After a long day of geometry and shuffling around in your Converse, all you wanted to do was pop in your earphones, stare out the bus window, and just feel some feelings.
To be clear: We are NOT talking about throwback bangers. We are talking about pure angst ballads with a lot of crooning about failed relationships and guitar strumming.
1. "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter
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Angst Level: Medium high. You had such a bad day and your mom was super annoying when you got home. Like, I will get to my homework WHEN I GET TO IT.
2. "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt
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Angst Factor: Not that high. This was more of a melancholy song as opposed to an "OHMAGAWD I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOU" song.
3. "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie
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Angst Level: Medium. This song got you through the time your sixth-grade crush moved to Arizona with his family. And also that time when he stopped answering your AIMs.
4. "Fall for You" by Secondhand Serenade
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Angst Factor: Pretty high. Fuck your after-school student council meeting, all you wanted to do was get on your bike, listen to this song, and cruuuuuuuise.
5. "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie

6. "Don't Matter" by Akon
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Angst Level: Low-ish. This was more of a slow jam. Also in sixth grade, someone told you this song was about gay marriage and you believed them.
7. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day
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Angst Level: Palpable. The angst was sooo palpable and you jammed so hard to this. SO GOOD.
8. "Come Clean" by Hilary Duff
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Angst Level: Real high. Oh to be living in a Malibu dream house, wearing a cozy sweater, mourning the end of a relationship, and staring out at the rain! Could anything be better?
9. "I'm With You" by Avril Lavigne
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Angst Level: Off the charts! Billy asked Jessica if she wanted to go see the new Spider-Man movie and you were late to homeroom today. Fuck everything!!!
10. "Breathe (2AM)" by Anna Nalick
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Angst Level: High. You might not have understood the pains of addiction at age 12, but wearing braces also really sucked.
11. "It Ends Tonight" by The All-American Rejects
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Angst Level: Medium high. A great song to close your eyes to and press your forehead against the clean, cool glass of the bus window. No one gets meeeeeee! Also, Tyson Ritter was super hot in skeletal way.
12. "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis
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Angst Level: Low-ish. This song could still give you the feels, especially if you were singing along to it in the car with your best friend, but it was a little too Top 40 to be real angst.
13. "The Reason" by Hoobastank
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Angst Level: Pretty high. Why is this woman hit by a car in the music video? Is this a metaphor for their relationship?
14. "How to Save a Life" by The Fray
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Angst Level: Extreme. I'm getting all the feels. SO MANY FEELINGS AND SUCH LIMITED EMOTIONAL VOCABULARY WITH WHICH TO EXPRESS THEM.
15. "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera
16. "You and Me" by Lifehouse
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Angst Level: Pretty high. This was an amazing "stare out the bus window" song. It really had all the elements working together to give you just the right amount of feels.
17. "Collide" by Howie Day
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Angst Level: Fairly high. This song def gave you the feels and made you wonder when you'd meet the love of your life or if you had already met them...
18. "Teardrops on my Guitar" by Taylor Swift
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Angst Level: Fair. Didn't all of us have a "Drew"? You loved this song, but even at this age, you were like, "Damn, Taylor. Why are you always lusting after other people's boyfriends?"
19. "Behind These Hazel Eyes" by Kelly Clarkson
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Angst Level: Medium. This was a little too much of a banger to really rouse the emotions in the deep, dark depths of your soul, but it was still good!
20. "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5
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Angst Level: Fair. TBH I don't love this song, but it does elicit a small amount of feeling in my soul.
21. "Boston" by Augustana
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Angst Level: Real high. Oo this one really hit you in the soul. Also, note that it makes crusty, rude Boston sound romantic... This song is a testament to the powers of crooning.