As a cliché goes, music is the universal language; an outlet for expressing human emotion.

While some artists praise or bash people through their songs, others use it as a tool to “communicate” to their lovers, past or present.

Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online cited two royal couples in the realm of music whose releases are seemingly about their once fairy tale-like love stories.

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake

Both from Mickey Mouse Club, this pair left many fans brokenhearted when they called it quits in 2002. More, they had people speculating whether a third party caused their three-year romance to go kaput.

Although to this day neither has confirmed the rumor, Justin did say in an interview that he wrote “Cry Me A River,” one of his biggest hits from the Grammy-winning solo effort, “Justified,” to mend his heart and “to fight back.”    

“You don't have to say what you did / I already know, I found out from him / Now there's just no chance, for you and me, there'll never be…” the song goes.

Even the music video for the song, which cast a Britney Spears look-alike as an infidel girlfriend, sparked controversy.

A year later, Britney released her fourth album, “In The Zone,” which contained the equally successful song, “Everytime.”

The ballad, written by Britney herself, was thought to be an apology to Justin.

“I may have made it rain / Please forgive me / My weakness caused you pain / And this song is my sorry…” go several lines.

Asked to whom she dedicates the song, Britney said, "I'll let the song speak for itself."

Rihanna and Chris Brown

Once upon a time, this R&B power couple had everything going for them. They had chart-topping songs and albums, a solid fan base, a smooth-sailing relationship---until everything unraveled.

And how. In February 2009, news broke out that Chris assaulted Rihanna just before they were to attend the Grammy Awards ceremonies. Needless to say, their fans and the entire music community were shocked.

Chris has since been put on a five-year-probation, ordered to render community service and to undergo counseling. He also cannot go near Rihanna within a 100-yard distance.

Through it all, Rihanna has kept silent. Or did she?

In the Ne-Yo penned, “Russian Roulette,” which Rihanna recorded and released just last Oct. 20, she sings about an inescapable chaotic relationship.  

“And you can see my heart beating / You can see it through my chest / And I’m terrified but I’m not leaving / Know that I must pass this test / So just pull the trigger,” goes the chorus.

The bridge of the dark ballad catches the singer in a state of deep melancholy.

“As my life flashes before my eyes / I’m wondering will I ever see another sunrise / So many won’t get the chance to say goodbye / But it’s too late to pick up the value of my life.”

The day after Rihanna’s single came out, Chris surprised the music world by releasing the song “Crawl” which many people think is a response to “Russian Roulette.”

“Crawl” talks about begging a lover for a second chance; that is, “to crawl back to love” after he had wronged her.

“I'm the one that lost the view / Everybody says we're through / I hope you hadn't said it too,” go some of the verses.

Some critics say that Chris’ and Rihanna’s recent releases are merely for publicity. Both artists, after all, are gearing for the release of their new albums [Rihanna’s “Rated R” on November 23 and Chris’ “Grafitti” on December 15].

Regardless of whether these are for publicity or therapy, it is clear that song, as a form of art, speaks of what is inside the heart.