# Artists That Call Out Other Artists **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 26, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930 "2005-06-26T17:18:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/1 "2005-06-26T17:18:07Z")
I know rap does it often, but how often does it happen in more traditional rock and pop genres? By ‘call out’ I mean refer to in a negative way. I can think of two off the top of myhead: 1. _Sweet Home Alabama_ -Lynyrd Skynyrd I hope Neil Youg will remember A So uthern Man Don’t ned him around anyhow 1. _You Get What You Give_ -New Radicals Fashion Shoots With Beck and Hansen Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson You’re all fakes Run to your mansions Come 'round here We’ll kick your ass in! ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/2 "2005-06-26T17:55:42Z")
How about Neil Young’s “This Notes for You.” He mocked other artists for “selling out.” So what he’s saying is he is too high and mighty to make money off his precious music. His stuff is sacred or something. Twerp. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/3 "2005-06-26T18:20:11Z")
Pavement made smart remarks about the Smashing Pumpkins and the Stone Temple Pilots in the song “Range Life.” ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/4 "2005-06-26T18:39:06Z")
The whole rift between Neil Young and Lynyrd Skynyrd is overblown. The two bands were friendly, and Ronnie VanZant often went on stage in a Neil Young T-Shirt. Neil Young even said that “Sweet Home Alabama” was a great song and covered it onstage several times. This is more trading friendly barbs than calling someone out. It’s interesting that someone mentioned New Radical’s calling out of Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson. Didn’t Love and Manson have problems on their '97 tour. I don’t know if it made it into any songs, but they used to insult each other onstage and in interviews quite a bit. Axl Rose and Vince Neill had a falling out in the early 90’s. Axl somewhat stupidly challenged Vince to a fight on MTV. Vince, who at the time looked like he outweighed Axl by at least 20 pounds immediately took him up on it, and went on MTV himself to call Axl out. Again, I don’t think it got made into a song, but on the video for Crue’s cover of “Anarchy in the U.K.” a fan is filmed holding a sign reading “Vince Neill is going to kick Axl Rose’s ass” Both John Forgarty and Chrissie Hyndes have implicitly criticized Michael Jackson for selling out to Pepsi. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/5 "2005-06-26T19:01:25Z")
The Pet Shop Boys were most likely offended by Eminem’s gay bashing, and in addition, wanted to parody all the “feuds” in rap music, so they wrote a song in their new album. (the one with a rose on the front.) I can not remember the name. It tells of a homosexual one night stand. However, it is still very sweet. The kicker is the rap star is obviously suppost to be Eminem. What’s more, in the last line of the song, you find out: The narrator is still in High School. ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/6 "2005-06-26T19:12:15Z")
Nick Lowe wasn’t very kind to Rick Astley [here](http://www.lyricsdownload.com/nick-lowe-all-men-are-liars-lyrics.html). ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/7 "2005-06-26T19:19:19Z")
Mojo Nixon did this all the time. Among his songs were “Don Henley Must Die”, “Bring Me The Head of David Geffen”, and “Debbie Gidson is Pregnant With My Two-Headed Love Child”. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/8 "2005-06-26T20:03:34Z")
> [@ColonelDax](#): > > Nick Lowe wasn’t very kind to Rick Astley [here](http://www.lyricsdownload.com/nick-lowe-all-men-are-liars-lyrics.html). Ouch! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/9 "2005-06-26T21:57:22Z")
Well, some of the best examples involve musicians who used to be friends and/or partners. How about John Lennon’s trashing of Paul McCartney in “How Do You Sleep?” Or Keith Richards’ slam of Mick Jagger in “You Don’t Move Me Any More”? ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/10 "2005-06-26T22:23:53Z")
Darn you \*\* astorian\*\* I was also going to cite “How DoYou Sleep”. Isn’t McCartney’s “Let Me Roll It To You” a slam at John Lennon? Also, I was told that “Back Off Boogaloo” is Ringo’s attack on McCartney. (I don’t know how substantial that claim is though). ---
**Author:** ![Priam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Priam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Priam)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/11 "2005-06-26T23:02:40Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > The Pet Shop Boys were most likely offended by Eminem’s gay bashing, and in addition, wanted to parody all the “feuds” in rap music, so they wrote a song in their new album. (the one with a rose on the front.) I can not remember the name. It tells of a homosexual one night stand. However, it is still very sweet. The kicker is the rap star is obviously suppost to be Eminem. What’s more, in the last line of the song, you find out: The narrator is still in High School. I do believe you’re referring to “The Night I Fell in Love” off the Release album… ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/12 "2005-06-27T02:40:49Z")
**Better Than Ezra** ’s song “A Lifetime” mentions **R.E.M.** in the chorus: _And that R.E.M. song was playing in my mind_ ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/13 "2005-06-27T03:16:28Z")
> [@saramamalana](#): > > **Better Than Ezra** ’s song “A Lifetime” mentions **R.E.M.** in the chorus: > > _And that R.E.M. song was playing in my mind_ But BTE wasn’t being disrespectful, was it? ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/14 "2005-06-27T03:26:43Z")
Heck no! Not my precious BTE! No, I’m not bitter that I had to miss seeing them two weeks ago. Not one bit. No sir. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/15 "2005-06-27T03:32:51Z")
> [@ColonelDax](#): > > Nick Lowe wasn’t very kind to Rick Astley [here](http://www.lyricsdownload.com/nick-lowe-all-men-are-liars-lyrics.html). Pop Will Eat Itself also bashed Astley in “Can U Dig It?” “Astley’s in the noose. Hang loose, kid. Lift the lid on the crimes he did…” ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/16 "2005-06-27T03:38:55Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Pop Will Eat Itself also bashed Astley in “Can U Dig It?” > > “Astley’s in the noose. Hang loose, kid. > Lift the lid on the crimes he did…” Sorry. That line was in “Preaching to the Perverted.” ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/17 "2005-06-27T04:08:36Z")
> [@saramamalana](#): > > Heck no! Not my precious BTE! > > No, I’m not bitter that I had to miss seeing them two weeks ago. Not one bit. No sir. By any chance, has the band ever revealed which Ezra it is better than? (I bet the guys loathe answering this question, but maybe at some point in their long career, they might have broken down and confessed.) ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/18 "2005-06-27T07:07:46Z")
I don’t know this for a fact, but I have always suspected that [It Takes All Kinds](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/a/aimee-mann/4672.html) by Aimee Mann was about Ron Sexsmith. > [@](#): > > Wasn’t that just our dear friend ron? > Throwing your weight around the sun > Happier now that you’ve become > What you hated I know that early in his career they were friends, in fact the first time I saw either of them live was the same night- Ron Sexsmith was opening for Aimee Mann (this was when his first album had just come out, Aimee Mann was touring _I’m with Stupid_, so this was, what?, 10 years ago?) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/19 "2005-06-27T12:41:44Z")
It’s probably ironic, but Warren Zevon’s “Play It all Night Long,” sounds at least a little disrepectful: “Play Sweet Home Alabama Play that dead man’s song.” ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930/20 "2005-06-27T12:42:34Z")
Many believe that Don McLean’s references to Satan in “American Pie” refer to Mick Jagger and the infamous concert at Altamont. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-that-call-out-other-artists/309930.md?page=2)