I've remembered one by Don Henley. It's in his song, "Johnny Can't Read". If you listen carefully, at the end of the song he sings, "There's a new kid in town." I'm not sure, but I think it's a reference to some band he used to be in.
.Perhaps we should limit this to songs that refer to songs by other artsts, or else we'll be overflowing, but let's see what happens.
"Southern Man" is referred to in Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama"
"Mary" by Tori Amos ("Like Jimi says, even the wind cries your name.")
What's that ELO song about their love fading out like the Beatles in "Hey Jude"?
"Love me Do" is mentioned in Bad Company's "Shooting Star". And their "Run with the Pack" evokes "You Never Give Me your Money."
Songs by realted artists:
Godley & Creme's "Freezeframe" makes mention of "Neanderthal Man." ("Going down like 'Neanderthal Man' on the chart") ("Neanderthal Man" was the name of a small hit by Hotlegs, which later became 10cc, which spun off Godley & Creme.)
McCartney's "Yesterday" and "Another Day" are mentioned, viciously, in Lennon's "How Do You Sleep" (as was Sgt. Pepper, though that was pretty clearly the album, not the song.)
"The Dark," a lullaby by Brian May, contains the line "We will rock you."
Sting's "Love is the 7th Wave" parodies his "Every Breath you Take."
What else can you name?
"Shangri-La" is the name of the E.L.O. song you mentioned. "My Shangri-La has gone away/Faded like The Beatles on 'Hey Jude'."
There's Randy Newman's "The Story of a Rock and Roll Band" which mentions E.L.O.'s "Mr. Blue Sky" and "Telephone Line". The song is actually about The Electric Light Orchestra.
The Beatles' "Glass Onion" references "Strawberry Fields", "I Am the Walrus" and "Fool On the Hill".
George Harrison's "All Those Years Ago" makes an oblique reference to John Lennon's "Imagine": "You were the one who imagined it all."
The Rutles' "Double Back Alley" swipes two lines from "Rocky Raccoon": "Stinking of gin/In Double Back Alley/Grinning a grin/In Double Back Alley".
The Beatles' "Glass Onion" references "Strawberry Fields", "I Am the Walrus" and "Fool On the Hill".
And "Lady Madonna" and "Fixing a Hole." And from the same album, "Savoy Truffle" makes mention of "Obla dee bla da." And of course, there's the "She loves you Yeah yeah yeah" in "All you Need is Love." And "Lucy in the Sky" also appears in "I am the Walrus." "Golden Slumbers" reprises "You Never Give me your Money."
Queen's "Bicycle Race" refers to "Fat Bottomed Girls." The two songs were a double A-side. Also, their "Lily of the Valley" updates the events of "Seven Seas of Rhye" from the previous album.
I was going to mention the Rutles, but then you'd have to cite just about every song they did. :-)
Ringo, "I am the Greatest" mentions "Billy Shears" from "Sgt. Pepper/With a Little Help from my Friends."
McCartney's "Helen Wheels" brings back "Band on the Run"'s Sailor Sam from Burmingham. "Picasso's Last Word" echoes both "Jet" and "Mrs. Vandebilt."
The Beatles sure have a lot.
One more. Ringo also refers to "Devil Woman" as "Savoy Truffle."
This was one of those "Quiz" questions ...
Chicago Transit Authority sings a line from I am the Walrus in the song South California Purples.
Tom Petty refers to this song in the tune Runnin’ Down a Dream
The trees went by, Me and Dell were singing
“Little Runaway”, I was flying
Steve Miller's "The Joker" mentions "Space Cowboy", which mentions "Livin' In The USA"
"The Joker" also mentions "Gangster of Love"
Quote:Some people call me the Space Cowboy,
Some call me the Gangster of Love.
And some people call me Maurice (guitar do-wop)
Because I speak of of the properties of love...
A couple more I thought of; "Let's Go All the Way" - Sly Fox. At one point, the song has a line "The California Dreamers/Are living in Disney Land", which may not be a reference to the Mama's and the Papa's song, but an earlier line, "Working in a factory/Eight days a week" is undoubtedly a reference to a certain Beatles' song.
Charlie Daniels' "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" mentions "Fire On the Mountain" and "(Devil's In the) House of the Rising Sun".
Then there's The Deads Milkmen's classic, "Punk Rock Girl". "Someone played the Beach Boys on the jukebox/It was 'California Dreamin'/And so we started screamin'/On such a winter's day". At first, you might think that contains a nit. The Mama's and The Papa's did "California Dreamin'". True, but finally, in the mid-Eighties, The Beach Boys got around to doing a cover of it. A horrible cover at that.
Union Uderground has a song called "Revolution Man" which seems to be about John Lennon. There's a line in it, "Imagine all the people".
Now for some variants. Songs that musically quote other songs.
Blue Oyster Cult's "The Marshall Plan" has a little bit of Deep Purple's "Smoke On the Water" in it. The Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Punk Rock Classic" ends with the opening bars of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine". And Metallica's "Bread Fan" ends with the opening to Iron Maiden's "Run to the Hills". Then there's "Don't Call Us" by Sugarloaf which a few bars of The Beatles' "I Feel Fine" in it.
This song by The Oak Ridge Boys contains a mention of another song (albeit probably an imaginary one) ...
The song is The Ya'll Come Back Saloon
She played tamborine with a silver jingle
And she must have known the words to at least a million tunes
But the one most requested by the man she knew as "Cowboy"
Was the "Late Night Benediction" at the Ya'll Come Back Saloon
Some songs from the Travis album "The Man Who" refer to songs by other artists. For instance, "Writing to Reach You" has a (presumably cynical) reference to Oasis's "Wonderwall".
This Willie Nelson song is specifically named, but a few other artists and their "style" of music is also sited in the Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson hit Luckenbach, Texas ...
Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
Willie and Waylon and the boys
This successful life we're livin' has got us
Feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys
Between the Hank Williams pain songs
And Jerry Jeff's train songs
And Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain
Out in Luckenbach, Texas
Ain't nobody feelin' no pain
"That's the it began
We were hand in hand.
Glenn Miller's band
Was better than before.
We yelled and screamed for more.
And those Porter tunes
(`Night and Day')
Made us dance across the room.
It ended all too soon."
The Little River Band, "Reminiscing". The Porter refered to is of course, Cole Porter.
Oasis' Wonderwall is a reference to an early George Harrison album, Wonderwall Music.
Oh, ELO's "Rock and Roll Is King" has the line "She rolled over Beethoven/And Tchaikovsky back." An allusion to a Chuck Berry classic the band had covered earlier in their career. I always figured "Rock and Roll Is King" was the sequel to their song, "Rockaria!".
"Do you remember a guy who was
From such an older song?
I got a rumour from Ground Control.
Oh no. Don't say it's true.
They got a message from the Action Man.
'I'm happy.
Hope you're happy, too.'
Loved when I needed love.
Sordid details following.
"Ashes to ashes
Funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie.
Strung out in Heavens high.
Hitting an all time low."
"Ashes to Ashes" - David Bowie
I suppose this is more a sequel, than a song about songs type of thing.
"Coming Home" by Peter Schilling mentions Major Tom, IIRC. Haven't heard the song in years, though.
I thought of that one today, as a matter of fact. I heard it not too long ago. I think on VH-1's Pop Up Video. Peter Schilling claims to have never heard Bowie's "Space Oddity", yet "Major Tom (Coming Home)" is lyrically a rip-off the Thin White Duke's song.
I thought of this one today at work. I'm almost too embarrassed to mention it. Not because of the song or band per se, but because of what song it mentions. The group is Pearl Jam, and the song is "Animals". At the end of the song you can hear Eddie Vedder sing "Ben the two of us need look no more."
I HATE that song! If I ever have a girlfriend sing that to me, the relationship may be over.
Benn, would that mean that "My Baby's in love with Eddie Vedder"?
Lol! If so, I'd have to find someone else.
Van Morrison's Jackie Wilson Said mentions Jackie Wilson's Reet Petite.
Both are excellent songs.
I can't recall who sang or wrote the tune, but this chorus of an oldies song calls up images of dozens of tunes, though it doesn't directly name ANY:
Who put the Bomp in the Bomp-bah-bomp-bah-bomp?
Who put the Ram in the Rama-lama-ding-dong?
Who put the Bop in the Bop-shoo-bop-shoo-bop?
Who put the Dip in the Dip-dah-dip-dah-dip?
Sweet Vine's tribute to Jim Croce, "Up To You", contains the titles of at least a dozen (that I can spot) titles of Croce's songs in the lyrics.
Other tributes that mention other songs:
"Grant Hart" by the Posies, a fitting tribute with appropriate noise levels and numerous Huskers references.
"God's Empty Chair" by Iain Matthews, a touching tribute to Miles Davis ("it's just me, and I'm kind of blue")
The lead singer of The Posies is coming to Dallas this next month.
Here's a nice pair from Stevie Nicks (and I don't mean what's under her shirt.):
The song "Nightbird" ends with her singing "Just like the white wing dove." An obvious reference to "Edge of Seventeen". Conversely, the live version of "Edge of Seventeen" found on the Enchanted box set ends with her singing "I hear the call/Of a nightbird", a line from "Nightbird".
"I hear the call of a nightbird" is not a line from the song, "Nightbird". Still, I suspect it is a reference to the song.
I've remembered one by Don Henley. It's in his song, "Johnny Can't Read". If you listen carefully, at the end of the song he sings, "There's a new kid in town." I'm not sure, but I think it's a reference to some band he used to be in. .
Gee ... I wonder what band THAT might be? ... (scratch-scratch)
Cheap Trick's cover of "Magical Mystery Tour" has a few samples from the Beatles' "I am the Walrus" burried in it.
Yeah, I remember that. I prefer Cheap Trick's version of "Day Tripper", though.
In the Who's version of "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)", Pete Townshend sings a bit of "Take Me to the Pilot."
The Who did a version of "SNA(FF}"?! Which album is it on?
I've only heard Cheap Trick's version of "Day Tripper" once, and that was a looong time ago, so I can't comment. Their version of "Magical Mystery Tour" is awesome, though.
Question, for those brave enough, or smart enough, to tackle it (and I don't know myself):
Are there any solo songs by an artist that specifically mention the name of a band he or she is, or was, in? Or any songs by a band that mention another band that a member was in both of?
Lennon's "God" where he doesn't believe in Beatles.
(Brian May also did a version of "God" in concert, saying he doesn't believe in Queen, but this has never been officially released.)
Ringo's "Early 1970" doesn't actually mention the group's name, but it does have a verse about each of his former bandmates. His "I'm the Greatest" (penned by Lennon) also alludes to the group.
"The Who did a version of "SNA(FF}"?! Which album is it on?" - BF
Originally, it was on the Two Rooms tribute album (a tribute to Elton John and his long time lyricist, Bernie Taupin), it can also be found on The Who's Maximum R&B box set.
Albert Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult has a new band, The Brain Surgeons. The name appears to be taken from the B.O.C. song, "Career of Evil". Specifically the lines "Pay me, I'll be your surgeon/I'd like to pick your brains." Albert co-wrote the song with Patti Smith.
"Devil with the Blue Dress" has a section that goes "Good Golly Miss Molly".
Also, along the same lines, "Get Ready" has a "fe fe fi fi fo fo fum...", and so does "Devil with the Blue Dress"
Led Zeppelin's "How Many More Times" contains a section of the blues standard "The Hunter".
Nektar's "New Day Dawning" contains the chorus from the Beatles' "Norweigan Wood".
Shortly after The Beatles' breakup, Rolling Stones publisher, Jann Wenner conducted an interview with John Lennon. The interview was, shall we say, "caustic". National Lampoon was inspired by the interview to pull quotes from it and create a song out of it; "Magical Misery Tour". (It's on their Radio Dinner album. Overall, the song's pretty off-colored. In just the first verse, the "f" word is used in some variation six times. Despite that, the song is hilarious. Particularly the lines about Paul and George. Unfortunately I can't even quote that here, either.
Anyway, near the end of the track, the tune mentions Lennon's "Don't Worry Kyoto".
(Lot of words for a whole lot of nothing,wasn't it?)
If I'm not mistakened, "Devil In a Blue Dress" is actually a medley with "Good Golly Miss Molly".
I don't know about being mistakened, but you're probably not mistaken. 
Over on the Nitcentral Kitchen Sink Board, there's a thread asking if NC is being dumbed down. At one point, a post with grammatical errors was made. Somebody pointed out that there was a time when several people would've posted a correction to those errors. Now, the poster said, it was accepted. Maybe. But it seems like any time, I make such an error, it's a near certainty that I'll be corrected.
Not that I'm complaining, mind you. Just making an observation. 'Sides, no harm done. The corrections are helpful. Thanks, Scott! (I really have wondered which was correct.)
But it seems like any time, I make such an error, it's a near certainty that I'll be corrected.
It's just you, Benn 
I dunno, I feel kinda flattered in a way. Like I'm being held to a higher standard.
I've forgotten to mention this Joe Jackson song, "Nineteen Forever". The verse in question is kind of a diss against The Who. The verse is "Wouldn't it be a drag to be like them?/They're gonna sell out everything./But I won't get fooled again!"
On The Wall, Pink Floyd has a song called "Vera Lynn". The lyrics are in part, "Does anybody hear remember Vera Lynn?/Remember how she said we would meet again/Some sunny day." "We Will Meet Again" is the name of a Vera Lynn song. It can be heard at the end of the movie Dr. Strangelove.
"We'll meet again
Don't know where, don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day."
I think you could hear the song in a few more places than Dr Strangelove, dearie. Doesn't anybody remember the war?!
Which war, Grandma?
Not that I've ever listened to an Eminem lyric in my life (and don't intend to start now) but apparently, on his latest album, he makes reference to a couple music urban legends: Phil Collin's In the Air Tonight as a revenge song and Lauryn Hill's (fictitious) statement that 'I'd rather see my kids starve than white people buy my albums.'
The Barenaked Ladies' Brian Wilson is of course an extended tribute to the Beach Boys legend:
And if you wanna find me, I'll be
Out in the sandbox
Just wond'rin' where the h** all the
Love has gone...
Playin' my guitar and buildin' castles in the sun, whoa-oh-a-oh,
And singin' 'Fun, Fun, Fun'...
(BTW, it occurs to me that my posts to this board so far have been a bit BNL-centric. My Canadian-ness coming out I guess. Just be grateful I'm not a Loverboy devotee, eh? )
Hey nothing wrong with Canada. They gave us Neil Young, didn't they?
I just pulled out my copy of Living Colour's Vivid CD. I've forgotten that on the song "Cult of Personality" they sing "I tell you that one and one and one make three", a reference of course to The Beatles' "Come Together".
Incidentally, the Living Colour song has two classic misheard lyrics. When they sing "Cult of Personality", it sounds like they're saying "Coked up Personality". At the song's end, they sing "I need a Cult of/I need a Cult of..." it sounds like they say "I need a cough drop/I need a cough drop..."
Blame Canada!
Van Morrison's Jackie Wilson Said mentions Jackie Wilson's Reet Petite.
Dexy's Midnight Runners did a version of Jackie Wilson Said, famous for its performance on "Top of the Pops" where (it was actually later revealed to be an elaborate wind-up) some poor technician had put in the background a picture of darts ace JOCKEY Wilson. Oh how we laughed.
Oh, and I think Don McLean's American Pie must be mentioned for its many references.
"That'll Be the Day" - Buddy Holly (the lyrics slightly twisted?)
"Helter Skelter"- The Beatles (was John Lennon mentioned directly in this song?)
"Eight Miles High" - The Byrds (were the band also mentioned directly in the song?)
"Jumping Jack Flash" - Rolling Stones
Any others one can pick out from that epic song?
"While Lenin/Lennon read a book of Marx" (Groucho?)
Also,
"The Book of Love" by The Monotones
"A White Sport Coat (and a Pink Carnation)" by Marty Robbins (this one might be a bit of a reach)
Sorry, Benn, it's V.I. Lenin and Karl Marx.
"While Lenin read a book of Marx
The quartet kept practice in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died."
Given the full verse, and that the theme of the song is music, I think the pun is fully intended.
"Helter Skelter in a summer swelter
The birds (The Byrds) flew off with the fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast."
This is the verse that refers to the Byrds. "Eight Miles High" was one of their hits.
Was the line "Fire is the devil's only friend" referring to the Arthur Brown one-hit-wonder "Fire"?
Here's website that offers various interpretations of "American Pie". Some are way out there. They say that the line you quote, Sven, could be a reference to the song, "Friend of the Devil" by The Grateful Dead. The only one who knows for sure is Don McLean. And he refuses to talk.
http://www.rareexception.com/Garden/Pie.asp
Some other cites. The first has some of Don's own comments about the tune.
http://www.don-mclean.com/i/analysis.asp
http://www.freshmenclass.com/americanpie/
http://webpub.alleg.edu/student/c/carsonm/index.htm
And for something totally off the wall:
http://www.roytaylorministries.com/
This song has been talked about to death, but as I'm going to be teaching it next semester, I might as well chime in.
Obviously, the song refers to other songs and other famous rock players. However, I think a lot of people are finding references that aren't there. I mean, really, Sven: can't the song use the word "fire" without having to be a reference to some one-hit-wonder? And why would that song be Jagger's only friend? Likewise, can't McLean write about a girl who sings the blues because it rhymes with "happy news" rather than having to be about Janis Joplin? I haven't looked at the sites Benn mentioned only because I've looked at other ones recently, maybe the same ones even. A few of the ones I've seen try to make a case that "If the Bib;e tells you so" is a reference to some obscure song from the 50s. Honestly, this is worse than some of the stretches involving the Beatles' "Free as a Bird" video.
That said, however, I'm 100% convinced that whenever he used the word "the", he's predicting the future of rock in "The The." He was a prophet, man.
The The? Matt Johnson's band, eh? Anyone else think his song "Armegeddon Days Are Here Again" is appropriate these days?
This is the third attempt I've made composing a response to you Steven. I know what I want to say. I just keep tripping myself up with how to say it.
I think it's pretty much agreed that "American Pie" is McLean's elegy to the end of what he considers to be the era of Rock and Roll. I also think it's pretty well accepted that the song's lyrics are a code or allegory for specific people and events. What's is open to debate is just exactly what is the code. Who is who? McLean has pretty much kept silent on the matter. (I think he has asserted that no one would believe him if he told us.) That being the case, to me, it's almost open season on how you interpret "American Pie".
Not entirely though. Again, I think each symbol has a particular meaning. I don't think "I met a girl who sang the blues/And I asked her for some happy news" was written for the rhyme. (If we were talking about Bob Dylan, that'd be a whole other matter. Dylan, I think, often did structure his lyrics for the rhymes.) In lieu of knowing of knowing exactly whom it was that McLean had in mind for "the girl who sang the blues", I think Janis Joplin is as good an interpretation as any. On the other hand, the girl could be a complete nobody that Don knew. (On the other hand, McLean's assertion that nobody would believe him if he said what it's about, could mean that the song really is utter nonsense. He was just looking for the rhyme. Which means that all the analysis put into the song has had Don laughing all the way to the bank. Quite literally.)
But that's part of what has made "American Pie" an enduring classic. The best songs are opened to individual interpretations. Take Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven". Robert Plant, who wrote the lyrics, has admitted that the song has taken on different meanings throughout its life. What makes it an enduring classic is that each listener can take from it what they wish. I'm sure there's a lot of people who love "American Pie", not knowing it's supposed to be about the death of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens or the Big Bopper.
No, I agree that the girl who sang the blues could be Joplin. Heck, if it's anyone, it's Joplin. Yet like you said, it could just be a nobody, and I'm sitting on a fence as to which interpretation to acceot. But all the analyses I've seen assume that every single line is a symbol to some rock song or rock star and tend, in my opinion, to overanalyze the song. You're quite correct, however, that it's their right to do so.
And true, I, for one, enjoyed the song for several years before knowing it was about the plane crash.
Some non-"American Pie"-related ones:
Barenaked Ladies' "Tonight is the Night I Fell Asleep at the Wheel" has a line that mentiones "Slow Motion Walter, the fire engine guy," which is a reference to "Smoke on the Water," as the line "Smoke on the water, fire in the sky" can be heard as "Slow Motion Walter, etc."
John Fogerty's "Centerfield" has "roundin' third/and headin' for home/it's a brown-eyed handsome man..." "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man" was a song by Buddy Holly that Paul McCartney covered on his Run Devil Run album.
Finally, BNL's "Be My Yoko Ono" has "barenaked as two virgins," a reference to the controversial cover of John and Yoko's Two Virgins album, where they posed nude (yikes!).
Uh, Buddy Holly's version of "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man" is a cover version. The original version was recorded by the song's author, Mr. Charles Edward Berry. Chuck Berry, that is.
I don't know if this one has been mentioned, but:
"I am the Walrus"--"So you can fly/like Lucy in the sky"
I like this game.
The line is "See how they fly like Lucy in the sky/See how they run."
I like this game.
And "Lady Madonna" quotes that "See how they run" line. I've never been convinced that it was intentional, though somp people are.
I like this game.
Somebody mentioned Oasis's mention of "Wonderwall". It seems Noel and Liam Gallagher also like this game - a little too much... Their songs "refer" to other songs a lot.
And speaking of "Lady Madonna" AND Blondie's "Atomic" - the nursery rhyme "Three Blind Mice", anyone?
Oops. I knew it was either Berry or Holly, so I went with my gut. Obviously, bad move.
It doesn't make any particular reference but here's the funniest Barenaked Ladies song-about-other-songs of all, Box Set (from which comes the title of their newest CD, Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits):
I never thought that you would love me
The way that you do.
I never thought that you would love me
Half as much as I do.
You say you wanna know everything about me
Well here you go,
You say you couldn't live your life without me
I don't know.
But if you want it girl, you've got it;
It's all right here
In my box set.
I never thought that words like 'product' could ever leave my lips,
but something's happened to me somewhere that made me lose my grip.
Maybe it's a lack of inspiration that makes me stoop,
or maybe it's a lack of remuneration; I can't recoup.
But if you want it folks, you got it;
It's all right here
In my box set.
Disc One
It's where we've begun
I's all my greatest hits
And if you are a fan then you know that you've already got 'em.
Disc Two
It was all brand new
A album's worth of songs
But then we had to leave the whole disc blank 'cause some other label bought 'em.
Disc Three
Well, this is really me
In a grade school play;
I had about a hundred thousand lines but of course I forgot 'em.
I never thought there'd be days like this
There was always someone at my door.
I never thought I would ever miss
The crowds would always holler for more.
But now it seems all that people want
Is what I used to be,
And every time I try to do something new,
All they want is 1973.
I never thought I'd be regretful
Of all my past success
but some stu pid number one hit single
Has got me in this mess.
You can put it on every compilation - that's alright.
You can hear it on the oldies radio station every night.
And if you want it again, you got it -
It's all right here
In my box set.
Disc Four
Never released before
And you can tell why -
it's just some demos I recorded in my basement.
Disc Five
I was barely alive
I was hacking up one lung,
And so they had to use a special computer as my replacement.
Disc Six
A dance remix
To catch the latest trend
And it'll make you scratch your head and wonder
where my taste went.
So now my fans are crying sellout,
they say I've lost my touch.
They say I should just get the hell out
Before I do too much.
Hear my songs in an ad for a bathroom cleanser -
they say it's greed,
And now I'm wondering where my friends are in this time of need.
But if you change your mind and buy,
I hope you enjoy
My new box
I hope you enjoy
My new box
I hope you enjoy...my new box set.
>>And speaking of "Lady Madonna" AND Blondie's "Atomic" - the nursery rhyme "Three Blind Mice", anyone?<<
Three Blind Mice was a staple of the Three Stooges opening credits tune for YEARS beginning in about 1940 ...
Hey Moe! ... woob-woob-woob-woob-woob!!
Lennon very often made use of the Three Blind MIce motif (although I don't hear it in Lady M, which Lennon probably didn't have a hand in at all).
He used it in "All You Need is Love" (the "Love Love Love"s), "My Mummy's Dead" "Oh Yoko" and a few others.
In his song, "Lost In America", Alice Cooper sings "Well, I live at the 7-11/Well, I'm trying to play this guitar/Well, I'm learning 'Stairway to Heaven.'"
The lyrics "Love doesn't mean what it says at all/And my destiny says that I'm destined to fall" were used by Stevie Nicks in two separate songs. The first time was in the song "Enchanted". The second time she used them was in the song "Destiny". Both are solo songs.
Lennon very often made use of the Three Blind MIce motif (although I don't hear it in Lady M, which Lennon probably didn't have a hand in at all).
goog, have another listen to the end of each verse:
Friday night your stockings needed mending -
See how they run...
Etc, etc. It's a pretty cute way to get Lady M's frantic lifestyle across, I think.
However, "Lady Madonna" was Paul's song, not John's.
"Splish Splash" refers to "Good Golly Miss Molly".
Yes, but the "three blind mice" is based on the first three notes of the major scale, descending. E-D-C or Mi-Re-Do. The "see how they run" bit is based, rather, on the 5th, 4th and 2nd degrees: a completely different ratio.
Out of curiosity, Do English children know "Three Blind Nice"? I think this is an American tune. (Not refering to a Paul Simon song.)
A ha! Before anyone jumps on me for being anal or anything like that, I just looked at the words for "Three Blind Mice." I had only known the tune, not the lyrics, so I had never made the connection. Sorry to have appeared so obstinate.
Ahhhh...I see - you were thinking music, I was thinking lyrics. Sorry 'bout that, goog.
Weighing in on the American Pie question: Awhile back Cecil Adams (of the Straight Dope trivia column) took a stab at unravelling the song's references. He quoted a few published sources, including Casey Kasem, who said McLean had confirmed the Joplin, Dylan and Holly bits, among others.
That got Cecil a response from McLean himself...in which he denied ever speaking with Kasem and refused once and for all to define American Pie. And closed to the effect of "Sorry to leave you like this, but long ago I learned that an artist should just make his statement and move on."
(The full exchange can be found in the collection Return of the Straight Dope.)
So...I guess we're just gonna have to hope McLean leaves a copy of the answers in his will, or something...
Benn, "Don't Worry Kyoko" (not "kyoto") was written by Yoko Ono, not John Lennon. The full title is "Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's just looking for her hand in the snow)." Kyoko is the name of Yoko Ono's daughter from her first marriage to Tony Cox.
(check out the Donny Who Loved Bowling cover of "Kyoko" at http://toxicbag.com/evil/dwlbsounds.sht)
And the "Nightbird" line from the live "Edge of Seventeen" is also on the studio version. The last verse is:
"then suddenly, there was no one
left standing in the hall
In a flood of tears
That no one really ever heard fall at all
I went searchin' for an answer
Up the stairs and down the hall
Not to find an answer
just to hear the call
Of a nightbird
singing come away, come away, come away"
"Benn, 'Don't Worry Kyoko' (not 'kyoto') was written by Yoko Ono, not John Lennon. The full title is 'Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's just looking for her hand in the snow).' Kyoko is the name of Yoko Ono's daughter from her first marriage to Tony Cox." - Glass Onion
Chalk up the "Kyoto" goof as a slip of the mind. I know the proper title. The "Magical Misery Tour" song only refers to it as "Don't Worry Kyoko". I also knew that the song was about Yoko's daughter. I probably knew (or had read) that Yoko the song. Off hand, it doesn't sound too familiar.
"And the "Nightbird" line from the live "Edge of Seventeen" is also on the studio version." - Glass Onion
Uh, no it isn't. At least the part I'm talking about. I forgot about the last verse of "Edge of Seventeen", but I singled out the live version because "I hear the call of a nightbird" is sung repeatedly at the end of the live version. It's kind of an ad lib thing that's sung after all the verses. Because it's so different from the studio version is why I singled it out.
re: nightbird: Sure, but I don't know that the ad-lib or even the original line represents a reference to the "Nightbird" song.
"Don't Worry Kyoko" appears on Ono's "Fly" album; you can hear a sample of it at amazon.com.
Actually, the John Lennon/Yoko Ono record, The Wedding Album was the original l.p. with "Don't Worry Kyoko..." on it. It was released on October 20th, 1969. Yoko's Fly album was released in 1971.
"Edge of Seventeen" did debut on the Bella Donna album in 1981. "Nightbird" appeared first on 1983's The Wild Heart. So it's more probable that the lines in "Nightbird" actually refer to "Edge of Seventeen". (The live version of "Edge of Seventeen" was on the B-side of the "Edge of Seventeen" 45. It was not until the Enchanted box set that it was released on an album. The 45 version is also shorter than the box set version.)
There's also a live version of "Kyoko" on the "Live Peace in Toronto" album (1969, I believe).
Right. There is a live version. But I was only pointing out where the song originated. I wouldn't be surprised if it's also on Yoko's box set (Onobox. (Of all people to release a box set - Yoko? Did anyone buy it?)
Just checked. It is also on Onobox.
Haven't bought Onobox yet, but am trolling the used record stores looking for a copy. (I saw one about a year ago for $50 and should have bought it. Come to think of it it might still be there.)
I currently only have "Fly," "Plastic Ono Band," "Rising," "Two Virgins" and the soundtrack to her New York musical on CD (that one was a gift). I have "Live Peace In Toronto" and "Season of Glass" on LP, though.
Please don't take this as a flame or an insult or anything G.O., but you actually own some of Yoko's albums? I'm astounded. I thought I was pushing the limits of what's listenable with my Sonic Youth collection and Skinny Puppy's Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse. (For now, I won't bother bringing up The Sex Pistols.) But if you own and actually enjoy Yoko's material, I'm in awe. (Of course, I do admit that I like "I'm Moving On" and "Kiss, Kiss, Kiss" from Double Fantasy.)
I mean if I was John and you were Yoko
I would gladly give up music genius
Just to have you as my very own
Personal Venus...
-Barenaked Ladies, Be My Yoko Ono
Yup, Benn, I do own Yoko records. And don't worry, I'm not insulted. Most folk react the same way you did: utter disbelief. I really like straight rock/pop/jazz etc., but for whatever reason, I've always been drawn to odd-sounding stuff. I remember the first time I heard Musique Concrete in music class (around seventh grade, I think) and I really liked it. I liked the Beatles' "Revolution #9" and found it odd that most people would fast-forward through it. There's a lot of experimental, avant garde stuff I dig, and that's partly why I'm a fan of groups like Radiohead, who take some of that experimental stuff and frame it in pop music. A Yoko-esque example of that is Kate Pierson of the B-52's. She's cited Yoko as a defining influence on her vocal style--she was simply more successful than Yoko at incorporating it into styles of pop music people wanted to hear.
I'm with you on Sonic Youth--I think "The Silver Sessions" CD is fantastic.
"Kiss Kiss Kiss" and "I'm Moving On" are cool tunes, but I'm more fond of Yoko when she's doing the pure "16-track voice" stuff, like "Kyoko" or "Why." That's partly because I really don't think she's a strong lyricist. "Seasons of Glass" is a fairly abysmal album. The production doesn't help, of course, and I prefer when she's either got the Elephant's Memory Band or the John/Ringo/Klaus band behind her...or even Ima, Sean's band that played on "Rising." Those guys kick.
If it makes you feel any better, I have a friend who actually listens to Lou Reed's "Metal Machine Music" for enjoyment...
"And don't worry, I'm not insulted." - Glass Onion
Glad to hear it. You never be too sure, though.
According to one story I heard, Lennon was at a club when he heard "Rock Lobster". John rushed back to the Dakota to tell Yoko, "Mother, they're ready for you." Sorry, John, "they're" not. (Avant garde has never done too well. By the way, I'm not too familiar with the term "Musique Concrete". I have an idea of what it is, but you could provide a definition and some examples of the style?)
How recent is S.Y.'s Silver Sessions CD? The last disc of theirs I've ever bought was Experimental Jet Set Trash & No Star. I admit to being behind on their work. Daydream Nation, Goo and Sister are probably my favorites by them.
I like Lou Reed, but I haven't gotten Metal Machine Music yet. I'd like to, though. I do have the Lou Reed box set which contains an excerpt from MMM. It's...interesting. Of course Metal Machine Music was Lou's way of telling RCA to go f*** themselves.
Sonic Youth's "Silver Session for Jason Knuth" disc is a few years old. Released 1998, it functioned as a benefit CD of sorts for Knuth, who was ill--I'm not sure with what. There are audio samples on Amazon.com.
re: Musique Concrete. I'll refer to a source that can likely explain it much better than I can. This is from http://www.musespace.com/writings/essays/musique.html :
Electronic music can be divided into three categories: Musique concrete, Synthesizer music, and Computer music.
Musique concrete was the first type to be created. It involves using the found sounds in nature, distorted in
various ways, to create music. Live, it becomes an exercise in mixing together unexpected sounds into some sort
of form while studio musique concrete uses complex tape manipulations to create the effect. Synthesizer music
and computer music as of late are meshing together with the advent of MIDI. Music of these types involve sounds
created by a synthesizer and computer respectively, and have now become an integral part of most current music
today.
Musique concrete can be created two different ways, both with widely varying techniques of creation. Recorded
musique concrete uses tape, phonographs, and various other pieces of equipment available in the studio. It is
created by recording various sounds on tape and modifying them in some way. This can be achieved by playing
the tape back at various speeds, making a tape loop of the sound, playing the tape backwards, stretching the tape,
or simply splicing short segments of tape together. What results is a alteration of the sound in new and unique
way. Sounds can then be pasted together and overlayed to create a 'song'. Live musique concrete cannot use all the
techniques of it recorded form. It usually consists of enormous amounts of microphones placed in various places
around the performing hall and half a dozen variable speed phonographs all feeding into a series of mixers and
filters, which in turn feed the various amplifiers driving a multitude of speakers scattered throughout the hall. In
either form, musique concrete creates a unique form of music that takes the ear strangely.
Though not created until 1948, musique concrete has a long history before that of composers trying to add noise to
their compositions to break free from conventional music. One of the first of these composers was Luigi Russolo.
In conjunction with Balilla Pratella, he created an orchestra of Bruituers, or noise making machines. Encased in
large boxes, these made a variety of grunts and hisses that became part of his 'Art of Noises' concerts in Milan,
1914. He used his bruituers to accompany traditional music and combine with it in new ways.
Hey, G.O., thanks for the info. Yeah, musique concrete was kinda what I thought it was. Thanks again.
No prob.
Now, let me tell you about my Marillion collection...
;-)
Go for it.
Actually, I had a friend who was a Marillion fan. I think she played me a couple of the tapes. But that was so long ago, I really don't remember too much about the songs. At best, I seem to recall that they sounded very Eightiesish. (Is there such a word? If not, I want the credit for coining it. 
)
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to listening to Mr. Riley B. King and his dear lady, Lucille. ("How Blue Can You Get?" Classic!)
Well, Marillion definitely had their "sound like Genesis" period in the late '80s, but more recently they've updated their sound tremendously. They've not sounded as "progressive rock" as they once did, which is good. The new record is called "Anoraknophobia." Silly name, good CD.
np: Bjork, "Vespertine."
So to what, or rather to whom, is their current sound comparable?
The only Bjork I've ever owned was Debut. Well, I also had the Sugarcubes' Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week. Saw the 'Cubes opening for U2 on U2's "Zoo TV" tour, as a matter of fact. It was at Texas Stadium.
I never had a real easy time describing what bands sound like with reference to other bands, but they've been compared by others to Massive Attack. Don't know about that, as I've not heard MA. The music is kinda poppy, kinda funky, more or less laid-back overall...I dunno.
"Vespertine" is my first Bjork album after years of saying to myself, "I should own a Bjork album." I like it. Someone recently gave me a Sugarcubes record ("Stick around for Joy") and I don't like it quite as much.
np: Red Dirt Girl, Emmylou Harris
"I never had a real easy time describing what bands sound like with reference to other bands..." - Glass Onion
Yeah, I can understand that. From your description, I have an idea of what Marillion sound like now. (Except, I don't think I've ever heard Massive Attack either.) Thanks for the info.
Bjork's (and The Sugarcube's) sound is interesting. It is definitely an acquired taste.
n.p.: Cobra Recording 1956-1958 - Otis Rush. (You keep catching me in a blues mode. )
BTW, speaking of Otis Rush, Otis did a song called "Double Trouble" (great tune, incidentally). It was this song that inspired the name of Stevie Ray Vaughan's back-up band.
I'll have to look for that one. I'm not as familiar with Otis Ruch as I oughta be.
I think I've acquired more of a taste for solo Bjork than for Sugarcubes...
Back briefly to the original topic of this thread, the Veruca Salt tune "Volcano Girls" (I think that's the one) has a double-whammy. The bridge is:
"I told you 'bout the Seether before
You know the one that's neither or nor
Now here's another clue if you please
The Seether's Louise"
A simultaneous reference to the Beatles' "Glass Onion":
"I told you about the Walrus and me man
you know that we're as close as can be man
Now here's another clue for you all
The walrus was Paul"
...and to their own hit "Seether."
Earth, Wind and Fire's song Fantasy contains this line:
Our voices will ring together
Until the twelfth of never
Which, of course, is a passing reference to the Osmond Brothers song.
Earth, Wind & Fire referencing the Osmonds? Hey, who says music doesn't have the power to bring people together?
Actually "The 12th of Never" was a Donnie Osmond solo song.
I *only* know this because it was on a K-Tel LP I had in the early 70s called Fantastic.
George Harrison's "All Those Years Ago" makes an oblique reference to John Lennon's "Imagine": "You were the one who imagined it all."
Sorry to resurrect an old comment, but I just heard this one again recently. He also sings the line "All you need is love" in one verse.
Forgot about that one, Goog.
I'm not sure this counts, but Veruca Salt had an album called Eight Arms To Hold You. That was the original title of The Beatles' movie Help!
Actually "The 12th of Never" was a Donnie Osmond solo song.
My apologies ... I found the song on an "Osmonds Greatest Hits" album, which mixes Donny's, Marie's and "the boys" songs on one album.
Actually, "The Twelfth of Never" is somewhat of a standard, and was even before Donny Osmond got around to it. Roger Whitaker, Floyd Cramer, Billy J. Kramer and The Ventures all recorded it before Donny. Possibly the most famous interpretation of the song was Johnny Mathis'.
Now that you mention it, I DO remember the Johnny Whitaker version of "The Twelfth of Never". However, I always thought it came AFTER the Donny Osmond version. (just my jumbled memory, I presume)
Roger Whitaker, Derf. Roger.
DERNIT!!! I'm STILL in Uncle Bill's house!!
Now, Mahster Jodie, what have I told you about using colorful metaphors?
Phil Ochs wrote a song called "Bound For Glory" that mentions Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land". I believe the song is about Guthrie. (Mental note: Get Woody Guthrie disc out to play.)
I'm not sure if this one has been mentioned, but John Lennon's "How Do You Sleep" has the line, "The only thing you did was 'Yesterday'/And now you're gone it's just 'Another Day'."
n.p. - Mechanical Animals - Marilyn Manson
This one's very iffy. In Derek and the Dominoes's "Layla", there's the line "Don't tell me all my love's in vain." There is a Robert Johnson song called "Love In Vain" which contains the line, "All my love's in vain." Now again, I don't think this is likely, but I mention it because Eric Clapton is a blues fan and a Robert Johnson fan. Still, you make the call.
n.p. - October Rust ("My Girlfriend's Girlfriend") - Type O Negative
The Bloodhound Gang's "Fire, Water, Burn" contains the lines, "I'm not black like Barry White/I'm white like Frank Black is". Soon after, they refer to a song by Black's old band, The Pixies: "So if man is five/And the devil is six/Then I must be seven/This honkey's gone to heaven." (The song in question is "Monkey's Gone to Heaven".)
n.p. - Gold - Ryan Adams
At the end of Sting's "We'll Be Together" he ad-libs, "If you need somebody," and "If you wanna keep something precious," references to his earlier hit "If you love someone set them free."
Cheryl
REM's "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" refers to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)" by several people (such as the Weavers), even down to the opening falsetto wail of both songs. (I can't actually write down a wailing falsetto on the forum, but I could sing it to you if you like...)
Here's my best shot at it...
Oo-weeeee-do-de-do we-do bum-ba-day!
(followed by... "In the village, the peaceful village...")
[bangs forehead on table repeatedly]
"A Fairy Tale Of New York" refers to the songs "Galway Bay" and "Rare Old Mountain Dew".
Dire Straits "Romeo and Juliet" refers to the song "Somewhere" (There's a place for us)
The Barenaked Ladies' Grade 9 (detailing the travails of a mid-to-early-eighties 'minor niner') contains this very funny bit of nostalgia:
Went out for the football team to prove that I'm a man -
I guess I shouldn't've told them that I like Duran Duran.
Derf, this thread is up to 122k. I thinks it's time for Pt. 2. I've got a few songs in mind already.
Just a question, Butch - how do you know how big a thread becomes? How can one find out?
Depends on the browser, Sven. Netscape shows how big it is as it's downloading. IE shows it under File=>Properties.
Thanks Butch ... for the thread size prompt. I'll now terminate this one and start part 2.