# When \*this\* celebrity dies, \*that\* song will be played endlessly **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616 "2012-02-12T18:34:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/41 "2012-02-12T23:59:01Z")
Some for the first generation of rockers: Little Richard - “Tutti Frutti” Jerry Lee Lewis - “Great Balls of Fire” Fats Domino - “Blueberry Hill” Chuck Berry - “Johnny B. Goode”\* - Although I’d prefer the lesser-known “You Can’t Catch Me” because it has the line, “Gone like a cool breeze” which would be the most fitting headline for his obit. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/42 "2012-02-13T00:01:38Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > “Well Respected Man”, and they’ll mention how he was, indeed, well respected. He wasn’t a singer but that would have been perfect for Rodney Dangerfield. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/43 "2012-02-13T00:02:03Z")
Don McLean: “Vincent”. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/44 "2012-02-13T00:04:44Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Pete Townsend: Won’t Get Fooled Again Alternate choices: _My Generation_, _Song is Over_. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/45 "2012-02-13T00:13:05Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Don McLean: “Vincent”. Not a chance - you know its gonna be “The Day the Music Died”. Scary thing is, we’re getting to the point where this isn’t theoretical anymore… ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/46 "2012-02-13T00:17:45Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Oh, please. Dolly will get 9 to 5. She **should** get I Will Always Love You but Coat of Many Colors is a good second choice for Dolly. On preview **missred** beat me to it. John Fogerty - Centerfield George Strait - hard to choose from so many signature songs, but The Cowboy Rides Away would be perfect ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/47 "2012-02-13T00:23:16Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Not a chance - you know its gonna be “The Day the Music Died”. That was a joke. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/48 "2012-02-13T00:37:41Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > It should be “Immortality,” except no one knows it if they’re not a big fan. Even less likely, but I’d prefer “Off He Goes”. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/49 "2012-02-13T00:41:07Z")
Elton John will probably get"Candle in the Wind" specially rewritten for the occasion. We all know he has it stashed away somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/50 "2012-02-13T01:56:06Z")
Another Mellencamp contender-_Small Town_ ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/51 "2012-02-13T02:51:03Z")
what was Michael Jackson’s song? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/52 "2012-02-13T02:53:30Z")
I don’t know if there was one song in particular that was played most after he died. I heard a wide variety, probably half and half Jackson 5 and solo. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/53 "2012-02-13T03:57:42Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > No - my bet is “Bridge Over Troubled Water” for Art, “Sounds of Silence” for Paul. Second. Sarah McLaughlin - Angel ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/54 "2012-02-13T06:31:37Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > … when Mr. Taylor goes, we’ll all be singing goodnight to _Sweet Baby James_. I’m thinking it will be “Fire and Rain” > [@NDP](#): > > Jerry Lee Lewis - “Great Balls of Fire” Wait, he’s still alive? :eek: I’ll add two picks. Rod Stewart - “Maggie May” Deniece Williams - “Let’s Hear it for the Boy” ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/55 "2012-02-13T07:40:20Z")
Alice Cooper (perish the thought!) would be sent off to “School’s Out,” even though it should be “I Love the Dead.” David Bowie gets “Space Oddity.” ---
**Author:** ![florez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@florez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/florez)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/56 "2012-02-13T07:49:56Z")
Tom Petty Free Falling Madonna Like a Virgin or Material Girl ---
**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:** [February 13, 2012, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/57 "2012-02-13T07:58:20Z")
Vanilla Ice - _Play That Funky Music_ …What? ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/58 "2012-02-13T13:08:14Z")
I’m trying to imagine what they would play if Simon Le Bon died, but nothing springs to mind. ---
**Author:** ![SunSandSuffering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@SunSandSuffering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunSandSuffering)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/59 "2012-02-13T13:54:45Z")
A friend of mine joked “Thank God [Stock, Aitken & Waterman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_Aitken_Waterman) didn’t die.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616/60 "2012-02-13T14:02:29Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > I’m trying to imagine what they would play if Simon Le Bon died, but nothing springs to mind. Probably “The Chauffer” or “El Diablo” 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-this-celebrity-dies-that-song-will-be-played-endlessly/612616.md?page=4)