# Songs that take a swipe at other artists **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 6, 2015, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810 "2015-11-06T15:26:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/21 "2015-11-06T16:51:41Z")
bit obscure unless you’re steeped in the metal world, but [“Bye Bye Beautiful”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTdhXxxWREo) by Nightwish is one big swipe at their former singer [Tarja Turunen.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarja_Turunen) > [@running\_coach](#): > > [It’s Still Billy Joel To Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6T2B3Vhtzk)-Weird Al (Home Demo) > [Achy-Breaky Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJWWKj_wptY)-Weird Al I think Weird Al would be disqualified since parody and pastiche is his whole deal 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/22 "2015-11-06T16:56:29Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > 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? Explanation [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Time_Around#Comparisons_to_.22Norwegian_Wood.22). ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/23 "2015-11-06T17:02:15Z")
Eminem’s “Marshall Mathers”: An anti-Backstreet and Ricky Martin With instincts to kill NSync, don’t get me started These fucking brats can’t sing, and Britney’s garbage What’s this bitch, retarded? Give me back my 16 dollars! Later in the same song: Vanilla Ice don’t like me Said some shit in Vibe to spite me Then went and dyed his hair just like me ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/24 "2015-11-06T17:28:49Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Explanation [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Time_Around#Comparisons_to_.22Norwegian_Wood.22). I know the song well and don’t buy it. And even if it is a satire on the song, it isn’t a dig at Lennon, especially since it was done way later. It falls into the nasty song category that Dylan does so well. Dylan does do song parodies - Clothesline Saga on the Basement Tapes was one of Ode to Billy Joe, and Tweeter and the Monkey Man was to Springsteen songs. But not digs at the people. Now, in the version of “Talkin’ World War III Blues” in Don’t Look Back, he uses Donovan instead of Abraham Lincoln. That’s a dig. And speaking of Dylan, an obvious example of a dig at him is “A Simple Desultory Phillipic” by Simon and Garfunkel. Not a good dig, but a dig. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/25 "2015-11-06T17:31:30Z")
From “All Men Are Liars” by Nick Lowe: > [@](#): > > Do you remember Rick Astley? > He had a big fat hit, it was ghastly. > He said “I’m never gonna give you up or let you down.” > Well, I’m here to tell ya that dick’s a clown. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/26 "2015-11-06T17:33:54Z")
Nobody here knows Neil Youngs answer to Sweet home alabama? I’m not even going to tell you then ---
**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:** [November 6, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/27 "2015-11-06T17:34:30Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > Didn’t she make the big reveal a few years back that it was about David Geffen? That’s what I was remembering as well. I recall an interview with her a couple of years ago (maybe with NPR’s Terry Gross?) where she finally admitted that. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/28 "2015-11-06T17:36:46Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > bit obscure unless you’re steeped in the metal world, but [“Bye Bye Beautiful”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTdhXxxWREo) by Nightwish is one big swipe at their former singer [Tarja Turunen.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarja_Turunen) > > I think Weird Al would be disqualified since parody and pastiche is his whole deal 🙂 Take a listen. While the songs are parodies of each original, the lyrics take a direct swipe at the respective artist. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/29 "2015-11-06T17:42:55Z")
New Radicals, “You Get What You Give” > [@](#): > > Fashion shoots with Beck and Hanson, > Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson > You’re all fakes > Run to your mansions > Come around > We’ll kick your ass in! ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/30 "2015-11-06T17:53:33Z")
The Supersuckers’ “The Captain” is about a failed recording session with Capt. Sensible from the Damned. And take a look at Ronnie Van Zant’s t-shirt from the Street Survivors album cover: [https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kWROHfoONco/maxresdefault.jpg](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kWROHfoONco/maxresdefault.jpg) (Tonight’s The Night shirt) ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/31 "2015-11-06T17:57:18Z")
Joni Mitchell pretty clearly blasted Jackson Browne (about Daryl Hannah) in her song _Not to Blame_. _“From coast to coast They said you beat the girl You loved the most Your charitable acts Seemed out of place With the beauty With your fist marks on her face”_ [http://jonimitchell.com/music/song.cfm?id=166](http://jonimitchell.com/music/song.cfm?id=166) ---
**Author:** ![Paxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Paxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paxx)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/32 "2015-11-06T18:14:20Z")
[I Dig Rock and Roll Music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Dig_Rock_and_Roll_Music) by Peter, Paul and Mary. The song mocks The Mamas & the Papas, Donovan and The Beatles. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/33 "2015-11-06T18:22:32Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > Didn’t she make the big reveal a few years back that it was about David Geffen? Simon denies that it’s about Geffen on her site. > **[carlysimonmusic.com](http://www.carlysimonmusic.com/You're_So_Vain.html)** > > This domain may be for sale! Also, her publicist denies it’s about Geffen. > [@](#): > > Simon’s publicist confirmed that the song was not about Geffen, but that there was indeed “a David who is connected to the song in some way, shape, or form,” > **[You're So Vain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_So_Vain)** > > "You're So Vain" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released as a single in November 1972. The lyrics describe a self-absorbed lover. The subject's identity has long been a matter of speculation. Simon said the song refers to three men, one of whom she has named publicly: the actor Warren Beatty. The bass guitar intro was played by Klaus Voormann. The strings were arranged by Simon and orchestrated by Paul Buckmaster. > In early 1973, "You're So Vain" reached No. 1 in the U... In addition, Simon wasn’t acquainted with Geffen in 1971 when she wrote the song. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > New Radicals, “You Get What You Give” **buddha\_david** beat you to it in post #14. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/34 "2015-11-06T18:23:19Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > 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. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > David Steinberg is in the running too. > [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > I’d heard it was about James Taylor. > [@Don\_Draper](#): > > Didn’t she make the big reveal a few years back that it was about David Geffen? Damn–she really got around, huh? ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/35 "2015-11-06T18:23:38Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > And then “Play it All Night Long” was Warren Zevon’s rebuttal to “Sweet Home Alabama”. Fun to play when the jukebox is spitting out a lot of country music. There’s the classic [Roxanne Wars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxanne_Wars). English Girls Approximately by Ryan Adams is about Beth Orton. ---
**Author:** ![ElderSign](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eldersign/32/8263_2.png) [@ElderSign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElderSign)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/36 "2015-11-06T18:24:56Z")
Canibus vs LL Cool J Second Round KO attacks Cool J due to 4,3,2,1 > **[LL Cool J And Canibus In War Of The Words](https://www.mtv.com/news/cndak1/ll-cool-j-and-canibus-in-war-of-the-words)** > > The rap legend and the up-and-coming star airing their differences the old-fashioned way -- on the microphone. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/37 "2015-11-06T18:34:00Z")
“Blame Canada” from _SP:BL&U_: _When Canada is dead and gone there will be no more Celine Dion!_ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/38 "2015-11-06T18:36:26Z")
Simon & Garfunkel’s “A Simple Desultory Philippic” poked at Bob Dylan a bit: . . .when you say “Dylan”, he thinks you’re talking about Dylan Thomas, whoever he was. The man ain’t got no culture. But it’s all right, ma, everybody must get stoned. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/39 "2015-11-06T18:39:16Z")
Not a well-known song, but the Old 97’s [Crash On The Barrelhead](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFuDaxULk5A) is allegedly a swipe at Ryan Adams. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/40 "2015-11-06T18:40:11Z")
Mark Kozelek, from two choruses in his song “Livingstone Bramble”: > [@](#): > > I can play like Fripp or Johnny Marr > And I can play circles 'round Jay Farrar > I like Jeff Beck and Page just fine > But I hate Derek Trucks and Nels Cline > I hate Nels Cline > > … > > I can play like Malcolm and Neil Young > And I can play circles 'round most anyone > I like Kirk Hammett and Steve Vai > But I hate Eric Clapton and Nels Cline > I hate Nels Cline [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810.md?page=3)