Inspired by this thread and this post in particular which mentions two songs called “Right Now”, how many other sets of songs can we think of that have the same title but otherwise nothing in common? For example, two of my favorite songs happen to be named “Send Me An Angel”, but one is by the Scorpions and the other by the Pet Shop Boys. Other than both vaguely fitting under the pop category, they really don’t resemble one another at all.
Give Peace a Chance by the Plastic Ono Band and Leon Russell
I Put a Spell on You by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Leon Russell (on the same album as the above, yet)
Love Me Do by the Beatles and noted Beatles copyists Badfinger
Hold Me Tight by the Beatles and noted ex-Beatle Paul McCartney
Because of You by Kelly Clarkson and Ne-Yo.
Butterfly by Crazy Town, Mariah Carey, Delta Goodrem, and Smile.dk.
Soldier of Love by Donny Osmond and the Beatles (unreleased track, later covered by Pearl Jam).
Poison by Alice Cooper and Bell Biv Devoe.
Gloria by Van Morrison, Laura Branigan, U2, and Manhattan Transfer. Yes, they are all completely different songs.
“I Need You” The Beatles, The Kinks, America and Paul Carrack
“I Want You” Bob Dylan and Marvin Gaye
“I Love You” The Zombies, Donna Summer and the Climax Blues Band
“Gloria” Them, The Enchantments, U2 and Laura Branigan
“Sara” Fleetwood Mac and Starship
“Shout” The Isley Brothers and Tears for Fears
“Rain” The Beatles and Madonna
“Power of Love” Joe Simon, Huey Lewis and the News and Celine Dion
“Hold On” Ian Gomm, Kansas, Santana, En Vogue, Wilson Philips, Jamie Walters and Good Charlotte
“Lady” Styx, The Little River Band, Kenny Rogers, The Whispers, D’Angelo and Lenny Kravitz
“Brown Sugar” The Rolling Stones and D’Angelo
“Bitch” The Rolling Stones and Meredith Brooks
“I’m Free” The Rolling Stones and the Who
“Lights Out” Peter Wolf and Lisa Marie Presley
“Rumors” The Timex Social Club and Lindsey Lohan
“Because of You” Tony Bennett and Kelly Clarkson
“Photograph” Ringo Starr, Def Leppard and Lifehouse
“Rock of Ages” traditional gospel song and Def Leppard
“God Save the Queen” British national anthem and The Sex Pistols
“Problems” The Everly Brothers and the Sex Pistols
“Heartbreaker” Pat Benatar, Dionne Warwick and Mariah Carey
“Call Me” Aretha Franklin and Blondie
“Stand” Sly and the Family Stone and REM
“Best of My Love” The Eagles and the Emotions
“Heartbreak Hotel” Elvis Presley and Whitney Houston
“Woman” Peter & Gordon and John Lennon
“Help Me” Little Walter and Joni Mitchell
“Dance, Dance, Dance” The Beach Boys and The Steve Miller Band
“Cherish” The Association and Madonna
“Creep” TLC and Radiohead
“Crazy” Patsy Cline, Seal and Aerosmith
“Cry” Johnnie Ray and Godley & Creme
“Someday” Glass Tiger, Mariah Carey, Sugar Ray and Nickelback
“Where Is the Love” Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway and The Black Eyed Peas
“Beautiful” Christina Aguilera and Snoop Dogg
“Breathe” Ministry and Faith Hill
“Miss You” The Rolling Stones and Aaliyah
“Angel” Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Aerosmith, Madonna, and Sarah MacLachlan
“Always” Atlantic Starr and Bon Jovi
“It’s My Life” The Animals and Talk Talk
“Talk Talk” The Music Machine and Talk Talk
“America” The West Side Story cast, Simon & Garfunkel and Neil Diamond
“Why” Bronski Beat, Annie Lennox and Jadakiss
“What’s Your Name” Don & Juan and Lynyrd Skynyrd
“One Thing” INXS and Finger Eleven
“1-2-3” Len Barry and Gloria Estefan & the Miami Sound Machine
“take Me Home” Cher and Phil Collins
“Fame” David Bowie and Irene Cara
“Let’s Dance” Chris Montez and David Bowie
“Heaven” Talking Heads, Bryan Adams, Warrant, and Los Lonely Boys
“Girl” The Beatles and Destiny’s Child
“A Girl Like You” THe Smithereens and Edwyn Collins
“Girls” Dwight Twilley and The Beastie Boys
“Our House” Crosby Stills Nash & Young and Madness
“Only the Lonely” Roy Orbison and The Motels
“Lies” The Knickerbockers and The Thompson Twins
“Save Me” Aretha Franklin and Aimee Mann
“Over and Over” The Dave Clark Five and Nelly featuring Tim McGraw
“Dreams” Fleetwood Mac and Van Halen
“Do It Again” The Beach Boys, Steely Dan and the Kinks
“Don’t You Want Me” The Human League and Jody Watley
“Good Vibrations” The Beach Boys and Marky Mark
“Drive” The Cars, REM and Incubus
“Jump” Van Halen and Kriss Kross
“Jungle Love” The Steve Miller Band and The Time
“Freedom” Wham! and George Michael
“Friends” The ‘Sesame Street’ Cast, Whodini and Jody Watley featuring Eric B & Rakim
“That’s Entertainment” Judy Garland and The Jam
“All Around the World” Little Richard, The Jam and Lisa Stansfield
“Wild Wild West” Escape Club and Kool Moe Dee
“Do I Love You” Cole Porter and The Ronnettes
“Last Night” The Mar-Keys and The Travelling Willburys
“Hold My Hand” Don Cornell, The Rutles and Hootie & the Blowfish
“Candy” Johnny Mercer, Iggy Pop and Mandy Moore
“Candy Man” Roy Orbison and Sammy Davis Jr.
“Love Me” Elvis Presley and Yvonne Elliman
“Nobody Does It Better” Carly Simon and Nate Dogg
“Again” Mel Torme, Janet Jackson and Lenny Kravitz
“Runaway” Del Shannon, Bon Jovi and Janet Jackson
“Magic,” Pilot, Olivia Newton-John and The Cars
“It’s a Miracle” Barry Manilow and Culture Club
“Because” The Dave Clark Five and The Beatles
“You Belong to Me” Jo Stafford and Elvis Costello
“Think” James Brown and Aretha Franklin
“Hurts So Good” Millie Jackson and John Cougar Mellencamp
“I Need to Know” Tom Petty and Marc Anthony
“Love for Sale” Cole Porter and Talking Heads
“Mr. Jones” Talking Heads and Counting Crows
Damn, 42fish–you’re good!
Carly Simon also did a “You Belong to Me.”
And the Barenaked Ladies.
One - U2 and Metallica.
“9 to 5” by Dolly Parton and Sheena Easton. Both were released in 1980, so Easton’s was changed to “9 to 5 (Morning Train)” for the US release.
There was also a 2005 song by Lady Sovereign with the same title.
“Right Here, Right Now” - Jesus Jones and Cassandra Wilson. I just stumbled across the latter yesterday. And looking on iTunes, there are about 40 artists with songs titled the same. No way I’m listening to see which are covers.
IIRC
“The Power of Love” *Huey Lewis and the News, Jennifer Rush * and also Frankie goes to Hollywood were all different and all in the UK top 40 at the same time.
Oh, that reminds me…there was another song called Complicated doing pretty well at the same time Avril Levigne’s was…Carolyn Dawn Johnson, that’s who sang it.
“Walk Away” by Neil Young and James Gang and Black Sabbath
Three songs with the same name.
“Patches” by Clarence Carter and Dickie Lee
“Beautiful” by Gordon Lightfoot and Carole King
Wow! I never imagined there were so many…It seems the most popular titles are:
Quartets:
“Butterfly” by Crazy Town, Mariah Carey, Delta Goodrem, and Smile.dk
“I Need You” The Beatles, The Kinks, America, and Paul Carrack
“Someday” Glass Tiger, Mariah Carey, Sugar Ray, and Nickelback
“Heaven” Talking Heads, Bryan Adams, Warrant, and Los Lonely Boys
“Crazy” Patsy Cline, Seal, Aerosmith, and the Barenaked Ladies
Quintet:
“Angel” Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Aerosmith, Madonna, and Sarah MacLachlan
Sextets:
“Gloria” by Van Morrison, Laura Branigan, U2, Manhattan Transfer, Them, and the Enchantments
“Lady” Styx, The Little River Band, Kenny Rogers, The Whispers, D’Angelo, and Lenny Kravitz
And the grand prize winner, a septet:
“Hold On” Ian Gomm, Kansas, Santana, En Vogue, Wilson Philips, Jamie Walters, and Good Charlotte
When you mention Andrew Lloyd Webbr’s “Hosanna” you have to verify whether you’re talking about Jesus Christ Superstar or Requiem.
I wonder how many other composers have written two songs with the same title.
“Somebody To Love” - same title, two different (and good) songs recorded by Jefferson Airplane and Queen.
Interestingly, “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” was recorded by Elvis Presley.
Octet, actually. Yes also had a song titled “Hold On” on 90125
You can add Tom Waits to the list.
Fairport Convention have recorded (though they did not write) two completely different songs called “The Deserter.”
About 12 years ago, three groups had more-or-less simultaneous hits all entintled “Creep.” Stone Temple Pilots, Radiohead, TLC.
Sheryl Crow and Mary Chapin Carpenter both have songs called “Come On, Come On.” One of them might be called “C’mon C’mon,” though.