If you’ve ever listened to a song and wondered who that person was singing about, you’re not alone.
A lot of singers use their songs as a form of self-expression. Case in point: these 10+ songs that were definitely about other celebs.
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Not all are evil, though! (Just wait until you see the song Chris Martin wrote for his ex-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow.)
1. “Look What You Made Me Do” – Taylor Swift
When Taylor Swift released this song, it was pretty clear who it was about: Kim Kardashian and Kayne West.
Months earlier, the couple had leaked the private conversation that had the internet calling Taylor a snake.
2. “Swish Swish” – Katy Perry
Once upon a time, these two pop stars, Perry and Swift, had some serious bad blood.
The story goes that Katy stole Taylor’s backup dancers.
Taylor eventually wrote the song “Bad Blood” about her and then Katy retaliated with “Swish Swish.”
Here are some of the lyrics:
“So keep calm, honey, I’ma stick around/ For more than a minute, get used to it/ Funny my name keeps comin’ out your mouth.”
3. “Lose You to Love Me” – Selena Gomez
Much to Hailey Bieber’s dismay, this song was definitely about Justin Bieber.
In one lyric, she sings , “In two months, you replaced us / Like it was easy.”
This could easily be about how he went back to dating Hailey two months after his final breakup with Selena.
4. “Sorry” – Justin Bieber
Speaking of Justin and Selena, fans theorized that this song was about Selena since there were a lot of cheating rumors surrounding their many breakups.
5. “Cry Me a River” – Justin Timberlake
Up until 2002, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were America’s sweethearts.
But soon after they broke up, Justin released this song that is reportedly about Britney cheating on him with choreographer, Wade Robson.
6. “Everytime” – Britney Spears
After those cheating rumors, it was believed that this was Britney’s way of apologizing to Justin.
The lyrics speak for themselves: “I may have made it rain/ Please forgive me/ My weakness caused you pain and this song’s my sorry.”
7. “Perfect” – Harry Styles
After Taylor Swift wrote several songs about her ex, he retaliated with the song “Perfect.”
“If you like cameras flashing every time we go out/ And if you’re looking for someone to write your break-up songs about […] If you like midnight driving with the windows down/ And if you like going places we can’t even pronounce.”
8. “Don’t” – Ed Sheeran
There is quite the love triangle behind this song.
Fans believe that it’s about Sheeran’s rumored ex, Ellie Goulding, cheating on him in a hotel with Niall Horan…
9. “On My Mind” – Ellie Goulding
This song is reportedly a response to Ed Sheeran’s “Don’t.”
“Next thing that I know, I’m in a hotel with you/ You were talking deep like it was mad love to you/ You wanted my heart, but I just liked your tattoos.”
10. “Fix You” – Coldplay
After Gwyneth Paltrow lost her dad, her ex-husband, Chris Martin, wrote this song to comfort her.
Awwww.
11. “Slide Away” – Miley Cyrus
After Miley and Liam Hemsworth announced their divorce, things were pretty messy for a while.
Miley moved on quickly with Kaitlynn Carter and then she released this song, which basically accuses Liam of some heavy partying.
“I want my house in the hills / Don’t want the whiskey and pills.”
Yikes.
12. “I Kissed a Girl” – Katy Perry
Miley Cyrus once tried to take credit for being the inspiration behind the song, but it’s actually Scarlett Johansson .
“‘I Kissed a Girl‘ was inspired when I opened up a magazine and I saw a picture of Scarlett Johansson” Perry told *Steppin’ Out* magazine.
“I was with my boyfriend at the time, and I said to him, ‘I’m not going to lie: If Scarlett Johansson walked into the room and wanted to make out with me, I would make out with her. I hope you’re okay with that?’”
14. “Wedding Bells” – Jonas Brothers
Once Miley Cyrus announced her engagement to Liam Hemsworth, Nick Jonas (Cyrus’ ex) wrote this song with the lyrics:
“She says, ‘Can you keep a secret/ A ceremony set for June/ I know it’s a rush but I just love him so much/ I hope that you can meet him soon…’”
VERY interesting…
15. “Obsessed” – Mariah Carey
Everyone knows that this song from 2009 is about Eminem. Their feud has been going on for a long time, after all.
She even dressed up like him in the music video.
Back when it was released, Carey said about the song:
“Seriously, this is one of my favorite songs ever. I love the whole album. I’m completely immersed in it. I can’t wait for you to hear it.”
16. “Thank U, Next” – Ariana Grande
Everyone and their mother knows that this song is dedicated to her past relationships, and Grande even calls them out by name!
It’s a banger hit, tbh.
“Thank U, Next” was about Pete Davidson, Ricky Alvarez, Big Sean, and Mac Miller.
In fact, Pete and Mac have a few songs that are dedicated to them on her albums!
Due to her on and off relationship status with Pete, there were a few different versions of the song.
“So I had to make a different version of it, and then we broke up again, so we ended up going with that verse,” she said , “There’s a version where I was getting married, there’s a version where I’m not getting married, there’s a version with nothing.”
17. “Bound 2” – Kanye West
While nothing is confirmed, the song is allegedly about West’s wife, Kim Kardashian.
It’s not exactly far-fetched, as she is in the music video.
18. “7 Things” – Miley Cyrus
Supposedly , the track is about Miley Cyrus’ relationship with Nick Jonas which frustrated her at the time.
In fact, Nick Jonas even responded to it.
”I’ve heard that rumour, 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).”
“I was actually kind of flattered to be honest because it’s there forever and I know it’s about me.”
19. “Paper Doll” – John Mayer
The track is apparently John Mayer’s response to Taylor Swift’s “Dear John.”
“Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone/ Don’t you think I was too young,” she wrote, which led fans to believe the song was about him.
In Mayer’s song he sings:
“You’re like 22 girls in one/ And none of them know what they’re running from/ Was it just too far to fall/ For a little paper doll?”
While never confirmed, we love to speculate.
20. “Kiwi” – Harry Styles
Harry Styles, for a short time, dated a woman named Georgia Fowler who was a New Zealand model.
While never confirmed, for fans, it was very obvious to them that the song was inspired by her.
The lyrics really caught people’s attention.
“She’s driving me crazy, but I’m into it, but I’m into it/ I’m kind of into it/ It’s getting crazy, I think I’m losing it, I think I’m losing it/ I think she said ‘I’m having your baby, it’s none of your business’.”
Though Fowler denied it, fans don’t believe her.
21. “All Of Me” – John Legend
Because he’s the sweetest man on the planet, John Legend wrote that song for his gorgeous and loving wife, Chrissy Teigen.
22. “Glory and Blue” – JAY-Z
Beyoncé and Jay Z have both released songs about their first child, Blue Ivy.
The little royal celeb child has her own massive following of fans who love to see what she does.
23. “The Heart Wants What It Wants” – Selena Gomez
Though she never names him directly, it’s been largely speculated that the song is about Justin Bieber.
If you watch the music video and listen to the lyrics, you might agree.
