List of songs containing covert reference to real musicians
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Songwriters occasionally write songs that make covert references to real musicians and bands.
Entries are listed with the following syntax:
- "Song Title" by musical artist(s) most associated with song references musicians and/or bands referred to.
- "1974" by Robyn Hitchcock references David Bowie ("'Rebel Rebel' was your favorite song")
- "A New England" by Billy Bragg references Simon & Garfunkel (The lines "I was 21 years when I wrote this song, I'm 22 now, but I won't be for long" are taken from "Leaves That Are Green").
- "American Pie" by Don McLean references Buddy Holly; probably The Beatles, The Byrds, The Big Bopper, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, The Monotones, The Rolling Stones, Richie Valens; and possibly others
- "Apache" by Sugarhill Gang, references Hot Butter's Popcorn song, Rapper's Delight by Sugarhill Gang and "Apache" by The Incredible Bongo Band, It also mentions Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett.
- "Autobiography" (officially unreleased) by John Cale references J.J. Cale ("I never wrote a song called "Cocaine"/I never wrote a song called "After Midnight").
- "Baby Britain" by Elliott Smith references The Beatles ("Revolver's been / turned over / and now it's ready once again")
- "Be My Yoko" by The Bobs references John Lennon (as if the singer is Lennon).
- "Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole" by Martha Wainwright indeed references her father, Loudon Wainwright III.
- "Come Together" by The Beatles may be referencing Chuck Berry
- "Daddy Could Swear, I Declare" by Gladys Knight & the Pips references Ray Charles ("...as he sang to me 'What'd I Say?'")
- "DJ Culture" by Pet Shop Boys references Madonna ("She after Sean")
- "Everything Zen" by Bush references David Bowie ("Mickey Mouse has grown up a Cow"; the song also overtly references Elvis Presley).
- "From Hank To Hendrix" by Neil Young references Hank Williams and Jimi Hendrix, and openly Madonna.
- "Get Dancin'" by Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes references Golden Earring ("Radar Love").
- "Hey Jude" by The Beatles may be referencing Bob Dylan
- "How Do You Sleep?" by John Lennon references Paul McCartney.
- "Hydra" by Dir en grey references the Sex Pistols. ("I wanna be an anarchist, too")
- "I Don't Love Anyone" by Belle & Sebastian references Felt.
- "Into Yer Shtik" by Mudhoney probably references Courtney Love.
- "Chelsea Hotel No.2" by Leonard Cohen references Janis Joplin
- "Jean Genie" by David Bowie may be referencing Iggy Pop
- "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)" by Reunion references (take a deep breath) The Eagles ("Take It Easy"), probably Sly & the Family Stone and/or Ike & Tina Turner ("take me higher" and "wanna take you higher"), Little Eva and/or Grand Funk Railroad ("Locomotion"), The Rolling Stones ("Satisfaction", "Gimme Shelter"), The Edsels ("Rama Lama" [Ding Dong]), Little Anthony & The Imperials ("Shimmy, Shimmy, Koko Bop"), Hank Ballard and/or Ike & Tina Turner ("Finger Poppin'"), Music Explosion and/or Marmalade ("Can't stop now"), possibly The Monkees ("Mary, Mary"), Frankie Avalon ("De De Dinah"), probably Leadbelly ("C.C. Rider"), The Beach Boys ("Good Vibrations", "Help Me Rhonda", "Surfer Girl", "Little Honda"), Tommy James and/or Alive and Kicking ("Tighter, Tighter"), possibly ABBA ("Honey, Honey"), The Archies ("Sugar, Sugar"), Ohio Express ("Yummy, Yummy"), The Four Tops (ending chorus uses "Baby I Need Your Loving" tune), possibly Country Joe & the Fish ("fish and swim"), possibly Otis Redding and/or The Manhattans ("Boston Monkey")
- "Lights Camera Action" by The Miracle Workers references Courtney Love
- "London Boys" by Johnny Thunders references The Sex Pistols
- "Made in England" by Elton John references Elvis Presley ("the boy from Tupelo")
- "Meet Me In The Bathroom" by The Strokes references Courtney Love according to statements made by band members
- "New York" by The Sex Pistols references The New York Dolls
- "Sick Man" by Foetus references Nick Cave.
- "Signs" by Justin Timberlake and Snoop Dogg, references the song "Early in the Morning" by the Gap Band (referenced with the lyrics "I was young and foolish").
- "Starfuckers, Inc" by Nine Inch Nails references Marilyn Manson and Carly Simon.
- "The Night I Fell in Love" by Pet Shop Boys references Eminem.
- "The Other Side Of Summer" by Elvis Costello references John Lennon.
- "Thirteen" by Big Star references the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" and possibly "Rock'n'Roll Is Here To Stay" by Danny & the Juniors
- "Play It All Night Long" by Warren Zevon covertly references Lynyrd Skynyrd ("Sweet Home Alabama, play that dead band's song")
- "Tribute" by Tenacious D references Led Zeppelin.
- "Tripping" by The Pretty Things covertly references Bob Dylan {"the songs you write, Mr. D, are
strange)
- "True" by Spandau Ballet references Marvin Gaye ("listening to Marvin all night long")
- "Tunic" by Sonic Youth references Karen Carpenter (as if singer Kim Gordon is Ms. Carpenter)
- "Tupelo" by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds references Elvis Presley ("The King was born in Tupelo")
- "Wednesday" by Tori Amos references Prince ("I start humming 'When Doves Cry'")
- "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" by The Clash references The Jam ("They got Burton suits, you think it's funny / turning rebellion into money", which Joe Strummer later said was about The Jam).
- "Wild Horses" by the Rolling Stones presumably references Marianne Faithfull ("faithless lady").
- "Writing to Reach You" by Travis references Oasis ("What's a Wonderwall anyway?")
- "Young Americans" by David Bowie references The Beatles ("I heard the news today, oh boy").
- "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon is commonly believed to refer to Mick Jagger, a previous lover of Simon's, though she has never verified who the song is in fact about. Other possibilities raised have been Cat Stevens, Kris Kristofferson, James Taylor, or actor Warren Beatty.