In 1984, Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene wrote the Talk Talk song "It's My Life". This song is a slow and melancholy ballad about a relationship. The lyrics discuss the feelings of being trapped by a partner who is unfaithful, losing a part of yourself, and reasoning.

After the breakup of Tony Kanal and Gwen Stefani, many of the songs on No Doubt's third album, Tragic Kingdom, were inspired. The lyrics of the songs "Breaking Up", "Dum Dum Boy", and "Such a Shame" all revolve around the disillusionment of a broken heart.

One of the most famous No Doubt hits is the song "Don't Speak." It is a song about a break up, and was written to reflect the band's own tensions. By playing up the breakup, the band was able to gain popularity, and catapult to the mainstream. However, the song has very different lyrics to other relationships tracks.

Another one of No Doubt's hits is "Stay". The song is about staying in a relationship that is not working. When the singer is faced with a decision to end the relationship, she stays. A thin drum machine is added to the song. Despite the hi-end synths, the bassline is intact.

There is no denying that Gwen Stefani has a knack for writing hit songs. Her first single was "Just a Girl," which reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. With her new album, Stefani seems to be setting herself up for a whole new chapter in her career.