20 Top Songs About Manipulation

If you’re in a long-term relationship, it’s normal to have difficulties. These issues can occasionally have an emotional or greedy origin. Manipulation is one issue that can arise in every kind of relationship. This is a problem that can lead to others along the way. Learn the signs of manipulation through these songs and what to do about it if it surfaces in your relationships with others.

Here are 20 top songs about manipulation:

1. How Do You Sleep? by Sam Smith

Topping our list of songs about manipulation is this heart-break song from sam smith. There is nothing worse than having a cheating companion.

When the man in this heartbreaking pop song from the year 2020 suspects his girlfriend of cheating on him, he becomes suspicious and starts contacting random numbers on his partner’s phone.

The question is, “Have you ever…?” Because of the song’s widespread success, it seems that the narrator’s uncertainty resonates with many people.

2. Gnash’s “I Hate You, I Love You”

Relationships can get emotionally tangled when friends become lovers. In this 2016 pop ballad, two people learn this lesson.

They’ve formally ended their relationship, yet they still have a resentment for each other. The guy informs his ex, “If I pulled a ‘you’ on you, you wouldn’t enjoy it.” Both feel a mixture of love and hate. So excruciating.

3. Camila Cabello’s “I Have Questions”

The inquisitive girl in this 2017 pop ballad wonders if her ex-lover ever actually cared for her after she was dumped by him.

Theirs is a love that is asymmetrical. He relishes the position of dominance he has in the relationship, while she accepts responsibility for the mishaps.

4. The Veronicas’ “You Ruin Me”

The Veronicas, an Australian pop duo, play a woman who has been emotionally ripped apart by a two-timing boyfriend in their new single.

The narrator of this somber, slow-tempo ballad has been saddened by her partner’s adultery, which has resulted in severe psychological damage. With a hard heart, the woman wishes him well, knowing she won’t be around to witness his remorse.

5. Hustle” by Pink

This is one of the songs about manipulation that I will not forget in a hurry, and it is surely one of my favorites.

Singer Pink takes aim at an ex-boyfriend who took advantage of her in her “don’t f*ck with me” song. The 2019 smash sends a clear message that he may have used her once before, but that won’t be the case again.

6. Derek and the Dominos’ “Layla”

Tnis is one of the most popular rock songs about manipulation, it was inspired by a 7th century Arabic story about a guy who falls in love with a woman he cannot marry.

The unfortunate man goes insane as a result of his unrequited love. Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend and fellow Beatle George Harrison, fueled Eric Clapton’s real-life obsession with her. Clapton married Boyd later in life.

Rolling Stone named it one of the “500 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time”. Narrator: A vixen turned the narrator’s world upside down and left him brokenhearted In the eyes of the married woman, he’s an idiot. Despite this, he begs to be with her despite his knowledge that she will exhaust him quickly.

7. “Nights Like This” by Kehlani (featuring Ty Dolla $ign)

This 2019 R&B hit has a guy and two bisexual females in a love triangle. The female narrator regrets the unpleasant and fragmented relationship she had with her previous love interest due to the girlfriend’s deception.

Although her ex-partner made her feel worthless and took her for granted, she is having a hard time adjusting to life without him.

The male adds his voice to the chorus, accusing the woman of abusing him as well. There are those persons who are merely serial users.

8. Bruno Mars’ “Grenade.”

Unfortunately, Bruno Mars in this worldwide 2010 smash hit has latched on to a first-class taker when it comes to romance.

This R&B/pop crossover song depicts the musician’s self-doubt concerning his relationship with the subject. Because he draws on his own life experiences, he comes across as quite credible.

When it comes down to it, his cold-hearted girlfriend doesn’t care about anything but herself.

9. Lauv & LANY’s “Mean It”

Whether you’ve ever been someone else’s second choice or side chick, this 2019 pop song’s message resonates with you.

The narrator has had enough of being used. It’s not uncommon for a lover to play mind games with their partner, building him up only to let him down later. In his heart, he longs to be more than a mere savior.

10. James & Bobby Purify’s “I’m Your Puppet”

It’s possible to become a puppet when you’re in love, as the man in this 1966 R&B/pop crossover song. When his girlfriend says “jump,” he’ll inquire, “How high?” Her every want is his command because he is a boy toy.

However, there’s a narrow line to travel between being loved and being used when it comes to being attentive to others.

11. Christina Perri’s “Jar of Hearts”

“Who do you think you are?” the woman sings in this 2010 pop ballad as a former flame tries to renew their romance.

Her heart was broken the previous time around, and she’s frightened to become connected with him again.

It was the cold-hearted man who broke her heart and took away her sparkle from her eyes. It took a long time for the narrator to recover, and now that she is stronger, she will not return. Let go of the manipulator!

12. Taylor Swift’s “Dear John.”

John Meyer, a singer-songwriter 12 years older than Taylor Swift, has a reputation for being a player. Swift was only 19 when they began dating.

For three months, she felt she had been taken advantage of by him. Naturally, the country diva who morphed into a pop princess had to pen a song about her agony. Meyer called Swift “mean” for writing the song and that she made him feel “humiliated.”

In the harsh song, the ex-lover is referred to as a “professional at apologizing and keeping things foggy,” and then she accuses him for a dreadful lack of judgment in the first place:

Swift has never stated that the song is about Meyer despite the hints that point to his identity. An idiom known as a “Dear John letter” refers to a breakup letter that is typically written when one of the parties has met a new partner.

13. Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River”

Often, people who are taken advantage of have the final laugh.. Brittney Spears and Justin Timberlake were the “it” couple of the early 2000s, dating for over two and a half years until splitting up in 2005.

When Spears began dating a well-known choreographer, their romance came to an abrupt end, and they parted ways.

The ex-NSYNC member took advantage of the grief of their split by releasing this fiery confessional song. The pop song from 2002 is a genuine act of vengeance towards Britney Spears, who shattered his trust by lying and cheating on him. There is no going back, no matter how hard she cries, according to the track.

14. Bill Withers’ “Use Me.”

The guy in this 1972 soul-pop song is at least honest about why he’s staying with a woman who’s treating him badly. Toxic, to say the least.

Friends tried to persuade him to change his ways.   His brother tried to calm him down and tell him that the woman he loved was taking advantage of him. That didn’t work either. Despite the fact that she treats him badly, he keeps returning.

15. This Providence’s “Letdown”

The narrator of this 2009 alternative rock song suffers verbal and emotional torture at the hands of a gorgeous she-devil.

Temptress with tattoos approaches and offers him cheap sex, then taunts and humiliates him

16. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ “I Hate Myself for Loving You”

Hard rocker shows a woman who is in love with a player in this 1988 song…. The narrator keeps returning to the man who stands her up and messes with her.

Admitting that her dignity has been seriously damaged, the heartbroken woman despises herself for continuously allowing him to treat her badly.

17. Sugarland’s “Stay”

Sugarland’s reaction to Reba McEntire’s song “Whoever’s in New England,” a ballad about infidelity from the perspective of a devastated wife, was this 2007 country-pop crossover hit.

“Stay” alternates between the mistress’s and the lover’s perspectives in the triangle of love in the lyrics. The dishonest man is taking advantage of both women.

Anxiously waiting for the man’s wife to call, the singer begs his married lover to stay in bed with her. Other women are fed up with obtaining second-rate food. The waiting, the sneaking about, and the hollow promises have worn her down.

The narrator informs him that the next time he wants to leave his wife’s bed to see her, he should just stay with his wife, because she deserves better.

When she realizes that she’s been taken advantage of, it’s heartbreaking. Sugarland’s anthem, the song has become an instant classic.

18. Dua Lipa’s “New Rules” is featured on this list.

Since splitting from a person who isn’t right for her, the woman in this 2017 pop song has formed new rules.

In order to avoid falling back into previous patterns, these guidelines aid her in establishing personal boundaries.

As a result of her ex’s lack of loyalty and concern for the well-being of their relationship, her new rules are straightforward:

19. Selena Gomez’s “The Heart Wants What It Wants”

For some reason, Selena Gomez believes that you cannot control who you fall in love with. (I disagree with you.) If you’re looking for a spouse, there are over 7.5 billion people on the planet to choose from!

The former Disney pop princess hints to her on-again, off-again romance with Justin Bieber in this mournful 2014 pop ballad. he wasn’t worth it at all, girl. From 2011 through 2018, they had irregular relationships.

This song recounts the narrator’s “crazy” and “desperate” feelings after her partner mysteriously disappears on her.

There are “a million reasons why I should give you up,” she concedes, but “the heart wants what it wants,” despite his abuse. She’s lost all sense. Is it her heart or another part of her body that she’s thinking with?

This is one of the songs about manipulation that I will not forget in a hurry, and it is surely one of my favorites.

20. Rihanna’s “Take a Bow”

Rihanna thinks this actor deserves a standing ovation since he’s so brilliant at lying. ‘

The narrator in this R&B mainstream chart-topper from 2008 mocks her unfaithful dog of a lover, acknowledging that she got fooled. They are depicted as stage actors that tell lies and deceive like they’ve memorized their lines.

Apologies aren’t going down well with this girl. She thinks he’s stupid, and when he sobs, he looks ugly. She also thinks he’s sorry he got caught.

When it comes down to it, she has finally come to terms with her mistakes. This is definetly one of the best songs about manipulation that you should listen to.