As the title says. Widely publicized was John Lennon’s “How Do You Sleep” supposedly aimed at Paul, for a few alleged digs at John on his “Ram” album.
Any other songs you can think of where the artist attempts to insult another artist or band?
“Sweet Home Alabama” is the obvious one.
Here’s Richard Thompson’s humorous swipe at Kenny G.
Well I heard Mister Young sing about her
Well I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A southern man don’t need him around anyhow
-Lynyrd Skynyrd
It’s Still Billy Joel To Me-Weird Al (Home Demo)
Achy-Breaky Song-Weird Al
Keeping with the John Lennon theme, his song “Serve Yourself” is poking fun at Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody”.
And Dylan’s “Fourth Time Around” was taken as a swipe at “Norwegian Wood”.
Can we change the thread title to “songs where Lennon makes fun of someone and then their rebuttal songs? Except when Dylan finally writes a song paying homage to Dylan?”
Might be a bit wordy…
You’re So Vain by Carly Simon has allegedly been about Mick Jagger, Warren Beatty, David Bowie, David Cassidy and/or Cat Stevens. There is still lots of speculation over who it’s about.
Agreed. Although I seem to recall hearing / reading / learning through osmosis that the Skynyrd guys were friends with Neil Young and didn’t really have a problem with “Southern Man.”
David Steinberg is in the running too.
I’d heard it was about James Taylor.
The Paloma Faith & Josh Weller duet, “It’s Christmas (And I Hate You)” contains the spoken line: Diana Krall is not music.
Tupac’s Hit 'Em Up is the gold standard here. It’s more than a ‘swipe’ though. “My .44 make sure all yall kids don’t grow”.
Every gangster rap song ever written should be eligible for this list.
“You Get What You Give” by New Radicals threatened to kick the collective asses of Beck, Hanson, Courtney Love and Marylin Manson.
“Get in the Ring” by Guns N’ Roses was a direct challenge by Axl Rose to a bunch of music critics, especially Bob Guccione, Jr. Reportedly, Guccione did accept the challenge (with Billy Idol filling in as his champion) but no fight ever took place.
Have any of them have ever said they thought this song was about them?
Didn’t she make the big reveal a few years back that it was about David Geffen?
The 80s-era teenybopper heart-throb Rick Springfield had a song that was basically a rant about how so many people confused him and Bruce Springsteen. It has to be heard to be believed.
Keep dreaming, Rick.
“Don Henley Must Die” by Mojo Nixon (who also did “Debbie Gibson is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child”).
Dylan’s “Positively 4th Street” was likely directed towards a fellow Village folkie (although perhaps a whole crowd of people).
King Crimson’s “Happy Family” is about the Beatles, and is not too complimentary, although I don’t know if it rises to the level of a “swipe”.
Some years back Carly Simon auctioned off the name of the person it was about for charity. Some guy paid thousands of dollars, and the deal included his pledge not to reveal the name.
And then “Play it All Night Long” was Warren Zevon’s rebuttal to “Sweet Home Alabama”.
Bo Diddley wrote I’m a Man. Muddy Waters didn’t agree (and thought he had copied “Hoochie Coochie Man” too closely), so he wrote Mannish Boy.
I’ve never heard of this song. After a quick look at the lyrics I’m not sure where the dig is. Can you 'splain?
That would be Dick Ebersol, who among other things is the co-creator of SNL. I feel like I also heard it turns out to be about David Geffen but maybe we all heard the same rumor.
Along those lines is Alanis Morrissette’s You Oughtta Know which has always been rumored to be about Dave Coulier. I recently read an article in which she says it’s about a combination of people. He still believes it’s all about him though.