Romantic bust-up songs
By Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
For most people, romantic flame-outs inspire sobbing midnight phone calls, sleepless nights and lots of excess drinking. For pop stars, that bad boyfriend or cheating girlfriend can be the road to contstant radio airplay. Take
But Morissette isn’t the only pop star to mine her romantic failures for songwriting gold. These performers have all used their tabloid-worthy exploits as inspiration for something more hummable than humbling. (Joao Cortesao AFP/Getty Images)
Song:
Bust-up: Andre 3000 and singer Erykah Badu
What happened: After meeting and dating, Andre 3000 and Badu had a child together. Ms. Jackson was written after the pair split and is often seen as being dedicated to Badus mother. It dealt with a type of breakup fallout seldom heard in pop music a man apologizing to a mother for disappointing her daughter.
Telling lyric: Ms. Jackson my intentions were good / I wish I could become a magician to abracadabra all the sadder thoughts of me
So know this, know that everything is cool / And yes I will be present on the first day of school and graduation (Frank Micelotta / Getty Images)
Song: Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way”
Bust-up: Fleetwood Mac wrote the book on dating bandmates, so it should come as no surprise they also recorded the ultimate breakup song.
What happened? Lindsey Buckingham wrote “Go Your Own Way” during the “Rumours” sessions to reflect the feelings he had about bandmate and romantic partner Stevie Nicks.
Telling lyric: “If I could, maybe I’d give you my world. How can I, when you won’t take it from me.” (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)
Song: “You’re So Vain”
Bust-up:
What happened: Though Simon has never publicly identified the subject of her song about a self-obsessed lover, she has ruled out some names -- James Taylor -- while revealing letters in the actual subject’s name. So far, the letters revealed are A, E and R. Which leaves us with Simon’s former flames Warren Beatty and Mick Jagger. Beatty has claimed that he thinks the song is about him.
Telling lyric: You had me several years ago when I was still quite naive / Well you said that we made such a pretty pair / And that you would never leave / But you gave away the things you loved and one of them was me (Jim Cooper / Associated Press)
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Song: The Rolling Stones Angie
Bust-up:
What happened: The band denies it, but it is suggested that the song, written by
Telling lyric: Angie, I still love you, remember all those nights we cried / All the dreams we held so close seemed to all go up in smoke (Nicholas Roberts AFP / Getty Images)