Entertainment

#TBT: 10 Middle School Jams That Got Us Through Our First Heartbreak

by Alexis DiZenzo

Throughout every middle school breakup, music always seemed to be there for us. There was nothing more satisfying than running home after your boyfriend of five days told you it was over in the back of the school bus and putting on a live concert in your bedroom.

You would sing your heart out. You would put your hair up, throw on your best outfit and stand on your bed as if it was your stage.

You would sing the pain away until you realized you were almost better at performing than Britney Spears. You didn't need no boy to complete you.

Five days was a long time in middle school, and you had every right to be upset. When you were, you always knew you had Britney, Usher, JoJo and Mariah there for you.

1. JoJo, "Leave (Get Out)"

"Get outtttttt!"

We've all belted that line — especially that last note — at some point in our bedroom post-breakup concert careers. JoJo kills it with this song, and I have no shame in saying it's still my go-to break-up ballad.

2. Justin Timberlake, "Cry Me A River"

Aside from the fact that JT will always be my first love and heartbreak (still waiting for you to love me, JT), this song has way too much soul.

3. Kelly Clarkson, "Since U Been Gone"

I always used to try to mimic the way Kelly jumps up and down and flips her hair around with this one.

The energy in this song has always been unreal. It starts off all slow, calm and sad, and then BAM!

The chorus hits, and you're jumping around like an idiot. But, you're feeling as free as ever.

4. Timbaland Featuring OneRepublic, "Apologize"

This was the perfect song for those moments when you pictured your ex coming back and begging for your forgiveness. You would belt out a few of these lyrics and tell that ex of yours exactly where to go.

5. Beyoncé, "Irreplaceable"

"To the left, to the left."

You know you've pulled out your best Queen B moves and and sung this one while you were in the process of packing away your middle school love.

That bracelet your ex won for you at the arcade? Yeah, you threw that to the left.

6. Mariah Carey, "Shake It Off"

No, this is nothing like the T-Swift version. Mariah was so much better at shaking it off.

She wanted to show us we were better than our ex's games.

7. Usher, "Burn"

When your bedroom concert began to slow down a bit, Usher made his debut.Usher preaches the truth when he says, "Tell me why I should stay in this relationship when I'm hurting, baby? I ain't happy, baby."

You were hurting for five days straight. You deserve better.

8. Hilary Duff, "So Yesterday"

Hilary was right when she said, "If you're moving on, I'm already gone." Your ex may have been moving on, but you knew the relationship wouldn't last before it even started.

It was middle school. Everything was "so yesterday" back then.

9.*NSYNC, "Bye Bye Bye"

These lyrics were your exact words when you stepped off that school bus after your middle school relationship took a turn for the worse. You knew to turn the other cheek and wave good "bye, bye, bye."

10. Britney Spears, "Stronger"

The best part of a breakup — even if the relationship was only five days long — is realizing you are better and stronger than your ex. Go ahead and admit it: You belted this one out on repeat when you accepted the breakup and got over it.