17 songs that feature famous names from Elvis to Roger Moore

There are so many songs!

Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Don McLean, Madonna, Elton John and Suggs from Madness
Author: Anna Sky MagliolaPublished 31st Oct 2024

From Kim Carnes' 'Bette Davis Eyes' to Bananarama's 'Robert de Niro's Waiting' there are a lot of songs that feature famous names, not only in the titles, but in the lyrics themselves.

Here we take a look at 17 songs such as 'Vogue' by Madonna which has lyrics like: 'Greta Garbo and Monroe, Dietrich and DiMaggio, Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean, on the cover of a magazine', and Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire' with names such as: 'Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray'.

Songs that feature famous names:

Madonna - 'Vogue'

Madonna's 1990 hit 'Vogue' features lyrics such as: 'Greta Garbo and Monroe, Dietrich and DiMaggio, Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean, on the cover of a magazine.
'Grace Kelly, Harlow, Jean, picture of a beauty queen, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, dance on air
'They had style, they had grace, Rita Hayworth gave good face, Lauren, Katherine, Lana too, Bette Davis, we love you'.
Watch the music video on YouTube.

Kim Carnes - 'Bette Davis Eyes'

Kim Carnes released her version of 'Bette Davis Eyes' in 1981, reaching Number 10 in the UK. Not only does the title of the song feature the American actress Bette Davis, in the lyrics she is mentioned throughout, along with Greta Garbo.
'She got Greta Garbo stand off sighs
'She's got Bette Davis eyes'
Watch the music video on YouTube.

Madness - '(My Name Is) Michael Caine'

Released back in 1984, Madness' '(My Name Is) Michael Caine' reached Number 11 in the UK and along with the song title, the lyrics featured the famous British actor Michael Caine. The lyrics are: 'I, am Michael Caine'.
Watch the music video on YouTube.

Elton John - 'Candle In The Wind' (Original)

Elton John's original version of 'Candle In The Wind' was released back in 1974 in honour of Marilyn Monroe, and mentioned the actress' real name Norma Jeane throughout, as well as the lyrics: 'Goodbye Norma Jeane
From the young man in the twenty second row
Who sees you as something as more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe'
Watch the music video on YouTube.

Bananarama - 'Robert De Niro's Waiting...'

Not only does Bananarama's hit single 'Robert De Niro's Waiting...' include the famous actor's name in the title, it features throughout with chorus lyrics: 'Robert De Niro's waiting
Talking Italian
Robert De Niro's waiting
Talking Italian
Robert De Niro's waiting
Talking Italian (Talking Italian)
Robert De Niro's waiting'
Watch the music video on YouTube.

Alcazar - 'Crying at the Discoteque'

Swedish band Alcazar released their hit 'Crying at the Discoteque' back in 2000 and it was a Top 20 hit in many countries, including the UK. The chorus includes the words: 'You wore a tie like Richard Gere'
Watch the music video on YouTube.

David Essex - 'Rock On'

David Essex's song 'Rock On' features the name 'Jimmy Dean', referring to James Dean throughout the song. The lyrics go: 'Prettiest girl I ever seen
See her shake on the movie screen
Jimmy Dean
Jimmy Dean'
Watch the music video on YouTube.

James - 'Just Like Fred Astaire'

'Just Like Fred Astaire' was featured on James' 'Millionaires' album, released in 1999 and reached Number 17 in the UK. Along with the title, the song's chorus features the famous singer's name: ''Cause when I hold her in my arms
I feel like Fred Astaire'.

Don McLean - 'American Pie'

Don McLean's iconic song 'American Pie' is another song that features James Dean. The lyrics are: 'When the jester sang for the king and queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean'.
Watch the lyric video on YouTube.

Weezer - 'Buddy Holly'

Weezer released their hit 'Buddy Holly' in 1994. The song reached Number 12 in the UK, and included two well-known names. Along with the title 'Buddy Holly', the lyrics also included Mary Tyler Moore, who was an American actress and film producer, who won seven Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. The lyrics are: 'Ooh-wee-hoo, I look just like Buddy Holly, Oh-oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore'.
Watch the music video on YouTube.

Marc Cohen - 'Walking In Memphis'

Marc Cohen released 'Walking In Memphis' in 1991, and it was later covered by Cher in 1995. Marc's version of the song received a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year, while the singer also received the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. The lyrics of the song include several famous people, including: W.C. Handy (American composer and musician), Elvis, and Reverend Green, which is believed to refer to Reverend Al Green, a Memphis-based soul singer and songwriter.
The lyrics are: 'W.C. Handy, won't you look down over me?' / 'Saw the ghost of Elvis' / 'And Reverend Green be glad to see you'.
Watch the music video on YouTube.

R.E.M. - 'Man On The Moon'

R.E.M.'s 1992 hit 'Man On The Moon' was written as a tribute to comedian Andy Kaufman, whose name features in the lyrics, along with Freddie Blassie (wrestler), Elvis, Charles Darwin, and St Peter. The lyrics are: 'Andy Kaufman in the wrestling match' / 'Mister Fred Blassie in a breakfast mess' / 'Andy, are you goofing on Elvis? Hey, baby' / 'Mister Charles Darwin had the gall to ask' / 'Here's a truck stop instead of Saint Peter's'.
Watch the music video on YouTube

George Michael - 'John and Elvis are Dead'

George Michael released 'John and Elvis are Dead' back in 2005. The song was about John Lennon and Elvis Presley, the song's lyrics also include Marvin Gaye. The lyrics are: 'Then how come John and Elvis are dead?' / 'Then how come Marvin and Elvis are dead?'.
Watch the music video on YouTube.

Billy Joel - 'We Didn't Start The Fire'

Billy Joel's 1989 hit 'We Didn't Start The Fire' included so many famous names, fictitious names, places and events that we can't list them all, however some of the most famous names mentioned include the first line: 'Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray' / 'Davy Crockett, Peter Pan, Elvis Presley, Disneyland'.
Watch the music video on YouTube.

Wham! - 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go'

Released in 1984, 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go' became Wham!'s first Number 1 in both the UK and USA. Written and produced by George Michael, the song included Doris Day in the lyrics: 'You make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day'
Watch the music video on YouTube.

Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue - 'Kids'

Released way back in 2000, 'Kids' was a duet with Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue. The song included Sean Connery and Billy Connolly in the lyrics: 'I'm an honorary Sean Connery, born '74' / 'Not some bird that looks like Billy Connolly'.
Watch the music video on YouTube.

Al Stewart - 'Year of the Cat'

Al Stewart's song 'Year of the Cat' was released in 1976 and although it wasn't a huge hit in the UK, it did well in the USA, where it Reached Number 8 in the Billboard Hot 100. The song features two well-known names (Humphrey) Bogart and Peter Lorre. 'On a morning from a Bogart movie, In a country where they turn back time, You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre'.
Watch the music video on YouTube.

Now read:

21 songs which were huge hits after a re-release

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The greatest one-hit wonders of the 1980s

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