---
title: "The perfect song for... bouncing back from a sad break-up"
description: "Breaking up is hard to do, as Neil Sedaka once reminded us. But what about bouncing back?"
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO"
author: "Fred de Vries and Tim Cohen"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/fred-de-vries-and-tim-cohen/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-10-12-the-perfect-song-for-bouncing-back-from-a-sad-break-up/"
published: "2024-10-12T07:00:48"
updated: "2024-10-08T10:05:13"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 314
---

# The perfect song for... bouncing back from a sad break-up

> Breaking up is hard to do, as Neil Sedaka once reminded us. But what about bouncing back?

By Fred de Vries and Tim Cohen · Published 12 October 2024, 09:00 SAST · Updated 8 October 2024, 12:05 SAST

## Key points
- Breaking up may leave you as a jigsaw puzzle missing a few crucial pieces, but with a killer playlist featuring everything from Aerosmith to Gloria Gaynor, you’ll be back on your feet, ready to strut your stuff and settle some scores in no time.
- Breaking up can be devastating, but the journey to recovery can be exhilarating and empowering.
- Join hosts Fred de Vries and Tim Cohen, along with music expert Sarah Buitendach, as they explore the perfect songs for bouncing back.
- Featured tracks include classics from Aerosmith, Taylor Swift, and Gloria Gaynor, designed to inspire and uplift.
- Tune into The Perfect Song For... podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more for your ultimate breakup playlist.

## Content

Breaking up is sad and painful, you’re left feeling shattered. But bouncing back is what happens next. It might take a week, a month, but eventually you’ll get over it, and then it can be exhilarating, fun, revengeful and rewarding.

As punk poet John Cooper Clarke once said: “Revenge is a sweet emotion.” Of course, you need the perfect song to soundtrack all this (and give you extra inspiration), so in this episode of The Perfect Song For...podcast, your regular hosts Fred de Vries and Tim Cohen are joined by arts writer and music aficionado Sarah Buitendach to sample a selection of songs which will move you off the couch, dump the ice cream bucket, leave the bottle, and get out there again.

But before that happens, there is going to be some getting even, a bit of self-affirmation, and a few scores that have to be settled.

[Spotify audio](https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2jxfNyjELfB8HDQAsBFVMg?utm_source=generator)

This week’s selection consists of:

#### **Back in the Saddle – Aerosmith**

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX8GG3dnsp8)

#### **We are never Ever Getting Back Together – Taylor Swift**

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA4iX5D9Z64)

#### **Dead Flowers – The Rolling Stones**

#### **You Oughta Know – Alanis Morissette**

#### **Another Girl – The Beatles**

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMBYNWr5R_U)

#### **New Rose – The Damned**

#### **Good 4 You – Olivia Rodrigo**

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNi_6U5Pm_o)

#### **I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor**

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dYWe1c3OyU)

**Fuck You – CeeLo Green.****DM**

*You can listen and subscribe to*The Perfect Song For… podcast about the perfect song*on*[*Apple podcasts*](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-perfect-song-for-a-podcast-about-the-perfect-song/id1736161552)*,*[*Spotify*](https://open.spotify.com/episode/2JOvSbqFFTK30yA1r6JXMj?si=6773ad8d65874d21&nd=1&dlsi=74721ec83c3c441e)*and*[*iono*](https://iono.fm/p/3666)*. Full versions of the songs are in Spotify and Apple playlists.*

*Contact the hosts of the podcast or email us your suggestions and alternatives at*[*perfectsongfor@gmail.com*](mailto:perfectsongfor@gmail.com)

*You can also follow the hosts on X: @perfectsongfor Insta: #perfectsongfor*

*Tim Cohen is the business editor of Daily Maverick. Fred de Vries* *is an author, writer, journalist and South Africa correspondent for Elsevier Magazine and De Groene Amsterdammer. He writes regular music columns for Platenblad in the Netherlands and Vrye Weekblad in South Africa.*