Since Bob Dylan’s 1962 debut featuring “Song to Woody,” many musicians influenced by Dylan have written him their own tributes. I wanted to show my appreciation.". He’s written a ton of great songs that may never see the light of day (for an album of his), however, some of those have landed on projects from other artists over the years. 'The Day the Music Died' is so synonymous with the tragic deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper in a plane crash, that it's easy to forget that no-one called the incident that until Don McLean's tribute nearly two decades later. written by Evan Ross Katz. FTiare/istock via getty images. The idea is to explore some of our favourite artists singing about other artists. April 10, 2012. Artists are presented with so many songs, and they can’t possibly record them all. Some songs, like "You're So Vain" and "Man on the Moon," have references to more than one celebrity. I wanted to show my appreciation. The lyrics also refer to Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. Here’s a nice little did-you-know about the Entertainer of the Year, Eric Church. Here are some of your faves who've written hit songs for other artists. Eleven tracks bands have written about artists they admire or perhaps aren’t actually that keen on . The Mountain Goats’ guitarless Goths record from this spring might not have lived up to its theme without mentioning The Sisters of Mercy in some capacity. (For example, U2’s “Angel of Harlem” was written about Billie Holiday, but the singer’s name is never mentioned, so it’s not here.) So what other songs have been written about your favourite artists? Share: Even reigning glam aliens have idols. This funk anthem was written in tribute to jazz legend Duke Ellington, who had died in 1974. [List585439] [List570241] [List587844] [List590371] The track’s penultimate stanza mentions additional musical influences for Dylan: Cisco Houstin, Sonny Terry and Leadbelly. LCD Soundsystem, “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House”, 5. 11 Breakup Songs Your Favorite Singers Wrote About Other Artists. Close. 1: 1. Well before the Modern Lovers formed in Boston in the 1970s, lead singer Jonathan Richman followed his obsession with the Velvet Underground to New York in 1969. Bad Meets Evil Hell: The Sequel (2011) [EP] "A Kiss" Mentions: Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber "A Kiss" Mentions: Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber : 2: 2. On this final track from the Flaming Lips’ 2003 EP Fight Test, Wayne Coyne tells the story of meeting Jack White in Detroit in 2002, where the then-White Stripe gifted Coyne a light-up, “fiber-optic” statue of Jesus Christ. For a song to make this list, it had to include the name of a band or musician in the song title or within the song. If writing songs for other artists is a dream of yours but it seems so difficult and distant, we have created a guide to show to you that not only it is not, but it also a very amusing and pleasing hobby that will help you become more creative in your life generally and enhance your imagination. This song's title is a reference to Aretha Franklin’s ‘I Say a Little Prayer’. November 30, 2020. Posted by. Some songs about music that you will find on this list reference specific musicians, while others are about different genres of music. / To be my man / April in Paris, can I see you? Kim Gordon was a giant fan of The Carpenters, and wrote the song in earnest following Carpenter’s tragic death after a battle with anorexia nervosa. I'll never think of "Heart-Shaped Box" the same way again. 7 classic songs that were written about other artists 1 May 2018, 15:54 Musicians have often said how other fellow artists have influenced them in some way or another. / Can you please be my man?”, The title speaks for itself. 39. A list by FlakyPorcupine. Whether writing tributes in memoriam, in admiration and sometimes even in jest, here are 15 musicians who wrote songs about other musicians. Her skilled songwriting makes her quite popular for artists to cover. Songs that mention or reference other music artists in the lyrics or the song name. (“David Bowie,” by Phish, is debatable, since “David Bowie” and “UB40” are the only words uttered.) Jonathan Richman, “Velvet Underground”, 8. Artists often write songs about their current and past relationships with other stars. 10pm - 1am, Just The Way You Are Their song lyrics have not only touched millions of hearts but have also busted several beauty standards. by Daniella Emanuel. Categories: Artist, Lyrical Themes [List362961] | | +1 | Log in to suggest an addition. Halfway through the rockabilly track, Richman sings the opening lyrics to “Sister Ray” from the Velvet Underground’s second LP, White Light, White Heat. Taylor Swift is evidently one of the biggest pop stars globally. Sometimes, songs written for other artists lead to a lot of success. Here's a few written by his peers, friends and lovers in the 70's. The song makes angry and scathing remarks aimed at Lennon's former Beatles bandmate McCartney. He recognizes the contrasts between himself and Wilson in the chorus, singing, “And you know it’s true / That Wales is not like California in any way / And when I listen to your music / You’re still thousands of miles away.” The song is actually sung in what seems like sympathy, rather than in tribute, as Cale acknowledges Wilson’s personal struggles in the opening lines, “I believe you Mr. Wilson / I believe the things you say / And I’m always thinking of you / When I hear your music play.”, Any modern psychedelic rock band must credit Brian Eno for basically inventing the ambient genre of music. On his fifth solo album Slow Dazzle, John Cale reveals his love for Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. Here are ten songs written about other artists. It is merely a collection of good examples. Amir Khollam . Music. On this track, John Darnielle takes listeners back to before Andrew Eldritch even formed the iconic Goth rock band, when the Sisters of Mercy frontman returned to Leeds after studying at the University of Oxford. In this Replacements song, the opening chorus line, “And children by the million sing for Alex Chilton” has the sting of irony, since Alex Chilton didn’t receive much recognition for his work as the lead singer of Big Star and The Box Tops until later in his life. Television Personalities, “I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives”, 3. Stevie later said: "I knew the title from the beginning but wanted it to be about the musicians who did something for us. The song symbolised the "loss of innocence" caused by the deaths of his heroes in the crash. Lennon wrote the song in response to what he saw as personal slights by McCartney on the his Ram album. Words: Mike Rampton. Famous songs originally written for other artists Stars Insider. There are some truly shocking hit songs that were written by other artists when you take a look through songwriting history, though. More than a quarter of uni students sexually assaulted - survey. Ellie has denied that this song is about anyone in particular, but fans have speculated for years that it's actually a response to Ed's song 'Don't', which was written about Ellie. More from Music. The Mountain Goats, “Andrew Eldritch Is Moving Back to Leeds”. But sometimes, they want to pay their respects even further, by making a song about other artists. Gordon speaks from Carpenter’s point of view before and after her death, looking down at her brother, Richard Carpenter, and meeting musicians who had also recently passed like Janis Joplin and Elvis Presley. Harry Styles is known to be one of … The track also included a slide guitar solo played by George Harrison. Tweet. He was obviously an interesting and inspirational figure. We bet they think this song is about them. Later a hit for Dexys Midnight Runners, Morrison was "particularly inspired" by a line in Jackie Wilson's song 'Reet Petite'. “I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives” mourns the Pink Floyd singer rather than honoring him, as Dan Treacy sings, “He was very famous / Once upon a time / Now no one cares / Even if he’s alive / But I know where he lives / And I visit him.”. Morrison also said later in his career that his vocals are also influenced by the 1950s soul singer, saying that Wilson's hits were an important influence in developing his early vocal style. And, like most house parties, no one there has any idea what this band is called. With that in mind, here are the 15 best songs written by musicians about other musicians. It is unfortunate that one of the only songs written in tribute to a female musician is about said musician’s eating disorder, but Sonic Youth truly pulls it off in this song written for Karen Carpenter. All Rights Reserved, 12. By Flavorwire Staff. So let that be a lesson to all you youngins out there that always read the instructions before plugging in a gift from Jack White.”, They weren’t joking. Both legendary and indie artists have favored this tactic, writing tributes in memoriam, in admiration and sometimes even in jest. "I knew the title from the beginning but wanted it to be about the musicians who did something for us. In most cases the songs are celebratory or pay tribute, others simply observe or comment and one here is not very complimentary. The Modern Lovers were definitely influenced by the Velvets’ sound, but it wasn’t until Richman’s solo 1992 record, I, Jonathan, that he finally penned his admiration. These songs have stood the test time and continue to entertain their listeners. 16/03/2020 . This English post-punk band was dropped as the opening act for Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour’s mid-1980s tour when they read Syd Barrett’s home address aloud to an audience. Read below to know about the 5 songs she has written for other artists. These may be heartfelt tributes, or perhaps angry songs of vengeance. Flaming Lips, “Thank You Jack White (For the Fiber-Optic Jesus That You Gave Me)”, 4. When we say 'rumoured', we mean even though it's never been confirmed, the lyrics are way too coincidental for it to be about anyone else. But when we went to take out the old lightbulb and put in a new one, we discovered that you weren’t supposed to leave it on for more than six hours at a time. While Gary Barlow and Take That have never actually spoken publicly about the meaning of this song, it's kind of obvious that it's about their then-former bandmate Robbie. November 2, 2011. So soon they are forgotten. © 2020 Paste Media Group. A few of Presley's own songs became huge hits in certain regions of the world, in versions whose translation into the required language bore little or no resemblance to the original lyrics. Finally, for the sake of avoiding redundancy, musicians as subjects were not repeated on the list, as songs name-dropping Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley or The Ramones could fill up entire lists on their own. Daft Punk never actually performed at James Murphy’s house (as far as we know), but that didn’t keep the LCD Soundsystem vocalist from writing an entire song about it. Songs about/mentioning other artists . ", The Voice Kids: 9-year-old girl astounds judges with, The Story of... 'Last Christmas' by Wham! That being said, dear God… this song will make you cringe harder than Lady Gaga covering a Beatles song (don’t even think it, Gaga!). 1 year ago. Popular Songs Written For Other Artists. Somewhere in the late 80’s, when Michael was busy making pop classics, his sister Latoya was writing this thing. With lyrics like "Next thing that I know I'm in a hotel with you, You were talking deep like it was mad love to you, You wanted my heart but I just liked your tattoos", we can certainly guess who it may have been aimed at. In Robbie's book Reveal, he speaks about how he always assumed the song was about him, and they didn't exactly deny it! Next, the songs on this list must have been written in tribute to or specifically about the artist in question, which is why “Buddy Holly” by Weezer didn’t made the cut. David Bowie refers to the song on “Song for Bob Dylan” on 1971’s Hunky Dory, and English songwriter Frank Turner covered the song with some lyrical adjustments, titling his version, “Song to Bob.” Cat Power’s “Song to Bobby,” from Jukebox, is an anecdotal, epistolary tribute to the legendary songwriter, detailing his impacts on her life since she was, as she sings, “15, 16 maybe.” The lyrics endearingly reveal that what began as a musical affection for Dylan turned into a romantic one. Paul Westerberg professes his admiration for the vocalist on this track from Pleased to Meet Me, on which Chilton himself plays guitar on another song, “Can’t Hardly Wait.”, Even though Kevin Morby never explicitly mentions The Ramones as a band by name in this track from his most recent album, City Music, he makes his homage clear by the end. In the second verse, he sings, “[But] here are some of music’s pioneers / That time will not allow us to forget / For there’s Basie, Miller, Satchmo / And the king of all Sir Duke / And with a voice like Ella’s ringing out / There’s no way the band can lose.”. Billy Joel 12 Songs that mention other songs or artists. One of Bob Dylan’s earliest compositions is “Song to Woody,” a tribute to the folk singer Woody Guthrie, played to the tune of Guthrie’s “1913 Massacre.” Dylan became infatuated with Guthrie to the point that he tried to mimick his melodies and voice, followed his footsteps from Minnesota to New York and finally visited him in the hospital in 1961 to play “Song to Woody” for Guthrie himself. 10 Great Songs About Famous Visual Artists. Justin Bieber, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, and John Legend have several songs about their famous spouses. Download 'Just The Way You Are' on iTunes. Not only was also he a TV variety host and a successful film actor outside of music, but he started his musical career as an in-demand songwriter for other star artists -- including The King himself, who released signature recordings of a number of Davis' most famous songs. The Smooth Late Show with Danny Pietroni Musicians have often said how other fellow artists have influenced them in some way or another. Murphy decided that he couldn’t have been the only punk rock, house partygoer who was introduced to dance music through Daft Punk, and imagined a kid saving enough money to fly the French duo over for a basement show. Jimmy Buffett and Tom Jones have also performed their own renditions of the track. 12 songs inspired by, in tribute to or just straight-up about other artists… Written By. 18 Songs I Had No Clue Were About A Celebrity. Beyonce and many other artists over the years have talked about the concept of beauty. Songs about David by other artists. Luckily for other artists, these songs … In this live performance of the song, Coyne elaborates on the gift, saying, “After I got this particular present, back home, the lightbulb actually burned out after it sat on my mantle…for about seven months. This is clearly not a definitive list. Trump unchained? So soon they are forgotten. Even top hip hop impresarios obsess over … The list below is not the final word, but represents the start of a conversation. Many artists are keen on sharing their musical influences with curious fans through a variety of ways—mentioning them during interviews, wedging names into liner notes etc. Dolly Parton has written many hit songs that have been covered by other artists to great success, such as Whitney Houston’s hit-song “I Will Always Love You”. The only things you need is a piece of paper, a pen and an open mind. The group announced on Twitter on Wednesday that they will be releasing an EP called “The Band Behind The Curtain” this Friday. There's actually quite a lot of songs being written about David, even if it's just mentioning him in passing. They group depicts Eno as a perfect, almost godlike figure, culminating with the chorus, “We’re always one step behind him / He’s Brian Eno.” They even devote one line to what is apparently Eno’s entire name, “Brian Peter George St. John Le Baptiste de la Sale Eno” in the third verse. Sponsored links. u/Henrythedinosaur. Adam Boult: Help us fill the RR museum with the finest songs about painting, sculpture and other works of art Songs about David by other artists. 5 Taylor Swift Songs Written For Other Artists; From 'Better Man' To 'Babe' Taylor Swift has evidently emerged as one of the most successful pop icons globally. 1) Halsey's 'Colors' is rumoured to be about Matty Healy. Music • Entertainment. New Music To Know: A Little Something For Everyone. Her infatuation travels from South Carolina to Washington D.C., ending in Paris, where Cat Power asks, “Can I finally tell you? Disclaimer: this list is in no way claimed to be a list of good songs about other artists. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. But although it’s Ellington who’s referenced in the title, Wonder includes many of his favorite musicians. However, some musicians believe they owe their heroes even greater respect, devoting entire songs to their favorite artists. The cards work, according to MGMT in the second verse: “When I was stuck he’d make me memorize elaborate curses / Tinctures and formulas to ditch the chori and flip the verses / My whole foundation came unglued.”, The most successful hit to come from Santa Barbara, Calif., pop punk band Nerf Herder was a tribute to Van Halen, whose 1978 debut album was, according to the narrator, “the best damn record I ever owned.” Lead singer Parry Gripp gushes about David Lee Roth-era Van Halen, then throws shade on his replacement: “Sammy Hagar / Is this what you wanted, man? Dolly Parton | Bart Sherkow / Shutterstock.com (PSA: expect to fall down a rabbit hole and stay looking at song credits on Spotify.) - as told by, The Story of... 'Merry Christmas Everyone' by Shakin, The Story of... 'All I Want for Christmas is You' by, Download 'Just The Way You Are' on iTunes. 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Been written about your favourite artists singing about other artists stars Insider is rumoured to about... By musicians about other musicians written by his peers, friends and lovers in the crash the..., 2015 1/13 Thank you Jack White ( for the Fiber-Optic Jesus that you will find this. You please be my man? ”, 5 to a lot of songs about other artists songs about music, the industry. Have also performed their own renditions of the best songs written by musicians about other musicians Houstin, Terry! What other songs have stood the test time and continue to entertain listeners... Their heroes even greater respect, devoting entire songs to their favorite artists remarks aimed at Lennon 's former bandmate... Have not only touched millions of hearts but have also busted several beauty standards you need a. Even further, by making a song about other artists their famous spouses homage to those songs that or... Favorite artists this tongue-in-cheek track from their second record, Congratulations famous.! Their second record, Congratulations ] [ List570241 ] [ List590371 ] songs. ) Halsey 's 'Colors ' is rumoured to be my man? ” 5. Goats, “ Thank you Jack White ( for the Fiber-Optic Jesus you... Artists, these songs … sometimes, they want to pay their respects even further, by making song... Seem meta, but boy are there a lot of success there a lot of.!: 9-year-old girl astounds judges with, the title speaks for itself and! Past relationships with other stars, the Story of... 'Last Christmas ' by!! Jest, here are 15 musicians who did Something for Everyone the songs! Ep called “ the songs about other artists Behind the Curtain ” this Friday bandmate McCartney Margaret.

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