# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/41 "2015-11-06T19:08:17Z")
The last verse of “Range Life” by Pavement makes fun of the Smashing Pumpkins (nature kids, they don’t have no function/I don’t understand what they mean/and I could really give a fuck) and Stone Temple Pilots (They’re elegant bachelors/They’re foxy to me/Are they foxy to you?) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/42 "2015-11-06T19:17:47Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Simon denies that it’s about Geffen on her site. > > [carlysimonmusic.com](http://www.carlysimonmusic.com/You're_So_Vain.html) > > Also, her publicist denies it’s about Geffen. And he’s gay anyway. But Joni Mitchell’s “Free Man in Paris” is about him. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/43 "2015-11-06T19:21:03Z")
> [@ElderSign](#): > > Canibus vs LL Cool J > Second Round KO attacks Cool J due to 4,3,2,1 > [MTV | Homepage - Shows & Schedules](http://www.mtv.com/news/151611/ll-cool-j-and-canibus-in-war-of-the-words/) Sonic Youth also bashed LL Cool J in [Kool Thing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDTSUwIZdMk). And I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve heard Taylor Swift’s _Bad Blood_ is complaining about Katy Perry stealing one of her dancers for a tour. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/44 "2015-11-06T19:30:53Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > I’d heard it was about James Taylor. I thought it was about me. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/45 "2015-11-06T19:32:26Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Take a listen. While the songs are parodies of each original, the lyrics take a direct swipe at the respective artist. All that about Al and no mention of ‘Smells Like Nirvana’? ---
**Author:** ![No\_Me\_Ayudes\_Compadre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/no_me_ayudes_compadre/32/5224_2.png) [@No\_Me\_Ayudes\_Compadre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Me_Ayudes_Compadre)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/46 "2015-11-06T19:37:38Z")
_Instant Club Hit_ by the Dead Milkmen takes a swipe at the Communards, Book of Love, The Smiths, Depeche Mode, Public Image Limited, Naked Truth, and any bunch of stupid Europeans who come over here with their big hairdos intent on taking our money instead of giving your cash where it belongs, to a decent American artist like myself. ---
**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, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/47 "2015-11-06T19:39:42Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > **buddha\_david** beat you to it in post #14. I looked but I did not see. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/48 "2015-11-06T20:16:54Z")
The Beatles “Back in the USSR” is a swipe at the Beach Boys. I never thought it was a particularly nasty swipe. It always seemed about half playful to me. It usually takes me at least ten to twenty minutes to convince people that it is a swipe and I no longer have much patience for that. If you need convincing, it’s mostly in the sound of the music. If you compare that song to the Beach Boys’ … ## I’m just surprised that so few people seem to share that opinion. It seems so obvious to me. ## Well East coast girls are hip I really dig those styles they wear And the Southern girls with the way they talk They knock me out when I’m down there … [http://www.metrolyrics.com/california-girls-lyrics-beach-boys.html](http://www.metrolyrics.com/california-girls-lyrics-beach-boys.html) * * * ## Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out They leave the West behind And Moscow girls make me sing and shout That Georgia’s always on my mind … > **[The Beatles - Back In The U.S.S.R. Lyrics | AZLyrics.com](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/beatles/backintheussr.html)** > > The Beatles "Back In The U.S.S.R.": Oh, flew in by Miami Beach B.O.A.C. Didn't get to bed last night On the way the paper bag was on my... You may be able to convince yourself from these lyrics. But the proof is really in the sound of the music and the similar instruments used. I always got the impression that John was sending a message to Brian that goes something like this: “You Americans are always tooting your own horn and you just have no idea how the rest of the world views you. Mostly, you are viewed as buffoons who drive stupid cars and think you are better than anyone else and think your women are better than anyone else’s women. But beautiful women are to be found all over the world - even in the USSR”. * * * That is what I think John is trying to say. Not me. Personally, I really like American Women just fine (which leads into The Guess Who’s song, “American Woman”). Interesting though that the OP was also about John taking a swipe at someone. I don’t think his taking a swipe at Paul was at all playful. I think he went to his grave hating on Paul and I can sure understand that. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/49 "2015-11-06T20:24:04Z")
NM. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/50 "2015-11-06T20:27:11Z")
The Refreshments took a swipe at another Tempe Arizona local band Dead Hot Workshop in their song [Down Together](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2AssPxGJss) - _We could all wear riped up clothes And pretend that we’re dead hot workshop_ ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/51 "2015-11-06T20:34:30Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > I always got the impression that John was sending a message to Brian that goes something like this: There are two problems with that theory. (1) “Back in the U.S.S.R.” was written by Paul, not John… (2) [with Mike Love’s involvement (according to Mike).](http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/mike_love_of_the_beach_boys/) [QUOTE=Mike Love] Well, you know, I was in Hrishikesh, India, at Maharishi’s place along with The Beatles. … Because I was there, Paul came down to the breakfast table one morning saying, “Hey, Mike, listen to this.” And he starts strumming and singing, “Back in the U.S.S.R.,” the verses. And I said, “Well, Paul, what you ought to do is talk about the girls around Russia, Ukraine girls and then Georgia on my mind, and that kind of thing.” Which he did. So I think it was the fact I was there, which caused Paul to think in terms of Beach Boys, and then my suggestion for what to do on the bridge, he took that suggestion and crafted, like only Sir Paul can, a really great song. And we’ll sometimes do it in concert, especially if we have a private event for a corporation, or if we want to play other than just the Beach Boys set, which is wonderful. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/52 "2015-11-06T20:34:39Z")
Right until I dropped a 440 into a Charger frame and had enough muscle to rip Europe down the the bedrock. Anyway, I think you’re overreaching there. I always saw Back in the USSR as a tribute to the Beach Boys sound rather than taking a shot at them. Sort of a ‘cool sound, let’s try it’ thing. What the Circle Jerks and ‘American Heavy Metal Weekend’? They mockingly name check Ratt, Dokken, Quiet Riot, Motley Crue, Twisted Sister, Blue Oyster Cult, Van Halen, Kiss, Sammy Hagar, WASP, YNT, and don’t forget The Nuge! ---
**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, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/53 "2015-11-06T20:38:48Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > The Beatles “Back in the USSR” is a swipe at the Beach Boys. I never thought it was a particularly nasty swipe. It always seemed about half playful to me. > > It usually takes me at least ten to twenty minutes to convince people that it is a swipe and I no longer have much patience for that. If you need convincing, it’s mostly in the sound of the music. If you compare that song to the Beach Boys’ … > > I’m just surprised that so few people seem to share that opinion. It seems so obvious to me. When the White Album came out, it was obvious to everyone I knew. Perhaps we were closer to the Beach Boys music. But I wouldn’t call it a swipe, just an affectionate parody, even funnier during the Cold War. And Paul played mean drums on it. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/54 "2015-11-06T20:39:26Z")
Hey Thudlow, I never realized that and I am happy to be educated. Thanks very much. I will certainly take what you say as the truth. I guess I just assumed it was John because Paul always seemed to have less social opinions than John did and John always seemed to have plenty of them. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/55 "2015-11-06T20:40:00Z")
There’s a Barenaked Ladies song from their first album, _Gordon_, called “New Kid (on the Block).” \*I’m a new kid on the Block, 'though I may not be Johann Sebastian Bach. So we may not write the songs we sing, but look at Elvis, he sold his soul and you crowned him King. I didn’t ask to be famous, but I’m not sad, You see, I’ve got everything that I always wished I had. I thank my manager and I thank the screaming girls, I thank my hairdresser for giving me such beautiful curls.\* Full lyrics [here](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/barenakedladies/newkidontheblock.html). ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/56 "2015-11-06T20:40:02Z")
The song Aenema by Tool pretty much takes a swipe at everything in SoCal, but there’s one line in particular that says: " Fuck all these gun-toting / Hip gangster wannabes." Released in 1996, the timing is just right for the period when rap/hip-hop was gaining wide popular acceptance. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/57 "2015-11-06T20:45:02Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > When the White Album came out, it was obvious to everyone I knew. Perhaps we were closer to the Beach Boys music. But I wouldn’t call it a swipe, just an affectionate parody, even funnier during the Cold War. > And Paul played mean drums on it. I had read somewhere that John or Paul said they couldn’t use Ringo on some tracks - especially that long multi-track “She Came in through the Bathroom Window” and “Polythene Pam”. I read they said they had to secretly hire a studio musician to do the drumming there because they didn’t want to offend Ringo. Of course, as soon as the album came out, Ringo would have known all about it. Anyway, it’s like I said, “it wasn’t a nasty swipe”. It was about half playful. So whether you want to call it “half Playful” or “an affectionate parody”, I would think that is really just a difference of terms and not a serious disagreement about 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, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/58 "2015-11-06T20:45:03Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > All that about Al and no mention of ‘Smells Like Nirvana’? The band found it hilarious. The Weird One is not above teasing the targeted artists but it’s all in good fun. Billy Joel and Billy Ray, not so much. It was years before B.J. finally gave permission for another parody and Al donated the proceeds from the AB Song to the United Cerebral Palsy Association. [From Wiki.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achy_Breaky_Song) > [@](#): > > Yankovic stated that this was done because since the song itself was so “mean-spirited” he thought that he might as well donate the money earned to a charitable cause. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/59 "2015-11-06T20:49:40Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > 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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW1Frr4OcRc). It has to be heard to be believed. > > Keep dreaming, Rick. I think that song had its tongue firmly planted in its cheek, what with the passage about his own mother calling him Bruce. ---
**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, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810/60 "2015-11-06T21:22:00Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > I had read somewhere that John or Paul said they couldn’t use Ringo on some tracks - especially that long multi-track “She Came in through the Bathroom Window” and “Polythene Pam”. I read they said they had to secretly hire a studio musician to do the drumming there because they didn’t want to offend Ringo. Of course, as soon as the album came out, Ringo would have known all about it. > > Anyway, it’s like I said, “it wasn’t a nasty swipe”. It was about half playful. So whether you want to call it “half Playful” or “an affectionate parody”, I would think that is really just a difference of terms and not a serious disagreement about that. If a swipe is needling without admiration it is not a swipe at all. Pet Sounds was Pauls favorite LP. They were in awe of Brian Wilson. There’s such a thing as overthinking this stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-take-a-swipe-at-other-artists/736810.md?page=4)