From heartfelt ballads to energetic anthems, music has served as a universal medium for artists to commemorate their favorite celebrities; their legacy, their accomplishments, their struggles, and their private lives.
In this list, you’ll find songs about actors and actresses, models, musicians, politicians, and sportsmen.
Let the choruses and verses guide you through the life and death of these celebrities in these 21 songs about famous people.
1. Robert De Niro’s Waiting – Bananarama
Fantasizing about dating your crush is, I dare say, something everyone has done at least once in their lives. And let’s not even mention dating a celebrity!
Some imagine going out with Megan Fox, others with Brad Pitt. Some daydreamers may picture events in which they date the two of them simultaneously.
The girls from Bananarama, for example, knew exactly who their crush was: Robert De Niro.
Well, the original title was supposed to be Al Pacino’s Waiting, so I guess the girls just wanted to date an actor whoever he was.
Now, who’s ready to write a cover titled Adam Sandler’s Waiting?
2. Steve McQueen – Sheryl Crow
Based on actor Steve McQueen, Sheryl Crow’s song provides a warm combination of rock, pop, and country.
The music video shows Crow running away from a man on a car chase, as a way of commemorating one of McQueen’s most famous movies Bullitt.
The same happens during the motorcycle chase, this time referring to the movie The Great Escape.
3. The Ballad of John and Yoko – The Beatles
Must have felt odd to sing a song about yourself, don’t you think?
The thing is that The Ballad of John and Yoko is a critique of the news and the media which would chase after this memorable couple all around the globe, almost literally.
This classic was recorded only by half of the members of the band. To be more precise, Lennon and Paul; the last one in charge of bass, piano, and drums.
4. Buddy Holly – Weezer
Weezer’s all-time classic was originally supposed to mention the dancing duo, Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.
Naturally, the chorus was changed to mention pioneer Rock N’ Roll musician Buddy Holly, as well as American actress Mary Tyler Moore.
5. Clint Eastwood – Gorillaz
Clint Eastwood stared at some of the most memorable Westerns of the 20th Century, including For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
The song’s intro is a clear hint to Ennio Morricone’s musical pieces; the man behind the soundtrack of the already mentioned movies.
6. Marilyn Monroe – Pharrell Williams
Singer Pharrell Williams throws away the beauty standard in this song named after the most famous American sex symbol of the 50s.
Pharrell’s ultimate message is that it does not matter for a woman to be excessively beautiful. Being themselves is more than enough; that’s the only way to find the “right one”.
7. Bullet – The Misfits
The Misfits narrate John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s assassination in just a minute and a half.
Oh, and her wife Jackie receives an honorable mention as well.
8. Move Like Jagger – Maroon 5
Rolling Stone’s frontman Mick Jagger has two specific traits that have always made him stand out above other singers.
First, his huge mouth; the ultimate sex symbol in Rock N’ Roll music.
Second, his mesmerizing way of dancing whenever hitting the stage.
Maroon 5 paid reverence to Mick and, more specifically, to this second trait of the singer.
9. Donald Trump – Mac Miller
Love him or hate him; Donal Trump has become one of the most controversial and recognizable figures of the 21st Century.
If you ask anyone who Donald Trump is, most people would say he was the USA’s 45th president. However, it’s fair to forget that way before that, Trump was already a celebrity.
Naturally, Trump was already a successful business magnate way before running for president in the mid-2010s. In other words, Trump was a symbol of financial liberty and American triumph.
Mac Miller’s song was written with the later idea of Trump; a surname associated with money. This changed after Donald won the elections in 2016.
Although Miller was highly against Donald Trump’s way of running a country, he kept playing the song during live shows. This time, though, introducing a little F word before the ex-president’s surname.
10. Hurricane – Bob Dylan
Although Hurricane is based on boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, the song’s message is far from being a praise of the sportsman’s abilities.
Rubin Carter’s story is both sad and inspiring.
In 1966, Carter was arrested for a crime he did not commit. He ended up paying with 20 years of his life in prison.
Nonetheless, Rubin never backed down and became the director of the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted once he was freed.
Dylan discusses injustice and racism in this all-time classic.
11. Amy – Green Day
Amy is dedicated to nonother than the legendary British singer Amy Winehouse.
According to Billie Joe, ending a party album (¡Dos!) with a song based on a tragic event seemed odd at first. However, he claims that, after all, it was also a clever way to show the aftermath of too much partying.
12. Magic Johnson – Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Quite an underrated song from Mother’s Milk of 1989.
Magic Johnson is an American ex-basketball player who played for the Los Angeles Lakers.
13. I Hate Jimmy Page – Mindless Self Indulge
Although the song’s title is a clear reference to Led Zeppelin’s guitarist Jimmy Page, the song itself is not exactly directed at him.
For me, it’s an overall critique of the legend and the myth that surrounds and grows around a famous musician’s name.
Leaving their talent aside, deep down they’re just people, like any other non-celebrity human being.
Well, maybe, just maybe, Jimmy Page is The Devil, but hey, that’s fine with me!
14. Just Like Greta – Van Morrison
15. Crispin Glover – Scarling
16. Be My Yoko Ono – Barenaked Ladies
17. Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me For Me) – Blessed Union of Souls
18. The Ghost of Vincent Price – Wednesday 13
19. Bill Gates – Rick Ross
20. I Wanna Be A Warhol – Alkaline Trio
21. Obama – Anonhi
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