Songs that reference other songs

Not samples. Not covers. Somewhere in between.

Others?

Comments

Steven Garrity's picture
Steven Garrity on November 13, 2020 - 22:07 Permalink

The Authority Song by Jimmy Eat World references Authority Song by John Cougar Mellencamp

Oliver (FS)'s picture
Oliver (FS) on November 14, 2020 - 03:22 Permalink

American Pie cryptically references a bunch, e.g. Helter Skelter and Jumpin' Jack Flash

Oliver (FS)'s picture
Oliver (FS) on November 14, 2020 - 03:25 Permalink

Stevie Wonder's "Master Blaster" references and is essentially an all out ode to Bob Marley's "Jamming"

Oliver (FS)'s picture
Oliver (FS) on November 14, 2020 - 03:26 Permalink

"Back in the USSR" references "Georgia (on my mind)"

Andrew MacPherson's picture
Andrew MacPherson on November 14, 2020 - 10:11 Permalink

Ok this is my jam, here's a start:

“Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Snynird references Neil Young’s “Southern Man”
“Crabbuckit” by K-OS references “Ahead By a Century” by the Tragically Hip
“Fight the Power” by Public Enemy both references and samples heavily from “Funky Drummer” by James Brown
“Mr. Jones” by The Counting Crows references Bob Dylan’s “Ballad of a Thin Man”
“Nappy Heads” by The Fugees references “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
“God Part 2” by U2 is a reference to and a sequel of “God” by John Lennon
“The Lines You Amend” by Sloan references “Photographs” by Ringo Starr
“American Pie” by Don McLean is partly about the death of Buddy Holly but also directly references among others “Eight Miles High” by The Byrds and Sergeant Pepper by The Beatles.
“When Smokey Sings” by ABC was a hit at the same time as “Just to See Her” by Smokey Robinson and so they always remind me of each other
“Money Road” by Rosanne Cash references the Tallahatchie Bridge which can only make you think of “Ode to Billie Joe” by Bobbie Gentry
“Only Want to Be With You” by Hootie and the Blowfish borrows lyrics from Bob Dylan’s “The Idiot Wind” and name drops “Tangled Up in Blue”
“Lisdonvarna” is a fun song by Irish folksinger Christy Moore that references by name “Lady in Red” by Chris de Burgh “Harry’s Game” by Clannad and teasingly mocks other famous Irish artists like Van Morrison and U2
“Joshua Tree” by Tom Russell is a tribute to Gram Parsons and reference a number of his songs in the lyrics

Oliver (BS)'s picture
Oliver (BS) on November 14, 2020 - 13:56 Permalink

Godspeed

Ian Petrie's picture
Ian Petrie on November 15, 2020 - 09:04 Permalink

Would like to contribute, but after Oliver and Andrew I'm way out of my depth. Well done you two. I'll need a decade to catch up.

Michelle's picture
Michelle on November 15, 2020 - 17:58 Permalink

“All Summer Long” by Kid Rock references “Sweet Home Alabama”
“Wasted Time” by Keith Urban references “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns and Roses
“The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars references “Teach Me How To Dougie” by California Swag District

Juliane's picture
Juliane on November 16, 2020 - 11:30 Permalink

Queen's "Bicycle Race" has a line saying that "fat bottomed girls will be riding today". Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls" has a line: "get on your bikes and ride".

Oliver Rukavina's picture
Oliver Rukavina on November 18, 2020 - 09:50 Permalink

"Fairytale of New York" mentions "Galway Bay"

Andrew MacPherson's picture
Andrew MacPherson on November 21, 2020 - 10:49 Permalink

"Gimme Sympathy" by Metric references both The Rolling Stones and The Beatles but specifically names "Here Comes the Sun"

JeremyCherfas's picture
JeremyCherfas on December 3, 2020 - 11:45 Permalink

Fun. And glad to know I have one that has not been shared yet.

Plastic Silver 9-volt Heart by The Iguanas references I'll Take You There by The Staples Singers, and both songs are in my Top 10.

James Mulcaster's picture
James Mulcaster on July 28, 2021 - 22:51 Permalink

Eric Carmen's "Make Me Lose Control" has the lyric "Jennifer's singing 'Stand By Me', and she knows every single word by heart."
Bon Jovi's "It's My Life" has the lyric "Like Frankie said, 'I did it my way'."