Miley Cyrus.
When most of us experience heartbreak, we might head to the karaoke bar to belt out a ballad. Celebrities do something similar aftertheir breakups… except they actually write that ballad you’ll one day be belting.
Here’s a compilation of some mega breakup songs and the stories behind them.
“Someone Like You” — Adele
This massive hit (along with the other songs on “21”) was reportedly about the end of her relationship with photographer Alex Sturrock, though neither has confirmed that. Regardless of who the heartbreaker was, Adele told the audience atRoyal Albert Hallin 2011 that she had a soft spot for him and now that they’re on better terms, she looks at the time they spent together quite fondly.
“This next song I’m going to do changed my life when I wrote it and when I first sang it,” she said. “I know it’s a break up record and I’m really b—y on it, but the guy who it’s about changed my life and we were so in love and we had so much fun. It was brilliant, our time together … As bitterly as it ended … I forgive him.”
Who can blame her, considering what a hit it became? “When I was writing it—I had eight songs on the album—but I didn’t have one sing that I believed myself on,” she continued. “I wrote this and I was very proud of it and I knew it would resonate with people.”
“I Will Always Love You” — Dolly Parton
The tale of “I Will Always Love You” is a storied one.Dolly Partonfirst wrote the song in 1973 as a farewell to Porter Wagoner, who had been her longtime colleague and mentor. At the time, Parton was leaving their group in pursuit of a solo career.
The country ballad was a hit, going number one onBillboardHot Country Songs.
Years later,Elvis Presleyheard the song and wanted to record it for himself, but Parton couldn’t agree to the terms his team offered.
“Elvis loved the song, that was when he and Priscilla were having their problems,” she explained while onThe Big Interview.“But during that time—and it’s no fault of Elvis'—but Tom Parker, his manager…calls me the day before and says, ‘Now you do know that Elvis is recording your song and Elvis don’t record anything that he don’t publish or get half publishing on.”
This would mean that Parton would have had to give up all or at least half her publishing rights to Presley, a deal she simply couldn’t strike.
“I said, ‘I can’t do that. This song has already been a hit with me, this is in my publishing company and this is obviously going to be one of my most important copyrights. I can’t give you the copyrights.'” The recording session was canceled and the King of Rock and Roll never revisited the ballad.
As fate would have it,Kevin Costnerrequested that Whitney Houston sing it onThe Bodyguardsoundtrack. Her interpretation of the song as a soulful ballad was a massive smash hit, breaking the record at the time for most weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
Does it bother Parton that many think of Houston’s rendition as the definitive one? Not at all,she told Katie Couric in 2016: “A lot of people say, ‘Oh, that’s Whitney’s song.’ And I say, ‘That’s fine, she can have the credit, I just want the cash!’ " (She also later revealed thatshe used the profits to build an office complex in a historical Black area of Nashville to benefit the community.)
“Thank U, Next” — Arianna Grande
Ariana Grande inThank U, Next.
Some stars play it coy when it comes to who inspired their breakup songs. And then there’sAriana Grande, whoboldly name checked all of her former flames(Big Sean, Ricky Alvarez, the late Mac Miller and Pete Davidson) in 2018’s “Thank U Next.”
Scathing as that may sound, the singer revealed she actually gave everyone a heads up before the song hit the waves.
“I had sent it to [Big] Sean and he loved it,” she told Zach Sangwhile on his showin 2019. “He was like ‘Dang, I’m the first one huh?’ and I said, ‘I mean, I went kind of in order,'” she joked.
Grande also revealed that Ricky Alvarez had a bit of a bone to pick with her about her choice of lyrics.
“He was like, ‘Why’d I get the worst line?…Everyone else’s line is so nice and mine is like ‘F— him he’s trash’,” she recalled.
Shepublicly told him the line (which was changed to “wrote some songs about Ricky/now I listen and laugh) was meant “v lovingly"and later said all her exes were very supportive of the song.
“Survivor” — Destiny’s Child
BeforeDestiny’s Childachieved its final form withBeyoncé,Kelly RowlandandMichelle Williams, the group went through a series of members.
After they parted ways with the group, Williams and Farrah Franklin joined, but the latter also dropped out because she was also having issues with management.
After Franklin’s exit, the group decided they would remain a trio, and Beyoncé went in the studio and wrote this empowering anthem that’s applicable for any situation.
“But it was actually cute and it inspired me to write a song. I was like, ‘We can use that negative thing and turn it into a positive thing and do a wholeSurvivorvideo and laugh at them.’ And that’s what we did.”
“Flowers” — Miley Cyrus
Several lyrics and imagery in the video appeared to point to the life she once shared withLiam Hemsworth,who filed for divorce from Cyrus in 2019after years of on-and-off dating and eight months of marriage.
The opening verse (“We were good, we were gold/Kinda dream that can’t be sold/We were right ‘til we weren’t/Built a home and watched it burn”) appeared to refer to the pair’s Malibu home whichthey lost in the Woolsey fires of 2018.
The chorus on “Flowers” also seems to echo Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man,” a song that fans believe Hemsworth reportedly dedicated to Cyrus at one point in their relationship —as well as some other clues.
“Forever and Always” — Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s lyrical tributes and takedowns to her loves are the stuff of legend, and towards the beginning of her career, she was much more open about her inspiration (far from the Easter egg-hiding queen of today).
Ahead of the release of her second studio album,Fearless, Swift visitedThe Ellen DeGeneres Showto promote the record. At the time, she was fresh off a break up withJoe Jonasand when host Ellen DeGeneres asked about their relationship, the singer was surprisingly candid.
“That guy is not in my life anymore, unfortunately,” she said, pointing to a picture of her and the Jonas brother. “That guy, that’s an ouch.”
She went on to reveal that she recordedForever and Alwaysright as she was wrapping her album. “I got a last minute recording session right when the relationship [was going downhill],” she revealed. “That’s a good thing because my label let me record that song right before the album had to be done and it’s completely on there. It’s called ‘Forever and Always.'”
It was in that same interview that Swift delivered the burn heard around the world, stating, “When I find that person that is right for me, he’ll be wonderful. And when I look atthatperson, I’m not even going to remember the boy who broke up with me over the phone in 25 seconds when I was 18.”
My Dear Melancholy—The Weeknd
The Weekndbarely says anything about his music, let alone his romantic relationships, so when he seemingly confirmed that his EPMy Dear Melancholywas aboutSelena Gomez, the public was intrigued.
The Canadian-born crooner—real name Abel Tesfaye—dated the former Disney star in 2017, in between his on-again-off-again relationship withBella Hadid.
According toEsquire,the project took two and a half weeks to complete, which the artist explained was because he was actively purging his thoughts on their split into the music.
“The reason why it was so short is like, I think I just had nothing else to say on this… whatever . . . . It was just like this cathartic piece of art,” he told the magazine. “And yeah, it was short, because that’s all I had to say on this situation.”
Lemonade— Beyonce
WhenBeyoncéteasedLemonadeduring the Super Bowl in 2016, the BeyHive thought they were getting another album full of uptempo club hits, given that “Formation” was the lead single.
It turned out, however, that Queen Bey was getting more personal than ever. While neither she norJAY-Zhave gone in depth about what exactly went on in their marriage, the rapper conceeded to the fact that he had been unfaithful and thatLemonade, along with his album,4:44, were about healing from the aftermath of his infidelity.
“We were sitting in the eye of that hurricane…And it was uncomfortable. And we had a lot of conversations,” he toldThe New York Times.“You know. [I was] really proud of the music she made, and she was really proud of the art I released. And, you know, at the end of the day we really have a healthy respect for one another’s craft. I think she’s amazing. You know, most people walk away, and like divorce rate is like 50 percent or something ‘cause most people can’t see themselves. The hardest thing is seeing pain on someone’s face that you caused, and then have to deal with yourself.”
Lemonadefeatured songs like “Hold Up” and “Pray You Catch Me,“the lyrics of which express hurt, rage, betrayal, anger and eventually forgiveness.
“Cry Me a River” — Justin Timberlake
One look at thatBritney Spearslookalike in the video and it didn’t take much to convince millennials that “Cry Me a River” was about the demise ofTimberlake’s relationship with the princess of pop.
Though Timberlake has never admitted to writing the hit about Spears, she admitted to giving him the go-ahead to use her lookalike without knowing the context of the song.
“He called me up and asked me if it was OK. I can’t believe I’m telling you this right now. But who cares,” she toldRolling Stone.
Spears went on to reveal that had she known what the video was about, she wouldn’t have consented.
Years later, Timberlakewould apologizefor using the breakup to further his career.
“So What” — Pink
“I guess I just lost my husband/ I don’t know where he went,” Pink starts the 2009 hit, letting listeners know exactly where the song is headed.
“We were broken up and he came to do the ‘So What’ video, and I didn’t want him to know I was calling him a tool. ‘Cause I thought maybe he’d leave,” she explained onET Canada.
“I was like … ‘Play line three, then skip to line five. Definitely do not play line 10,’ " she recalled, adding that director Dave Meyers “was like, ‘Uh, you want to do this piecemeal?’ And I was like, ‘We have to, because [Carey] can’t know all these names I’m calling him’.”
Two kids (and 22 years together) later, Pink and Hart are still going strong and laughing about the tough times. (She hilariously admitted toslashing one of Hart’s tiressometime during the Thanksgiving break in 2019).
“Without Me”— Halsey
Halsey/Youtube
HalseyandG-Eazywere the self-proclaimed Bonnie & Clyde of 2017. However, theysplit in 2018after about a year of dating.
Though she felt pressure to speak publicly about their split, Halsey decided the best way to address the situations was through her music.
“The biggest lesson I learned was to make art, not headlines,“she toldGlamour.“Because it can become quite easy, in the social media generation, to go from being a musician to becoming a personality.”
“The One That Got Away” — Katy Perry
BeforeKaty Perrywas engaged to Orlando Bloom, she briefly datedJosh Grobanin 2009.
Though they were together for a short amount of time, Groban apparently had such an impact on Perry that she dubbed him “the one that got away” and penned a tune of the same name in honor of their time together.
Fans theorized that the pop hit was about the “You Raise Me Up” singer, until she appeared tpconfirm it herselfduring a three-day livestream in 2018.
Groban responded onWatch What Happens Live, joking that he didn’t think it could be about him: “I listened to the lyrics of the song. And I’m like, ‘I never owned a Mustang. I don’t have a tattoo. Are you sure that’s about me?'”
But, he said,he appreciated their time together and they were on good terms.
“We were both very private and we realized we were better as friends and we’ve been very, very good friends to this day. She’s the best,” he said. “I think we’re both very taken at the moment, but it’s very sweet.”
“Still Feel Like Your Man”— John Mayer
Perry wasn’t just writing breakup ballads — she also served as the muse for some heartbreak jams as well.
In 2017, rumors had been circulating thatJohn Mayerwrote this smooth tune about his ex,Katy Perry. The two dated from 2012 and called it quits in 2015.
“Dear John” — Taylor Swift
Whether “Dear John” offSpeak Nowis about John Mayer,Taylor Swifthas never confirmed. However, Mayer certainly thought so; he admitted toRolling Stonethat he took the song personally and didn’t like it.
“It made me feel terrible,” he told the magazine. “Because I didn’t deserve it. I’m pretty good at taking accountability now, and I never did anything to deserve that. It was a really lousy thing for her to do.”
He continued, “I never got an e-mail. I never got a phone call. I was really caught off-guard, and it really humiliated me at a time when I’d already been dressed down. I mean, how would you feel if, at the lowest you’ve ever been, someone kicked you even lower?”
“You’re So Vain” — Carly Simon
Ed Caraeff/Getty.
There is no doubt that Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” is one of the best breakup songs to ever be written — despite (or perhaps because of) the central mystery as to whom the song is actually about. In recent years, the iconic singer answered that question …sort of.
In a2015 interview with PEOPLEto promote her memoirBoys in the Trees, she “confirmed that the second verse is Warren,” referring to ex Warren Beatty.
Asked whether theBugsyactor knows the verse is about him, she replied, “Warren thinks the whole thing is about him!” (We see what she did there.)
As for who the other “vain” gents might be, Simon hasrefused to kiss and tell.
“Ms. Jackson”— Outkast
Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson” is one of the most quoted hip-hop songs of all time. At one point or another, we’ve all found ourselves going, “forever, forever, ever, ever/ forever, ever, ever?” That is, all of us except for the woman who inspired it,Erykah Badu.
Badu andAndre 3000—real name Andre Benjamin—dated from 1995 to 1999. After they called it quits, Benjamin and fellow bandmate, Big Boi released “Ms. Jackson” as the second single offStankonia. The song went global, but for Badu, it was bittersweet.
“I still had kind of a sore spot,” Badu said while on theRap Radarpodcast. “I didn’t wanna hear that. Especially when I heard Big Boi’s verse. When I heard Andre’s verse, I felt very good because his verse was really, really inspiring. He just said how he felt and it was his honest feelings and I always respected that and listened to what he felt and appreciated it.”
Though Badu may have felt a bit slighted, her mother, the titular Ms. Jackson, absolutely loved the song.
“7 Things”—Miley Cyrus
TheNick JonasandMiley Cyrusrelationship era was the stuff Disney dreams were made of. (Who can ever forget when the Jonas Brothersmade an appearanceon Hannah Montana?) So when the two stars broke up at the peak of their powers, it was only right that the split be immortalized in song.
Cyrus dropped “7 things,” a modern day rock song that everyone assumed was about Nick, including the Jonas brother himself.
“I’ve heard that rumor, I’ve never directly heard that from Miley but she does wear a dog tag that I gave her when I was 14 (in the video),” thesinger said in a 2018 interview. “I was actually kind of flattered, to be honest, because it’s there forever and I know it’s about me.”
Cyrus kept mum for 13 years, at which point she posted anInstagram carouselcelebrating the song’s anniversary, which included a snapshot of the then-couple with his face scribbled out (and Jonas himself tagged) and an excerpt from her memoir,Miles to Go,which read, “I was angry when I wrote ‘7 Things.’ I wanted to punish him, to get back at him for hurting me. It starts with a list of what I ‘hate.’ But I’m not a hater. My heart knew from the start that it was going to turn into a love song.”
“You Oughta Know” — Alanis Morisette
“You Oughta Know’’ is one of those songs you play in your car as you rage about your ex with your besties.
Unfortunately, in the car is also howDave Coulierdiscovered the song and immediately realized it was about him.
“I’m driving in Detroit and I hear the hook for ‘You Oughta Know’ come on the radio and I’m like, ‘Wow, this is really cool,'” theFull Houseactor said while on SiriusXM’sJim Norton & Sam Roberts.“I’m like ‘Wow, this girl can sing!’ and I had no idea that this was the record. And then I’m listening to to the lyrics going, ‘Oh no. I can’t be this guy.'”
He went on to reveal that he bought and listened to the entireJagged Little Pillalbum in one sitting and found several references about their relationship in that album.
In the same interview, Coulier did reveal that he and Morissette were on good terms and she gave him the green light to “say whatever you want” when people ask him about the relationship. “She was really sweet about it. She was kind,” he concluded.
“Out of Your League” — Shakira
Shakiraand her long term boyfriendGerard Piquésplit in June 2022, but as details about Piqué’s infidelity began to leak, the pop superstar decided to take control of the narrative.
In January, Shakira released “BZRP Music Session 53,“which was loaded with references to their former relationship.
Referencing all the drama, Shakira sings, “You left me my mother-in-law as my neighbor / Media outlets at my door and in debt with the government,” sang the musician, appearing to mention herongoing tax fraud trial in Spain. “You thought you hurt me, but you made me stronger / Women don’t cry anymore, they cash in.”
In the chorus, repeated multiple times throughout the song, Shakira declares, “I’m too good for you, and that’s why you’re with someone just like you.”
“Perfect Illusion” — Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga/Twitter
Taylor Kinney andLady Gaga’s love was a showstopper — just likethat massive heart-shaped engagement ring he gave her.
The pair began dating in 2011 andgot engaged in 2015. However, it seemed as they hit a rough patch as they announced their split in 2016, before she began filmingA Star Is Born.
Speaking specifically about “Perfect Illusion” she elaborated, “This video is a performance of a song that I wrote of that moment about how I feel, but how I’m sure he’s felt sometimes, how you have felt sometimes, how other people feel in relationships, how I see my friends struggle and become just full of rage and anger as they try to figure out how to date during a time when everybody’s sort of creating these perfect illusions of themselves on the Internet and nobody really knows what’s real and what isn’t,” she explained. “It’s about all of that.”
“Easy on Me” — Adele
“Divorce babe,divorce!“Adele famously answeredwhen a fan asked what her album30was going to be about.
It wasn’t until recently though, that she gave a bit more insight into the thought behind this piano ballad.
While accepting the Grammy forbest pop solo performanceearlier this year, the singer revealed she wrote the song for her son right as she was making the decision to leave ex-husband,Simon Konecki.
“I just want to dedicate this to my son Angelo,” she tearfully said. “I wrote this first verse in the shower when I was choosing to change my son’s life and he’s been humble and gracious and loving to me the whole time.”
source: people.com
