# Songs where the band name is self-referenced **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 10, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411 "2003-07-10T05:58:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/1 "2003-07-10T05:58:40Z")
After hearing Chic’s _Freak Out_ and Wang Chung _Everybody Have Fun Tonight_ played back-to-back in a restaurant, I strated wondering about other songs where the performing band mentions its name. The only other one I can think of at the moment is _Black Sabbath_ by Black Sabbath. What other self-referencing songs are out there? ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/2 "2003-07-10T06:09:06Z")
“Hey, Bo Diddley” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/3 "2003-07-10T06:11:06Z")
Band name: Bad Company Debut album: Bad Company Lead song: Bad Company Also, sorta: Motherly Love, by Frank Zappa and the Mothers, from Freak Out! ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/4 "2003-07-10T06:12:14Z")
Oops. And “Clap For the Wolfman” I’d have to add “Hey Paula” by Paul and Paula too. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/5 "2003-07-10T06:13:28Z")
“Think Before You Post” - my new motto! “Hey Hey We’re the Monkees” ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/6 "2003-07-10T06:13:31Z")
Talk Talk by, well, Talk Talk ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/7 "2003-07-10T06:17:20Z")
_The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think. Oh, by the way, which one’s Pink?_ Pink Floyd, _Have A Cigar_ ---
**Author:** ![nebco9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@nebco9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nebco9)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/8 "2003-07-10T06:20:05Z")
**Wilbury Twist** by Traveling wilburys ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/9 "2003-07-10T06:47:21Z")
“Big Country” by Big Country. They doomed themselves to one-hit-wonder status right at the start. But dreams do stay with you… ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/10 "2003-07-10T06:54:02Z")
Jenny from the block? Hey, the video was worth watching a few times at least! ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/11 "2003-07-10T07:48:37Z")
In the rap part of Shrikback’s version of Get Down Tonight… Well the Shriek don’t shake and the Shriek don’t shiver. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/12 "2003-07-10T08:05:19Z")
“Sucks” by KMFDM is one of my favorites of this type. ---
**Author:** ![Mearl\_Dox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Mearl\_Dox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mearl_Dox)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/13 "2003-07-10T08:19:49Z")
_They Might Be Giants_ by They Might Be Giants comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Leechboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@Leechboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechboy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/14 "2003-07-10T09:50:44Z")
I’d mention This Is Serious Mum’s “Jung Talent Time”, which is basically just a long list of names like Yes, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Rob Lowe, Kenny G with their own inserted in there. But the kicker is the final refrain, > [@](#): > > Andy Warhol got it right > Everyone gets the lime light > Andy Warhol got it wrong > Fifteen minutes is too long. ---
**Author:** ![nebco9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@nebco9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nebco9)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/15 "2003-07-10T10:03:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zoogirl \* > \*\*Oops. And “Clap For the Wolfman” \*\* I don’t think The Guess Who mentioned themselves in this song at all. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/16 "2003-07-10T10:17:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elmwood \* > \*\*After hearing Chic’s _Freak Out_ and Wang Chung _Everybody Have Fun Tonight_ played back-to-back in a restaurant, I strated wondering about other songs where the performing band mentions its name. The only other one I can think of at the moment is _Black Sabbath_ by Black Sabbath. > > What other self-referencing songs are out there? \*\* Presumably disbarring rap songs, yes? It’s very common in those. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Shakin’ Rock ‘N’ Roll Tonight ``` "Rock 'N' Roll, Blues Explosion style" ``` ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/17 "2003-07-10T10:19:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Murcielago \* > \*\*_The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think. > Oh, by the way, which one’s Pink?_ > > Pink Floyd, _Have A Cigar_ \*\* Not so much referencing the band name as quoting an idiot. On a related note, in The Wall it’s directly implied that the central character performs under the stage name Pink Floyd - he’s definitely known as Pink. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/18 "2003-07-10T10:25:13Z")
An afternoon of staring vacantly at MTV tells you that a large amount of rap songs do this. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/19 "2003-07-10T10:54:08Z")
No kidding. Some friends and I made up a drinking game watching some MTV rap-a-thon where if the singer mentions his name, take a drink, grabs his crotch, take a drink. When he mentions his name AND grabs his crotch at the same time, drink the whole beer… ---
**Author:** ![refusal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@refusal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/refusal)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411/20 "2003-07-10T11:00:49Z")
“Radio Clash” by The Clash. “Ziggy Stardust” by David Bowie, ahem, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars mentions the fictional band, if not the actual band. “The Look of Love” by ABC (lead singer Martin Fry) features the classic line “Martin, maybe one day you’ll find true love.” Jonathan Richman is also fond of talking to himself in songs. “Future Generations” by The Auteurs sums up the band’s career, and mentions a number of their albums and songs, although I don’t think it actually mentions the band. Does “Killer Queen” by Queen count? And isn’t there a Devo song that goes “Are we not men? We are Devo!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-band-name-is-self-referenced/187411.md?page=2)