10 Best Revenge Songs
2. Elvis Costello - "I Hope You're Happy Now" (1986)
Released on the 1986 album Blood & Chocolate, "I Hope You're Happy Now" sees a longing Elvis Costello ridiculing his ex-lover and her new choice of partner. Initially a B-Side to "I Want You", "I Hope You're Happy Now" has easily outstripped the former track as a strong, vengeful anthem.
Laced with sarcasm from the very first line 'he's a fine figure of a man' this is Costello performing as a sardonic, scorned lover one who bears his cynical outlook on his past relationship rather explicitly. Costello pulls no punches in telling his former partner exactly how he feels.
This may not be as explicitly aggressive as some of the other entries on this list, but it's a song that's not less powerful and definitely shows off Costello as a man with his heart on his sleeve. Rather than telling his partner what to do, he simply lists off all the reasons why his replacement is inferior, and that he was never truly in love with the mystery woman in the first place. Ouch.
Bluntly, it's an eloquent anthem that's entirely about sticking it to your ex, and telling them exactly how you feel, and, crucially, sounding great doing it.