Here are 49 songs the place rockers name-check themselves.
In songwriting, there’s an excessive amount of enjoyable available within the technique of crafting characters to look in songs like actors in a play.
Some are totally fictitious, others are very a lot real-life folks. And that features themselves. There are loads of situations of artists casually name-checking one other band or fellow musician in a tune, often a signifier of admiration. But what about merely name-dropping your self?
Not to be confused with self-titled songs, beneath we’re having a look at 49 Name-Drop Songs that you will wish to take heed to carefully.
1. Aerosmith, “F.I.N.E.”
From: Pump (1989)
“Your daddy says I’m alright,” Steven Tyler sings in 1989’s “F.I.N.E.,” “and the Tipper thinks I’m alright and Joe Perry says I’m alright,” references to Tipper Gore, the girl answerable for the Parents Music Resource Center censorship marketing campaign at the moment, and Aerosmith’s personal guitarist, respectively. (Honorable Mention goes to 1985’s “The Hop:” “You’ll be kickin’ ass tonight with the boys in Aerosmith.”)
2. Alice Cooper, “Be My Lover”
From: Killer (1971)
The woman in Alice Cooper’s “Be My Lover” posed the query many individuals have been pondering on the time, with Cooper responding with a non-answer: “She asked me why the singer’s name was Alice / I said ‘listen baby, you really wouldn’t understand.'” (Honorable Mention for 2023’s “I’m Alice,” the place Cooper not feels any must be evasive: “I’m Alice, the master of madness, the father of fright.”)
3. Anthrax, “I’m the Man”
From: Among the Living (1987)
Anthrax reduce proper to the chase in 1987’s “I’m the Man,” introducing themselves within the very first line: “Now we’re Anthrax and we take no shit.” They additionally point out their very own drummer, Charlie Benante: “Charlie, beat the beats, the beats you beat.”
4. The B-52’s, “Dance This Mess Around”
From: The B-52’s (1979)
“Hey, so Fred, don’t that make you feel a whole lot better, huh?” Cindy Wilson asks her B-52’s bandmate Fred Schneider in 1979’s “Dance This Mess Around.” “I say, don’t that make you feel a whole lot better? / What you say? Well, I’m just askin.’“
5. The Beatles, “Glass Onion”
From: The White Album (1968)
In 1968’s “Glass Onion,” John Lennon answered the query many Beatles followers had been questioning for practically a yr: “I told you about the walrus and me, man / You know that we’re as close as can be, man / Well, here’s another clue for you all / The walrus was Paul.” (Honorable Mention for Ringo Starr’s enthusiastic shout-out to his bandmate on their 1964 cowl of “Honey Don’t:” “Ah, rock on, George, for Ringo one time!“
6. Big Star, “O My Soul”
From: Radio City (1974)
Big Star’s Radio City was not precisely a success upon its launch in 1974, however its fame developed over time. In “O My Soul,” although, the band was already ruminating on fame and fortune: “I can’t get a license to drive in my car / But I don’t really need it if I’m a big star.”
7. Billy Joel, “Piano Man”
From: Piano Man (1973)
We’re not precisely positive how many individuals, if any, confer with Billy Joel as “Bill,” however the particular person speaking to him in “Piano Man” does it. “Bill I believe this is killing me,” he says.
8. Bob Dylan, “Serve Somebody”
From: Slow Train Coming (1979)
For these unaware, Bob Dylan was born Robert Zimmerman — he legally modified it to Dylan in 1962. Close to twenty years after that, Dylan name-dropped himself in “Serve Somebody:” “You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy.”
9. Chic, “Le Freak”
From: C’est Chic (1978)
Honestly with a band identify like Chic, you merely should discover a approach to incorporate it someway right into a tune. In “Le Freak,” the title refers to a method of dance that is “c’est chic” —”it’s stylish” in French.
10. Chicago, “Take Me Back to Chicago”
From: Chicago XI (1977)
It actually simply makes all of the sense on the earth {that a} band known as Chicago from Chicago would sing about their hometown, as they did in 1977’s “Take Me Back to Chicago,” “where my life was free and easy.” Bonus factors for together with Chaka Kahn as a backing vocalist.
11. The Clash, “Clash City Rockers”
From: The Clash (1977)
The Clash even have a couple of totally different songs wherein they point out themselves. First there was “Clash City Rockers” from their 1977 debut album, adopted by “Rudie Can’t Fail” from 1979’s London Calling. And lastly, “Radio Clash,” a 1981 single.
12. David Bowie, “Teenage Wildlife”
From: Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (1980)
Some have interpreted David Bowie’s “Teenage Wildlife” as having to do with “Bowie imitators” so to talk, those that got here up behind him using related strategies. “You’ll take me aside and say ‘Well, David, what shall I do? They wait for me in the hallway,’” he sings. “I’ll say ‘Don’t ask me, I don’t know any hallways.’” But as Bowie himself as soon as put it, it was extra of a self-reflective piece. “I guess it would be addressed to a mythical teenage brother if I had one,” he stated [via The Guardian], “or maybe my latter-day adolescent self, trying to correct those things one thinks one’s done wrong.”
13. Devo, “Jocko Homo”
From: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)
“Jocko Homo” is the tune from which Devo derived the title of their 1978 launch, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! By then the band had already been taking part in the tune stay for a number of years, encouraging audiences to take part within the call-and-response bit.
READ MORE: The 40 Best Cover Songs by Rock Bands
14. Exodus, “The Toxic Waltz”
From: Fabulous Disaster (1989)
In the phrases of Steve “Zetro” Souza, Exodus’ “The Toxic Waltz” was written as one thing of a joke. “I didn’t even think that we were going to use it,” he instructed Songfacts. “If you read the lyrics, they’re kind of silly.” Those lyrics included a self-referential second: “And this exercise helps you brutalize, with us! Exodus!“
15. Guns N’ Roses, “Get in the Ring”
From: Use Your Illusion II (1991)
There’s loads happening in 1991’s “Get in the Ring” by Guns N’ Roses, who took the chance to name out a handful of music critics the band evidently deemed beneath them, Andy Secher, Mick Wall and Bob Guccione Jr. It was, as GNR apparently noticed it, a battle between the 2 sides: “And in this corner, weighin’ in at 850 pounds, Guns N’ Roses.”
16. Harry Chapin, “Taxi”
From: Heads & Tales (1972)
There’s all the time one thing terribly tender concerning the reunification of outdated flames after a long time aside, which is the premise of Harry Chapin’s “Taxi:” “She said, ‘How are you, Harry?’ I said, ‘How are you, Sue? Through the too many miles and the too little smiles I still remember you.’“
17. James Brown, “There Was a Time”
From: I Can’t Stand Myself When You Touch Me (1968)
When is comes to bop strikes, few performing musicians have been extra versatile and charismatic than James Brown. And he completely knew it. “But you can bet you haven’t seen nothing yet,” he sang in 1968’s “There Was a Time,” “Until you see me do the James Brown.”
18. Jim Croce, “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim”
From: You Don’t Mess Around With Jim (1972)
Call it a veiled risk, name it a direct warning, however no matter you do round Jim Croce, let or not it’s recognized: “You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger / And you don’t mess around with Jim.“
19. The Jimi Hendrix Experience, “Fire”
From: Are You Experienced (1967)
As the story goes, Jimi Hendrix was as soon as at his bass participant Noel Redding’s house in England following a New Year’s Eve present. His intention was to heat himself up by the fireplace however Redding’s household canine had apparently already claimed the spot, resulting in Hendrix to utter the strains: “Aw, move over, Rover, and let Jimi take over.“
20. John Lennon, “God”
From: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
John Lennon was not the one main recording artist to have a sophisticated relationship along with his previous work, however he was actually one who voiced his misgivings. The strongest instance of this was maybe his 1970 tune “God,” wherein he kind of renounces his affiliation with folks and issues that have been as soon as necessary to him, together with his outdated band: “I don’t believe in Beatles.”
21. Kid Rock, “Bawitdaba”
From: Devil Without a Cause (1998)
In case you forgot it, Kid Rock yells his identify at full quantity on his 1998 monitor “Bawitdaba:” “My name is Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid, Kid Rock!” Few different recognizable English phrases might be discovered within the tune.
22. King Crimson, “The Court of the Crimson King”
From: In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)
Yes, technically this tune name-drops the band backwards — as an alternative of “King Crimson” there are a number of references to “the crimson king,” however it’s nonetheless worthy of inclusion. “The Court of the Crimson King,” which was additionally launched as a single in 1969, was the prog group’s solely Hot 100 hit, reaching No. 80.
23. Kiss, “Calling Dr. Love”
From: Rock and Roll Over (1976)
In equity, “kiss” is a reasonably widespread phrase in rock lyrics, however when Kiss themselves make it some extent to incorporate, it is worthy of noting. You’ll discover it in 1976’s “Calling Dr. Love:” “The first step of the cure is a kiss.”
24. Kool and the Gang, “Hollywood Swinging”
From: Wild and Peaceful (1973)
Whoever the narrator is meant to be on “Hollywood Swinging,” they caught the bug to be within the music trade through Kool and the Gang: “I remember not too long ago / I went to the theater / And I saw the Kool and the Gang show.” The tune wound up a No. 6 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
25. Leonard Cohen, “Field Commander Cohen”
From: New Skin for the Old Ceremony (1974)
“Field Commander Cohen, he was our most important spy,” Leonard Cohen explains on this 1974 self-referential quantity, “Wounded in the line of duty.” Cohen would use the phrase once more 5 years later for the title of a stay album, Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979.
26. Living Colour, “What’s Your Favorite Color? (Theme Song)”
From: Vivid (1988)
It simply is smart to incorporate a band theme tune in your debut album, no? Living Colour’s, titled “What’s Your Favorite Color? (Theme Song),” appeared on 1988’s Vivid. Their apparent reply: Living Colour.
27. The Mamas and the Papas, “Creeque Alley”
From: The Mamas and the Papas Deliver (1967)
The Mamas and the Papas’ “Creeque Alley” is an autobiographical tune, playfully recounting the assorted journeys of the respective band members. “John and Mitchy were gettin’ kind of itchy / Just to leave the folk music behind,” the primary few strains go, referring to John and Michelle Phillips. And later: “When Cass was a sophomore, planned to go to Swarthmore / But she changed her mind one day.”
28. Manfred Mann, “The One in the Middle”
From: Manfred Mann (1965) (EP)
Interestingly, Paul Jones of Manfred Mann wrote “The One in the Middle” for the Yardbirds. He’d attended one among their gigs the place he observed a lot of the males within the viewers gave the impression to be there for Eric Clapton, whereas the women favored Keith Relf. But when he provided the tune to them, Relf swiftly declined. “He said: ‘I’m not singing that, that’s embarrassing,'” Jones instructed The Guardian in 2021. So he saved it for his personal band and easily modified the names to his bandmates’ in Manfred Mann.
29. Megadeth, “Set the World Afire”
From: So Far, So Good… So What! (1988)
Literally on his approach house from being kicked out of Metallica, Dave Mustaine discovered himself studying a politcal pamphlet by the California Senator Alan Cranston which learn, partially, “The arsenal of megadeath can’t be rid no matter what the peace treaties come to.” Initially, Mustaine needed to make use of the phrase because the title of a tune, however it ended up the identify of his new band. The tune Mustaine wrote was re-titled to “Set the World Afire,” however it saved the identical line: “The arsenal of Megadeth can’t be rid of they said.”
30. Metallica, “Whiplash”
From: Kill ‘Em All (1983)
From the very starting of their profession, Metallica made it clear that they have been going to be round for an excellent time and a very long time. “Hotel rooms and motorways, life out here is raw,” James Hetfield sang on 1983’s “Whiplash,” the primary single from the band’s debut album, “But we’ll never stop, we’ll never quit, ’cause we’re Metallica.”
31. Mother Love Bone, “Capricorn Sister”
From: Apple (1990)
Mother Love Bone launched just one studio album, 1990’s Apple, however it made its mark. Their identify seems on the latter half of the album in a tune known as “Capricorn Sister:” “Motherlovebone / mama papa talkin’ to me.“
32. Motley Crue, “Bad Boy Boogie”
From: Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
Don’t say Motley Crue did not warn you on 1987’s “Bad Boy Boogie.” They made their intentions completely clear: “Better lock up your daughter / When the Motleys hit the road.”
33. Morrissey, “Ouija Board, Ouija Board”
From: 1989 Single
For people who aren’t conscious — and there is doubtless many — Morrissey’s first and authorized identify is Steven, which he talked about in his 1989 single “Ouija Board, Ouija Board.” In truth, he actually spells it out: “S.T.E.V.E.N.”
34. Nirvana, “Paper Cuts”
From: Bleach (1989)
It’s nearly exhausting to inform what Kurt Cobain is half-singing, half-moaning in between verses on “Paper Cuts,” however pay attention carefully and you will discover it is his personal band identify time and again.
35. Pearl Jam, “Dirty Frank”
From: Ten (1991)
A month earlier than Pearl Jam launched their debut album in August of 1991, the notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was lastly arrested. He would wind up pleading responsible however insane to fifteen counts of homicide, in addition to confess to consuming the physique elements of a number of of his victims. Pearl Jam’s “Dirty Frank” shouldn’t be technically about Dahmer — its title is definitely a reference to their bus driver, whom they have been leery of and known as “Dirty Frank” — however the lyrics contain a terrible lot of cannibalistic references, and one which name-checks their very own guitarist: “Where’s Mike McCready? My god he’s been ate!“
36. Pink Floyd, “Have a Cigar”
From: Wish You Were Here (1975)
“There were an awful lot of people who thought Pink Floyd was the name of the lead singer and that was Pink himself and the band,” David Gilmour recalled in 1992. That confusion prompted the lyric: “The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think / Oh, by the way, which one’s Pink?“
37. Prince, “My Name Is Prince”
From: Love Symbol (1992)
“My name is Prince and I am funky / My name is Prince, the one and only.” Need he say extra?
38. Queen, “Killer Queen”
From: Sheer Heart Attack (1974)
According to Freddie Mercury, “Killer Queen” was written a few high-class name woman, one which drinks Moet et Chandon and wears Parisian fragrance. Several years after that monitor, Queen name-checked themselves once more on “I Go Crazy,” which was initially supposed for the Hot Space album, however did not make the ultimate reduce: “I don’t want to go and see Queen no more.”
39. Randy Newman, “My Life Is Good”
From: Trouble in Paradise (1983)
There’s not too many songs on the market that contain a dialogue with Bruce Springsteen, however Randy Newman’s “My Life Is Good” is one among them: “He said, ‘Rand, I’m tired. How would you like to be the Boss for awhile?’“
40. Robert Cray, “Nothin’ But a Woman”
From: Strong Persuader (1986)
There’s all the time one thing type of humorous about an artist referring to youthful variations of themselves within the third particular person, like Robert Cray did in 1986’s “Nothin’ But a Woman,” which notes that “young Bob” does not require “drugs, whiskey, or greed.” All he wants is “nothin’ but a woman.“
41. Sammy Hagar, “Sam I Am”
From: This Is Sammy Hagar: When the Party Started Vol. 1 (2016)
When Dr. Suess penned the road “Sam I am” for his 1960 youngsters’s e-book Green Eggs and Ham, there isn’t any approach he may have imagined that Sammy Hagar would use it for himself a long time later. “I ain’t no Superman,” Hagar sings, “but Sam I am.“
42. Scorpions, “Lovedrive”
From: Lovedrive (1979)
“I’d like to show why Scorpions got a sting,” Klaus Meine sings on “Lovedrive” from the band’s breakthrough album of the identical identify. It’s not totally clear whether or not that is a risk or a promise of an excellent time. It is also each.
43. Skid Row, “Youth Gone Wild”
From: Skid Row (1989)
Naming their debut album after themselves was not fairly sufficient for Skid Row. They dropped it once more in “Youth Gone Wild,” their debut single: “I said, ‘Hey man, there’s something you ought to know / Well, I’ll tell you Park Avenue leads to Skid Row.’“
44. Steely Dan, “Show Biz Kids”
From: Countdown to Ecstasy (1973)
Steely Dan’s “Show Biz Kids” is meant to be a satirical tackle leisure tradition, however you must admit, you already know you have made it within the music enterprise when there’s an entire bunch of individuals on the market sporting shirts along with your band identify on them: “They got the shapely bodies / They got the Steely Dan t-shirt.“
45. Stray Cats, “Stray Cat Strut”
From: Stray Cats (1981)
“Stray Cat Strut” is, in fact, not a precise name-drop, however it’s awfully shut, and it is exhausting not to think about it as kind of the band’s personal anthem. It wound up going to No. 11 within the U.Ok. and No. 3 within the U.S., and its music video was proven usually on MTV.
46. The Supremes, “Back in My Arms Again
From: More hits by the Supremes (1965)
Diana Ross took lead vocals on the Supremes’ “Back in My Arms Again,” in which she attempts to reconcile with a broken heart. Her friends, aka bandmates Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard, are of no help: “How can Mary inform me what to do / When she misplaced her love so true? / And Flo, she do not know / ‘Cause the boy she loves is a Romeo.“
47. Sweet, “Ballroom Blitz”
From: Desolation Boulevard (1974) (U.S. Version Only)
Any song that starts off with one member of the band asking the others if they’re ready to go is inevitably memorable, as in the case of Sweet’s big hit, “Ballroom Blitz:” “Are you prepared Steve? Uh-huh / Andy? Yeah / Mick? Okay / Alright fellas, let’s go!“
48. T. Rex, “Main Man(*49*)Bolan likes to rock now / Yes he does, sure he does.” Good thing, because Marc Bolan’s The Slider was a big hit on both sides of the Atlantic.
49. The White Stripes, “Well It’s True That We Love One Another”
From: Elephant (2003)
The second line in the White Stripes’ “Well It’s True That We Love One Another” — “I really like Jack White like a bit brother” — is particularly notable given that early in their career the duo claimed to be siblings, not romantic partners. Meg White’s name is also dropped in throughout the song.
20 Bands That Reunited With All of Their Original Members
It’s cool to see a band reunite with all of its original members, so we came up with 20 examples of that happening. Of course, that doesn’t mean they necessarily stayed together with all original members after. So, here, we show how long they were together — both originally and on their comeback(s).
Gallery Credit: Philip Trapp
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