12 Songs You Didn't Know Were Written About Famous People

You probably think this song is about you.

How many times have you turned on the radio or put your iPod on shuffle and thought, "Oh, this is my song?" Chances are that it's happened before; people are constantly finding songs that speak to them, that make them feel good, or that they just plain like to hear. However, despite feeling connected to these songs, they aren't really "yours." But what if they were? What if one day you turned on the radio and heard someone singing about a life that could only be yours? What if you heard all your shortcomings spread across the airwaves, or had your indiscretions laid plain for everyone to hear? Maybe you'd hear a friend-turned-enemy call you out for something you'd done to them, or simply attack all that you are? Or maybe you'd be lucky, and hear a lyrical love letter with your name on it, or a message from someone close to you that just wants to make you better. It's happened before. In the case of these twelve songs, their writers pulled inspiration straight from their personal lives and those of those around them. Some of the songs, such as Elton John's "Candle in the Wind," make their subjects readily known, using personal details in their lyrics. Some reference past events without overtly addressing them, such as Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl." Others, like Don McLean's legendary "American Pie," employ heavy figurative language and cryptic clues to disguise the meaning behind their words, leaving the subjects relatively unknown. No matter the tactic, it doesn't change the fact that these songs are written about real-life people.
Contributor
Contributor

College kid with an affinity for sarcasm and sleeping too much.