How do we feel about songs like these; ones that are based around referencing other songs?
Fitting tributes or creatively bankrupt?
Fitting tributes or creatively bankrupt?
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Songs That Are Based Around Referencing Other Songs
- Thread starter Schlorgan
- Start date
wtf i had no idea kid rock sang this
not only does it reference sweet home alabama, but it samples Werewolves of London hard
OP
OP
If anyone has any other examples of songs like this that they like or are especially egregious, feel free to share.
And it's about neither place. It's about Michigan.
It also has one of the worst rhymes in history: rhyming "things" with "things"
Almost always used as a crutch by hacks like Kid Rock.
Kinda feel the same way about remixes and covers. 99% of the time they are worse than the original.
Edit: talking about reusing riffs and melodies, as opposed to references in the lyrics etc.
Kinda feel the same way about remixes and covers. 99% of the time they are worse than the original.
Edit: talking about reusing riffs and melodies, as opposed to references in the lyrics etc.
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in a weird twist, the singer of Werewolves of London has a song that also references Sweet Home Alabama
EDIT: and Sweet Home Alabama funnily enough has an entire verse dedicated to another artist and song
"Well I heard Mister Young sing about her
Well I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A southern man don't need him around anyhow "
Southern Man being the neil young song that this was created in response to
OP
OP
"All Summer Long" invokes the nostalgia of a summer time spent on the beach getting drunk, smoking weed and singing "Sweet Home Alabama", the crux of the song is absolutely nostalgic. I don't know to me it's just a fun song.
Another one that is similar is Brad Paisley's "Old Alabama", which as it's name suggests utilizes old Alabama songs, namely "Mountain Music". Though this one has the benefit of featuring the members of Alabama on the track. Great tune.
There's actually numerous songs in this vein in recent country music.
Another one that is similar is Brad Paisley's "Old Alabama", which as it's name suggests utilizes old Alabama songs, namely "Mountain Music". Though this one has the benefit of featuring the members of Alabama on the track. Great tune.
There's actually numerous songs in this vein in recent country music.
Alright, look, you picked some creatively bankrupt examples. There's some genuinely great ones out there.
My personal favorite:
My personal favorite:
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Hamilton, the thread.
The entire thing is a love letter to hip hop, and the songs reference themselves too.
It's in no way creatively bankrupt
The entire thing is a love letter to hip hop, and the songs reference themselves too.
It's in no way creatively bankrupt
There's a huge spectrum from the most miniscule samples or covert references in lyrics to whole scale rehashing or repackaging of classic hit songs. There's no one right or wrong way to do it.
Nobody posted Rocket by Def Leppard yet? I'm disappointed ERA.
- "Jack Flash" – The song "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones, 1968
- "Rocket Man" – The song of the same name by Elton John, 1972
- "Sgt. Pepper & the Band" – The album Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles, 1967
- "Ziggy" – The track/character of "Ziggy Stardust" from David Bowie's album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, 1972
- "Bennie and the Jets" – The song of the same name by Elton John, 1973
- "Satellite of Love" – The song of the same name by Lou Reed, 1972
- "Laser Love" – The song of the same name by T.Rex, 1976
- "Jet" – The song of the same name by Paul McCartney & Wings, 1973
- "Black" – A reference to the song "Black Betty" by Ram Jam, 1977
- "Johnny B." – A reference to the song "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry, 1958
- "Jean Genie" – The song of the same name by David Bowie, 1973
- "Killer Queen" – The song of the same name by Queen, 1974
- "Dizzy Lizzy" – A reference to the song "Dizzy Miss Lizzy", made famous by the Beatles, 1965 (also a nod to Thin Lizzy)
- "Major Tom" – A reference to the song "Space Oddity" by David Bowie, 1969
Okkervil River has a brilliant and clever song called "Plus Ones" stuffed full of references to other songs with numbers in their titles, with one added:
Choice lyrics:
'No one wants to hear about your 97th tear'
'And no one wants a tune about the 100th luftballoon"
'51st way to leave your lover, Admittedly, it doesn't seem to be as gentle, Or as clean as all the others'
'Kitten, not everyone's keen on lighting candle 17'
Choice lyrics:
'No one wants to hear about your 97th tear'
'And no one wants a tune about the 100th luftballoon"
'51st way to leave your lover, Admittedly, it doesn't seem to be as gentle, Or as clean as all the others'
'Kitten, not everyone's keen on lighting candle 17'
This song is about being nostalgic for the days when the singer sang late 90s to mid 2000s chart-topping songs
"Oops I got ninety-nine problems singing bye, bye, bye
Hold up, if you wanna go and take a ride with me
Better hit me, baby, one more time
Paint a picture for you and me
Of the days when we were young
Singing at the top of both our lungs"
"Oops I got ninety-nine problems singing bye, bye, bye
Hold up, if you wanna go and take a ride with me
Better hit me, baby, one more time
Paint a picture for you and me
Of the days when we were young
Singing at the top of both our lungs"
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I had no idea SHA was throwing shade at Neil Young until now.
Always thought that song was oddly hypocritical, since Skynyrd are from Florida.
Faron Young, by Prefab Sprouts, references the country singer Faron Young and his song 4 in the morning.
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It can be both. If you want an egregious Kid Rock song on the topic, there's "Detroit, Michigan". The man's got so much love for his hometown that he...just lists a bunch of famous people who were from there.
But then there's a song like "Record Year", which manages to move past the "hey, I know that thing" phase. It namedrops a dozen albums and artists, but also puts it's own narrative around it all. It really just depends on how lazy the songwriter is feeling.
But then there's a song like "Record Year", which manages to move past the "hey, I know that thing" phase. It namedrops a dozen albums and artists, but also puts it's own narrative around it all. It really just depends on how lazy the songwriter is feeling.
I like 'em.
Often I like both versions, which is extra good. No harm in it, it's not like sneak-sampling to avoid paying royalties.
Often I like both versions, which is extra good. No harm in it, it's not like sneak-sampling to avoid paying royalties.
lol glad I'm not the only one! what's funny is that I only heard the song a few times back in the day and hadn't heard it in like 20 years until I looked it up for this thread. I remember thinking it was tacky even when I was 13 loool
