Comments on: Wanted: Self-referential songs

By: James Wallis

James Wallis — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 19:29:07 +0000

Also, as Winamp churns through the tracklist, Sparks’s “I Predict”:
“And this song will fade out — this song will fade out — I predict — I predict — this song will fade out — this song will fade out” (It doesn’t)

By: James Wallis

James Wallis — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 08:11:57 +0000

Two and a bit years later: “Number One Song In Heaven” by Sparks, a little number about how the song you’re listening to is the number one song in heaven, and if you get hit by a car it’s what you’ll hear on your way skywards, and here comes Gabriel’s solo. Nice song, too.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 08:17:01 +0000

Here are two Canadian examples of self-referential song lyrics: Sunny Days, by Lighthouse: "Don't get me wrong, I really dig the moon/ But it was four in the afternoon when I wrote this tune." The Last Song, by Edward Bear "This is the last song I'll ever sing for you, etc" - A song with possibly the worst lyrics ever in a pop tune: check it out at http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/thelasts.htm

By: canis

canis — Fri, 07 Nov 2003 23:51:08 +0000

I got one for ya:
Falco – Rock Me Amadeus, the lyrics mention “1985 austrian rock singer falco records – rock me amadeus”.
Sorry to but in, but i stumbled across you and thought i’d add one – so there ya go. 🙂
~canis

By: Sean

Sean — Mon, 29 Sep 2003 05:42:53 +0000

Robbie Williams “Strong”:
“Early morning when I wake up
I look like Kiss but without the make-up
And that’s a good line to take it to
The bridge”
(Memory jogged by Tim’s Isle of Wight playlist 🙂

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 25 Sep 2003 15:11:01 +0000

The Barenaked Ladies – In The Car
“Once I had this dream
Where I slept with her mom
Unless I’ve got this wrong
A secret all along
Unless she hears this song
Unless she hears it
On a tape inside her car
With her new husband
And she turns to him and says
I think that’s me.”

By: Danny

Danny — Fri, 13 Jun 2003 11:58:06 +0000

sk8er boi!

By: Swirus

Swirus — Tue, 03 Jun 2003 02:31:13 +0000

Here’s a little song I wrote, hope you like it, note for note, don’t worry, be happy…
And Simon and Garfunkel were the first to sing ‘I was 21 years when I wrote this song, I’m 22 now, but I won’d be for now but I won’t be for long’; all the best ideas are borrowed
Also how about Cole Porter’s 1936 song ‘You’d be so easy to love’ as the earliest example of the self referential song?
I feel a sudden urge to sing the kind of ditty that invokes the Spring
So, control your desire to curse while I crucify the verse
This verse I’ve started seems to me the “Tin Pan-tithesis” of melody
So to spare you all the pain, I’ll skip the darn thing and sing the refrain

By: Danny No Brain

Danny No Brain — Fri, 30 May 2003 14:24:56 +0000

Damn damn damn, somebody beat me to "Title of The Song". Still, only I have a legal MP3 link for it! http://www.davincisnotebook.com/sounds/Title.mp3

By: Giovanni

Giovanni — Wed, 28 May 2003 15:11:58 +0000

My favourite is Nevermore’s ‘Lost’: “So I sing this song for the lost one”
An absolute excellence in self-refence is DaVinci’s Notebook ‘title of the song’:
“Declaration of my feelings for you
Elaboration on those feelings
Description of how long these feelings have existed
Belief that no one else could feel the same as I
Reminiscence of the pleasant times we’ve shared
And our relationship’s perfection
Recounting of the steps that lead to our love’s dissillusion
Mostly involving my unfaithfulness and lies
Penitent admission of wrongdoing
Discovery of the depth of my affection
Regret over the lateness of my epiphany
CHORUS:
Title of the song
Naive expression of love
Reluctance to accept that you are gone
Request to turn back time
And rectify my wrongs
Repetition of the title of the song
Enumeration of my various transgressive actions
Of insufficient motivation
Realization that these actions led to your departure
And my resultant lack of sleep and appetite
Renunciation of my past insensitive behavior
Promise of my reformation
Reassurance that you still are foremeost in my thoughts, now,
Need for instructions how to gain your trust again
Request for reconciliation
Listing of the numerouss tasks that I’d perform
Of physical and emotional compensation
Acknowledgement that I acted foolishly
Increasingly desparate pleas for your return
Sorrow for my infidelity
Vain hope that my sins are forgivable
Appeal for one more opportunity
Drop to my knees to elecit crowd response
Prayers to my chosen deity
Modulation and I hold a high note…”