If you are looking for motivation, there is a high probability you will find it in your own life. Singers and songwriters often draw inspiration for lyrics from their own lives, particularly when writing songs about relationships and breakups. But when two artists collaborate, the chances of such love songs (or just not loving songs) being personal are doubled. When a celebrity has just experienced a breakup, they understand. Yeah, they usually hang out with other super-rich celebrities, but that does not make the feelings any less intense.
Here are few celebrity couples who used their music to open up about their past or present relationships.
1. Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber
Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber had a turbulent seven-year relationship, so it’s no wonder that some of her songs are said to be influenced by him. “Love Will Remember,” “Nobody Does It Like You,” “Forget Forever,” “The Heart Wants What It Wants,” “Same Old Love,” “Back to You,” “It Ain’t Me,” and most of the other songs on her Rare release, are among those songs, but she’s never verified any of them are about Bieber. For several numbers of Bieber’s songs, like “Bad Day,” “Nothing Like Us,” “Heartbreaker,” “All That Matters,” “Hold On,” “Where Are Ü Now,” “Mark My Words,” “What Do You Mean?” “Purpose,” “Love Yourself,” and “Sorry,” were officially written with Gomez in memory.
2. Selena Gomez and The Weeknd
Justin Bieber isn’t the only ex who could have influenced Gomez’s songs. Two and a half years after she and The Weeknd’s 10-month relationship came to an end in2017, Gomez launched the song “Souvenir,” which audiences believe is about her relationship with The Weeknd. She has, however, never commented on the speculations. Most of the lyrics on The Weeknd’s My Dear Melancholy album, including “Call Out My Name,” “Privilege,” “Wasted Times,” “I Was Never There,” and “Hurt You,” are thought to be heavily influenced by his ex. The Weeknd verified that his 2018 album was about his encounters but when Esquire questioned him who those songs were about in August 2020, he responded, “No comment.”
3. Taylor Swift and Harry Styles
Even though Taylor Swift only dated Harry Styles for a few months in 2012 and 2013, he is said to have influenced many songs from her Red and 1989 albums, like “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “Style,” and “Out of the Woods.” Even if she’s never stated if the songs are all about her ex, Styles said in a March 2020 interview with Howard Stern that he does not mind being her muse. He stated that he finds it flattering. Styles’ 2017 single “Two Ghosts” from his debut solo album is also said to be about Swift. And during May 2017 presence on BBC 1 Radio, Styles was asked if the song was about his ex, and he gave an evasive response. He said that he thinks it’s pretty self-explanatory.
4. Miley Cyrus and Nick Jonas
Cyrus was in love with Nick Jonas in 2007, well before she dated Simpson, and after they broke up, she allegedly wrote “7 Things” about him in 2008. Although Cyrus never specifically stated that the song had to do with the youngest Jo Bro, video director Brett Ratner seemed to confirm it in August 2008, informing MTV News that the necklace she was wearing in the video was the necklace he got her. In 2012, four years after Cyrus declared her engagement to Liam Hemsworth, Jonas composed and released the song “Wedding Bells” with his brothers. In an interview with Ryan Seacrest in October 2012, Cyrus said that it seemed clear that the song was really about her.
5. Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes
Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes, unlike other music industry ex-lovers, have written some pretty sweet songs about one another during their year-long relationship. “Shameless,” “Should’ve Said It,” “Liar,” “Bad Kind of Butterflies,” “Feel It Twice,” “Simple,” “Dream of You,” “First Guy,” and “Used to This” is among the songs on Cabello’s 2019 Romance album that seem to be for her boo. Cabello has also had a major impact on Mendes’ self-titled 2018 album and 2020 Wonder album. “Why,” “When You’re Ready,” “If I Can’t Have You,” and “Wonder,” among many others, are among the songs that fans believe are all about Cabello. Mendes stated Cabello influences everything he writes in his Netflix documentary In Wonder. He told Cabello that it’s all about her. Just like every song he ever wrote. Aww.
6. Beyonce and Jay-Z
Beyoncé and JAY-Z, just like Cabello and Mendes, also sung a slew of romantic songs for each other in the years. “Halo,” “Signs,” “Love on Top,” “Mine,” “Countdown,” and, of all, two of Beyoncé’s songs involving JAY-Z: “Crazy in Love” and “Drunk in Love,” are alleged love ballads for her spouse. This is also commonly assumed that Beyoncé’s 2016 album “Sorry” refers to JAY-alleged Z’s infidelity, even if she has not confirmed this. JAY-Z has also released several love songs, like “03 Bonnie & Clyde” (featuring his wife), “Public Service Announcement,” “Lost Ones,” “Glory,” and “Part II (On the Run).” His 2017 songs “4:44” and “Family Feud,” which both discuss the adultery allegations, seem to be a direct answer to Beyoncé’s “Sorry.”
JAY-Z revealed the album was influenced by his marital problems in his foot notes discussion for 4:44. Furthermore, if their joint album All Is Love from 2018 is any indicator, these two are in great shape right now.
7. Ariana Grande and Mac Miller
Shortly after Ariana Grande and Mac Miller began dating, the late rapper released The Divine Feminine, a love ballad-filled 2016 album that many fans assumed was entirely influenced by Grande. Grande later clarified in a May 2018 tweet that only the song “Cinderella,” not the entire 10-track album, was written for her. Grande has officially released many songs influenced by Miller after Miller’s tragic overdose in September 2018, like “Imagine,” “Better Off,” and “Every time,” as well as a few tracks from her new album, Positions. While Grande directly mentions Miller in her song “thank u, next” she has never stated that any of these songs were written about him.
8. Perrie Edwards and Zayn Malik
Perrie Edwards’ band Little Mix released a song “Shoutout to My Ex” a year after she and Zayn Malik broke off their engagement in 2015. The lyrics seemed to refer to Edwards’ tumultuous breakup. Though fans believe the song was written specifically for Malik, Edwards told E! News in December 2016 that the song was only about breakups in all. “You know what?’ we only thought. ‘Women must feel motivated,’ she said “After a breakup, everybody wants to feel inspired, and we think this song will appeal to everybody since everyone has had an ex.” When Malik released his debut solo album, Mind of Mine, in 2016, fans became quick to search for lyrics that could have been written about Edwards. Malik implied at least one song on the album is really about his ex-fiancée during a January 2016 interview with Zane Lowe. He said about writing the album that it was a kind of therapy for him, and it did help me get through stuff though he never said which song he was thinking of.
