Music is a very cathartic form of expression for artists. Songwriters often express their own personal state of mind in their lyrics. Love is a very common topic often written about in popular music. Whether it's about falling in love, out of love, or somewhere in between, there have been countless songs on the subject.
Famous singer-songwriters have the added reality of their relationships sometimes becoming very public. It should come as no surprise that they often speak about these relationships in their songs. Because they have such a high profile, we sometimes know exactly who their singing about.
Here are eight songs artists wrote about their real life relationships.
8 Yoü and I by Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga first premiered this song during a live performance in 2010. It was performed on the Today Show and eventually became part of her "Monster Ball Tour" set list. Gaga wrote this song about Lüc Carl, a man she had an on-again, off-again relationship with. She was in love with him at the time of writing this song. It reflected her desire to get back together with him and rekindle their relationship. It went on to become one of Gaga's biggest hits and featured Brian May on guitar.
7 The Impossible by Mariah Carey
When Mariah Carey married Nick Cannon in the Spring of 2008, the world was shocked. Most people weren't even aware the two were dating, let along ready to get married. Carey wrote and recorded this song for her "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" album in 2009. The song was a loving dedication to Cannon and reflected how in love she was with him. This album also included the hit "Obsessed," which many claimed to be about Eminem. Cannon defended Carey at the time after Eminem repeatedly insulted her in a song.
6 Dear Ben by Jennifer Lopez
This song was originally going to be titled "Perfect," but Lopez had it changed at the last minute. Producer Corey Rooney said in an interview that Lopez called him when the album was being mixed. She asked him to tell the mixer to change the name of the song to "Dear Ben." Lopez wrote the song for Ben Affleck, whom she was engaged to at the time. The two had a very public relationship and break-up. Recently, they have gotten back together and married in Las Vegas. They followed that up with a big wedding ceremony for family and friends.
5 Because Of Love by Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson first met Rene Elizondo Jr. before she was married to James DeBarge. Jackson recalled how Elizondo was a supportive friend, encouraging her to make it work. After the marriage ended, Jackson and Elizondo continued their friendship. The two began dating and secretly married in 1991. When Jackson released her "Janet" album in 1993, it was her first album since her marriage to Elizondo. The album was about love and sensuality, inspired by Jackson's relationship. This is one of the many songs on the album which Elizondo inspired, and went on to become a huge hit.
4 Pete Davidson by Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson had a whirlwind romance in 2018. When Grande broke up with boyfriend Mac Miller, her relationship and subsequent engagement to Pete Davidson soon followed. The pair were so smitten that Grande wrote a lot of songs on her next album, "Sweetener," about him. He was the inspiration for this song as well, hence the title. Many people speculate the song could've been called "Happy" instead. After their break-up, it certainly looks like that might have been a better alternative. Still, this song remains a highlight on Grande's most divisive album.
3 True Blue by Madonna
Madonna and Sean Penn had a turbulent relationship and marriage. Helicopters filled with paparazzi hovered over their wedding, disrupting the entire ceremony. Penn famously punched out photographers on the street, resulting in serious legal battles. In 1986, Madonna released her "True Blue" album with its title song, which she dedicated to Penn. Whatever hurdles they experienced in their relationship weren't present when Madonna wrote this song. It is a very happy and giddy song that finds her gushing about her new love. It also has a retro, '50s feel that gives it a sense of innocence.
2 Animal by Troye Sivan
When Troye Sivan released his debut album, "Blue Neighborhood" in 2016, it was very successful. Much of the album's content saw Sivan singing about a relationship that was ending. However, Sivan would soon find himself in a new relationship with model Jacob Bixenman. His relationship with Bixenman would inspire much of the material on his sophomore effort, "Bloom." That project included this song, which closed the album. It is a beautiful love song with a touch of sensuality. It even features audio of Bixenman laughing at the end of the first chorus.
1 Origin of Love by Mika
When Mika burst onto the scene in 2007, he was subjected to rumors about his sexuality. This was largely due to his flamboyant persona and lyrical content. Mika initially said that he avoided labeling his sexuality and kept things rather ambiguous. In 2012, however, he officially came out as gay when promoting his album, "The Origin of Love." The title track was written about the new relationship he was in. Mika said that he wanted the song to be a reflection of what it feels like to be in love.
