Help me find music about music!
April 28, 2008 4:43 AM Subscribe
Help me find music about music! What are some songs about music, it's culture, etc.? Songs like The VU's Rock & Roll, Joni Mitchell's Woodstock, Billy Joel's It's Still Rock and Roll to Me, etc...
"Signed Curtain" by Matching Mole stands for an extreme example of this urge to meta. Check out Robert Wyatt's lyrics at base of the page.
posted by einekleine at 4:58 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by einekleine at 4:58 AM on April 28, 2008
John Cougar Mellencamp's R.O.C.K. in the USA from his Scarecrow album comes to mind.
posted by snap_dragon at 4:59 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by snap_dragon at 4:59 AM on April 28, 2008
Youtube let me down
But the Monitors "What will we be singing in the 80s"
Please don't mention Joni Mitchell and Billy Joel in the same sentence ever again. There is no need to do that.
posted by mattoxic at 4:59 AM on April 28, 2008
But the Monitors "What will we be singing in the 80s"
Please don't mention Joni Mitchell and Billy Joel in the same sentence ever again. There is no need to do that.
posted by mattoxic at 4:59 AM on April 28, 2008
The song His Indie World, by Mary Lou Lord, catalogs whatever indie bands are around at the time. She changes it to keep it up to date. It's a pretty great song.
The Heart of Rock and Roll by Huey Lewis.
Also one of my least favorite songs, Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger (I think).
posted by sully75 at 5:12 AM on April 28, 2008
The Heart of Rock and Roll by Huey Lewis.
Also one of my least favorite songs, Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger (I think).
posted by sully75 at 5:12 AM on April 28, 2008
Melanie's Lay Down (Candles in the rain) is also about Woodstock.
posted by goo at 5:13 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by goo at 5:13 AM on April 28, 2008
From They Might Be Giants: Hey, Mr. DJ, I Thought You Said We Had A Deal, Rhythm Section Want Ad, XTC Vs. Adam Ant, maybe Youth Culture Killed My Dog. Actually, here's a list of Their songs with music as a theme.
posted by LolaGeek at 5:23 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by LolaGeek at 5:23 AM on April 28, 2008
"Have a cigar", Pink Floyd (and sung by Roy Harper) on Wish You Were Here.
posted by Sparx at 5:23 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by Sparx at 5:23 AM on April 28, 2008
"I Know Someone Who Knows Someone Who Knows Alan McGee Quite Well", "On Tape" or "Indiepop Ain't Noise Pollution" by The Pooh Sticks.
posted by Shave at 5:33 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by Shave at 5:33 AM on April 28, 2008
Sebadoh's Gimme Indie Rock
The Capriocorns' The New Sound
Don McLean's American Pie
posted by Kattullus at 5:48 AM on April 28, 2008
The Capriocorns' The New Sound
Don McLean's American Pie
posted by Kattullus at 5:48 AM on April 28, 2008
"The Night Hank Williams Died" - Tim Hardin
"Kylie's Got a Crush on Us" - BMX Bandits
"The Bride Stripped Bare by 'Bachelors'" - The Bonzo Dog Band
"Overnight Sensation" - The Raspberries
"Music For Money" - Nick Lowe
"I love my Label" - Nick Lowe
"Sound Education" - I-Roy
"The Story of Them" - Them
"I know where Sid Barrett Lives" - The Television Personalities
"The Great Pub-rock revival" - Denim
posted by zemblamatic at 5:53 AM on April 28, 2008
"Kylie's Got a Crush on Us" - BMX Bandits
"The Bride Stripped Bare by 'Bachelors'" - The Bonzo Dog Band
"Overnight Sensation" - The Raspberries
"Music For Money" - Nick Lowe
"I love my Label" - Nick Lowe
"Sound Education" - I-Roy
"The Story of Them" - Them
"I know where Sid Barrett Lives" - The Television Personalities
"The Great Pub-rock revival" - Denim
posted by zemblamatic at 5:53 AM on April 28, 2008
The Killers, "Indie Rock & Roll"
posted by futility closet at 6:00 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by futility closet at 6:00 AM on April 28, 2008
Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie
Panic (Kill the DJ) by the Smiths
The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton by the Mountain Goats
posted by brevator at 6:00 AM on April 28, 2008
Panic (Kill the DJ) by the Smiths
The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton by the Mountain Goats
posted by brevator at 6:00 AM on April 28, 2008
"Hank, Karen and Elvis" by Young Fresh Fellows
"Long Live Rock" by The Who ("We were the 1st band to vomit in the bar And find the distance to the stage too far")
"The Load Out / Stay" by Jackson Brown (ode to the roadies?)
"Roland the Roadie and Gertrude the Groupie" by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show (I believe lyrics by Shel Silverstein!)
posted by largecorp at 6:04 AM on April 28, 2008
"Long Live Rock" by The Who ("We were the 1st band to vomit in the bar And find the distance to the stage too far")
"The Load Out / Stay" by Jackson Brown (ode to the roadies?)
"Roland the Roadie and Gertrude the Groupie" by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show (I believe lyrics by Shel Silverstein!)
posted by largecorp at 6:04 AM on April 28, 2008
Paint a Vulgar Picture by The Smiths.
Box Set by Barenaked Ladies.
posted by sjthomp at 6:10 AM on April 28, 2008
Box Set by Barenaked Ladies.
posted by sjthomp at 6:10 AM on April 28, 2008
The bossa nova classic Desafinado (Off-key) by Tom Jobim is about itself. The first line is "If you think this is out of tune, my love..." only to defend the genre later "bossa nova is very natural..."
posted by umbú at 6:11 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by umbú at 6:11 AM on April 28, 2008
What I want to know is: Has anyone taken it a step further and written a song about this kind of song. Something like, "Remember when we used to rock about rock, a long, long time ago?"
posted by umbú at 6:13 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by umbú at 6:13 AM on April 28, 2008
As long as we're on Joni Mitchell, how about "Free Man in Paris"?
posted by pasici at 6:16 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by pasici at 6:16 AM on April 28, 2008
Another Bill Joel song - Piano Man (in a way)
Don McLean's American Pie (best audio quality I could find, ignore the horrible graphics and just listen to the music)
posted by thread_makimaki at 6:48 AM on April 28, 2008
Don McLean's American Pie (best audio quality I could find, ignore the horrible graphics and just listen to the music)
posted by thread_makimaki at 6:48 AM on April 28, 2008
Money for Nothing - Dire Straits
Into the Great Wide Open - Tom Petty
Shooting Star - Bad Company
posted by beachhead2 at 6:54 AM on April 28, 2008
Into the Great Wide Open - Tom Petty
Shooting Star - Bad Company
posted by beachhead2 at 6:54 AM on April 28, 2008
Turn the Page - Bob Seager. I think that song is all about being on the road.
posted by beachhead2 at 6:55 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by beachhead2 at 6:55 AM on April 28, 2008
Sing! I used to love this when I was of Sesame Street age. Here's Lena Horne singing it with the Muppets. My favorite version by the Carpenters.
A very different one about singing and music: Sing for the moment (Eminem)
posted by thread_makimaki at 6:59 AM on April 28, 2008
A very different one about singing and music: Sing for the moment (Eminem)
posted by thread_makimaki at 6:59 AM on April 28, 2008
Radio Radio - Elvis Costello
And the radio is in the hands of such a lot fools tryin' to anesthetize the way that you feel!
posted by Viomeda at 7:22 AM on April 28, 2008
And the radio is in the hands of such a lot fools tryin' to anesthetize the way that you feel!
posted by Viomeda at 7:22 AM on April 28, 2008
And how could I forget? That fantastic glam swan-song, Mott the Hoople's great "Saturday Gigs."
posted by Viomeda at 7:31 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by Viomeda at 7:31 AM on April 28, 2008
Crikey, there are so many of them. I'm checking in on this question and realise I am actually listening to one whilst reading: It's The Ting Tings' Great DJ.
posted by einekleine at 7:44 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by einekleine at 7:44 AM on April 28, 2008
Perfectly Good Guitar by John Hiatt (inspired by the events at about 4:10 in this video).
posted by TedW at 7:46 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by TedW at 7:46 AM on April 28, 2008
"The Spirit of Radio" - Rush
"Limelight" - Rush
"The Music Never Stopped" - Grateful Dead
posted by Daily Alice at 7:50 AM on April 28, 2008
"Limelight" - Rush
"The Music Never Stopped" - Grateful Dead
posted by Daily Alice at 7:50 AM on April 28, 2008
All videos are the first youtube ones I found, could be live or unofficial, but the music is right.
Bad Religion - Punk Rock Song
Barenaked Ladies - What a good boy (has the lyric "this song is the cross that I bear)
Cake - Commissioning a symphony in C, as well as "Sad Songs & Waltzes"
Cat Empire - The Chariot
Cloud Cult - The Deaf Girl's Song
There's always Everclear - A.M. Radio
Gogol Bordello - Immigrant Punk is about, well you know.
Gordon Lightfoot - I used to be a country singer
MC Frontalot with Kompressor - Rappers we Crush, and Indier Than Thou
MC Lars - Signing Emo, White Kids Aren't Hyphy
Porcupine Tree - Mellotron Scratch, and even better, The Sound of Muzak
The Ramones - Do you remember Rock 'n Roll Radio?, or Rock 'n Roll High School
Reel Big Fish - Rock and Roll is Bitchin', Sell Out, and a few more by them
Rooney - Popstars
Scissor Sisters - Music is the Victim
Spoon - The Beast, the Dragon Adored (And when you believe, they call it Rock and Roll)
Tenacious D - The Metal, and of course Tribute
Tom Lehrer - The Irish Ballad and Clementine
We Are Scientists - It's a Hit
Of those, the best are Bad Religion, Everclear, Porcupine Tree, and Reel Big Fish.
posted by Lemurrhea at 7:51 AM on April 28, 2008
Bad Religion - Punk Rock Song
Barenaked Ladies - What a good boy (has the lyric "this song is the cross that I bear)
Cake - Commissioning a symphony in C, as well as "Sad Songs & Waltzes"
Cat Empire - The Chariot
Cloud Cult - The Deaf Girl's Song
There's always Everclear - A.M. Radio
Gogol Bordello - Immigrant Punk is about, well you know.
Gordon Lightfoot - I used to be a country singer
MC Frontalot with Kompressor - Rappers we Crush, and Indier Than Thou
MC Lars - Signing Emo, White Kids Aren't Hyphy
Porcupine Tree - Mellotron Scratch, and even better, The Sound of Muzak
The Ramones - Do you remember Rock 'n Roll Radio?, or Rock 'n Roll High School
Reel Big Fish - Rock and Roll is Bitchin', Sell Out, and a few more by them
Rooney - Popstars
Scissor Sisters - Music is the Victim
Spoon - The Beast, the Dragon Adored (And when you believe, they call it Rock and Roll)
Tenacious D - The Metal, and of course Tribute
Tom Lehrer - The Irish Ballad and Clementine
We Are Scientists - It's a Hit
Of those, the best are Bad Religion, Everclear, Porcupine Tree, and Reel Big Fish.
posted by Lemurrhea at 7:51 AM on April 28, 2008
The Ataris - Song For A Mix Tape which is about making a mix tape and putting this song on it (recursivity, anyone?)
The Exploited - Sid Vicious Was Innocent about Sid's alleged killing of Nancy Spungeon.
NOFX - Please Play This Song On The Radio self-referential to structure, and the reasons it deserves to be played.
Guttermouth - What If? about the Doors trying out Fred Schneider as a replacement for Jim Morrison.
posted by namewithoutwords at 7:55 AM on April 28, 2008
The Exploited - Sid Vicious Was Innocent about Sid's alleged killing of Nancy Spungeon.
NOFX - Please Play This Song On The Radio self-referential to structure, and the reasons it deserves to be played.
Guttermouth - What If? about the Doors trying out Fred Schneider as a replacement for Jim Morrison.
posted by namewithoutwords at 7:55 AM on April 28, 2008
Song for Whoever by the Beautiful South. It's about the gullibility of teenage girls who will take a song to No.1 if it's got their name in the title.
posted by essexjan at 7:59 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by essexjan at 7:59 AM on April 28, 2008
Cat Power-Song to Bobby about Bob Dylan
Joni Mitchell-Goodbye Porkpie Hat (added lyrics re: Lester Young to Charles Mingus's tunes)
posted by sully75 at 8:05 AM on April 28, 2008
Joni Mitchell-Goodbye Porkpie Hat (added lyrics re: Lester Young to Charles Mingus's tunes)
posted by sully75 at 8:05 AM on April 28, 2008
Sorry, mostly beat/rhythm based
John Miles - Music
The Look - I Am The Beat
Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm
posted by Dub at 8:15 AM on April 28, 2008
John Miles - Music
The Look - I Am The Beat
Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm
posted by Dub at 8:15 AM on April 28, 2008
Rock Back Billy by John Hiatt
I Wouldn't Put My Guitar Down - Mike Henderson & Bluebloods
First Time I Met the Blues - Buddy Guy
posted by timsteil at 8:28 AM on April 28, 2008
I Wouldn't Put My Guitar Down - Mike Henderson & Bluebloods
First Time I Met the Blues - Buddy Guy
posted by timsteil at 8:28 AM on April 28, 2008
I highly recommend "Do You Believe in Magic?" by the Lovin' Spoonful.
posted by Paid In Full at 8:58 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by Paid In Full at 8:58 AM on April 28, 2008
I can't believe no one has mentioned the Byrds "So You Want to be a Rock 'n Roll Star" yet.
posted by TedW at 9:26 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by TedW at 9:26 AM on April 28, 2008
YT links where available...
Nick Lowe - They Called it Rock
The Velvet Underground - Rock and Roll (the classic statement.)
Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show - Cover of the Rolling Stone (a novelty, but on point.)
CSS - Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex (also semi-famous for an iPod touch fanboy commercial.)
Jackson Browne - The Load Out (perhaps the definitive song of life on the road / touring. He's a terrific lyricist.)
Bob Seger - Turn The Page (more on the touring life)
Bob Seger - Rock and Roll Never Forgets (an homage to the genre: "all of Chuck's children are out there, playin' his hits")
Chuck Berry - Rock and Roll Music (One of the original declarations of love. See also The Beatles' cover)
posted by theoddball at 9:31 AM on April 28, 2008
Nick Lowe - They Called it Rock
The Velvet Underground - Rock and Roll (the classic statement.)
Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show - Cover of the Rolling Stone (a novelty, but on point.)
CSS - Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex (also semi-famous for an iPod touch fanboy commercial.)
Jackson Browne - The Load Out (perhaps the definitive song of life on the road / touring. He's a terrific lyricist.)
Bob Seger - Turn The Page (more on the touring life)
Bob Seger - Rock and Roll Never Forgets (an homage to the genre: "all of Chuck's children are out there, playin' his hits")
Chuck Berry - Rock and Roll Music (One of the original declarations of love. See also The Beatles' cover)
posted by theoddball at 9:31 AM on April 28, 2008
XTC's Funk Pop a Roll and Travels in Nihilon fit the bill.
posted by mollweide at 9:48 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by mollweide at 9:48 AM on April 28, 2008
10cc - Dreadlock Holiday
LCD Sound System - Daft Punk is playing at my house
Sparks - When do I get to sing my way?
Every music-nerd musician will write some songs about music. After all, that's what they know and love.
posted by SurrenderMonkey at 9:53 AM on April 28, 2008
LCD Sound System - Daft Punk is playing at my house
Sparks - When do I get to sing my way?
Every music-nerd musician will write some songs about music. After all, that's what they know and love.
posted by SurrenderMonkey at 9:53 AM on April 28, 2008
Reunion, "Life Is A Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)"
WE'RE DONE HERE, PEOPLE
*throws down mic*
This fucking song will now haunt me for days
posted by Skot at 10:08 AM on April 28, 2008
WE'RE DONE HERE, PEOPLE
*throws down mic*
This fucking song will now haunt me for days
posted by Skot at 10:08 AM on April 28, 2008
Music by Madonna; not groundbreaking lyrics but the song is about...you know...music
posted by juva at 11:23 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by juva at 11:23 AM on April 28, 2008
Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles
Rockstar - Nickelback
I Write the Songs - Barry Manilow
Listen to the Music - The Doobie Brothers
Music - Madonna
posted by sapphirebbw at 11:30 AM on April 28, 2008
Rockstar - Nickelback
I Write the Songs - Barry Manilow
Listen to the Music - The Doobie Brothers
Music - Madonna
posted by sapphirebbw at 11:30 AM on April 28, 2008
This is Just a Modern Rock Song - Belle and Sebastian
posted by Bella Sebastian at 11:36 AM on April 28, 2008
posted by Bella Sebastian at 11:36 AM on April 28, 2008
This was the subject of my last MeFi Mix
Songs about Songs
American Music--Violent Femmes
That High Lonesome Sound--Peter Rowan and the Nashville Bluegrass Band
Do You Remember Rock'n'Roll Radio?--Ramones
Late Night Radio--Beth Wood
Radio Radio--Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Radio Song--REM
Put Your Records On--Corinne Bailey Rae
Contest Coming (Cripple Creek)--Michelle Shocked
Walk of Life--Dire Straits
One Song Glory--Rent
Number Three--They Might Be Giants
Seymour Stein--Belle and Sebastian
Nashville--Indigo Girls
My Sentimental Melody--The Magnetic Fields
Nothing Like a Song--Azure Ray
Musical Key--Cowboy Junkies
Reva Thereafter--Girlyman
How Can I Keep from Singing?--Pete Seeger
posted by hydropsyche at 12:00 PM on April 28, 2008
Songs about Songs
American Music--Violent Femmes
That High Lonesome Sound--Peter Rowan and the Nashville Bluegrass Band
Do You Remember Rock'n'Roll Radio?--Ramones
Late Night Radio--Beth Wood
Radio Radio--Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Radio Song--REM
Put Your Records On--Corinne Bailey Rae
Contest Coming (Cripple Creek)--Michelle Shocked
Walk of Life--Dire Straits
One Song Glory--Rent
Number Three--They Might Be Giants
Seymour Stein--Belle and Sebastian
Nashville--Indigo Girls
My Sentimental Melody--The Magnetic Fields
Nothing Like a Song--Azure Ray
Musical Key--Cowboy Junkies
Reva Thereafter--Girlyman
How Can I Keep from Singing?--Pete Seeger
posted by hydropsyche at 12:00 PM on April 28, 2008
Oh, and Horses by Patti Smith (video), which incorporates the lyrics of another song about songs (and their dances), Land of 1000 Dances, originally by Chris Kenner. Here's Wilson Pickett's version of the song.
posted by Kattullus at 12:11 PM on April 28, 2008
posted by Kattullus at 12:11 PM on April 28, 2008
I highly secondly recommend "Do you believe in magic?" by the lovin' spoonful.
posted by n y my at 12:42 PM on April 28, 2008
posted by n y my at 12:42 PM on April 28, 2008
The entire Okkervil River album "The Stage Names". To be fair, some of it is also about TV, but songs like Unless It's Kicks and Plus Ones (spot the references to other songs) are exactly what you're asking for.
posted by version control at 1:36 PM on April 28, 2008
posted by version control at 1:36 PM on April 28, 2008
A ton of Pavement songs.. I love Pavement
"Stereo"
"Range Life"
"Cut Your Hair"
"Unseen Power of the Picket Fence"
Time after time is my least favorite song!!!!
posted by citron at 8:32 PM on April 28, 2008 [1 favorite]
"Stereo"
"Range Life"
"Cut Your Hair"
"Unseen Power of the Picket Fence"
Time after time is my least favorite song!!!!
posted by citron at 8:32 PM on April 28, 2008 [1 favorite]
Grandlife "We in Music" (brilliant house music song about.. house music)
Hole "Rock Star" (the one on Live Through This.. about Olympia WA and the riot grrl thing)
Sebadoh "Gimme Indie Rock"
Lois "Indie"
Sleater-Kinney "The Professional"
Annie "Me Plus One"
posted by citron at 9:03 PM on April 28, 2008
Hole "Rock Star" (the one on Live Through This.. about Olympia WA and the riot grrl thing)
Sebadoh "Gimme Indie Rock"
Lois "Indie"
Sleater-Kinney "The Professional"
Annie "Me Plus One"
posted by citron at 9:03 PM on April 28, 2008
ACDC - Rock'n'Roll Ain't Noise Pollution.
The Cat Empire - 1, 4, 5 (best answer to a lack of lyrics evar)
posted by pompomtom at 11:29 PM on April 28, 2008
The Cat Empire - 1, 4, 5 (best answer to a lack of lyrics evar)
posted by pompomtom at 11:29 PM on April 28, 2008
Robots in Disguise' Turn It Up is all song and album references, even going so far as mentioning a couple of songs by the producer of the song's old band, Sneaker Pimps.
50 Cent has the following bit of lyric in Hate It or Love It: "My favorite rapper used to sing ch-check out my melody." Which is a reference to Eric B. and Rakim's My Melody, which is self-referential. From the lyrics:
Marley Marl synthesized it, I memorize it
Eric B. made a cut and advertised it
My melody's created for MC's in the place
They try to listen cuz I'm dissin them so pick up your face
Shook off your neck cuz you try to detect my pace
Now you're buggin', almost doggin' off my rhyme-like bass
The melody that I'm stylin', smooth as a violin
Rough enough to break New York from Long Island
posted by Kattullus at 3:37 AM on April 29, 2008
50 Cent has the following bit of lyric in Hate It or Love It: "My favorite rapper used to sing ch-check out my melody." Which is a reference to Eric B. and Rakim's My Melody, which is self-referential. From the lyrics:
Marley Marl synthesized it, I memorize it
Eric B. made a cut and advertised it
My melody's created for MC's in the place
They try to listen cuz I'm dissin them so pick up your face
Shook off your neck cuz you try to detect my pace
Now you're buggin', almost doggin' off my rhyme-like bass
The melody that I'm stylin', smooth as a violin
Rough enough to break New York from Long Island
posted by Kattullus at 3:37 AM on April 29, 2008
Joe's Garage, by Frank Zappa, if by "song" you mean "double concept album."
posted by Eothele at 10:31 AM on April 29, 2008
posted by Eothele at 10:31 AM on April 29, 2008
The Hit Song by DJ Format and Abdominal
Abdominal has a couple of other songs basically about how great his style is - surf around youtube, you'll find them. This is a common trope in hip hop (my song is so great).
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:07 AM on April 29, 2008
Abdominal has a couple of other songs basically about how great his style is - surf around youtube, you'll find them. This is a common trope in hip hop (my song is so great).
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:07 AM on April 29, 2008
As much as late-era Rod Stewart makes me itch, his "Soul In The City" does seem to be about groovin' to oldies: the chorus goes, "Bring over some of your old Motown Record/We'll put the speakers in the window and we'll go/On the roof and listen to the Miracles echo through the alley down below..."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:12 AM on May 2, 2008
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:12 AM on May 2, 2008
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posted by keribear at 4:45 AM on April 28, 2008