10 Modern Pop Songs Stars Wrote About Their Exes

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/AMA2011/FilmMagic

Selena Gomez hasreleased two new songs, and there’s a lot of speculation that they’rebothabout herex-boyfriend, Justin Bieber. It’s not the first time Gomez haswritten a song about her ex(they both seem to have inspired each other in this regard), but the song adds to the modern canon of pop breakup songs we know are about certain people.

Selena Gomez, “Lose You to Love Me”

The lyrics themselves are pretty straightforward: “I saw the signs and I ignored it / Rose colored glasses all distorted / Set fire to my purpose / And I let it burn,” seemingly a direct reference to Bieber’sPurposealbum.

Gomez also sings about reuniting with Bieber, only to break up months later and watch himmove on with his now-wifeHailey Bieber(née Baldwin). She sings, “In two months, you replaced us / Like it was easy / Made me think I deserved it.”

Miley Cyrus, “Slide Away”

When Cyrus and her husband of less than one year, Liam Hemsworth, announced their separation (and, a few weeks later, divorce) back in August, there was much speculation about what caused their split. Days after announcing the news, Cyrus dropped “Slide Away,” a song that seems to answer that question … sort of. Sources toldPEOPLEthat Hemsworth’s partying was a source of contention for the couple. Cyrus seems to address this in the song, saying: “I want my house in the hills / Don’t want the whiskey and pills / I don’t give up easily / But I don’t think I’m down.”

John Mayer, “Still Feel Like Your Man”

John Mayer, “Paper Doll”

As a rejoinder toTaylor Swift‘s “Dear John,” “Paper Doll” gets its venom out with references to “22,” “All Too Well,” and, well, “Dear John.”

Taylor Swift, “Forever & Always”

Swift admitted toEllen DeGeneresthat this song was aboutJoe Jonas’s 27-second breakup phone call to her.

Selena Gomez, “Love Will Remember”

Gomez called this“the most personal track” onStars Dancewhen she confirmed it was about Bieber, adding “I’m sure he’ll love it, too.”

Miley Cyrus, “7 Things”

With lyrics like “Your friends, they’re jerks / when you act like them, just know it hurts,” “7 Things” doesn’t mince any words, and the video’s director, Brett Ratner, confirmed that it’s about Cyrus’s exNick Jonas— Cyrus even wears Jonas’ diabetes necklace in the video for the song.

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Katy Perry, “By the Grace of God”

Though Perry said she doesn’t want “to hand over a specific story about each and every song,”she confirmed toEntertainment Weeklythat “By the Grace of God” was indeed about her divorce from Russell Brand.

Justin Bieber, “Nothing Like Us”

Bieber confirmed toBillboardthat “Nothing Like Us” is about Gomez. At the time, he said, “I’m not in the happiest place that I’ve ever been.”

source: people.com