Bands/singers who reference themselves in their songs...

[Westegg]

...I just heard Peter Gabriel's version of that Vampire Weekend song that name-checks Peter Gabriel. Found it amusing as hell, and it got me wondering about bands and singers who reference their own or their bands' names in their songs. Here's what I came up with off the top of my head: Bad Company, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Queen, Boston, Jefferson Airplane, Who. What are some others? And please, no obvious examples like "Ice, Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice. That's too easy. As would be the case if Yes ever used the word "Yes" in one of their songs.

[Bake]

1. David Allan Coe

But the only time I know
I'll hear David Allan Coe
Is when Jesus has His final judgment day

And I'll hang around as long as you will let me
And I never minded standing in the rain
You don't have to call me Darlin, Darlin
You never even called me by my name.


Bake

[Westegg]

7. Perfect.

[MrCoffee]

20. DAC didn't write it, though

Does that still count?

[SteppingRazor]

23. Even if it doesn't, you can still put DAC on the list for "Willie, Waylon and Me" n/t

[Deep13]

2. iron maiden

[Westegg]

13. Ah, that's a good one.

[EastTennesseeDem]

3. Does "Glass Onion" by the Beatles count?

They never say "The Beatles", but they allude to their songs and Paul.

[Westegg]

8. Yeah, that's self-referential enuf. Good one!

[XNASA]

4. Talk Talk & World Party

nt

[Westegg]

15. Two more. Excellent.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. Mamas and the Papas : Creeque Alley

ARTIST: The Mamas and the Papas
TITLE: Creeque Alley
Lyrics and Chords


John and Mitchy were getting kind of itchy
Just to leave the folk music behind
Zal and Denny, working for a penny
Trying to get a fish on the line
In a coffee house Sebastian sat
And after every number they'd pass the hat
McGuinn and McGuire's just a-getting higher
In L.A., you know where that's at
And no one's getting fat except Mama Cass

/ B7 - / / E7 - / B7 - / F#7 - / E7 - /
/ B7 - / B7 E7 / E7 D7 / B7 - /

Zally said, Denny, you know there aren't many
Who can sing a song the way that you do, let's go south
Denny said Zally, golly, don't you think that I wish
I could play guitar like you
Zal, Denny and Sebastian sat, at the Night Owl
And after every number they'd pass the hat
McGuinn and McGuire's still a-gettin' higher
In L.A., you know where that's at
And no one's getting fat except Mama Cass

When Cass was a sophomore, planned to go to Swarthmore
But she changed her mind one day
Standing on the turnpike, thumb out to hitch hike
Take her to New York right away
When Denny met Cass he gave her love bumps
Called John and Zal and that was the Mugwumps
McGuinn and McGuire couldn't get no higher
But that's what they were aiming at
And no one's getting fat except Mama Cass

Mugwumps, high jumps, low slumps, big bumps
Don't you work as hard as you play
Make up, break up, everything you shake up
Guess it had to be that way
Sebastian and Zal formed the Spoonful
Michelle, John, and Denny getting very tuneful
McGuinn and McGuire just a-catching fire
In L.A., you know where that's at
And everybody's getting fat except Mama Cass
Di-di-di-dit dit dit di-di-di-dit, who-o-oa

Broke, busted, disgusted, agents can't be trusted
And Mitchy wants to go to the sea
Cass can't make it, she says we'll have to fake it
We knew she'd come eventually
Greezin' on American Express cards
Tent's low rent, but keeping out the heat's hard
Duffy's good vibrations and our imaginations
Can't go on indefinitely
And California dreamin' is becoming a reality

[Westegg]

9. Yes! Can't believe I didn't recall this one.

[SoxFan]

6. Big Country

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00ATtzUZVZA

[Westegg]

11. Good one. Right up there with "Bad Company."

[Rambis]

14. Ah Scottish pop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeuNxMY_5Uo

[no name no slogan]

10. Yes uses "Yes" gratuitously in "Tempus Fugit" (from Drama)

more than just in passing, so I would argue that it belongs in this list.

[Westegg]

12. I suspect you're right, no name. Must check this song out.

[Bake]

16. Jon Bon Jovi

Although not directly by name; in "Cowboy"

I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride ...

and the line, "I've seen a million faces, and I rocked them all."

Very annoying. And I'd LIKE to like that song. I love the descending acoustic guitar riff.

Bake

[livetohike]

17. "Fire" by Jimi Hendrix

"Move over Rover, and let Jimi take over!"

[driver8]

30. Damn -- you beat me to it!! n/t

[fishwax]

18. Bob Dylan

"You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy" in Gotta Serve Somebody.

[NoGOPZone]

19. Bo Diddley nt

[NoPasaran]

21. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson: Luckenbach, Texas

[DarkTirade]

22. John Lennon, Working Class Hero.

"If you wanna be a hero then just follow me."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njG7p6CSbCU

[Richardo]

32. Also: "I don't believe in Beatles"

Sort of self-referential.

[PeaceNikki]

24. B.E.A.S.T.I.E.

I just got my digitally remastered Paul's Boutique 20th anniversary on vinyl so I have BB on the brain.

:D and :bounce:

[BurtWorm]

25. Lady Gaga

Deee-lite

[semillama]

26. Metallica

I think it was in "Metal Militia" - definitely from "Kill 'em All"

[Alexander]

39. It was "Whiplash" from Kill 'Em All

Megadeth also referred to themselves on the debut album, in the song "Rattlehead".

[johnnie]

27. Alex Harvey doing a Leiber and Stoller tune

I'm walking down the street mindin' my own affair
when two policemen grabbed me and I'm unaware
They said "Is your name Alexander?" and I said "Why, sure!"
They said "You're the cat that we've been looking for."


I was frame-eda

[Richardo]

28. Dr. Hook: "Cover of the Rolling Stone"

C'mon!

[driver8]

29. Jimi Hendrix -- "move over, and let Jimi take over"... n/t

[Glorfindel]

31. Grand Funk Railroad: "We're an American Band"

Does it get any more self-referential than that?

[KamaAina]

33. What's my name? What's my name?

Snoop Doggy Do-o-ogg! Snoop Doggy Do-o-ogg!

edit: not "Doogy" (teen rapper?)

[geardaddy]

34. GLC

Goldie Lookin' Chain

Time to make a change, init?! You fuckin' knows it! Safe as fuck! GLC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0jUNvfFCY4

Time for the GLC to make a change innit

Lookin' back, times they was whack
I used to steal from my grandma, my style was so slack
Nothing i could do to stop sucking on a brew (?)
If I kept on this way next stop was the glue
Had to get away, had to find a way out
So I raised up my fist and gave a GLC shout

Tidy

Lookin back, I was on the edge
But I had to make a pledge
To the GLC, cos you knows they'll set you free
And if you open your eyes you can see
You knows it
1983 to the present day
Safe as fcuk
Knows it

Yeah, the GLC saved a lot of people's lives
Stopped a lot of people getting stabbed with big knives
All these people here in one big crew
... (?) between me and you
We wanna stop all the violence on the streets
We wanna get the kids together
Wanna make 'em feel sweet
We gotta stop all the stuff thats goin' on
... (?), and smoke on a bong

GLC GLC (serious)
The only thing in life what could ever save me (respect)
GLC GLC (38 double D Killer, ... (?)
The only thing in like what could ever save me (2000 AD)
GLC GLC (the rod (?))
The only thing in life what could ever save me (Benwa Balls)
GLC GLC (One Step Down)
The only thing in life what could ever save me (Burnside)

GLC knows it

2000 AD

2000 AD was a bad boy you see
That's what they said back in early '83
It wasn't my fault, my father was a boozer
He used to beat me up and said I was a loser
But times they have changed
My style's less insane
Cos I sees the light in the Goldie Lookin Chain
Big shout out to DCI Burnside
Billy Webb
... (?)

Safe as fcuk
One Step Garage Crew
You fcukin' knows it

You know, sometimes I go into Pil late at night
I sees robbings and beatings
People smokin' draw
I think, there's gotta be a better way man
Ya know, I think it's time for the GLC to make a change
It's time to make a fresh start
Like Biggie n 2Pac, innit

GLC GLC
The only thing in life what could ever save me
GLC GLC
The only thing in life what could ever save me
GLC GLC
The only thing in life what could ever save me
GLC GLC
The only thing in life what could ever save me

Lookin back, times was strange
Like Barry Bethel makin the change
Blastin through, using tablets and pills
At community centres I got the skills
But now we gets together in the GLC
And smokes loads of fags and has cups of tea
You gotta do it
Join in too
Like YTS when you're smacked out on glue

Oh son, the days of the 9 bar are over
It's all ounces and quarters now clart
Serious man, I'm serious
There's no room for gangsters on the streets no more
There's no room for beatin's or fightin
It's time for chillin' innit

Fresh

Lord of lords
King of kings
Concrete lion in Newport
Screwface
Fuck knows who screwface is
Razz as fcuk
Heavy flow

[kimmerspixelated]

35. Joni Mitchell in Blue Motel Room

off of Hejira, I think..

[Z_I_Peevey]

36. Sweet Baby James

[Doc_Technical]

37. Kool & the Gang- Hollywood Swingin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz2evj6YfS4

[Alexander]

38. Queen: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"

Ready, Freddie!

[Heidi]

40. Leonard Cohen: "Look at me Leonard. Look at me one last time."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d-8hxLMOcg

Because Of
Words and music by Leonard Cohen

Because of a few songs
Wherein I spoke of their mystery,
Women have been
Exceptionally kind
to my old age.
They make a secret place
In their busy lives
And they take me there.
They become naked
In their different ways
and they say,
"Look at me, Leonard
Look at me one last time."
Then they bend over the bed
And cover me up
Like a baby that is shivering.

[Common Sense Party]

41. Motley Crue's cover of "Smokin' in the Boys Room"

My buddies Sixx, Mick & Tom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYhGi65Lijg

[Common Sense Party]

42. Van Halen, Unchained

Woo-hoo! Take a look at this!
Hey man, that suit is you!
Whoo-whee! You'll get some leg tonight for sure!
Tell us how you do! Hoo hoo hoo!
(Come on Dave, gimme a break)
Hey hey hey hey! One break, comin' up!



Some studio guy says it, but still....

[Common Sense Party]

43. "Strange" by R.E.M.

There's something strange going on tonight
There's something going on that's not quite right
Michael's nervous and the lights are bright
There's something going on that's not quite right

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXaET6ZRR6s

I know Stipe didn't write this song, but it's definitely referring to him.

[Common Sense Party]

44. The obvious one: "Have a Cigar" by Pink Floyd

With the obsequious record label guy saying:

Well I've always had a deep respect, and I mean that most sincerely.
The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think.
Oh by the way,
Which one's Pink?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUDpc04r_QM

[Tabasco_Dave]

45. Wang Chung - Everybody Have Fun Tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMylfkSDKV0

[ghostsofgiants]

46. Shit, I was thinking about this just the other night...

Minor Threat have a few, namely "Minor Threat" and "Cashing In."

I don't remember which other ones I had in mind. Lots of hip-hop is self-referential.

Public Image Ltd. has a song called "Public Image" if that counts.