Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Girl is about Courtney Love
Gwen Stefani’s 2005 single Hollaback Girl was composed in response to a diss from alt-rock star Courtney Love, who in an interview called the former No Doubt singer a “cheerleader.” Annoyed by this, Stefani chose to fully embrace a goofy, mainstream-friendly persona for the track, and – directly acknowledging Love’s remark – she dresses as a cheerleader in the video and leads cheerleader-esque chants in the song.
Lauren Hill’s Ex-Factor is about Wyclef Jean
Lauren Hill found fame alongside Wyclef Jean in acclaimed hip hop act The Fugees, and the two were also a couple for a time. Hill’s 1998 single Ex-Factor, taken from her first and to date only solo album The Miseducation of Lauren Hill, tells the story of a painful relationship split. Though neither party has confirmed it, it’s widely believed the song is about Jean.
Foo Fighters’ I’ll Stick Around is about Courtney Love
Dave Grohl formed Foo Fighters and released their first album within a year of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s death. For years, Grohl denied that the song I’ll Stick Around (whose chorus angrily declares “I don’t owe you anything”) was about Cobain’s widow Courtney Love. However, in his 2011 biography This is a Call, Grohl finally admitted it was indeed a rebuke of Love.
Aerosmith’s Dude (Looks Like a Lady) is about Vince Neil
Aerosmith had one of their biggest hits with 1987’s Dude (Looks Like a Lady). The song originated from an encounter with Mötley Crüe, as Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler initially mistook Crüe’s singer Vince Neil for a woman. The song was a thinly veiled satire on the androgyny of 80s rockers, although some would say it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Mariah Carey’s Obsessed is about Eminem
According to rapper Eminem, he and pop diva Mariah Carey were once briefly an item. When Carey denied this, Eminem proceeded to diss her in a number of raps. It’s widely believed that Carey’s 2009 song Obsessed was in direct response to this, although Carey herself has never confirmed this, and her then-husband Nick Cannon says it’s inspired by the film Mean Girls.
Alanis Morissette’s You Oughta Know is about Dave Coulier
Alanis Morissette’s 1995 breakthrough hit You Oughta Know is one of the angriest break-up songs ever, but fans might be a bit taken aback to learn who is alleged to have inspired it. Dave Coulier, the American actor and comedian famed for sitcom Full House, dated Morrissette between 1992 and 1994, when he was in his early 30s and she was in her late teens.
Lenny Kravitz’s It Ain’t Over til It’s Over is about Lisa Bonet
While he’s best known for his rock, Lenny Kravitz’ 1991 breakthrough single It Ain’t Over til It’s Over was a Motown-esque soul ballad. It may not come as a great surprise that it was written about Lisa Bonet, as Kravitz and the Cosby Show actress were a couple at the time. The track discusses their troubled marriage, which would end in divorce in 1993.
Oasis’ Cast No Shadow is about Richard Ashcroft
Britpop stars Oasis were best known for their indie rock anthems, but their hit album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? features one uncharacteristically contemplative track, Cast No Shadow, which deals with a man unable to achieve his dreams. Songwriter Noel Gallagher dedicated it to Richard Ashcroft of The Verve, a then-struggling British band who later enjoyed massive success with their 1997 album Urban Hymns.
Lush’s Ladykillers is about Anthony Kiedis
British indie band Lush had their biggest hit with 1996’s Ladykillers, a feminist punk song attacking male pick-up artists. The song’s second verse refers to one such man with “the muscles and the long hair,” whom singer-songwriter Miki Berenyi later identified as Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Another part of the song makes reference to former Weezer bass player Matt Sharp.
Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain is about Warren Beatty
Singer-songwriter Carly Simon enjoyed her first major hit song in 1972 with You’re So Vain, a disgruntled diss of a self-obsessed ex. Speculation raged for years as to who the song was about, with some believing it was Mick Jagger (who performs backing vocals on the track). Eventually Simon admitted that the song is about actor Warren Beatty, plus another two as-yet unidentified men.
Taylor Swift’s Style is about Harry Styles
Breaking up with a songwriter will always result in the demise of your relationship being documented in chords and a melody, especially if the songwriter in question is as prolific a storyteller as Taylor Swift. Harry Styles found this out the hard way, being the subject of both Style and the mega-hit I Knew You Were Trouble.
Amy Winehouse’s Me & Mr. Jones is about Nas
Amy Winehouse and Nas were longtime friends, with Winehouse supposedly having a crush on the New York rapper. She immortalized their friendship in 2006’s Me & Mr. Jones, which does come across as more of a romantic number than a platonic one. One of the most obvious references to Nas is the lyric about the birthday the two musicians shared.
Katy Perry’s I Kissed a Girl is about Scarlett Johansson
Katy Perry’s breakthrough hit I Kissed A Girl was inspired by Hollywood actor Scarlett Johansson. While it isn’t based on a true meeting between the two, Perry has revealed in an interview that the song came about from a conversation she was having with her then-boyfriend, about being willing to kiss Johansson should the opportunity arrive.
Jonas Brothers’ Lovebug is about Miley Cyrus
Nick Jonas wrote the Jonas Brothers’ Lovebug about the relationship he had with fellow singer Miley Cyrus when the two were first making their way into the industry. Bandmate and brother Kevin Jonas confirmed the popular rumor in the Jonas Brothers’ 2019 documentary, Chasing Happiness.
Green Day’s Holiday is about George W. Bush
Green Day didn’t pull any punches when expressing their disdain for the government on their 2004 album American Idiot. One of the most popular songs on the record is Holiday/Boulevard of Broken Dreams, which Billie Joe Armstrong has admitted is about George W. Bush, the then-president of the United States.
Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide is about Lindsey Buckingham.
Fleetwood Mac’s band dynamic was always tense during their golden era of the mid-to-late 1970s, as there were two romantic relationships between four members. These relationships were falling apart, mainly due to the stresses caused by the band’s success and fame. Stevie Nicks was writing about Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham on Landslide, which likely would have made the recording session a little awkward.
P. Diddy’s I Need A Girl (Part 1) is about Jennifer Lopez
It’s not often that rappers show their tender side, but that’s exactly what P. Diddy did when he wrote the lyrics to I Need A Girl (Part 1). The song centers around how much Diddy missed Jennifer Lopez after the pair broke up in 2001. With references to J-Lo’s smile, and regrets that the pair didn’t have a child together, it seems that even the most stern-faced rappers feel emotional sometimes.
Lil Kim’s Black Friday is about Nicki Minaj
Lil Kim’s 2011 song Black Friday is a direct response to Nicki Minaj’s beef-fuelling track Roman’s Revenge, which appeared on her debut album Pink Friday. The cover art for Black Friday even includes a pink wig surrounded by what appears to be blood. Very threatening indeed.
Little Mix’s Shout Out To My Ex is about Zayn Malik
Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards’ breakup with former One Direction singer Zayn Malik inspired the group’s huge hit Shout Out To My Ex. The pair’s four-year relationship and two-year engagement sent Edwards into a meltdown, but spawned one of the biggest songs that Little Mix ever released.
Diana Ross’ Missing You is about Marvin Gaye
Legendary singers Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye were close friends until Gaye was murdered in 1984. The song was written by Ross and Gaye’s mutual friend Lionel Richie and was based on conversations that he had had with Ross about Gaye. Missing You went on to become Diana Ross’ last major US hit.
Carole King’s You’ve Got A Friend is about James Taylor
One of Carole King’s most successful hits was written about the person who ended up recording it. You’ve Got A Friend is a tribute to her dear friend James Taylor and was written by King after hearing his song Fire and Rain, which details his struggles with grief after the death of his own friend.
OMD’s Joan of Arc is about Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc has been the inspiration behind many pieces of art, with tales of her heroism and subsequent execution at a young age providing the perfect metaphor for defiance in the face of adversity. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s 1981 hit Joan of Arc is one of the less subtle tributes to Joan of Arc, but a great tune nonetheless.
Eric Clapton’s Layla is about Pattie Boyd
Eric Clapton wrote Layla for Pattie Boyd, who, at the time, was the wife of Clapton’s best friend, George Harrison. In what many would consider to be the ultimate act of betrayal, Clapton played the song to Boyd, and her marriage eventually broke apart. Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd eventually got married in 1979, before divorcing in 1989.
Outkast’s Ms. Jackson is about Erykah Badu
Outkast’s hit Ms. Jackson was effectively a letter from Andre 3000 to his former girlfriend Erykah Badu and her mother, detailing his regret over the way the couple’s relationship had ended. Originally, Badu didn’t take the song well, as her relationship with Andre 3000 still had a grip on her.
Paul McCartney’s Here Today is about John Lennon
Paul McCartney had made plans to meet up with John Lennon in early 1981, before he was cruelly assassinated in December 1980. A few months after Lennon’s death, McCartney released Here Today, a touching tribute to his longtime friend and musical collaborator.
John Lennon’s How Do You Sleep? is about Paul McCartney
Things weren’t always so sweet between John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with the two often taking musical digs at each other after The Beatles had split. Lennon’s How Do You Sleep? was a particularly harsh dig, with “Those freaks was right when they said you was dead”, being a particularly cutting line. Perhaps the most awkward part about the song is the fact that George Harrison is playing the lead guitar on it.
Don McLean’s American Pie is about an entire generation of artists
Don McLean’s showpiece song American Pie references a whole generation of artists that came through following the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and Big Bopper in a plane crash. Elvis and Bob Dylan make repeated appearances, referred to as the King and the Jester respectively. The Beatles also get a mention, and are referred to as sergeants who played a marching tune.
Roberta Flack’s Killing Me Softly is about Don McLean
Don McLean wasn’t the only artist writing about other artists. The original idea for the song was conceived by Lori Lieberman, who scribbled down some notes on a napkin while watching Don McLean perform his song, Empty Chairs. These notes would later be elaborated on, and Roberta Flack would make the song a hit.
The Smiths’ Frankly Mr. Shankly is about Geoff Travis
The Smiths’ Frankly Mr. Shankly is an upbeat character assassination of the head of Rough Trade Records, Geoff Travis. Morrissey mentions his displeasure with the record deal that The Smiths had signed with Rough Trade, as well as his dislike for Travis, multiple times in his autobiography. The song ended up having the opposite effect than intended, with Travis being delighted that he had a song written about him.
Elton John’s Candle In The Wind is about Marilyn Monroe
Elton John’s song Candle In The Wind is a not-so-subtle tribute to the beloved actress Marilyn Monroe. Bernie Taupin’s lyrics talk of how Monroe was oversexualized and not appreciated for her ability to perform. It also touches on the loneliness she felt, despite being one of the most famous people in the world.
Bob Dylan’s The Hurricane was about Rubin Carter
Bob Dylan’s ability to tell stories in his songs is almost unmatched. The Hurricane is based on the true story of how professional boxer Rubin ‘The Hurricane’ Carter was wrongfully incarcerated for murder because of the color of his skin. Carter was eventually released from prison after spending 20 years inside.
John Mayer’s Still Feel Like Your Man is about Katy Perry
John Mayer was clearly struggling to process his 2014 split with fellow singer Katy Perry when he wrote Still Feel Like Your Man. It’s a lamenting song, documenting a man who doesn’t feel like he can move on from somebody now they’re no longer there. Mayer has been on the other side of the fence too, with Taylor Swift’s track Dear John being about him.
Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here is about Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett’s struggles with substance abuse and schizophrenia led to him drifting away from his Pink Floyd bandmates and living in isolation for a large part of his life. This took its toll on the band, leaving them to write multiple songs about him. Wish You Were Here is one of those songs, and has become one of Pink Floyd’s most beloved tracks.
Babyshambles’ Gang of Gin is about Carl Barât
Pete Doherty, for a long time, struggled to get over being fired from The Libertines because of his substance abuse. This caused him to write the song Gang of Gin about his former bandmates, most notably Carl Barât. The lyrics are far from subtle, with Doherty even going as far as to namecheck Barât.
John Legend’s All Of Me is about Chrissy Teigen
It may often seem as though singers only ever seem to sing about having their heartbroken, rather than actually being in love. This isn’t the case with John Legend’s All Of Me, which is an ode to his wife Chrissy Teigen. The two have been married since 2013 and have four children together.
Britney Spears’ Everytime is about Justin Timberlake
Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s split spawned two successful songs, Spears’ Everytime and Timberlake’s Cry Me A River. Neither artist has fully confirmed the subject of either song, but the timing of the releases and references in the lyrics heavily suggest that they were about one another.
Ed Sheeran’s Don’t is about Ellie Goulding
Don’t by Ed Sheeran is a song that also hasn’t explicitly been revealed to be about Ellie Goulding, but the reported fling and subsequent breakup between the pair along with the timing of the song’s release leaves little evidence to suggest otherwise. The song is about two musicians who have a romance whenever their tour schedules align, so it surely has to be about someone in the industry.
Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl is about Elle Macpherson
Uptown Girl is one of Billy Joel’s classics, and it refers to Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson, whom Joel once briefly dated. The song is about a wealthy girl who falls for a working-class boy who may not be able to buy her everything she wants, but is respectable and noble because of the hard work he has put in throughout his life.
The Rolling Stones’ Brown Sugar is about Marsha Hunt
Mick Jagger was known to have dated around a lot during his earlier years as a global rockstar. One of these romances was with the singer Marsha Hunt, the subject of Brown Sugar. The term Brown Sugar does have a couple of meanings, being a slang term for a particularly strong substance.
David Bowie’s The Jean Genie is about Iggy Pop
David Bowie’s The Jean Genie is a reference to the wild lifestyle led by his friend and fellow rockstar Iggy Pop. The song also touches on the recklessly crazy lifestyle led by many high-profile stars in 1970s New York City, a scene in which Bowie became intensely involved.
Selena Gomez’s The Heart Wants What It Wants is about Justin Bieber
For a short while in 2014, young fans of Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber had their hearts broken when the pair announced their separation from each other. The breakup prompted Selena Gomez to write The Heart Wants What It Wants, a pained ballad about the downfall of a very public relationship.
Justin Bieber’s Nothing Like Us is about Selena Gomez
It turns out that Selena Gomez wasn’t the only heartbroken member of her and Justin Bieber’s wilted relationship. The Canadian singer also released a song called Nothing Like Us around the same time as Gomez’s The Heart Wants What It Wants. Bieber’s song was equally as mournful.
Ellie Goulding’s On My Mind is about Ed Sheeran
While it has never officially been confirmed that Ed Sheeran’s Don’t is about Ellie Goulding, the media and fan-led storm that followed Goulding after the song was released was hectic. This led Goulding to write an equally bitter retaliation song called On My Mind, which effectively claims that Sheeran had got the wrong end of the stick about the pair’s relationship.
Beyoncé’s Blue is about Blue Ivy
Both Beyoncé and Jay-Z released songs dedicated to the birth of their first child together, Blue Ivy. Jay-Z’s Glory demonstrated the rapper’s sentimental side, why Beyoncé’s Blue even features a very young Blue Ivy on the track. She is credited as B.I.C., which stands for, you guessed it, Blue Ivy Carter.
Kings of Leon’s Sex on Fire is about Lily Aldridge
The subject of Kings of Leon’s inescapable 2008 hit Sex on Fire is supposedly meant to be Lily Aldridge, the Victoria’s Secret model. Kings of Leon’s frontman and lyricist Caleb Followill had med Aldridge at Coachella festival in 2007, a year before the song was released. Shortly after the festival, the pair started dating, before getting married in 2011.
Kanye West’s Bound 2 is about Kim Kardashian
Kanye West’s Bound 2 off his 2013 album Yeezus has a few references to his then, relatively new, relationship with Kim Kardashian. Lines about not remembering when they first met were the original clues, and the video that features Kardashian was the confirmation.
Jonas Brothers’ Wedding Bells is about Miley Cyrus
Jonas Brothers member Nick Jonas was clearly still having a hard time getting over his past relationship with singer and fellow child star Miley Cyrus, even after a few years had passed since their separation. Nick penned the song Wedding Bells in response to Cyrus’ announcement of her engagement to Hollywood actor Liam Hemsworth.
One Direction’s Perfect is about Taylor Swift
References to midnight drives, writing breakup songs, and cameras following a certain individual, point heavily towards One Direction’s Perfect being about 1D member Harry Styles’ breakup with fellow pop superstar Taylor Swift. The timing of the song’s release and the couples’ breakup is also a major giveaway.
John Mayer’s Paper Doll is about Taylor Swift
John Mayer is another soldier in the army of songwriters fighting back against Taylor Swift’s breakup songs, retaliating to Dear John by writing Paper Doll. The song does contain a decent amount of bitterness, accusing Swift of having multiple personalities who keep running away from their responsibilities.
Timbaland’s Give It To Me is about multiple other artists
Timbaland’s track Give It To Me features vocal assistance from Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, who both want to air their grievances about other artists. Timbaland is going for producer Scott Storch, Timberlake is jibing at either Prince or Janet Jackson, following their uncomfortable Superbowl moment, and Furtado is getting angsty about her sour relationship with Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie.
Coldplay’s Fix You is about Gwyneth Paltrow
Fix You is one of Coldplay’s most beloved songs in the eyes of their fans, mainly because of the song’s supportive sentiment and approach to someone’s grief. The subject of the song is actually frontman Chris Martin’s then-wife and Hollywood actor Gwyneth Paltrow, who was trying to cope with the death of her father.
Taylor Swift’s Delicate is about Joe Alwyn
British actor Joe Alwyn is the subject of more Taylor Swift songs than anyone else, which is no surprise considering the pair were together for around six years. One of these songs is Delicate, with fans citing the song’s music video as proof that it is indeed about Alwyn. He appears in the music video, handing a note to Swift, which is rumored to be what he did the night they first met.
Taylor Swift’s Back to December is about Taylor Lautner
Another of Taylor Swift’s breakup songs is about Hollywood actor and professional werewolf Taylor Lautner. The two stars briefly aligned in 2009, before going their separate ways soon after. The relationship clearly hit Swift hard, as the song laments the fact they could have gone on to experience so much more together.
Katy Perry’s Swish Swish is about Taylor Swift
With Katy Perry’s song Swish Swish, Taylor Swift finds herself, once again, on the opposite side of a bitterly written song. Katy Perry wrote the song from an angle where she claims to be too important to be bothered by Swift’s public distaste for her personality. It’s a very insecure song, especially for someone who is now the face of a food delivery brand.
Rihanna’s Cold Case Love is about Chris Brown
Rihanna and Chris Brown’s relationship was heavily publicized, especially after the Barbadian singer revealed the extent of the physical abuse she suffered while the couple were together. The song focuses on the pair’s complications; themes that are expanded upon throughout the rest of her album, Rated R.
Miley Cyrus’ 7 Things is about Nick Jonas
The Miley Cyrus/Nick Jonas relationship once again spilled out into the studio when Miley Cyrus wrote and recorded her song 7 Rings. The song highlights Cyrus’ frustrations with the relationship, and how it could have gone differently. Jonas got off lightly though, with the majority of Cyrus’ Bangerz album about her other famous ex, Liam Hemsworth.
Harry Styles’ Kiwi is about Georgia Fowler
The most obvious hint that Harry Styles’ song Kiwi is about his brief relationship with the model Georgia Fowler is in the song title itself. The nickname Kiwi is given to New Zealanders, and with the Oceanic country being the birthplace of Fowler, and the song’s release coming not too long after their break up, you just have to put two and two together.
Miley Cyrus’ Malibu is about Liam Hemsworth
Miley Cyrus’ on/off relationship with Hollywood actor Liam Hemsworth was first written about in Cyrus’ 2013 album Bangerz, which is essentially an album full of breakup songs. However, when the pair rekindled their relationship, Cyrus released Malibu, a song that talks of her relief and joy that the two were back together again.
The Weeknd’s Call Out My Name is about Bella Hadid
The Weeknd wrote about his former girlfriend, supermodel Bella Hadid in his song Call Out My Name. There were also rumors that the song could have been about another former flame, Selena Gomez. Some rumors even had it down that the song was about both relationships. Why spread the words out when you can condense them into one song?
Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next is about Pete Davidson
Ariana Grande didn’t hold back on announcing to the world that she was over her relationship with comedian and professional dater Pete Davidson. Thank U, Next is a very dismissive song, showing that Grande was clearly never under the impression that the relationship would last forever.
Kanye West’s Famous is about Taylor Swift
Kanye West is not one to hold back when it comes to publically denouncing somebody. His song Famous, off of his 2016 Life of Pablo album is a pretty grim misogynistic attack on Taylor Swift, claiming that he made her famous when he infamously interrupted her acceptance speech at the 2009 VMAs. Ironically, Kanye’s career has spiraled downwards since 2016, while Taylor’s goes from strength to strength.
Bob Dylan’s Like a Rolling Stone is about Andy Warhol
Bob Dylan has always had a way with words, which makes for excellent poetic takedowns of those he feels have done wrong. While his hit single Like A Rolling Stone is primarily about the 60s artist, model, and general character Edie Sedgwick, there are also some digs at the way Andy Warhol mistreated her and led her down a dark path.
John Mayer’s Your Body is a Wonderland is about Jennifer Love Hewitt
John Mayer loves to sing about women. His song Your Body is a Wonderland is about actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, who he clearly had quite the crush on. Hewitt has acknowledged that she knows the song is about her, but has also denied that her body is, in fact, a wonderland.
Kanye West’s Blame Game is about Amber Rose
Kanye West is back, and this time turning his poisonous attention toward his ex-girlfriend Amber Rose. His song Blame Game takes digs at Rose, while also going in on her then-boyfriend Wiz Khalifa, in a manner that one could only describe as bitter jealousy.
N.W.A.’s Message to B.A. is about Ice Cube
Ice Cube’s departure from N.W.A., the rap group that first made him famous, didn’t go down well with the other members of the group. This prompted them to write the song Message to B.A., short for Ice Cube’s real name, Benedict Arnold. The song features a whole load of digs at poor Benedict, who would swiftly reply with a song of his own.
Ice Cube’s No Vaseline is about N.W.A.
Following N.W.A.’s harsh digs at Ice Cube, formerly known as Benedict Arnold, in the song Message to B.A., the rapper felt he had to respond and respond he did, releasing No Vaseline. No Vaseline attacks the remaining N.W.A. members, claiming they used to be hard and now they are just soft. The entire song denounces the group’s abilities, letting them know that Ice Cube is the most successful member.
Leonard Cohen’s Chelsea Hotel is about Janis Joplin
Leonard Cohen’s song Chelsea Hotel touches on his brief yet powerful relationship with the legendary singer Janis Joplin. Joplin at the time was staying at the Chelsea Hotel in New York, a place that had hosted legends of the music, literary and poetic world, including Bob Dylan, Jack Kerouac, and Charles Bukowski, among many others.
Korn’s Mr. Rogers is about Fred Rogers
Korn’s song Mr. Rogers is a rather cynical view of the children’s TV show presented by the much-loved Fred Rogers between 1968 and 2001. The song slams Rogers for giving children the impression that the world is a great place, and not preparing them for the responsibilities of adulthood. A rather strange take considering the man was just trying to entertain kids.
Kendrick Lamar’s Wesley’s Theory is about Wesley Snipes
Wesley’s Theory by Kendrick Lamar focuses on the actor Wesley Snipes’ imprisonment for failing to pay taxes. The song discusses the difficulty that young black men face when they become successful but have never been taught how to handle their money or their fame.
Eagles’ James Dean is about James Dean
James Dean’s iconic status has been written about by many an artist, with his intrigue and persona vastly outliving the actor’s short life. The Eagles’ track James Dean is about the ‘live fast, die young’ mantra that Dean seemingly lived by, discussing its benefits and negatives.
