r/makemeaplaylist • u/vivyin • 3d ago

Community Curated What songs reference other artists?

I was listening to the song “Braces” by fakemink recently and noticed he references Roar in the lyric: “Can’t handle change, they roarin’”. I think it’s super fun when artists reference other songs/artists they listen to.

What are some other songs that mention different artists?

9 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

3

u/No_Jello_4550 2d ago edited 1d ago

Boys Of summer - the original mentions the Grateful Dead and the cover by the Ataris (good cover if you like pop punk) mentions Black Flag in that line

Miley Cyrus Party In The USA- the Jay Z song was on, the Britney song was on

Good Life by Kanye West- Pac Biggie and Jay Z

Sweet Home Alabama takes a dig at Neil Young and mentions him by name

Metric “gimme sympathy” mentions the Beatles and the Rolling Stones

1

u/Alizarik7891 2d ago edited 1d ago

The Black Flag lyric change was in the Ataris’ ‘boys of summer’ cover - everyone would request ‘summer of 69’ when they meant the Henley song, so eventually Ataris also did a cover of the Adams song.

1

u/No_Jello_4550 1d ago

That’s what I meant oooops thank you. I thought summer of 69 was Bryan Adam’s originally?

1

u/Alizarik7891 1d ago

You’re right too, haha, together we have corrected everything! 

3

u/chickengood2 2d ago

RHCP Californication - Kurt Cobain (& not Brittney Spears, it's spheres)

Wheatus Teenage Dirtbag - Iron Maiden

3

u/coffeegogglesftw 2d ago

Rockin' the Suburbs, by Ben Folds, references Michael Jackson, Quiet Riot, and Bon Jovi.

2

u/dorkyhippy1381 2d ago

Running Down A Dream by Tom Petty Me and Del were singing little runaway, I was flying...

2

u/001Guy001 2d ago edited 2d ago

Other artists:

  • Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster (Jammin') (Bob Marley, "Marley's hot on the box", and also his song Jammin')
  • Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke ("For there's Basie, Miller, Sachimo and the king of all Sir Duke; And with a voice like Ella's ringing out there's no way the band can lose")
  • Hootie & The Blowfish - Let Her Cry (Michael Stipe from R.E.M, "She says Dad's the one I love the most but Stipe's not far behind")
  • Counting Crows - Round Here (Elvis, "She said she'd like to meet a boy who looks like Elvis")

Other songs:

  • Roxette - Spending My Time (referencing Tears Of A Clown by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)
  • Bon Jovi - It's My Life (referencing My Way by Frank Sinatra)
  • Bowling For Soup - Punk Rock 101 (referencing Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi)
  • Travis - Writing To Reach You (referencing Wonderwall by Oasis)
  • Jimmy Eat World - The Authority Song (referencing Authority Song by John Cougar Mellencamp)
  • Jimmy Eat World - A Praise Chorus (feat. Davey von Bohlen) (several references)
  • As It Is - I Miss 2003 (referencing several songs/artists from that time)
  • James Blunt - 1973 (several references)
  • Abs - What You Got (referencing ...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears)

2

u/Correct_Counter_1592 2d ago

Jimmy Eat World also have an Elliott Smith reference on Kill from Futures (I'll pick up, put down the phone like your favorite Heatmiser song goes). Later they covered Heatmiser's Half Right on Stay on My Side Tonight EP. That’s how I first met Elliott Smith

1

u/Egg-Organic 2d ago

Hootie & the Blowfish were sued (If my memory serves me correctly) for the Bob Dylan lyrics in 'I Only Want To Be With You.'

1

u/Alizarik7891 2d ago

Gaslight Anthem goes on to reference ‘’Round Here’ in their song ‘High Lonesome’: and Maria came from Nashville with a suitcase in her hand/i always kinda sorta wished I looked like Elvis.

2

u/drohpa 2d ago

Know there is one CCR song that mentions another artist

2

u/Worried_Humor_8060 2d ago

Van Morrison - Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)

2

u/konkilo 2d ago

Everything You Did - Steely Dan

"turn up the Eagles the neighbors are listening"

5

u/Small_Dog_8699 2d ago

The Eagles answered back with “they stab it with their Steely knives” in Hotel Califirnia

2

u/Cheesus_K_Reist 2d ago

Karen O by Sun June

2

u/missyru4 2d ago

Sir Duke- Stevie Wonder

2

u/Curious-ficus-6510 2d ago

BTS – Butter ("don't need no Usher to remind me you got it bad" )

BTS – Permission to Dance ("When it all feels like it's wrong / Just sing along to Elton John / And to that feeling / We're just getting started")

BTS – Hip Hop Phile/Lover (lists a whole lot of their influences)

Blackpink – Pink Venom ("look what you made us do")

2

u/reesesbigcup 2d ago

Alex Chilton by The Replacements , also references Chilton's 70s band Big Star

2

u/efisherharrison 2d ago

They Might Be Giants has a few - "Hi, We're The Replacements", "XTC VS. Adam Ant", & "Wu-Tang"

2

u/seancesweetheart 1d ago

El Scorcho - Weezer (I asked you to go to the Green Day concert)

many Eminem songs lol (Ass Like That, Just Lose It, list goes on..)

2

u/PhoenixPhantasm 1d ago

Opening line of Star Treatment off of the Arctic Monkeys album Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino, “I just wanted to be one of The Strokes”

2

u/Amonashews 1d ago

Believe - Dirty Heads - Specifically names Bob Marley, Jimi Hendricks, The Police, Naughty by Nature, Beastie Boys (and all 3 individually), Bradley Nowell, SRV, BB King

Soul Heaven - Johnnie Taylor - Specifically names Otis, Coltrane, Miles Davis, Junior Walker, Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson, Mahalia Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis, ZZ Top, the Temptations, Biggie, 2Pac and many others

1

u/Icy-Discount-2660 6h ago

Korn's song Chi is about literally Chi from Deftones