List of songs containing overt reference to real musicians
Songwriters occasionally write songs that make overt 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.
- "All the Young Dudes" by Mott the Hoople references T. Rex, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
- "Be My Yoko Ono" by Barenaked Ladies references Yoko Ono.
- "Brian Wilson" by Barenaked Ladies references Brian Wilson.
- "Buddy Holly" by Weezer references Buddy Holly.
- "Come On, Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners references Johnny Ray.
- "Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)" by Elton John references John Lennon.
- "In the Garage" by Weezer references KISS.
- "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)" by Van Morrison references Jackie Wilson.
- "The Late Great Johnny Ace" by Paul Simon references Johnny Ace, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and John Lennon.
- "Night Shift" by the Commodores references Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson.
- "Rock and Roll Heaven" by The Righteous Brothers references Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Jim Morrison, Jim Croce and Bobby Darrin.
- "Roll Over Beethoven" by The Beatles (and others) references Ludwig van Beethoven and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
- "The Seeker" by The Who references Bob Dylan and The Beatles.
- "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder references Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald.
- "Surrender" by Cheap Trick references KISS.
- "Take Me Home Tonight" by Eddie Money references Ronnie Spector.
- "When Smokey Sings" by ABC references Smokey Robinson.
- "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.
- "Wings" by The Albion Band references The Byrds
External link
See also
- "American Pie (song), for interpretations of its references.
