49 Songs Where Rockers Name-Check Themselves

Listed here are 49 songs the place rockers name-check themselves.

In songwriting, there’s a substantial amount of enjoyable available within the technique of crafting characters to look in songs like actors in a play.

Some are totally fictitious, others are very a lot real-life individuals. And that features themselves. There are many situations of artists casually name-checking one other band or fellow musician in a track, normally a signifier of admiration. However what about merely name-dropping your self?

To not be confused with self-titled songs, under we’re looking at 49 Identify-Drop Songs that you will need to take heed to intently.

1. Aerosmith, “F.I.N.E.”
From: Pump (1989)

“Your daddy says I am alright,” Steven Tyler sings in 1989’s “F.I.N.E.,” “and the Tipper thinks I am alright and Joe Perry says I am alright,” references to Tipper Gore, the girl answerable for the Mother and father Music Useful resource Middle censorship marketing campaign at the moment, and Aerosmith’s personal guitarist, respectively. (Honorable Point out goes to 1985’s “The Hop:” “You may be kickin’ ass tonight with the boys in Aerosmith.”)

2. Alice Cooper, “Be My Lover”
From: Killer (1971)

The woman in Alice Cooper’s “Be My Lover” posed the query many individuals had been considering on the time, with Cooper responding with a non-answer: “She requested me why the singer’s identify was Alice / I mentioned ‘pay attention child, you actually would not perceive.'” (Honorable Point out for 2023’s “I am Alice,” the place Cooper now not feels any have to be evasive: “I am Alice, the grasp of insanity, the daddy of fright.”)

3. Anthrax, “I am the Man”
From: Among the many Residing (1987)

Anthrax lower proper to the chase in 1987’s “I am the Man,” introducing themselves within the very first line: “Now we’re Anthrax and we take no shit.” Additionally they point out their very own drummer, Charlie Benante: “Charlie, beat the beats, the beats you beat.”

4. The B-52’s, “Dance This Mess Round”
From: The B-52’s (1979)

“Hey, so Fred, do not that make you’re feeling a complete lot higher, huh?” Cindy Wilson asks her B-52’s bandmate Fred Schneider in 1979’s “Dance This Mess Round.” “I say, do not that make you’re feeling a complete lot higher? / What you say? Properly, I am simply askin.’“

5. The Beatles, “Glass Onion”
From: The White Album (1968)

In 1968’s “Glass Onion,” John Lennon answered the query many Beatles followers had been questioning for almost a 12 months: “I advised you in regards to the walrus and me, man /  that we’re as shut as may be, man / Properly, here is one other clue for you all / The walrus was Paul.” (Honorable Point out for Ringo Starr’s enthusiastic shout-out to his bandmate on their 1964 cowl of “Honey Do not:” “Ah, rock on, George, for Ringo one time!“

6. Large Star, “O My Soul”
From: Radio Metropolis (1974)

Large Star’s Radio Metropolis was not precisely successful upon its launch in 1974, however its repute developed over time. In “O My Soul,” although, the band was already ruminating on fame and fortune: “I can not get a license to drive in my automotive / However I do not actually need it if I am an enormous star.”

7. Billy Joel, “Piano Man”
From: Piano Man (1973)

We’re not precisely certain how many individuals, if any, discuss with Billy Joel as “Invoice,” however the particular person speaking to him in “Piano Man” does it. “Invoice I imagine that is killing me,” he says.

8. Bob Dylan, “Serve Any person”
From: Gradual Prepare Coming (1979)

For these unaware, Bob Dylan was born Robert Zimmerman — he legally modified it to Dylan in 1962. Near 20 years after that, Dylan name-dropped himself in “Serve Any person:” “It’s possible you’ll name me Bobby, it’s possible you’ll name me Zimmy.”

9. Stylish, “Le Freak”
From: C’est Stylish (1978)

Actually with a band identify like Stylish, you merely should discover a method to incorporate it someway right into a track. In “Le Freak,” the title refers to a mode of dance that is “c’est stylish” —”it is fashionable” in French.

10. Chicago, “Take Me Again to Chicago”
From: Chicago XI (1977)

It actually simply makes all of the sense on the earth {that a} band known as Chicago from Chicago would sing about their hometown, as they did in 1977’s “Take Me Again to Chicago,” “the place my life was free and straightforward.” Bonus factors for together with Chaka Kahn as a backing vocalist.

11. The Conflict, “Conflict Metropolis Rockers”
From: The Conflict (1977)

The Conflict even have just a few completely different songs wherein they point out themselves. First there was “Conflict Metropolis Rockers” from their 1977 debut album, adopted by “Rudie Cannot Fail” from 1979’s London Calling. And eventually, “Radio Conflict,” a 1981 single.

12. David Bowie, “Teenage Wildlife”
From: Scary Monsters (And Tremendous Creeps) (1980)

Some have interpreted David Bowie’s “Teenage Wildlife” as having to do with “Bowie imitators” so to talk, those that got here up behind him using comparable methods. “You may take me apart and say ‘Properly, David, what shall I do? They await me within the hallway,’” he sings. “I am going to say ‘Do not ask me, I do not know any hallways.’” However as Bowie himself as soon as put it, it was extra of a self-reflective piece. “I suppose it might be addressed to a legendary teenage brother if I had one,” he mentioned [via The Guardian], “or perhaps my latter-day adolescent self, making an attempt to appropriate these issues one thinks one’s finished flawed.”

13. Devo, “Jocko Homo”
From: Q: Are We Not Males? A: We Are Devo! (1978)

“Jocko Homo” is the track from which Devo derived the title of their 1978 launch, Q: Are We Not Males? A: We Are Devo! By then the band had already been enjoying the track stay for a number of years, encouraging audiences to take part within the call-and-response bit.

READ MORE: The 40 Finest Cowl Songs by Rock Bands

14. Exodus, “The Poisonous Waltz”
From: Fabulous Catastrophe (1989)

Within the phrases of Steve “Zetro” Souza, Exodus’ “The Poisonous Waltz” was written as one thing of a joke. “I did not even assume that we had been going to make use of it,” he advised Songfacts. “In case you learn the lyrics, they’re sort of foolish.” These lyrics included a self-referential second: “And this train helps you brutalize, with us! Exodus!“

15. Weapons N’ Roses, “Get within the Ring”
From: Use Your Phantasm II (1991)

There’s quite a bit occurring in 1991’s “Get within the Ring” by Weapons N’ Roses, who took the chance to name out a handful of music critics the band evidently deemed beneath them, Andy Secher, Mick Wall and Bob Guccione Jr. It was, as GNR apparently noticed it, a battle between the 2 sides: “And on this nook, weighin’ in at 850 kilos, Weapons N’ Roses.”

16. Harry Chapin, “Taxi”
From: Heads & Tales (1972)

There’s at all times one thing terribly tender in regards to the reunification of previous flames after a long time aside, which is the premise of Harry Chapin’s “Taxi:” “She mentioned, ‘How are you, Harry?’ I mentioned, ‘How are you, Sue? By means of the too many miles and the too little smiles I nonetheless keep in mind you.’“

17. James Brown, “There Was a Time”
From: I Cannot Stand Myself When You Contact Me (1968)

When is comes to bounce strikes, few performing musicians had been extra versatile and charismatic than James Brown. And he completely knew it. “However you’ll be able to wager you have not seen nothing but,” he sang in 1968’s “There Was a Time,” “Till you see me do the James Brown.”

18. Jim Croce, “You Do not Mess Round With Jim”
From: You Do not Mess Round With Jim (1972)

Name it a veiled menace, name it a direct warning, however no matter you do round Jim Croce, let it’s identified: “You do not pull the masks off that previous Lone Ranger / And you do not fiddle with Jim.“

19. The Jimi Hendrix Expertise, “Hearth”
From: Are You Skilled (1967)

Because the story goes, Jimi Hendrix was as soon as at his bass participant Noel Redding’s house in England following a New Yr’s Eve present. His intention was to heat himself up by the hearth however Redding’s household canine had apparently already claimed the spot, resulting in Hendrix to utter the strains: “Aw, transfer over, Rover, and let Jimi take over.“

20. John Lennon, “God”
From: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)

John Lennon was not the one main recording artist to have an advanced relationship together with his previous work, however he was definitely one who voiced his misgivings. The strongest instance of this was maybe his 1970 track “God,” wherein he roughly renounces his affiliation with individuals and issues that had been as soon as necessary to him, together with his previous band: “I do not imagine in Beatles.”

21. Child Rock, “Bawitdaba”
From: Satan With out a Trigger (1998)

In case you forgot it, Child Rock yells his identify at full quantity on his 1998 monitor “Bawitdaba:” “My identify is Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid, Child Rock!” Few different recognizable English phrases may be discovered within the track.

22. King Crimson, “The Court docket of the Crimson King”
From: Within the Court docket of the Crimson King (1969)

Sure, technically this track name-drops the band backwards — as a substitute of “King Crimson” there are a number of references to “the crimson king,” however it’s nonetheless worthy of inclusion. “The Court docket of the Crimson King,” which was additionally launched as a single in 1969, was the prog group’s solely Sizzling 100 hit, reaching No. 80.

23. Kiss, “Calling Dr. Love”
From: Rock and Roll Over (1976)

In equity, “kiss” is a fairly widespread phrase in rock lyrics, however when Kiss themselves make it a degree to incorporate, it is worthy of noting. You may discover it in 1976’s “Calling Dr. Love:” “Step one of the treatment is a kiss.”

24. Kool and the Gang, “Hollywood Swinging”
From: Wild and Peaceable (1973)

Whoever the narrator is meant to be on “Hollywood Swinging,” they caught the bug to be within the music trade through Kool and the Gang: “I keep in mind not too way back / I went to the theater / And I noticed the Kool and the Gang present.” The track wound up a No. 6 hit on the Billboard Sizzling 100.

25. Leonard Cohen, “Subject Commander Cohen”
From: New Pores and skin for the Previous Ceremony (1974)

“Subject Commander Cohen, he was our most necessary spy,” Leonard Cohen explains on this 1974 self-referential quantity, “Wounded within the line of responsibility.” Cohen would use the phrase once more 5 years later for the title of a stay album, Subject Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979.

26. Residing Color, “What’s Your Favourite Shade? (Theme Tune)”
From: Vivid (1988)

It simply is smart to incorporate a band theme track in your debut album, no? Residing Color’s, titled “What’s Your Favourite Shade? (Theme Tune),” appeared on 1988’s Vivid. Their apparent reply: Residing Color.

27. The Mamas and the Papas, “Creeque Alley”
From: The Mamas and the Papas Ship (1967)

The Mamas and the Papas’ “Creeque Alley” is an autobiographical tune, playfully recounting the varied journeys of the respective band members. “John and Mitchy had been gettin’ sort of itchy / Simply to depart the folks music behind,” the primary few strains go, referring to John and Michelle Phillips. And later: “When Cass was a sophomore, deliberate to go to Swarthmore / However she modified her thoughts sooner or later.”

28. Manfred Mann, “The One within the Center”
From: Manfred Mann (1965) (EP)

Apparently, Paul Jones of Manfred Mann wrote “The One within the Center” for the Yardbirds. He’d attended one in every of their gigs the place he seen many of the males within the viewers gave the impression to be there for Eric Clapton, whereas the women favored Keith Relf. However when he provided the track to them, Relf swiftly declined. “He mentioned: ‘I am not singing that, that is embarrassing,'” Jones advised The Guardian in 2021. So he stored it for his personal band and easily modified the names to his bandmates’ in Manfred Mann.

29. Megadeth, “Set the World Afire”
From: So Far, So Good… So What! (1988)

Actually on his manner house from being kicked out of Metallica, Dave Mustaine discovered himself studying a politcal pamphlet by the California Senator Alan Cranston which learn, partially, “The arsenal of megadeath cannot be rid it doesn’t matter what the peace treaties come to.” Initially, Mustaine wished to make use of the phrase because the title of a track, however it ended up the identify of his new band. The track Mustaine wrote was re-titled to “Set the World Afire,” however it stored the identical line: “The arsenal of Megadeth cannot be rid of they mentioned.”

30. Metallica, “Whiplash”
From: Kill ‘Em All (1983)

From the very starting of their profession, Metallica made it clear that they had been going to be round for a great time and a very long time. “Lodge rooms and motorways, life out right here is uncooked,” James Hetfield sang on 1983’s “Whiplash,” the primary single from the band’s debut album, “However we’ll by no means cease, we’ll by no means stop, ‘trigger we’re Metallica.”

31. Mom Love Bone, “Capricorn Sister”
From: Apple (1990)

Mom Love Bone launched just one studio album, 1990’s Apple, however it made its mark. Their identify seems on the latter half of the album in a track known as “Capricorn Sister:” “Motherlovebone / mama papa talkin’ to me.“

32. Motley Crue, “Unhealthy Boy Boogie”
From: Women, Women, Women (1987)

Do not say Motley Crue did not warn you on 1987’s “Unhealthy Boy Boogie.” They made their intentions completely clear: “Higher lock up your daughter / When the Motleys hit the highway.”

33. Morrissey, “Ouija Board, Ouija Board”
From: 1989 Single

For people who aren’t conscious — and there is seemingly many — Morrissey’s first and authorized identify is Steven, which he talked about in his 1989 single “Ouija Board, Ouija Board.” In reality, he actually spells it out: “S.T.E.V.E.N.”

34. Nirvana, “Paper Cuts”
From: Bleach (1989)

It is virtually exhausting to inform what Kurt Cobain is half-singing, half-moaning in between verses on “Paper Cuts,” however pay attention intently and you may discover it is his personal band identify time and again.

35. Pearl Jam, “Soiled Frank”
From: Ten (1991)

A month earlier than Pearl Jam launched their debut album in August of 1991, the notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was lastly arrested. He would wind up pleading responsible however insane to fifteen counts of homicide, in addition to confess to consuming the physique elements of a number of of his victims. Pearl Jam’s “Soiled Frank” just isn’t technically about Dahmer — its title is definitely a reference to their bus driver, whom they had been leery of and known as “Soiled Frank” — however the lyrics contain a terrible lot of cannibalistic references, and one which name-checks their very own guitarist: “The place’s Mike McCready? My god he is been ate!“

36. Pink Floyd, “Have a Cigar”
From: Want You Have been Right here (1975)

“There have been an terrible lot of people that thought Pink Floyd was the identify of the lead singer and that was Pink himself and the band,” David Gilmour recalled in 1992. That confusion prompted the lyric: “The band is simply unbelievable, that’s actually what I believe / Oh, by the way in which, which one’s Pink?“

37. Prince, “My Identify Is Prince”
From: Love Image (1992)

“My identify is Prince and I’m funky / My identify is Prince, the one and solely.” Want he say extra?

38. Queen, “Killer Queen”
From: Sheer Coronary heart Assault (1974)

In line with Freddie Mercury, “Killer Queen” was written a few high-class name woman, one which drinks Moet et Chandon and wears Parisian fragrance. A number of years after that monitor, Queen name-checked themselves once more on “I Go Loopy,” which was initially supposed for the Sizzling Area album, however did not make the ultimate lower: “I do not need to go and see Queen no extra.”

39. Randy Newman, “My Life Is Good”
From: Hassle in Paradise (1983)

There’s not too many songs on the market that contain a dialogue with Bruce Springsteen, however Randy Newman’s “My Life Is Good” is one in every of them: “He mentioned, ‘Rand, I am drained. How would you wish to be the Boss for awhile?’“

40. Robert Cray, “Nothin’ However a Girl”
From: Sturdy Persuader (1986)

There’s at all times one thing form of humorous about an artist referring to youthful variations of themselves within the third particular person, like Robert Cray did in 1986’s “Nothin’ However a Girl,” which notes that “younger Bob” would not require “medication, whiskey, or greed.” All he wants is “nothin’ however a lady.“

41. Sammy Hagar, “Sam I Am”
From: This Is Sammy Hagar: When the Social gathering Began Vol. 1 (2016)

When Dr. Suess penned the road “Sam I’m” for his 1960 kids’s e-book Inexperienced Eggs and Ham, there isn’t any manner he might have imagined that Sammy Hagar would use it for himself a long time later. “I ain’t no Superman,” Hagar sings, “however Sam I’m.“

42. Scorpions, “Lovedrive”
From: Lovedrive (1979)

“I might like to indicate why Scorpions acquired a sting,” Klaus Meine sings on “Lovedrive” from the band’s breakthrough album of the identical identify. It is not totally clear whether or not that is a menace or a promise of a great time. It may be each.

43. Skid Row, “Youth Gone Wild”
From: Skid Row (1989)

Naming their debut album after themselves was not fairly sufficient for Skid Row. They dropped it once more in “Youth Gone Wild,” their debut single: “I mentioned, ‘Hey man, there’s one thing you must know / Properly, I am going to inform you Park Avenue results in Skid Row.’“

44. Steely Dan, “Present Biz Children”
From: Countdown to Ecstasy (1973)

Steely Dan’s “Present Biz Children” is meant to be a satirical tackle leisure tradition, however you must admit, you recognize you’ve got made it within the music enterprise when there’s a complete bunch of individuals on the market sporting shirts together with your band identify on them: “They acquired the shapely our bodies / They acquired the Steely Dan t-shirt.“

45. Stray Cats, “Stray Cat Strut”
From: Stray Cats (1981)

“Stray Cat Strut” is, after all, not an actual name-drop, however it’s awfully shut, and it is exhausting not to think about it as roughly the band’s personal anthem. It wound up going to No. 11 within the U.Okay. and No. 3 within the U.S., and its music video was proven typically on MTV.

46. The Supremes, “Again in My Arms Once more
From: Extra hits by the Supremes (1965)

Diana Ross took lead vocals on the Supremes’ “Again in My Arms Once more,” wherein she makes an attempt to reconcile with a damaged coronary heart. Her buddies, aka bandmates Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard, are of no assist: “How can Mary inform me what to do / When she misplaced her love so true? / And Flo, she do not know / ‘Trigger the boy she loves is a Romeo.“

47. Candy, “Ballroom Blitz”
From: Desolation Boulevard (1974) (U.S. Model Solely)

Any track that begins off with one member of the band asking the others in the event that they’re able to go is inevitably memorable, as within the case of Candy’s huge hit, “Ballroom Blitz:” “Are you prepared Steve? Uh-huh / Andy? Yeah / Mick? Okay / Alright fellas, let’s go!“

48. T. Rex, “Important Man”
From: The Slider (1972)

“Bolan likes to rock now / Sure he does, sure he does.” Good factor, as a result of Marc Bolan’s The Slider was an enormous hit on either side of the Atlantic.

49. The White Stripes, “Properly It is True That We Love One One other”
From: Elephant (2003)

The second line within the White Stripes’ “Properly It is True That We Love One One other” — “I really like Jack White like a bit of brother” — is especially notable given that early of their profession the duo claimed to be siblings, not romantic companions. Meg White’s identify can be dropped in all through the track.