# Songs about being a fan **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [September 9, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271 "2022-09-09T14:46:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/21 "2022-09-10T19:15:46Z")
> [@veryfrank](#): > > That’s such a great one. IMHO much better than U2’s “The Miracle (of Joey Ramone).” “Dancing With Joey Ramone” by Amy Rigby is also pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/22 "2022-09-10T19:35:13Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Bwjz9PNh_ZA/hqdefault.jpg "Shel Silverstein-A Front Row Seat to Hear Old Johnny Sing") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwjz9PNh_ZA) ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/23 "2022-09-10T20:00:41Z")
“Top Jimmy” by Van Halen. It _is_ [about a real person](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/van-halen-top-jimmy/) if you’ve ever wondered. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d681GuMZj6Y/hqdefault.jpg "Van Halen - 1984 - Top Jimmy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d681GuMZj6Y) ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/24 "2022-09-10T21:48:40Z")
[Superstar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJmmaIGiGBg) - the Carpenter’s version is not the original but by far the most poignant exploration of infatuated fandom. A classic take. [For comparison - [Delaney and Bonney’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpZ7BOSmO64) original - titled as ‘Groupie’, and a modern take by [Sonic Youth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y21VecIIdBI)] I’m shocked that we’re nearly at two dozen and its not come up. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/25 "2022-09-10T22:03:53Z")
> [@veryfrank](#): > > Lou Reed and co. have been referenced elsewhere _I said, “I want to be a singer like Lou Reed”_ _“I like Lou Reed” she said, sticking her tongue in my ear_ Been Tired _Pixies_ ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/26 "2022-09-10T22:17:18Z")
I was coming in with the Sleater-Kinney cut already referenced, so I guess I will pivot to Brian Eno. King’s Lead Hat, an anagram for his then new creative partners Talking Heads (aka the referenced ‘Four Turkeys in a Big Black Car’ 😉): [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Yp0k_o8gfQI/hqdefault.jpg "Brian Eno - Kings Lead Hat - 1977- Written & Produced by Brian Eno") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp0k_o8gfQI) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/27 "2022-09-10T22:29:19Z")
> [@journeyman\_southpaw](#): > > “Top Jimmy” by Van Halen. The Knitters (the band X with Dave Alvin replacing Billy Zoom as a folk/country band) references the Rhythm Pigs in the intro to their cover of [Rock Island Line](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5AQTOAXGjE). ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/28 "2022-09-11T05:55:52Z")
[Songs about Elvis Presley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_about_or_referencing_Elvis_Presley) are practically a genre in and of itself: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tT4d1LQy4es/maxresdefault.jpg "Alannah Myles - Black Velvet") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT4d1LQy4es) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mpb4ZAAP6Z4/hqdefault.jpg ""Elvis is Everywhere" by Mojo Nixon") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpb4ZAAP6Z4) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/29 "2022-09-11T06:01:36Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > [Songs about Elvis Presley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_about_or_referencing_Elvis_Presley) are practically a genre in and of itself: Indeed. My favorite: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JZOgp8CHQXQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Tupelo (2009 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZOgp8CHQXQ) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/30 "2022-09-11T13:25:50Z")
Another song about an Elvis fan: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SLSZXHXFsss/maxresdefault.jpg "Richard Thompson - From Galway To Graceland") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLSZXHXFsss) ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/31 "2022-09-11T14:17:03Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > The Knitters (the band X with Dave Alvin replacing Billy Zoom as a folk/country band) references the Rhythm Pigs in the intro to their cover of [Rock Island Line](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5AQTOAXGjE). One of my all-time favorite bands…just saw X opening for the Psychedelic Furs a couple of months ago. My sixth time seeng them live, if you count two Knitters shows. In their classic “I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts” they give a shoutout to a bunch of their musical contemporaries: _"I hear the radio is finally gonna play new music_ _You know, the British invasion"_ _But what about the Minutemen_ _Flesh Eaters, DOA_ _Big Boys and the Black Flag?_ _Will the last American band to get played on the radio_ _Please bring the flag?_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-mllNqZT8zo/hqdefault.jpg "X - I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts (Houston 05.10.19) HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mllNqZT8zo) ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/32 "2022-09-11T14:35:25Z")
Sara Borges’ [“Same Old 45”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzzeHYod-Eg) is about a woman obsessed with “Brandy,” by Looking Glass. _And you know I shed a tear for him_ _As this ship was setting sail._ _Sittin’ in my room playing the same old 45._ _About a girl named Brandy, the would-be sailor’s bride._ > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > When I saw the thread title, I thought you meant songs that were about the band/singer’s own fans, or about being a fan of that artist … So did I, and the Smokin’ Popes’ [“You Spoke to Me”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USr2TaghzoE) came to mind. _I drove all the way from Carpentersville_\* _To see you here tonight_ _And it was worth it_ _You didn’t play my favorite song_ _But that’s all right_ _I love the new stuff too_ _I’m just glad I got to see you_ \*A distant suburb which would indeed be a long drive home for a fan seeing the Popes in a typical Chicago club. ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/33 "2022-09-11T20:16:50Z")
Does it have to be a fan of a musician/musical group? Because the first song that occurred to me is “Sally Simpson” from _Tommy_. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/34 "2022-09-11T20:18:27Z")
ninja’d while digging up the video! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YjbKH4_roG4/maxresdefault.jpg "The Who - Sally Simpson (Tommy: The Movie) [HD]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjbKH4_roG4) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/35 "2022-09-11T20:58:23Z")
Rollers Show / Nick Lowe [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MKKEbrYVbjo/maxresdefault.jpg "Nick Lowe - "Rollers Show" (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKKEbrYVbjo) ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/36 "2022-09-11T21:18:52Z")
The Hoodoo Gurus [Australian band] tell you about all their fave songs and bands: Let’s All Turn On [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oTmfQVXgqXw/hqdefault.jpg "Hoodoo Gurus - (Let's All) Turn On") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTmfQVXgqXw) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2022, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/37 "2022-09-11T23:06:56Z")
There’s a great song by German singer Adel Tawil called “Lieder” (“Songs”) in which he references famous songs by the likes of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, the Prodigy, EMF, David Bowie, the Bangles, Prince, Depeche Mode, Rage Against The Machine, Beck, Nirvana etc. etc. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kiMG_JV2gbo/hqdefault.jpg "Adel Tawil "Lieder" (Official Lyrics Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiMG_JV2gbo) ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2022, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/38 "2022-09-12T02:33:14Z")
My first thought was We’re An American Band ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2022, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/39 "2022-09-16T20:18:20Z")
I heard “Killing Me Softly With His Song”, the famous Roberta Flack version, today on the radio and was reminded of this thread. The original singer and probable co-songwriter, Lori Lieberman (there was a dispute about songwriting credits between her and her producers, a typical story for the times), had the idea for the song when attending a Don McLean concert because she was so moved by his performance of “Empty Chairs”. The whole story on Wiki: > **[Killing Me Softly with His Song](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_Me_Softly_with_His_Song)** > > "Killing Me Softly with His Song" is a song composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Norman Gimbel. The lyrics were written in collaboration with Lori Lieberman after she was inspired by a Don McLean performance in late 1971. Denied writing credit by Fox and Gimbel, Lieberman released her version of the song in 1972, but it did not chart. The song has been covered by many other artists. > In 1973, it became a number-one hit in the United States, Australia and Canada for Roberta Flack, and also rea... ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2022, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271/40 "2022-09-17T21:38:07Z")
My immediate thought: White Man In The Hammersmith Palais by The Clash. A disillusioned fan, but a fan nonetheless. j [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-being-a-fan/971271.md?page=3)