The 10 most cutting pop songs about unfortunate exes
Taylor Swift dropped a new song, Ready For It, with ZERO WARNING last weekend and we can't quite handle it. Give us a moment to prepare ourselves next time T-Swizzle, ok?
Like many good Taylor songs, it seems to lash out at ex-boyfriends, and it's got the whole world in a frenzy trying to work out who it's about. But one thing that's for certain is that some of the best pop songs ever take a swipe at exes. Here's some of the most stinging pop songs about exes, ever.
Taylor Swift - Ready For It
While gushing about a current squeeze, the lyrics to Ready For It also say, "Every lover known in comparison is a failure, I forget their names now." Burn!
We're not sure if it's about ex-boyfriends Harry Styles, Calvin Harris or Tom Hiddleston - or if it's just a neat turn of phrase, and not about anyone in particular. Whichever way, we're feeling it.
Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex
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Ouch. Little Mix have yet to premiere their new single, but we already know it's got a bit of a bite. The lyrics are all about a tattooed ex who wasn't very good in bed.
Tabloids have suggested the man in question might be Perrie Edwards ex-boyfriend Zayn Malik, but we couldn't possibly speculate.
Killer lyrics: “Guess I should say thank you, For the ‘hate yous’ and the tattoos, Oh baby I’m cool by the way, Ain’t sure I loved you anyway.”
Justin Bieber - Love Yourself
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Justin's love life is also very public and of course, many suggested this cutting break-up track was about one of his high-profile ex girlfriends.
Love Yourself was co-written by Ed Sheeran, who knows a thing or two himself about writing huge hits about rubbish exes.
Killer lyrics: "My mama don't like you and she likes everyone."
Ed Sheeran - Don't
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Ed's 2014 hit is believed to be written about a fellow pop star. The song tells a tale of Ed being cheated on by a girl who slept with someone else in the same hotel as he was staying.
He's a magnificent songwriter, however, so it could be pure fiction.
Killer lyrics: "And I never saw him as a threat, until you disappeared with him to have sex of course."
Beyonce - Irreplaceable
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Beyonce is happily married to Jay Z, but even Queen Bey has been through her share of rubbish break-ups in her time.
She poured her experiences into this 2006 hit, and the saying 'to the left, to the left' is one of the biggest hooks of her glittering career.
Killer lyrics: "And, it's my name that's on that jag, so come move your bags, let me call you a cab."
Ariana Grande - Problem
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Ariana teamed up with both Iggy Azalea and Big Sean on this 2014. She hits out as a troublesome ex on this, her first global hit, with Big Sean delivering the killer line on the chorus.
Ariana and Sean went on to become an item, but it didn't last.
Killer lyrics: "I got one less problem without you."
Demi Lovato - Really Don't Care
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Demi is all sorts of awesome. The video for Really Don't Care was a huge celebration of gay pride, but the song was a fiesty farewell to an ex.
Every moment of Really Don't Care will make it easier to get over your own break-ups.
Killer lyrics: "But even if the stars and moon collide, I never want you back into my life."
Ellie Goulding - On My Mind
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Ellie admits she still thinks about her ex on this Top 10 hit, but the story of the song is an empowering one as she tells him she didn't love him - she was just into his ink.
Killer lyrics: "You were talking deep like it was mad love to you, you wanted my heart but I just liked your tattoos."
Pink - So What
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Another professional when it comes to singing about heartache, Pink's career is packed with big songs about rocky relationships.
Pink's ex-husband Carey Hart appears in the video for So What, but there was a happy ending to this bitter tale - the two got back together and remain married to this day. Hurrah.
Killer lyrics: "I'm gonna show you tonight, I'm alright, I'm just fine and you're a tool."
Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone
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Kelly Clarkson turned defiance into an art form in the early days of her career and was one of pop's biggest badasses before babies and happily married life came calling.
Since You Been Gone is Kelly's biggest single and still packs a punch today.
Killer lyrics: "You had your chance you blew it, out of sight, out of mind, shut your mouth I just can't take it."
