Everyone knows the only way to heal a broken heart is to channel your emotions into an epic break up song. Some get their rage out screaming along with Alanis Morissette‘s “You Oughta Know,” while others opt for a more wistful sound, like Adele‘s “Someone Like You.”
But what about the songs themselves? Who inspired our favorite break up ballads? Did Russell Brand really prompt Katy Perry to pen “Part of Me?” And is “Cry Me A River” about Justin Timberlake‘s break up with Britney Spears? Which of your favorite break up songs are about true love gone wrong–and which were just born out of a lucky studio session?
We did a little digging on ten of your favorite break up songs of all time and found out how deep the artists had to dig to get them out.
“Someone Like You” by Adele
The Story of the Song: Just like most of the album 21, “Someone Like You” tells the tale of a heartbroken Adele desperately trying to overcome the heartache of losing whom she believes to be the love of her life…by looking ahead to someone better in the future.
The Story Behind the Song: Adele is one of the most confessional singer-songwriters in recent memory. Her acclaimed album, 21, was inspired by a horrible break up with photographer Alex Sturrock. Sturrock was hired as the official photographer on her 2009 U.S. tour, but if you click through his website, his photos of Adele look less like professional tour photos and more like intimate candids from the bedroom. Sturrock reportedly refused to call Adele his girlfriend and chipped away at her self-esteem. Adele has neither confirmed nor denied that Sturrock was the inspiration, but the timelines match up.
[Photo Credit: Getty Images, XL & Mavrick]
