment.
10:01Number 10, Gives You Hell, The All-American Rejects.
10:05Once we heard the title for this song, we knew we were in for a wild ride.
10:15This All-American Rejects track centers around someone who absolutely detests someone who sounds
10:22like their ex. But instead of lashing out directly, the song's lyrics suggest that the best revenge
10:28is living well right in front of the partner that scorned you.
10:37The catchy and thumping chorus makes you feel like screaming the lyrics at the top of your lungs
10:43every time you hear it.
10:49And even though the song points towards an ex, it can easily be redirected to anyone
10:54who scorns you. The track is revenge in all its snarky glory.
10:59Number 9, Hit Em Up Style, Oops, Blue Cantrell.
11:03Although it has the word hit in the title, Blue Cantrell's song is all about getting revenge on
11:08a cheating partner by non-violent means. She recommends hitting an unfaithful love interest
11:13where it really hurts, their wallet.
11:22Cantrell leaves no room for ambiguity, with lyrics like,
11:26get your hands on his cash and spend it to the last dime. Neiman Marcus shopping sprees,
11:32selling off all of his possessions, and even paying all the bills about a month too late
11:36are all fair game. Although Cantrell wasn't a big fan of the song at first,
11:46she included it on an album because she related to it. And we're so thankful that she did.
11:52Fans loved it so much that the song became Cantrell's biggest hit.
11:56Cause revenge is better than money you'll see.
12:02Number 8, Take A Bow, Rihanna.
12:06While some revenge songs focus on people who are still in the middle of a hard situation,
12:11Take A Bow focuses firmly on someone who's already won.
12:20After being cheated on, the narrator takes sweet satisfaction in watching their partner
12:26getting kicked out of their shared home. Rihanna's strong vocals are a great match
12:30for all the taunts and confident words in the song.
12:37And as much as her ex apologizes and tries to get her back, she isn't having any of it.
12:43Rihanna's revenge here comes from standing strong and pushing the unfaithful ex out.
12:49She reminds listeners that you can rise above anyone who sinks so low.
13:02And I was like, why are you so obsessed with me?
13:06For years, the public wondered if Mariah Carey and Eminem ever seriously dated.
13:11While that question hung in the air,
13:13the two musicians definitely kept trading insults through their music.
13:22Their turbulent relationship eventually led to Carey releasing the song Obsessed.
13:28While the track never directly mentions Eminem, it's hard to imagine that it's talking about
13:32anyone else. Carey uses the entire song to call a guy out for constantly lying about his relationship
13:38with her. At some points, she even croons that the dude has a Napoleon complex.
13:48While Eminem is often seen as the king of diss tracks,
13:52this Carey comeback definitely gave him a run for his money.
14:03In 2006, the revenge track What Goes Around Comes Around became Timberlake's third straight
14:09Billboard chart topper.
14:15It features lyrics about a man who discovers his girlfriend is cheating on him with his friend.
14:20But the most iconic love-scorned track in JT's catalog has got to be 2002's Cry Me A River.
14:33In the song, Timberlake calls out his now ex for catching her in an affair.
14:37Despite its sad tone, the track is an absolute bop that we can't help singing along to every time.
14:50The song carries an added sting because many believed it was really about Timberlake talking
14:55about his ex, Britney Spears. In the end, his revenge track was so beloved that it even won a Grammy.
15:07Number 5. Picture to Burn – Taylor Swift
15:10Never one to shy away from expressing her feelings through music,
15:14Taylor Swift's first album featured one of her best revenge tracks.
15:19Picture to Burn focuses on a woman's hatred for an ex-boyfriend.
15:26Although the song is filled with some classic Swift wit,
15:30it also isn't subtle in its contempt for the male subject. Blunt lyrics like
15:34there's no time for tears, I'm just sitting here planning my revenge, make it clear what she wants.
15:39Watch me strike out fast on all my wasted time.
15:44It was clear that a lot of fans felt the same because the song sold
15:47millions of copies and had a strong run on the billboard charts.
15:52Just another picture to burn.
15:56Number 4. Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood
15:59Underwood's massive 2006 crossover hit is a unique revenge song.
16:04Although it's left slightly ambiguous if her partner definitely cheated or not,
16:09she still takes some proactive measures.
16:18Underwood mercilessly keys his truck and smashes his headlights in retaliation.
16:23Her performance is so powerful that we're pretty convinced that he's guilty by the end of the song.
16:28While we don't condone property damage, we absolutely recommend listening to this song on repeat.
16:41The track's cathartic lyrics, great blend of rock and country sensibilities,
16:46and vocals made it a, pun intended, smash hit when it was released.
16:51This revenge song picked up two Grammys,
16:53and gave scorned people everywhere an anthem to blast after a breakup.
17:04Number 3. Irreplaceable – Beyoncé
17:08While tracks are full of suggestions on how to get back an ex,
17:12Beyoncé's Irreplaceable is another song that encourages a simple approach.
17:16In this case, she gets sweet revenge by just kicking an ex out.
17:20And keep talking and nuts, that's fine, but could you walk things out at the same time?
17:25Watching him carry out his stuff in boxes like he's just been fired,
17:29puts a smile all over Beyoncé's face.
17:32Additionally, she makes it clear that he can be easily and swiftly replaced.
17:36I could have another you in a minute, better fact he'll be here in a minute, baby.
17:42One of the best aspects of this song is that Beyoncé
17:45doesn't seem to spend a moment dwelling on the pain or heartbreak of a broken relationship.
17:50Instead, she stands strong and reminds him that he's made the biggest mistake of his life.
17:56It's an incredibly relatable and powerful message.
18:06Number 2. So What – Pink
18:08While Pink was separated from her husband, Carrie Hart,
18:11she penned a song that served as an outlet for all her frustration and aggression.
18:16I guess I just lost my husband, I don't know where he went.
18:20She wastes no time taking shots at him at the beginning of the track,
18:23before insisting that she's going to be fine because of her immense talent.
18:27And guess what, I'm having more fun, and now that we're done.
18:32Despite it being about a rock star, it's still incredibly relatable,
18:36because of the subtle hints throughout the lyrics that she's still in pain.
18:39Although the song is full of vengeance and anger, it's also an absolute blast to sing.
18:49And fortunately, the track came before a happy resolution.
18:54Pink and Hart ended up resolving their differences and getting back together.
18:58However, their reunion hasn't stopped the singer from performing the amazing track.
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19:35Although Clarkson wasn't the first choice for this song,
19:38she definitely left her mark on this track and industry with her incredible performance.
19:49The lyrics tell the relatable story of someone who was burned by a bad ex.
19:53After seeing through their toxic qualities, Clarkson proudly sings that she's finally
19:58feeling like she's in a healthy place with a powerful chorus.
20:09The singer expertly bounces between dissing her ex and showing how much better off she is without him.
20:15Her combination of confidence and anger struck a chord with tons of fans.
20:24While the track picked up a Grammy on its own, the music video won big at the VMAs.
20:29It deserves every accolade for being one of the best revenge songs of the 2000s.
20:41Which revenge song do you think is the most iconic?
20:43Let us know in the comments.
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