I was just listening to “Major Tom (Coming Home)” by Peter Schilling and a question just occurred to me. How many songs were inspired by songe from other groups (the obvious reference here is Major Tom-Space Oddity).
I don’t mean covers or the same artist continuing a theme, but more along the lines of one artist’s songs inspiring to write another about the same song, character or what not.
Don’t let the loveless ones sell you a world wrapped in grey.
Run for the hills, folks! Or you’ll be up to your armpits in martians!
In the song “Sweet Home Alabama”, I think Lynyrd Skynyrd (sp?) talks shit about Neil Young. I think it’s in reference to something he said in one of his songs about Southerners.
“Sweet Home Alabama” was a reply to Neil Young’s “Southern Man”
Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” was about Don MacLean and specifically “American Pie”
There have been a number of blues songs that had the same character in them.
Pearl Jam did a song called “Bee Girl” which was about Blind Melon and their lead singer who died of an OD. The title of the song reflected the little girl in the Bee suit in the video for “No Rain”.
I seem to recall a The Mamas and the Papas had a couple songs that referenced other songs and/or were about themselves.
Warren Zevon has a song called “Play it all Night Long” which has the line, “Sweet Home Alabama, play that dead band’s song. Turn that music up full blast, play it all night long”
The Mamas and the Papas song “I Saw Her Again Last Night” is a direct reference to Denny & Michelle’s affair. John wrote it to get back at him - and then made him sing it every night. Great revenge, if you ask me.
And “Creek Alley”(?) was their autobiographical tale of getting started in the business ("…and California Dreamin’ is becoming a reality.")
The Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds” is an answer to the Beatles’ “Revolver.” “Sgt. Pepper,” incidentally, was influenced by “Pet Sounds.”
Tim
“My hovercraft is full of eels.”
Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction” prompted two responses (so I’ve been told) by two different artists: “Dawn of Correction” and “Day of Decision.”
The songs exist, but I’ve never actually heard them to know for sure that they were responses to “Eve.”
I’ve heard “Dawn of Correction” and it’s definitely a response to “Eve of Destruction”. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard it, but it might even be the same music with different lyrics.
I’ve never heard (or even heard of) “Day of Decision” though.
“Eve of Destruction” is probably number one on my personal list of songs that are so awful they’re hilarious. It rhymes “China” with “Alabama”, not only uses the word “coagulating” but uses it in a rhyme, and the singer sounds like he’s just enjoyed a delightful meal of gravel soaked in gasoline. On top of that there’s the sheer pretentiousness of it all.
I don’t know if this is the same song Zette is talking about or not, but there was a song called “Superstar” or “Hey Superstar” or something like that which supposed to be a response to “Billie Jean”.
I just thought of something. I wonder if Meat Beat Manifesto’s “Pot Sounds” was influenced by (or making fun of) the Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds”. I’ve only heard the MBM song, not as far as I know, the Beach Boys song.
Just thought of another couple:
The people at the party in the song “Splish Splash” are all title characters from other songs, and at least some of the ones in “Garden Party” are also.
I do remember a response to “Billie Jean” that was recorded by (of course) a gal. The lyrics went something like this (to the tune of “Billie Jean”):
I’m Billie Jean and I’m mad as hell.
And I’m a woman with a story to tell.
Superstaaaaar–remember who you are.
That’s the best I can do. I heard it only one time and it was a long time ago.