List of songs containing overt reference to real musicians Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

Songwriters occasionally write songs that make overt references to real musicians and bands. This list excludes hip hop songs because overt references to real musicians are more common than not. Hip hop arose as an informal accompaniment to dance music, when performers spoke over percussion breaks. Over time, these performers began speaking more and more in sync with the beat, and thus was born rapping. Without any true song traditions to fall back on, most of these early rappers told simple stories, jokes and teased their friends and enemies. As a result, modern hip hop musicians traditionally mention performers that inspired them, performers who they consider untalented, or other simple references to real musicians.

Entries are listed with the following syntax:

• "Song Title" by musical artist(s) most associated with song references musicians and/or bands referred to.

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• "1977" by The Clash references The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and The Rolling Stones
• "Acting Like Black Sabbath" by the Dayglo Abortions references Black Sabbath and Tony Iommi.
• "Alex Chilton" by The Replacements references Alex Chilton.
• "All the Young Dudes" by Mott the Hoople references T. Rex, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.
• "AM Radio" by Everclear references Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin.
• "And It Stoned Me" by Van Morrison references Jelly Roll Morton.
• "Astrud" by Basia references Astrud Gilberto.
• "Bach To Bach" by The Bobs references Johann Sebastian Bach (as if sung by him and his wife).
• "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker" by Prince references Joni Mitchell
• "Ballrooms of Mars" by T. Rex references Bob Dylan and John Lennon.
• "Be My Yoko" by The Bobs references Yoko Ono.
• "Be My Yoko Ono" by Barenaked Ladies references Yoko Ono.
• "Beautiful Ground" by Grandaddy references Beck.
• "Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs" by The Minutemen references Bob Dylan.
• "Bob Wills Is Still The King" by Waylon Jennings references Bob Wills.
• "Born To Be Sold" by Transvision Vamp references numerous musicians, including Elvis Presley and Madonna.
• "Brian Wilson" by Barenaked Ladies references Brian Wilson.
• "Buddy Holly" by Weezer references Buddy Holly.
• "Californication" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers references Kurt Cobain
• "Carl Perkins' Cadillac" by the Drive By Truckers references Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley; it also references record producer Sam Phillips.
• "The Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song" by Jeffrey Lewis references Leonard Cohen and Sid Vicious
• "Chocolate City" by Parliament references Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin.
• "City of the Dead" by The Clash references Johnny Thunders.
• "Come On, Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners references Johnnie Ray.
• "Creeque Alley" by The Mamas & the Papas; references Roger McGuinn, Barry McGuire, and John Sebastian (plus extensive references to themselves).
• "The Day" by They Might Be Giants is about "The day Marvin Gaye and Phil Ochs got married".
• "Death Singing" by Patti Smith references Benjamin Smoke.
• "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant With My Two-Headed Love Child" by Mojo Nixon references Debbie Gibson.
• "Dio" by Tenacious D references Ronnie James Dio.
• "Dirt" by Lou Reed references Bobby Fuller.
• "Do it With Madonna" by The Androids references Christina Aguilera, Pink, Madonna, Britney Spears, and Kylie Minogue.
• "Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio" by The Ramones references John Lennon, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ol' Moulty of the Barbarians, and T. Rex.
• "Don't Let Me Get Me" by Pink references Britney Spears.
• "Don't Rock the Jukebox" by Alan Jackson references the Rolling Stones and George Jones.
• "Dreaming of Injured Popstars" by Chris T-T references Lisa Scott-Lee, Jean Michel Jarre, Céline Dion, Cliff Richard, Lou Reed, Gloria Estefan, Cher, Bob Dylan, and Kelly Jones.
• "E-Bow the Letter" by R.E.M references Maria Callas.
• "Eddie Vedder" by Local H references Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.
• "Elvis Is Everywhere" by Mojo Nixon references Elvis Presley.
• "Eminem Is Gay" by Chris T-T references Eminem, Dr Dre, and D-12.
• "Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)" by Elton John references John Lennon.
• "Everything Zen" by Bush references Elvis Presley (it also covertly references David Bowie).
• "Expectations" by Belle & Sebastian; references The Velvet Underground.
• "From Galway to Graceland" by Richard Thompson references Elvis Presley.
• "From Hank to Hendrix" by Neil Young references Hank Williams, Jimi Hendrix, and Madonna.
• "Fruitcakes" by Jimmy Buffett references Bob Marley.
• "Gee, I Wish I Was Back In The Army" by Irving Berlin (performed by Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Vera-Ellen) references Bob Hope and Al Jolson.
• "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club references Kurtis Blow, Bohannon, Bootsy Collins, James Brown, Bob Marley, Smokie Robinson, and Sly and Robbie.
• "God" by John Lennon references Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Yoko Ono.
• "Gone Country" by Alan Jackson references Bob Dylan.
• "Goodnight Saigon" by Billy Joel references The Doors.
• "Good Times Rock and Roll" by Robyn Hitchcock references the Young Fresh Fellows, Superdeluxe, and the Presidents of the United States of America.
• "Hats Off to (Roy) Harper" by Led Zeppelin references Roy Harper.
• "Hate My Love" by The Proclaimers references Johnny Cash
• "Have Mercy" by The Judds references Merle Haggard and George Jones
• "(He'll Never Be An) Old Man River" by TISM references Bon Scott, Jimi Hendrix, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cass Elliott, and Michael Jackson.
• "Hell Yeah" by Montgomery Gentry references Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Bruce Springsteen
• "Hey Hey My My" by Neil Young references Johnny Rotten.
• "Hey Nineteen" by Steely Dan references Aretha Franklin.
• "How Forever Feels" by Kenny Chesney references Jimmy Buffett.
• "I Am Damo Suzuki" by The Fall references Damo Suzuki (of Can) and Karlheinz Stockhausen.
• "I Dig Rock & Roll Music" by Peter, Paul & Mary; references The Mamas & The Papas;, Donovan, and The Beatles.
• "I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night" by Billy Bragg references Phil Ochs.
• "I Feel Better Than James Brown" by Was (Not Was) references James Brown.
• "I Feel Lucky" by Mary Chapin Carpenter references Lyle Lovett and Dwight Yoakam.
• "I Hate Oasis (And I Hate The Beatles) by Teen Anthems references Oasis, The Beatles, The Kinks, The Faces, and Cast.
• "I Hate The Beach Boys" by The Bobs references The Beach Boys.
• "I Just Shot John Lennon" by The Cranberries references John Lennon.
• "I'll Never Smoke Weed with Willie Again" by Toby Keith references Willie Nelson.
• "I Took Your Name" by R.E.M references Iggy Pop.
• "I Try to Think about Elvis" by Patty Loveless references Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones.
• "Iceland" by The Fall references Megas.
• "In the Garage" by Weezer references KISS.
• "It's 5 o'clock Somewhere" by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett references Jimmy Buffett.
• "It's the End of the World as We Know It" by R.E.M references Leonard Bernstein and Lester Bangs.
• "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)" by Van Morrison references Jackie Wilson.
• "Jail Guitar Doors" by The Clash references Wayne Kramer, Peter Green, and Keith Richards
• "Jimmy Webb Is God" by The Boo Radleys references Jimmy Webb.
• "Joey Ramoney" by Helen Love references Joey Ramone
• "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry references Johnnie Johnson (common nickname).
• "Just Wonderin'" by River City High references Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin.
• "K-Klass Kisschase" by Heavenly references K-Klass.
• "Kylie Said To Jason" by The KLF references Todd Terry, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, and Rolf Harris.
• "The Late Great Johnny Ace" by Paul Simon references Johnny Ace, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and John Lennon.
• "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)" by Reunion references (take a deep breath) B. Bumble & The Stingers;, Mott The Hoople, Ray Charles Singers, Lonnie Mack, Duane Eddy, Poco, Deep Purple, Sam Cooke, Lesley Gore, Richie Valens, Mahavishnu Orchestra, possibly Ronnie Spector, Barry White, Righteous Brothers, The Archies, Harry Nilsson, Fats Domino, The Salutations, Brenda & The Tabulations;, Carly Simon, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Johnny Rivers, Mungo Jerry, Peter, Paul & Mary;, Dr. John, Doris Day, Leon Russell, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles;, Bonnie Bramlett, Wilson Pickett, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Dale Hawkins, Ronnie Hawkins, John Denver, Donny Osmond, J.J. Cale, ZZ Top, David Bowie, Steely Dan, Edgar Winters, Joanie Sommers, The Ides of March, Johnny Thunders, Eric Clapton, and Stephen Foster.
• "Lisdoonvarna" by Christy Moore references Jackson Browne.
• "London Calling" by The Clash references The Beatles.
• "Long Live The UK Music Scene" by Helen Love references The Bluetones, Gina G, Jonathan King, Longpigs, Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene, and Shed Seven.
• "Long Time Gone" by Dixie Chicks references Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Eddie Money, Hank Williams, and Hank Williams, Jr
• "Lou Reed" by Public Image Ltd references Lou Reed
• "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tennille; references Neil Sedaka
• "Luckenbach, Texas" by Waylon Jennings references Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, and Mickey Newberry.
• "Man On The Moon" by R.E.M references Mott the Hoople, Elvis Presley
• "Me and the Major" by Belle & Sebastian; references Roxy Music.
• "Michael Jackson" by Fatboy Slim references Michael Jackson. The song contains few words except for "Michael Jackson". See [1].
• "Midnight in Montgomery" by Alan Jackson references Hank Williams
• "Mix Tape" by Brand New references Morrisey and The Smiths
• "Mr. Sandman" by The Chordettes references Liberace
• "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)" by Garth Brooks references Chris LeDoux.
• "My Baby's In Love With Eddie Vedder" by "Weird Al" Yankovic references Eddie Vedder and Alanis Morissette
• "My Sister" by Juliana Hatfield Three references The Violent Femmes and The Del Fuegos
• "Nice Day for a Sulk" by Belle & Sebastian; references The Fall and Manfred Mann.
• "The Night Hank Williams Came to Town" by Johnny Cash references Hank Williams.
• "Night Shift" by the Commodores references Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson.
• "No Show Jones" by Chris Difford references The Captain and Tennille, Lennon and McCartney, and The Monkees.
• "A Noun is a Person, Place, or Thing" by Schoolhouse Rock references Chubby Checker, the Beatles, and the Monkees.
• "Now I'm Here" by Queen references Mott the Hoople.
• "On and On" by Stephen Bishop references Frank Sinatra.
• "Outside of the Inside" by Richard Thompson references Charlie Parker.
• "Parker's Band" by Steely Dan references Charlie Parker.
• "Pennyroyal Tea" by Nirvana references Leonard Cohen.
• "P.F. Sloan" by The Association references P.F. Sloan.
• "The Prince" by Madness references Prince Buster
• "Punk Rock Girl" by The Dead Milkmen references Minnie Pearl, The Beach Boys, and Mojo Nixon.
• "Punky Reggae Party" by Bob Marley references The Jam, The Damned, The Clash, and Dr. Feelgood.
• "Rancid Sucks (And The Clash Sucked Too)" by Anal Cunt references Rancid, The Clash, Kenny G, Yanni, Garth Brooks, and Liberace.
• "Rapture" by Blondie references Fab Five Freddy and Grandmaster Flash.
• "Red Dragon Tattoo" by Fountains of Wayne references Korn
• "Redneck Woman" by Gretchen Wilson references Lynyrd Skynard, Kid Rock, George Strait, Charlie Daniels, Tanya Tucker, and Hank Williams Jr (Refered to in the song as Ol' Bocephus).
• "Reminiscing" by the Little River Band references Glenn Miller (specifically, "Glenn Miller's band").
• "The Replacements" by Tommy Womack references The Replacements.
• "Rhythm Section Want Ad" by They Might Be Giants references Menudo, Eurythmics, and MDC
• "R-O-C-K in the USA" by John Cougar Mellencamp references Frankie Lyman, Bobby Fuller, Mitch Ryder, Jackie Wilson, the Shangri-La's, the Young Rascals, Martha Reeves, and James Brown
• "Rock and Roll Heaven" by The Righteous Brothers references Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Jim Morrison, Jim Croce, and Bobby Darrin.
• "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco references Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• "Rock Show" by Wings references Jimmy Page.
• "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry (and others) references Ludwig van Beethoven and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
• "The Seeker" by The Who references Bob Dylan and The Beatles.
• "Shoot The Sexual Athlete" by Belle & Sebastian; references The Go-Betweens.
• "Shooting Star" by Bad Company references The Beatles.
• "Showbiz Kids" by Steely Dan references Steely Dan.
• "Silver Heels" by Bob Welch references Paul McCartney and Etta James.
• "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder references Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald.
• "Sit on My Face, Stevie Nicks" by the Rotters references Stevie Nicks.
• "Six String Music" by Jimmy Buffett references Ludwig von Beethoven and Jimmy Reed.
• "Sleepwalker" by The Wallflowers references Sam Cooke.
• "Smells Like Nirvana" by Weird Al Yankovic references (and parodies) Nirvana.
• "Song for Bobby Zimmerman" by David Bowie references Bob Dylan.
• "South's Going to It Again" by the Charlie Daniels Band references the Charlies Daniels Band, Barefoot Jerry, Willie Nelson, ZZ Top, Elvin Bishop, Richard Betts, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Marshall Tucker Band
• "Still Billy Joel To Me" by Weird Al Yankovic references Billy Joel
• "Stone for Bessie Smith" by Dory Previn references Bessie Smith and Janis Joplin.
• "Summer, Highland Falls" by Billy Joel references The Beatles
• "Surrender" by Cheap Trick references KISS.
• "Suzanne" by Weezer references Izzy, Slash, and Axl Rose from Guns N Roses
• "Sweet Gene Vincent" by Ian Dury references Gene Vincent.
• "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd references Neil Young.
• "Sweet Soul Music" by Arthur Conley references Sam and Dave, Lou Rawls, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, James Brown.
• "Take Me Home Tonight" by Eddie Money references Ronnie Spector.
• "Tear Stained Letter" by Richard Thompson references The Clash.
• "That Was Your Mother" by Paul Simon references Clifton Chenier.
• "Thunder Road" by Bruce Springsteen references Roy Orbison.
• "Tiger Woods" by Dan Bern references Madonna.
• "Trans-Europe Express" by Kraftwerk references Iggy Pop and David Bowie
• "Twisting" by They Might Be Giants references The dB's and Young Fresh Fellows
• "Up On Cripple Creek" by The Band references Spike Jones
• "Van Halen" by Nerf Herder references Van Halen and makes fun of Sammy Hagar specifically.
• "Velvet Underground" by The Modern Lovers references The Velvet Underground.
• "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel references Johnnie Ray, Doris Day, Sergei Prokofiev, Arturo Toscanini, Liberace, Bill Haley & His Comets; (indirectly), Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chubby Checker, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles.
• "Welcome to the Diamond Mine" by Dickies references Jimmy Page.
• "We're the Replacements" by They Might Be Giants references The Replacements.
• "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'?" by Sparks references Frank Sinatra and Sid Vicious.
• "When Smokey Sings" by ABC references Smokey Robinson.
• "Where Your Eyes Don't Go" by They Might Be Giants references Kurtis Blow
• "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" by The Clash references Dillinger, Leroy Smart, Delroy Wilson, Ken Boothe, and The Four Tops
• "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" by George Jones references Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich, Hank Williams, and Lefty Frizzell.
• "Why Must I Be Sad?" by They Might Be Giants references Alice Cooper (semi-overtly)
• "Wig Out at Denko's" by Dag Nasty references Minor Threat and Yanni.
• "Wings" by The Albion Band references The Byrds.
• "XTC Vs. Adam Ant" by They Might Be Giants references XTC and Adam Ant, as well as Bow Wow Wow and the Beatles.
• "Yer Blues" by the Beatles references Bob Dylan.
• "You Get What You Give" by the New Radicals references Beck, Hanson, Courtney Love, and Marilyn Manson.
• "You Better, You Bet" by The Who references T. Rex.
• "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" by David Allan Coe references Waylon Jennings, Charlie Pride, Merle Haggard, and David Allan Coe.
• "Your Redneck Past" by Ben Folds Five references Billy Idol and Kool Moe Dee
• "Youth Culture Killed My Dog" by They Might Be Giants references Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
• "ZZ Top Goes To Egypt" by Camper Van Beethoven references ZZ Top.

Table of contents

1 Songs that mention Elvis Presley 2 See also 2.1 External link

Songs that mention Elvis Presley

• "1977" by The Clash references The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and The Rolling Stones
• "A Century of Elvis" by Belle & Sebastian; references Elvis Presley.
• "Born To Be Sold" by Transvision Vamp references numerous musicians, including Elvis Presley and Madonna.
• "Cities" by Talking Heads references Elvis Presley.
• "Considering a Move to Memphis" by Colorblind James Experience references Elvis Presley.
• "Elvis Is Everywhere" by Mojo Nixon references Elvis Presley.
• "From Galway to Graceland" by Richard Thompson references Elvis Presley
• "I Try to Think about Elvis" by Patty Loveless references Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones.
• "I Wish I Could Meet Elvis" by Alex Chilton references Elvis Presley.
• "Man On The Moon" by R.E.M references Mott the Hoople, Elvis Presley
• "Maybe Angels" by Sheryl Crow
• "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" by Kirsty MacColl references Elvis Presley
• "Velvet Elvis" by Weird Al Yankovic references Elvis Presley.
• "Walking in Memphis" by Marc Cohn references Elvis Presley.
• "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel references Johnnie Ray, Doris Day, Sergei Prokofiev, Arturo Toscanini, Liberace, Bill Haley & His Comets; (indirectly), Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chubby Checker, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles.
• "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" by George Jones references Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich, Hank Williams, and Lefty Frizzell.

See also

• List of songs containing covert reference to real musicians
• List of band theme songs
• List of songs with the same name as their performers
• List of songs about fictitious bands or musicians
• Lists of songs

External link

• This website claims to list 203 songs that mention Elvis Presley

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