User:Pmanderson/List of songs containing covert references to real musicians

This is a list of songs containing implicit references to notable musicians or references (implicit or explicit) to their work, which are, in effect, implicit references to the artists. It lists notable songs containing non-explicit references to notable musicians or bands. The membership criteria for this list is strict. Each entry in this list includes identification of the famous musician or band in the song by a Wikipedia reputable source. This list does not include namechecking entries where a song simply mentions someone's name, such as those in List of songs containing overt reference to real musicians.

Syntax. Entries are listed with the following syntax:

• "Song Title" by musical artist(s) most associated with song references musicians and/or bands referred to. Other relevant details. [citation]

Background

Implicit references — allusions — to persons living or dead in are a common literary device written material. Writers often use allusion to express respect for those who have influenced them (or contempt for those against whom they are reacting). The person or group alluded to is not mentioned by name in the work, although in many cases the writer will acknowledge the reference elsewhere, such as in an interview or an autobiography. Typically, such writing includes clues within the writing that may reveal the identity of the living person when combined with information outside of the written material. For example, the name of Wittman Ah Sing, the titular character of Maxine Hong Kingston's Tripmaster Monkey clearly refers to Walt Whitman and possibly to early Chinese American spokesman Norman Asing;; the title character of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane has been almost universally viewed a veiled commentary on the life of William Randolph Hearst, although Welles denied it.

Songwriters occasionally write songs that make implicit references to notable musicians and/or bands. That is, there is an implicit but unambiguous reference to that other person or group. In some cases, the song is about that person's life or work, and in others they are merely alluded to; often, but not always, their lyrics are paraphrased. The songwriter may say somewhere other than the song itself who has been referenced; alternatively, a biographer or critic may identify the reference.

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1

• "1974" by Robyn Hitchcock references David Bowie ("Rebel Rebel' was your favorite song")

A

• "Accident Waiting to Happen" by Billy Bragg references The Kinks": "a dedicated swallower of fascism" is a reference to "Dedicated Follower of Fashion"
• "Adam's Song" by Blink 182 references "Come as You Are" by Nirvana. The line "I took my time/I hurried up/The choice was mine/I didn't think enough" is a reference to "Take your time/hurry up/the choice is yours/don't be late"
• "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; and, according to Bob Dearborn, probably (in order of mention, and not listing non-musicians to whom it alludes) Elvis Presley and Connie Francis ("The king and queen"), Bob Dylan ("the jester"), John Lennon ("Lenin/Lennon read a book on Marx"), The Byrds ("Eight miles high and falling fast"), The Beatles ("sergeants played a marching tune", The Rolling Stones ("Jack Flash sat on a candle-stick" and probably a further allusion to the Stones in several references to the Devil; in particular, "no angel born in hell" is probably a reference to Hells Angels at the Stones' Altamont Free Concert of December 1969), and possibly Janis Joplin ("a girl who sang the blues") and various others.
• "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", both songs by the similarly named performer).

B

• "Baby Britain" by Elliott Smith references The Beatles ("Revolver's been / turned over / and now it's ready once again")

C

• "Carrie-Anne" by The Hollies references Marianne Faithfull
• "Chelsea Hotel No.2" by Leonard Cohen references Janis Joplin
• "Collapsing New People" by Fad Gadget references the industrial group Einstürzende Neubauten, a band that performed some backup instrumentation on that track and others from the same album (Gag). "Einstürzende Neubauten" is literally translated from German to English as "collapsing new buildings".

D

• "Deadhead" by The Teen Idles references The Grateful Dead. ("I'll be grateful when you're dead", and lyrics from the Grateful Dead song "Casey Jones" are quoted.)
• "Death Singing" by Patti Smith references Benjamin Smoke. (The song is biographical about him Smith recites the lyrics in the documentary Benjamin Smoke.)
• "Diamonds and Rust" by Joan Baez references Bob Dylan

E

• "Empty Garden (Hey, Hey, Johnny)" by Elton John references John Lennon.
• "Everything Zen" by Bush references David Bowie ("Mickey Mouse has grown up a Cow", part of "Life On Mars" lyric; the song also overtly references Elvis Presley).

F

• "The Fat Angel" by Donovan references "Mama" Cass Elliot (the title refers to her), and openly Jefferson Airplane.
• "The Freed Pig" by Sebadoh references J Mascis.

G

• "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" by Charles Mingus references Lester Young.

H

• "How Do You Sleep?" by John Lennon references Paul McCartney.

I

• "I Don't Love Anyone" by Belle & Sebastian references Felt.

K

• "The Kids" by Jamiroquai references Gil Scott Heron. ("I say the revolution will be televised." Scott Heron wrote a song called "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised")
• "Killing Me Softly With His Song" by Roberta Flack references Don McLean.

L

• "Life in a Northern Town" by The Dream Academy is about Nick Drake.

M

• "Memphis Skyline" by Rufus Wainwright is about Jeff Buckley.

N

• "The Night I Fell in Love" by Pet Shop Boys references Eminem.

P

• "Play It All Night Long" by Warren Zevon references Lynyrd Skynyrd ("Sweet Home Alabama, play that dead band's song").
• "Porcelain Monkey" by Warren Zevon references Elvis Presley, although less than flatteringly.

R

"Runnin' Down a Dream" by Tom Petty references Del Shannon. "... me and Del were signin' little Runaway." http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1700

S

• "She Belongs To Me" by Bob Dylan references Joan Baez
• "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd references Syd Barrett.
• "Shoe Song" by Shellac references "Good Morning Captain" by Slint.
• "Sick Man" by Foetus references Nick Cave.

T

• "Toad-O Line" by Frank Zappa musically quotes "Hold the Line" by Toto.
• "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)

W

• "Wake ME Up Before You Go Go" Wham references Doris Day "You make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day"
• "When We Was Fab" by George Harrison references his old band The Beatles (the music video for this song is more explicit in the reference).
• "When the Sun Goes Down" by Arctic Monkeys references "Roxanne" by The Police ("And he told Roxanne to put on her red light")
• "Wild Horses" by the Rolling Stones references Marianne Faithfull ("faithless lady").
• "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd references Syd Barrett
• "Went to see the Gypsy" by Bob Dylan references Elvis Presley in Las Vegas.

See also

• List of songs containing overt reference to real musicians