YouTube 'I Hit It First' Ray J: The Best Revenge Songs Of All Time

We all have our favorite revenge songs, those uplifting and empowering tunes that you play after a break up and make you feel good again.

The post-break up phase can be for some artists a moment of inspiration, and many successful hits were made because of a nasty or a particularly bitter break-up, and as we have seen over the years, how the artists decide to handle the speculation of who the song is about is completely up to them.

1. Carly Simon - "You're So Vain"

Next to "Nobody Does it Better," "You're So Vain" has earned its place as a staple of any karaoke night, and is something of an anthem as far as revenge songs are concerned. The song became Simon's signature song but ironically, no one actually knew who the song was about.

There was speculation that the song was inspired by Mick Jagger (which she later denied in the Washington Post), Warren Beatty ("You walked into the party like you were walking into a yacht"?), or Kris Kristofferson.

Simon soon set the record straight in an interview with Fame magazine in 1989, and said that the song was inspired by a composite of three men from her days in LA.

2. Alanis Morrisette - "You Oughta Know"

In 2008, actor David Coulier admitted in the interview that the song "You Oughta Know" was penned by Morrisette about him. However later that year, Morrisette's lips were sealed and she refused to confirm or deny in an interview if Coulier was the subject of her famous musical rant, but did admit that the song was about someone she was in a relationship with. The words "you probably think this song is about you" come to mind.

3. Justin Timberlake - "Cry Me a River"  

They were the R-Patz and K-Stew of the Mickey Mouse Club and the power couple of pop in their heyday. 'N Sync's front man and the Princess of Pop were a match made in pop world heaven when they began dating in the late 90s. The pair however decided to call it a day in 2002 following rumors that Spears was cheating on JT.

After denying that Spears was the inspiration for the song (coupled by a music video featuring an actress bearing a striking resemblance to the pop princess), Timberlake finally confessed last year that "Cry Me a River" was written following a heated argument with Spears.

The battle of the exes however still rages on following allegations that Timberlake called Spears a bitch. Timberlake has since denied the allegations.

4. Taylor Swift - "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"

Swift has been known to pen songs based on her many break ups, most notably Dear John, which as written following her break up with singer John Mayer. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is Swift's most well-known revenge song based on her split with actor Jake Gyllenhall, and like "Cry Me A River" featured an actor bearing a striking resemblance to her ex. Swift had the last laugh as the song won her a Grammy.

5. Adele - "Rolling in the Deep"

Following the release of her debut album 19 Adele began a serious relationship with a man 10 years her senior. After 18 months the pair soon broke up, and Adele described the relationship as "the biggest deal in my entire life to date."

Adele then channelled all her energies and raw emotion into her follow-up album, penning the signature "Fuck You" song in the form of "Rolling in the Deep." Adele was back with a vengeance, and soon conquered the charts around the globe with her album 21, and Rolling in the Deep conquered the charts of many countries around the world.

Whilst  being incredibly open about the relationship the identity of the man who broke the songstress' heart remained a mystery. However in April 2012 U.K. celebrity magazine Heat revealed that 31-year-old photographer Alex Sturrock was the infamous heartbreaker.

6. Ray J - "I Hit It First"

Socialite Kim Kardashian earnt her place as a tabloid darling after the leaking of an infamous sex tape featuring herself and hip hop artist Ray J. The spurned ex boyfriend soon hit it where it hurt by penning an autobiographical song explicitly referring to that infamous sex tape, and dissing Kim and her current boyfriend and baby daddy Kanye West. Kimye were reportedly upset about the song but have not officially put on record their thoughts about Ray J's revenge hit.