This morning Ray LaMontagne’s song “Meg White” came on my pandora mix. It’s a pretty rockin’ tune. Basically it’s a love song, but it’s for Meg White (of the White Stripes) so, as expected, it has some angst to it. I couldn’t help but think about how awesome it must be to have a famous musician write a love song with you in mind. Here’s a list of a few such songs that I’m aware of, and their targets.
Ray LaMontagne – Meg White
for… Meg White.
John Mayer – Your Body is a Wonderland
for Jennifer Love Hewitt
Apparently this is an untrue rumor. This makes me happy. John Mayer kinda creeps me out.
Eric Clapton – Layla, Wonderful Tonight, Bell Bottom Blues
Pattie Boyd
George Harrison – Something
Pattie Boyd (I guess it’s Pattie Boyd FTW)
Katy Perry – I kissed a girl
inspired by a photograph of Scarlett Johansson
Alanis Morrisette – You Oughta Know
about Matt Damon (bummer) **UPDATE – see comments**
Are there any more love songs that you can think of that have a famous target?
You Oughta Know is actually about Dave Coulier from Full House, which is kinda hysterical.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Yes!
That is 100% better.
Fenix TX – Phoebe
about Phoebe Cates from Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline, Caroline Kennedy
Oh and what about You’re So Vain by Carly Simon. You probably think it’s about you, don’t you?
James Taylor!!
So surprised you didn’t know about this one:
Ozma – Natalie Portman
Two guesses to who it’s about.
Also:
Nerfherder – Courtney Love
more of a joke/biography song, but they effect a lot of admiration in there.
http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/oughta.asp
Labb – Drew (about Drew Barrymore)
Ah, but that’s from 2007, and this is from 2008: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/08/14/2008-08-14_dave_coulier_admits_alanis_morissettes_y.html
oh Snap!
Something is going on here – this comment was originally saying that my friend claims to know the actress who plays Demi Levato, and that she used to date the guy from Fall Out Boy (and is now going out with Jorma Taccone).
Oh, there’s also Self’s Meg Ryan, which mentions how his life would be if he were into the actress.
Hmm. I think your skepticism is right on. Demi is 16 and I thought Jorma was a fair bit older. Ha! Wikipedia says 32. That sort of relationship would probably be considered improper.
I’ve also met this friend in question – four years ago, she was 24ish, divorced, and a drummer in a band – he said they make-up the hell out of her. So yeah, I don’t really know what to think.
Oh man, Wikipedia even lists a wife for him. Thank you for inadvertently leading me to the bottom of this!
My apologies. That’s what I get for thinking that everything on the internets is the truth.
The Beatles Hey Jude was for John Lennon son’s to make him feel better about his parent’s divorce (due to Yoko Ono). Franz Ferdinand’s “Eleanor Put Your Boots On” is about Eleanor Friedberger from The Fiery Furnaces. Also, I’m pretty sure Coldplay has at least one song for Gwyneth Paltrow.
The coldplay song “Green Eyes” is about his cat… so to the extent that Chris Martin’s cat is famous, that one should count.
Pretty sure Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind” was about Marilyn Monroe, but then he rewrote it for Princess Di.
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. Stephen Stills for Judy Collins
Woody Guthrie wrote the song “Ingrid Bergman” for ingrid bergman… it’s on that Wilco/Billy Bragg album Mermaid Avenue.
Sir Mix-a-lot wrote “Big Butts” about Kurt.
The name of the song is “Baby Got Back.”
Actually, Warren Beatty, Kris Kristofferson, and Mick Jagger are all still in the running for the inspiration according to hints Carly Simon has given over the decades. Although, I like to think it was Taylor too.
This post is torturing me. It’s making me look up songs of unrequited love like “Nights In White Satin” by the Moody Blues, “I’ll Be There for You” by Bon Jovi or “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper and finding no deep secrets on their inspiration. Now I want to know all the mysteries.
I really want to know the cold-hearted *%&$# that inspired all the Airborne Toxic Event songs now too.
Yes! The lead singer did mention during a concert that “Happiness is Overrated” was about ‘a little Catholic girl he used to date’ – though I doubt she is famous. Also, this leads me to believe there are multiple women behind his angst.
For anyone who hasn’t heard the Airborne Toxic Event, I would highly recommend picking up their cd.