What songs are about other songs or about other artists?
Songs that are about other artists wouls seem to be common, though the only one I can think of right now is Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder.
Last night I heard a song that I’ve never heard before, which was about singing Sweet Home Alabama. Same chord progression and same piano riff, but definitely a different song.
I thought that was really odd. Are there other examples of this?
You probably heard Kid Rock’s song… what’s it called? “All Summer Long.” Thanks Google.
It also has pieces of “Warewolves of London” in it.
And of course “Sweet Home Alabama” is a shot at Neil Young’s “Southern Man” but I think everyone knows this by now, as I’m sure you do too.
Warren Zevon’s “Play it All Night Long” refers to “Sweet Home Alabama” (“Sweet Home Alabama/play that dead man’s song.”)
Mott the Hoople’s “Driving Sister” refers to their own “Half Moon Bay.”
Matthew Fisher’s “Going for a Song” refers to “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” The song is about growing tired of singing a song and while the song isn’t named, you can hear the unmistakable organ part of “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” (Fisher was with Procul Harem and now claims credit for that particular riff.)
The Beatle’s “Glass Onion” refers to several Beatles songs (“I am the Walrus,” “The Fool on the Hill.”)
Just to have said something, even if it is obvious: American Pie
Also the Charlie Daniels song about “the South’s gonna do it again” (or whatever the real title is) that’s a directory of Southern Rock bands.
Marshall Bruce Mathers III refers to other artists in some of his compositions.
Weezer’s "Heart Songs’ from The Red Album is all about iconic songs/artists from the 70’s to early 90’s.
Edit: And the last-verse goes all meta and is about how they became a band that other people now go “oh yeah, this songs takes me back.”
Thanks, that’s what I heard.
“Mike Post Theme” by The Who. Also, “God Speaks of Marty Robbins”, which imagines there might have been ulterior motives for creating the universe.
Life is a Rock…But the Radio Rolled Me - singer doing his best Paul Simon impression.
Life Is a Rock is nothing but.
Tim Curry’s “I Do the Rock” has a lot of references to music, as well as other pop culture.
ETA: Grrrr, ArgentTowers! :shakes fist:
Righteous Brothers-Rock And Roll Heaven
Peter, Paul, and Mary did such a good job aping the Mamas and the Papas with I DIG ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC that plenty of folks think it is the Mamas and the Papas referencing the Beatles and Donovan.
Along those lines, Lori Lieberman/Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly with His Song” is about Don McLean. According to Wikipedia, though, “Empty Chairs” was the inspirational piece, not “American Pie.”
Complete Control by The Clash is about their song, Remote Control.
R.O.C.K. in the USA by John Mellencamp lists several ground breaking artists in the history of rock n roll.
The Clash song “Complete Control” references their own song “Remote Control” and how pissed off they are that CBS made them release it as a single.
If there are songs older than this one that fit the description of the OP, I would like to hear them: All American Boy
“Authority Song” by Jimmy Eat World is about trying to impress a girl by playing said Mellencamp song on the jukebox.
Speaking of which their Praise Chorus also drops quite a lot of songs but isn’t necessarily “about” a specific song.
K.T. Tunstall’s Suddenly I See is reportedly about Patti Smith; specifically, Tunstall has said it refers to her looking at Smith’s Horses album cover.
Major Tom is a made up character David Bowie uses in several songs. He is also in the Peter Schilling song “Coming Home” which essentially re-tells the events in “Space Oddity.”