# Name-Checking Yourself In Rock Music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 20, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822 "2014-02-20T21:38:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/81 "2014-02-21T18:07:34Z")
Brownsville Station mentioned themselves in “Kings of the Party.” _And ole Brownsville Station Really digs 'em cause they get it on_ ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/82 "2014-02-21T18:13:19Z")
_“He says ‘Bill, I believe this is killing me.’”_ - Billy Joel, _Piano Man_ ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/83 "2014-02-21T18:21:58Z")
I think I’ve found the oldest, and probably the most obscure one. In “Your Mother’s Son-in-Law” (1933), Billie Holiday mentions [Jules Bledsoe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Bledsoe): “You don’t have to sing like Bledsoe, you can tell the world I said so”. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/84 "2014-02-21T18:26:58Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I think I’ve found the oldest, and probably the most obscure one. In “Your Mother’s Son-in-Law” (1933), Billie Holiday mentions [Jules Bledsoe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Bledsoe): “You don’t have to sing like Bledsoe, you can tell the world I said so”. Not sure how that is the singer namechecking herself or her band? Was Bledsoe in her band? Are you following **Snowboarder Bo** down his rabbit hole/quarry? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/85 "2014-02-21T18:28:21Z")
> [@Haunted\_Pasta](#): > > _“He says ‘Bill, I believe this is killing me.’”_ > > - Billy Joel, _Piano Man_ Very nice. Very popular song that everyone else missed! ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/86 "2014-02-21T18:32:53Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Actually, the line is “drop the hits like de la O” and is a reference to Genovevo de la O. (The title of the song is “Bulls on Parade.”) > [Genovevo de la O - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genovevo_de_la_O) Wow, i feel pretty stupid now. Every once in a while Zack would throw in a benign lyric, and i always this was one of those times whith a stylized pronunciation of “or”. Ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/87 "2014-02-21T18:34:47Z")
Just remembered one, where the band refers to a previous album of theirs: The Who, _You Better You Bet_ - “I drunk myself blind to the sound of old T. Rex… oh, and **Who’s Next** ” ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/88 "2014-02-21T18:46:47Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Not sure how that is the singer namechecking herself or her band? Was Bledsoe in her band? > > Are you following **Snowboarder Bo** down his rabbit hole/quarry? Okay, I goofed. How about Billie mentioning herself in "Keeps on Rainin’’ , “Billie’s Blues”, and “Everything a Good Man Needs”? Rabbit hole? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/89 "2014-02-21T18:46:49Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > The Who, _You Better You Bet_ - “I drunk myself blind to the sound of old T. Rex… oh, and **Who’s Next** ” Somewhat similarly, from John Lennon: “So \*\*Sgt Pepper \*\*took you by surprise…” (“How Do You Sleep”). Lennon also mentioned “the Plastic Ono Elephant’s Memory Band” in “New York City.” (The album was billed to “John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Elephant’s Memory.”) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/90 "2014-02-21T18:54:50Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Okay, I goofed. How about Billie mentioning herself in "Keeps on Rainin’’ , “Billie’s Blues”, and “Everything a Good Man Needs”? > > Rabbit hole? Make that two goofs- ain’t rock music. That’s it- I’m done. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/91 "2014-02-21T20:06:16Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Brownsville Station mentioned themselves in “Kings of the Party.” > > _And ole Brownsville Station > Really digs 'em cause they get it on_ And let’s not forget _Smokin’ in the Boys Room_ “Oh, my buddy Fang, and me and Paul To get caught would surely be the death of us all” Or the **Motley Crue** version: “My buddies Sixx, Mick & Tom To get caught would surely be the death of us all” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/92 "2014-02-21T20:52:03Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Just remembered one, where the band refers to a previous album of theirs: > > The Who, _You Better You Bet_ - “I drunk myself blind to the sound of old T. Rex… oh, and **Who’s Next** ” **Penfeather beat you in [post #67](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17126239&postcount=67)**. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/93 "2014-02-21T20:56:47Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Make that two goofs- ain’t rock music. That’s it- I’m done. It doesn’t have to be rock, as long as it’s other than rap or hip-hop. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Eh, I’m just looking for anything other than rap & hip-hop. I put “rock” in the thread subject just as a (poorly-chosen) shorthand. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/94 "2014-02-21T22:41:29Z")
“Hollywood Swinging” by Kool and the Gang. Might be considered R&B, but was played on Top 40 radio. It’s pop. I remember not too long ago I went to the theater And I saw the Kool & the Gang show ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/95 "2014-02-21T23:10:31Z")
> [@Clawdio](#): > > Wow, i feel pretty stupid now. Every once in a while Zack would throw in a benign lyric, and i always this was one of those times whith a stylized pronunciation of “or”. Ignorance fought. It’s no big deal. I had a vague memory of this not being a reference to de la Rocha, so I looked it up. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/96 "2014-02-21T23:24:25Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > **Penfeather beat you in [post #67](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17126239&postcount=67)**. Oops, and feh. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/97 "2014-02-21T23:25:33Z")
A few from Reverend Horton Heat: “Reverend Horton Heat’s Big Blue Car” \*Come take a ride, take a ride with me Reverend Horton Heat’s big blue car \* “Jimbo Song” and “You’ve Got a Friend in Jimbo.” Jimbo Wallace is the bass player for Reverend Horton Heat. ---
**Author:** ![Moris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moris/32/2846_2.png) [@Moris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moris)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/98 "2014-02-22T00:25:20Z")
**King Crimson** : In the Court of the Crimson King. **Queen** : Killer Queen / White Queen / The March of the Black Queen. Also, there are names of all band memebers in “The Invisible Man”. **Comus** : In “Song to Comus” - _Bright the sunlight summer day Comus wakes he starts to play_ ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/99 "2014-02-22T01:11:56Z")
Do these count? Harry Chapin, “Taxi”: “She said, ‘How are you, Harry?’” Lee Michaels, “Do You Know What I Mean”: “And then she said, ‘Lee, you haven’t loved me in nearly four years…’” Tex Williams, “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)”: “And she said, ‘Tex, excuse me, please…’” “Ballad of Mott the Hoople”: “Buffin lost his child-like dreams and Mick lost his guitar, and Verden grew a line or two and Overend’s just a rock’n’roll star.” Paul and Paula refer to each other by name in “Hey Paula”. ---
**Author:** ![Vimp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vimp/32/4186_2.png) [@Vimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vimp)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/100 "2014-02-22T01:15:51Z")
"Hey boys, Lookin’ for a fight? Cuz here comes Ricki with her girdle on tight … " Ricki Lee Jones “Danny’s All-Star Joint” (I think) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822.md?page=6)