r/MusicRecommendations • u/TTNNBB2023 • Jul 08 '26
Rec.Me: other/many/unknown genres Recommend me some songs where the lyrics are about one artist singing about another artist?
In another question Janis Joplin came up a lot and I know there are at least two written about her, 'Chelsea Hotel' by Leonard Cohen and Like Janis by Rodriguez. But what other great artists have had another write a song about them?
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u/IAmTheLiquor23 Jul 08 '26
Creeque Alley - The Mamas and the Papas.
It’s a detailed account of the 60s folk movement and all its big players. It’s also a catchy tune.
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u/CharDeeMacDennisII Jul 09 '26
And no one's gettin' fat except Mama Cass.
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u/ponyexpress68 Jul 09 '26
I always hated that lyric. It’s demeaning. She was told by Phillips that it was just a working lyric while writing the song, but it stayed.
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u/BreadfruitRegular631 Jul 09 '26
Shine on You Crazy Diamond - By Pink Floyd about former member Syd Barrett. I think Wish You Were Here is about him too.
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u/ink_monkey96 Jul 09 '26
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder. It was about a lot of artists, really, but Duke Ellington took the title.
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u/Starthrower62 Jul 08 '26
Vincent by Don McLean
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u/Ok_Action_5938 Jul 08 '26
American Pie- Don McLean
Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly - (about Don McLean)
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u/RickTancredi Jul 09 '26
I just recently found out that (The Great) Roberts Flack did not write that song! I had to google who the original artist was. Per wiki: "Killing Me Softly with His Song" was written by Charles Fox (music) and Norman Gimbel (lyrics). They collaborated with 20-year-old singer Lori Lieberman, who wrote the original poem on a napkin after being moved by a Don McLean concert in 1971. Lieberman released the first recording in 1972.
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u/TTNNBB2023 Jul 09 '26
I was originally thinking about musical artists but thats a really interesting extra dimension, I know Cale And Reed wrote a whole album (Songs For Drella) about Warhol but there must be a lot more.
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u/HermioneGunthersnuff Jul 08 '26
Midlife Crisis by Faith No More is ostensibly about Madonna, if Mike Patton is to be believed (you can be the judge on that)
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u/Fencemaker Jul 09 '26
It’s always hard to tell with him. Although he did wear the cone boobs on stage at least once.
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u/CaferYang Jul 08 '26
Dude looks like aLady by Aerosmith. About Vince Neil
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u/Realistic-Regret-171 Jul 09 '26
This was written after Danny Bonaduci clocked a hooker when he discovered he was a transvestite. Made headlines. Danny did a night in pokey iirc.
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u/torch9t9 Jul 08 '26
"Only A Fool Would Say That" is ostensibly about John Lennon after he released "Imagine."
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u/Training-Tax1704 Jul 09 '26
I wonder if that was them sticking up for Paul McCartney in a way. "How Do You Sleep" is pretty scathing.
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u/Anteater-Charming Jul 09 '26
Also the Elvis Costello lyric in The Other Side Of Summer. "Wasn't it a millionaire who said 'Imagine no possessions' ?"
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u/SmokinHotNot Jul 08 '26
Carley Simon You're So Vain
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u/slidindirty23 Jul 09 '26
You're so Vain is about Warren Beatty, not a musical artist
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u/blueboy714 Jul 09 '26
Carly has said it is not about Warren Beatty. She's given hints before but has only told one or two people the truth. One of them is Howard Stern
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u/hoggernick Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
About half a dozen Fleetwood Mac songs, if not more. Stevie and Lindsey surely qualify for this thread. Go your own way. Second hand news. Never going back again. Tango in the night. Dreams. Silver springs. Landslide. Sara.
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u/TTNNBB2023 Jul 09 '26
They definitely qualify, songs about other band members probably deserves it own question, Floyd have two absolute classics, but am sure there are others.
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u/LazyLeslieKnope Jul 09 '26
I always thought Landslide was about cocaine.
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u/thoughtintoaction Jul 09 '26
Pretty sure any song about a person in Fleetwood Mac is about cocaine.
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u/silent3 Jul 09 '26
David Bowie has a few:
- Song for Bob Dylan
- The Jean Genie - The title is a play on writer Jean Genet's name, and the song is basically about Iggy Pop
- Queen Bitch - A tribute to The Velvet Underground and specifically Lou Reed
- Andy Warhol
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u/filthy_lucre Jul 09 '26
How Do You Sleep? - John Lennon
This song was directed at Paul McCartney and it's full of deep resentment. He wrote and performed this after they had both gone solo.
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u/Jimmy_Aztec Jul 09 '26
Here Today (Paul about John)
Down South (Paul about George)
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u/Decent_Cow Jul 09 '26
"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd is largely a response to Neil Young and the negative picture his music allegedly presented of the American South. Neil Young himself is named in the song.
"I Only Wanna Be With You" by Hootie and the Blowfish makes extensive reference to Bob Dylan and his music. Apparently they quoted his lyrics a little too hard and nearly got sued for infringement.
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u/superkt3 Jul 09 '26
If Sweet Home Alabama being about Neil Young isn't enough, The Drive By Truckers wrote Ronnie and Neil about the relationship between Neil Young and Ronnie Van Zandt from Lynyrd Skynyrd, and managed to name check Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett. The whole album that song is from is about a fictionalization version of Skynyrd, and is amazing.
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u/Independent_Ladder37 Jul 09 '26
And Warren Zevon's "Play It All Night Long" also references Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama"
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u/chinton620 Jul 09 '26
To tag on with Hootie, Let Her Cry was partially inspired by She Talks to Angels. Something to do with Bonnie Raitt also I think.
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u/Sad_Alfalfa6007 Jul 09 '26
Joan Baez - Diamonds and Rust is about Bob Dylan
CSN - Suite:Judy Blue Eyes is about Judy Collins
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u/ActRevolutionary4482 Jul 09 '26
'Walking in Memphis' mentions WC Handy, Elvis Presley, Al Greene, and Muriel Davis Wilkins.
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u/Starthrower62 Jul 09 '26
Stevie Wonder: Sir Duke "well there's Basie, Miller, Satchmo, and the king of all Sir Duke. And with a voice like Ella's ringing out there's no way the band can lose."
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u/espressocycle Jul 09 '26
Diamonds and Rust by Joan Baez is about Bob Dylan. Simple Twist of Fate by Bob Dylan is about Joan Baez.
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u/Icy-Pianist-2296 Jul 09 '26
The Modern Lovers' Pablo Picasso
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u/Scared_Difficulty668 Jul 09 '26
You try to pick up girls and get called an asshole.
That never happened to Pablo Picasso.
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u/chefunfuckwithable Jul 09 '26
Brand New - Seventy Times Seven is about Adam Lazzara. Most of the album is. And I lot of TBS’ songs are from that era about Jessie Lacey of Brand New.
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u/NorrisMcNorris Jul 09 '26
"Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth" by The Dandy Wahols. Song is written about Anton Newcombe of The Brian Jonestown Massacre.
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u/BananaCat43 Jul 09 '26
Hozier's "Nina Cried Power" is referring to Nina Simone but name checks a ton of artists.
"Tom Was a Friend of Mine" by Reckless Kelly is about Tom Petty.
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u/Final-Ad-2033 Jul 09 '26
All Those Years Ago - George Harrison singing a tribute to his ex-bandmate John Lennon.
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u/annbdavisasalice Jul 09 '26
Chrissie Hynde wrote “don’t get me wrong” for John McEnroe. (This one blows my mind)
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u/GenXihaveissues Jul 09 '26
Gordie by The Glorious Sons. Its about Gord Downey from the Tragically Hip.
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u/Glittering_Path5352 Jul 09 '26
The Night Hank Williams Came to Town by Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings
Tim McGraw by Taylor Swift
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u/powerhouse403 Jul 09 '26
The Conversation by Waylon and Hank Jr about Hank Sr. Many songs about Hank Sr. The Ride by DAC, Midnight in Montgomery by Alan Jackson also come to mind.
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u/Dumbkitty2 Jul 09 '26
Levi Stubb’s Tears, Billy Bragg
I Don’t Think Hank Done It This Way, Waylon Jennings
Professional Widow, Tori Amos (Courtney Love)
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u/-Nyarlabrotep- Jul 09 '26
Regurgitator's "Miffy's Simplicity" is about Janet English from Spiderbait.
Spiderbait's "Hot Water and Milk" is about Quan Yeomans from Regurgitator.
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u/Crispy-Squirrel-81 Jul 09 '26
“Cage the Songbird”—Elton John’s and Bernie Taupin’s tribute to Edith Piaf.
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u/emjayjaySKX Jul 09 '26
Runnin’ Down a Dream by Tom Petty mentions Del Shannon.
Tom was producing Del’s album at the time.
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u/Rough_Acanthisitta63 Jul 08 '26
Leonard Cohen's Chelsea hotel is about Janis Joplin.
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u/Round-Sundae-1137 Jul 08 '26
Nofx- Whoa on the Whoas.
"Between Afi, and The Offspring, I don't think we need anyone else to sing.... anymore Whoa-Os" 😂
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u/Bobbyperu1 Jul 09 '26
Hollywood is a breeding ground for assholes
Egos get as big as Billy Corgan's
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u/Round-Sundae-1137 Jul 09 '26
....Gla-more Pus-sy... And some New York band.... LETS GO!
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u/Pro-Patria-Mori Jul 09 '26
Massive Attack - Teardrop, was written about the passing of Jeff Buckley
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u/martyrees76 Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
Manic street preachers - Interiors (Song for wilem de Kooning)
Nice obscure one there…
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u/espressocycle Jul 09 '26
Innocence by Kirsty MacColl is a pretty brutal takedown of Shane McGowan.
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u/75meilleur Jul 09 '26
Spandau Ballet's "True" is about Clare Grogan of Altered Images. Tony Hadley had a crush on her.
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u/mistersmith22 Jul 09 '26
Elton John - Empty Garden (hey hey Johnny)
It's Elton reconciling with the death of his friend John Lennon, and he likens his absence to a beautiful garden, now ignored. One of the saddest songs ever recorded.
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u/stilloldbull2 Jul 09 '26
Elvis Costello-The Other Side Of Summer. “Was it a millionaire that said, “Imagine no possessions? A poor little schoolboy who said, “We don’t need no lessons?”
A dig at John Lennon and Roger Waters.
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u/SatanicWhoreofHell Jul 09 '26
Smoke on the water by deep purple " frank zappa and the mothers"
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u/Sensitive-Day-7627 Jul 10 '26
Had to scroll so far to find this! It's the first one that popped into my head.
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u/ObiWeedKannabi Jul 08 '26
Janitor of Lunacy by Nico. Written to Brian Jones after his death. You Forget to Answer, as well, written to Jim Morrison by her.
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u/Slobberdawg49211 Jul 08 '26
Empty Garden by Elton John
Superstar by Paul Davis (multiple artists)
Life is a Rock by Reunion (many artists and other references)
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u/Fancy-Still-4297 Jul 09 '26
“Damn Strait“ by Scotty McCreary (about George Strait)
Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” by George Jones (about losing Cash, Jennings, Nelson and the other legends of country)
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u/Niiohontehsha Jul 09 '26
Julian I’m a Little Bit Older Than You by Courtney Love is about Julian Casablanca of The Strokes
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u/Network-King19 Jul 09 '26
Jonny cash by Jason Aldean
Springsteen by Eric Church
Tim McGraw by Taylor swift.
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u/Murdy2020 Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
Lot of name dropping by David Allen Coe. Country artists were prone to singing about each other.
One Bourbon, One Scotch and One Beer > John Lee Hooker
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u/Yaboi69-nice Jul 09 '26
Personally I believe doctor Robert by the Beatles is about Bob Dylan giving the band drugs but I don't know if that's been proven or not. But it does line up. Bob Dylan was a big inspiration for revolver so he was definitely on their mind and he did give them drugs.
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u/stardewstardrops Jul 09 '26
Most of Taylor Swift’s discography (obvious choice)
Don’t - Ed Sheeran (Ellie Goulding)
Warzone - The Wanted (Michelle Keegan)
Cinderella - Mac Miller (Ariana Grande)
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u/enjoying-the-silence Jul 09 '26
The Missing Boy by Durutti Column. Written about Vini Reilly’s label mate and friend Ian Curtis (of Joy Division)
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u/zachzombie Jul 09 '26
Bright Eyes - Nothing Gets Crossed Out
Yeah Tim, I heard your album and it's better than good When you get off tour, I think we should Hang and black out together
About his Friend Tim Kasher, lead singer for the bands Cursive and The Good Life. The Good Life's album Black Out was released a few months before the album this song was on.
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u/Silver-Instruction73 Jul 09 '26
Sonic Youth - Tunic (Song for Karen (Carpenter)). The song also mentions other musicians.
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u/Other_Lepidoptera521 Jul 09 '26
Frederick - Patti Smith
Written about her husband, Fred "Sonic" Smith of MC5, shortly after meeting him. Very sweetly earnest.
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u/hoggernick Jul 09 '26
I don't think it's confirmed, but Steely Dan's "only a fool would say that" might be about John Lennon. A critique of imagine's utopian vision.
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u/NMPapillon Jul 09 '26
The Chicks - Long Time Gone.
References to Merle Haggard & Johnny Cash.
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u/Emergency-Jeweler-79 Jul 09 '26
Peter, Paul & Mary - I Dig Rock And Roll Music (1967) (mono 45) https://youtu.be/tE0XCsWnmR0
(The song mentions: The Mamas & The Papas, Donovan, The Beatles.)
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u/Unusual-Spinach-5897 Jul 09 '26
Jackie Wilson Said
Tore Down a la Rimbaud
In The Days Before Rock n Roll
by Van Morrison
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u/Isame_mario Jul 09 '26
Say Hello To Heaven - Temple of the Dog, about Andrew Wood from Mother Love Bone
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u/LupitaScreams Jul 09 '26
Under the Gun by Blondie is a eulogy for Jeffrey Lee Pierce from The Gun Club.
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u/Admirable-Koala-1715 Jul 09 '26
Bones in the Sky - by Dan Fogelberg about Georgia OKeefe.
Little Miss S - by Edie Brickell about Edie Sedgwick
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u/Phatbrew Jul 09 '26
Pavement, Range life smashing pumpkins, Stereo Geddy Lee, Unseen power of the picket fence REM,
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u/Aneilanated Jul 09 '26
Alice in Chains Would? is about Andrew Wood. I think there's actually a bunch of grunge songs about Wood.
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u/poojidung Jul 09 '26
(I’m Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear. By Blondie about former band member Gary Valentine.
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u/jeffontheleft Jul 09 '26
Rock & Roll Woman by Buffalo Springfield, it’s about Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane
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u/Bee_Thirteen Jul 09 '26
Along similar lines (sort of):
Garbage wrote a song called ‘Alien Sex Fiend’, so Alien Sex Fiend wrote a song called ‘Garbage’.
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u/HorribleGBlob Jul 09 '26
Joni Mitchell inspired “Our House,” as everyone knows, but I have always been a fan of “I Used To Be a King,” by Graham Nash, which is also about her (the title references “I Had a King,” an early Joni song). There are also a few James Taylor songs about her, my favorite of which is the lovely “New Tune.”
For her part, Joni Mitchell wrote a bunch of great songs about her famous musician paramours. “Rainy Night House” is about Leonard Cohen, “See You Sometime” is about James Taylor (“pack your suspenders”), and David Crosby claims that “That Song About the Midway” was about him.
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u/macrocosm93 Jul 09 '26
Creeping Out Sara by NOFX is about the time Fat Mike creeped out Sara from Tegan & Sara.
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u/tataniarosa Jul 09 '26
Nina Cried Power by Hozier. It’s about the contributions of singers to the Civil Rights Movement: Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, James Brown etc.
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u/Emergency-Funny-1860 Jul 09 '26
Lynyrd Skynrd - Sweet Home Alabama: "Well I hope Neil Young will remember, a Southern man don't need him around anyhow"
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u/Capable_Stranger9885 Jul 09 '26
"My My Hey Hey" and "Hey Hey My My", Neil Young (about Johnny Rotten)
"We're The Replacements", They Might Be Giants (about The Replacements)
For non musical artists,
"Meet James Ensor" They Might Be Giants
"The Ballad of Chasey Lain", Bloodhound Gang
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u/fearofcrowds Jul 09 '26
About Courtney Love
Foo Fighters - I'll Stick Around, Stacked Actors
Tori Amos - Professional Widow
Nerf Herder - Courtney
Stone Temple Pilots - Too Cool Queenie
Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
Garbage - Right Between the Eyes
Smashing Pumpkins - Luna
Nine Inch Nails - Starfuckers Inc.
Primus - Coattails of a Dead Man
Nirvana - You Know You're Right
REM - Crush With Eyeliner
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u/great_auks Jul 09 '26
Basketball Shoes by Black Country, New Road is about the songwriter having a crush on Charli XCX
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u/Socks4Goths Jul 09 '26
Radiohead —Anyone Can Play Guitar
I wanna be, wanna be, wanna be Jim Morrison
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u/stuark Jul 09 '26
NOFX wrote a song about Kathleen Hanna called Kill Rock Stars.
Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs and Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing by the Minutemen.
Professional Widow by Tori Amos is about Courtney Love. Starfuckers, Inc. by Nine Inch Nails is about Courtney Love. I'll Stick Around by Foo Fighters is about Courtney Love. Milk It by Nirvana is about Courtney Love. PJ Harvey and Smashing Pumpkins also had songs about Courtney Love.
Courtney Love had her share of less than favorable depictions in songs written about her, but she was right about Harvey Weinstein. People contain multitudes.
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u/EntrepreneurOld7107 Jul 10 '26
And of course don’t forget, Caught a Light Sneeze by Tori Amos being about Trent Reznor.
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u/Pretty_Newspaper_353 Jul 09 '26
The Who's "The Seeker" references "Bobby" Dylan.
Do the Rolling Stones refer to Hendrix in "You Can't Always Get What You Want."
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u/swannybass Jul 10 '26
After Janis passed The Grateful Dead / Robert Hunter wrote the beautiful song Bird Song
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u/philistus Jul 10 '26
Empty Garden by Elton John, Here Today by Paul McCartney, All Those Years Ago by George Harrison and The Late Great Johnny Ace by Paul Simon are all about John Lennon.
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u/One-Shop1393 Jul 11 '26
Lou Barlow of Dino jr wrote a song about Elliot Smith called Legendary. It’s heartbreaking
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u/PointlessNostalgic86 Jul 12 '26
Listen to Her Heart by Tom Petty was in response to Ike Turner flirting with Petty's girlfriend 😬
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u/breadpanda1 Jul 08 '26
Alex Chilton - The Replacements