I Hate Love Songs

Album: Unapologetically (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Unapologetically album tells the chronological story of Kelsea Ballerini's recovery from a bad break-up before getting engaged to fellow country singer Morgan Evans. The singer told the BBC she found it easier to write those "super dark" lyrics earlier in the record than the love songs that close the album. In fact, she's so bad at the soppy stuff that she came up with this pastiche of saccharine 1950s doo-wop hits.

    I hate Shakespeare and Gosling and cakes with white frosting
    Two names in a heart-shaped tattoo
    I think cupid is stupid and violets are purple not blue


    "Do I really hate Ryan Gosling? Lord no!" she squealed. "He's a beautiful man! But I love that song. It talks about that heart and head battle. I don't want to be a clichéd person in love; but I kind of am turning into that."

    "Then the next song [on the album] is 'Unapologetically', where it's finally like I'm fully in love," Ballerini added. "I love the tension of those two together."
  • Kelsea Ballerini penned the song with Shane McAnally and (Old Dominion's) Trevor Rosen. She explained to Taste of Country how the track mirrored her own romance with Morgan Evans. "'I Hate Love Songs' is the, 'Woo, wow! You're here. I didn't expect to meet you now, and is this gonna happen? I think this is gonna happen and I hate this but I think I love this,'" she said.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos

Divided Souls: Musical Alter EgosSong Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.