list of songs containing covert reference to real musicians

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")
"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
"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).
"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).
"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
"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" 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")
"Made in England" by Elton John references Elvis Presley ("the boy from Tupelo")
"Sick Man" by Foetus references Nick Cave.
"Starfuckers, Inc" by Nine Inch Nails references Marilyn Manson.
"The Night I Fell in Love" by Pet Shop Boys references Eminem.
"The Other Side Of Summer" by Elvis Costello references John Lennon.
"Play It All Night Long" by Warren Zevon covertly references Lynyrd Skynyrd ("Sweet Home Alabama, play that dead band's song")
"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").

List Of Songs Containing Covert Reference To Real Musicians

See also