# Songs that mention other bands **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2003, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253 "2003-01-13T05:21:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![kefka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@kefka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kefka)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/81 "2003-01-14T23:34:44Z")
winterwren, you left out the best part of the dismemberment plan’s “the ice of boston”: “and i think to myself, aw gladys girl i love you, but OH! get a life!” but continuing the thread: a band that unless you’re from virginia, you’ve probably never heard of, Emmet Swimming, has a couple of these: in their song ‘Arlington’: “I live next to Fugazi/ It’s the suburb of the week/ Arlington.” and from “Jump In The Water” i don’t know the quote, but they mention the Juliana Hatfield Three and Better than Ezra in “Teenager”: “wrap yourself in black, listen to the Cure.” and finally, Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road”: “The screen door slams/ Mary’s dress wavin/ Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays/ Roy Orbison singin for the lonely…” wow, my first post and it didn’t even hurt 🙂 john ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/82 "2003-01-15T01:55:44Z")
Also from “All the Young Dudes” by Mott the Hoople – _My brother’s back at home With his Beatles and his Stones. He never got it off with that Revolution stuff. What a drag …_ ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/83 "2003-01-15T02:04:29Z")
“American Band” - Grand Funk Railroad – _Playing all night, with Freddy King …_ * * * “Dio” - Tenacious D – _Dio has rocked for a long, long time, Now it’s time for him to pass the torch…_ ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/84 "2003-01-15T02:40:53Z")
That briefly-popular song ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ mentioned Iron Maiden several times. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/85 "2003-01-15T03:16:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\*“American Band” - Grand Funk Railroad – > > _Playing all night, with Freddy King …_ > > * * * > > \*\* Dagnabbit, **Batty!** > [@](#): > > _Playing all night, with Freddy King … > Let me tell ya, Poker was his thing_ (When Freddy King died, one of the Grand Funk guys - I dunno - Mark Farmer - said that was true! Freddy would take their money.) ---
**Author:** ![MeepersC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meepersc/32/12088_2.png) [@MeepersC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeepersC)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/86 "2003-01-15T05:28:10Z")
Randy Newman’s _I Love LA_ “Crank up the Beach Boys” ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/87 "2003-01-15T09:00:09Z")
**The Beautiful South** - I Think The Answer’s Yes “From poor old U2 to poor old Simple Minds No amnesty for murderers of poor old working class” **The Beautiful South** - Straight In At 37 “Well Simon le Bon stayed round my house before And he was sick on the plants and he was sick on the floor And he wouldn’t go home until he’d sung his song With a backing harmony from Paul Young” **The Dead Kennedys** - MTV Get Off The Air “You’ve turned rock and roll rebellion into Pat Boone sedation Making sure nothing is left to the imagination” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/88 "2003-01-15T15:42:25Z")
1. The Little River Band’s “Reminiscing” mentions Glenn Miller “That’s the way it began We were hand in hand Glenn Miller’s Band was better than before” 1. Hootie and the Blowfish mention Bob Dylan in “I Only Wanna Be With You” Put on a little Dylan, sittin’ on a fence. I said, “That line is great” you asked me what it meant. Said I shot a man named Gray Took his wife to Italy She inherited a million bucks, and when she died it came to me I can’t help it if I’m lucky. I only wanna be with you Ain’t Bobby so cool I only wanna be with you 1. Bob Seger’s “Rock & Roll Never Forgets” mentions Chuck Berry: All Chuck’s children are out there playing his licks. Get into the mix. 1. Dexy’s Midnight runners mention Johnny Ray in “Come On, Eileen.” Poor old Johnny Ray Sounded sad upon the radio He moved a million hearts in mono 1. Golden Earring’s “Radar Love” mentions Brenda Lee: Radio’s playing some forgotten song. Brenda Lee’s coming on strong. 1. The Smithereens mention the Rolling Stones’ Bill Wyman in “Behind the Wall of Sleep.” Well, she held a bass guitar, And she was playing in a band. And she stood just like Bill Wyman, Now I am her biggest fan. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/89 "2003-01-15T16:18:02Z")
Oh, and if you include rap numbers: 1. The Beastie Boys’ “The New Style” refers to Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page (a guys with a history of teenybopper girlfriends). If I played guitar I’d be Jimmy Page The girlies I like are underage. 1. Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” mentions Elvis Presley: “Elvis was a hero to some, But he never meant #%&\* to me.” - Also, since there’s been some confusion: Peter Paul & Mary’s “I Dig Rock and Roll Music” mentions (and ridicules) the Beatles, Donovan and the Mamas & the Papas: I dig the Mamas and the Papas at “The Trip,” Sunset Strip in L.A. And they got a good thing goin’ When the words don’t get in the way. And when they’re really wailing, Michelle and Cass are sailin’. Hey! they really nail me to the wall. I dig Donovan in a dream-like, tripped out way His crystal images tell you 'bout a brighter day And when the Beatles tell you They’ve got a word “love” to sell you They mean exactly what they say - The Mamas & the Papas recorded he autobiographical “Creeque Alley” which alludes to Roger (Byrds) McGuinn, Barry (“Eve of Destruction”) McGuire, and the Lovin’ Spoonful. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/90 "2003-01-15T16:20:48Z")
Oh, one other song that mentions Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page- “Venus and Mars/Rock Show” by Paul McCartney & Wings: Tell me, what’s that man moving cross the stage? It looks a lot like the one used by Jimmy Page. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/91 "2003-01-15T20:11:40Z")
The Clash, _City of the Dead_ “That’s what New York Johnny says” A reference to Johnny Thunders of the N.Y. Dolls. ---
**Author:** ![cleops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@cleops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cleops)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/92 "2003-01-16T00:08:17Z")
MC5’s “Back in the USA” cover says “Back in Chuck Berry’s home St Loo” ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/93 "2003-01-16T03:20:27Z")
Canadian bands in the 90’s just _loved_ to do this. There are so many examples…why, let’s do a chain of references! The challenge: Go from The Tragically Hip to Elevator (Through). The Tragically Hip, “Put It Off” “I was listening to _Love Tara_, by **Eric’s Trip** , on the day you were born…” Eric’s Trip, “Sloan Song” “You’re just sitting there listening to that **Sloan** song.” Sloan, “I Am The Cancer” “So long **Matthew** , I will miss you…” (“Matthew” refers to Matt Murphy, late of The Super Friendz and now lead singer of **The Flashing Lights**.) The Flashing Lights, “Elevature” (Um, OK, so the whole song is about Rick, Tara, and their band **Elevator (Through)**.) There you have it. Neat, huh? Oh, my other favorite reference is The Super Friendz’ “No Good Reason”: “Playing your records by **Jonathan Richman** …” ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/94 "2003-01-16T03:58:17Z")
The biggest hit in France the summer of 1977 was “Rockollection,” a forgettable pop tune by Laurent Voulzy. In it he not only mentioned _la petite fille_ (Little Eva), _Les Beatels, Les Beach Boys, Les Cailloux_ (the Stones), _Les Bee Gees_, Bob Dylan, Donovan, etc. … he also incorporated excerpts from their hits into his own song, so he interrupted his tune with bits from “Loco-Motion,” “Hard Day’s Night,” “I Get Around,” “Satisfaction,” etc. In other words, Voulzy’s song was nothing but filler meant to contain snippets from other songs. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/95 "2003-01-16T16:12:11Z")
Another one I found while listening to a cd on the way to work: Def Leppard’s **Let’s Get Rocked** - She’s dialin’ through my radio And I’m ready to make my move But what she got ain’t rock ‘n’ roll And it really blew my groove It was Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven It makes me wanna scream Bach, Tschaikovsky, violins Turn it off, that ain’t my scene Well I’m sorry girl Here’s my confession I suppose a rock’s out of the question? \* ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Bas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Mr.Bas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Bas)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/96 "2003-01-16T16:19:39Z")
Weezer’s El Scorcho mentions Green Day : " I asked you to come to the Green Day concert, you said you never heard of them" Wheatus sings about Iron Maiden in Teenage Dirtbag. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/97 "2003-01-16T17:23:20Z")
“Oh I put a dime in the drugstore record machine. Oldie-goldies started playing if you know what I mean. I heard Chubby Checker, he was doing the twist And the Beatles and the Monkees - it goes like this. I put a dime in the drugstore record machine.” ---
**Author:** ![silverfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@silverfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silverfish)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/98 "2003-01-16T17:40:54Z")
A few songs occur to me with references to other musicians. The song “The Late Great Johnny Ace” by Paul Simon is a tribute to Johnny Ace an R&B artist who killed himself playing russian roulette. But also, the Beatles and Rolling Stones are mentioned: > [@](#): > > It was the year of the Beatles > It was the year of the Stones > It was 1964 The song ends with a tribute to John Lennon > [@](#): > > On a cold December evening > I was walking through the Christmas tide > When a stranger came up and asked me > If I’d heard John Lennon had died Then Eminem made quite a few references in ‘Real Slim Shady’. There’s Dr Dre: > [@](#): > > And Dr. Dre said… nothing you idiots! > Dr. Dre’s dead, he’s locked in my basement! Will Smith: > [@](#): > > Will Smith don’t gotta cuss in his raps to sell his records and several in one section: > [@](#): > > So you can, sit me here next to Britney Spears? > S\*\*\*, Christina Aguilera better switch me chairs > so I can sit next to Carson Daly and Fred Durst (Who is Carson Daly, by the way) ---
**Author:** ![DaToad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@DaToad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaToad)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/99 "2003-01-16T18:56:43Z")
Charlie Daniels The South’s Gonna Do It Again them Tucker Boys Lynyrd Skynrd’s pickin’ Richard Betts pickin’ Elvin Bishop sittin’ there’s ZZ Top brother Willie’s barefoot Jerry and C.D.B The Commodores Nightshift Marvin Gaye Jackie Wilson ---
**Author:** ![Infectious\_Lass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e56c9b/32.png) [@Infectious\_Lass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infectious_Lass)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/100 "2003-01-16T20:25:29Z")
oh oh! I know a really obscure one! A really obscure mid 80s English indie band called the Stairs had a song called ‘Honey I need a girl of a different Stripe’ and it had a line that went ‘she said she liked the Smiths, well how could I resist’ and being hugely into the Smiths at the time that line thrilled me no end! Also there is ‘For the Singer of REM’ by Firehose, though it doesn’t actually mention them in the lyrics directly. Obtuse. And REM themselves mention T Rex in ‘Wake Up Bomb’ iirc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253.md?page=6)