This is a list of songs containing implicit references to notable musicians or references (implicit or explicit) to their work, which are, in effect, implicit references to the artists. It lists notable songs containing non-explicit references to notable musicians or bands. The membership criteria for this list is strict. Each entry in this list includes identification of the famous musician or band in the song by a Wikipedia reputable source. This list does not include namechecking entries where a song simply mentions someone's name, such as those in List of songs containing overt reference to real musicians.
Syntax. Entries are listed with the following syntax:
Implicit references — allusions — to persons living or dead in are a common literary device written material. Writers often use allusion to express respect for those who have influenced them (or contempt for those against whom they are reacting). The person or group alluded to is not mentioned by name in the work, although in many cases the writer will acknowledge the reference elsewhere, such as in an interview or an autobiography. Typically, such writing includes clues within the writing that may reveal the identity of the living person when combined with information outside of the written material. For example, the name of Wittman Ah Sing, the titular character of Maxine Hong Kingston's Tripmaster Monkey clearly refers to Walt Whitman and possibly to early Chinese American spokesman Norman Asing; [1]; the title character of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane has been almost universally viewed a veiled commentary on the life of William Randolph Hearst, [2] although Welles denied it. [3]
Songwriters occasionally write songs that make implicit references to notable musicians and/or bands. That is, there is an implicit but unambiguous reference to that other person or group. In some cases, the song is about that person's life or work, and in others they are merely alluded to; often, but not always, their lyrics are paraphrased. The songwriter may say somewhere other than the song itself who has been referenced; alternatively, a biographer or critic may identify the reference.
"Runnin' Down a Dream" by Tom Petty references Del Shannon. "... me and Del were signin' little Runaway." http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1700
This is a list of songs containing implicit references to notable musicians or references (implicit or explicit) to their work, which are, in effect, implicit references to the artists. It lists notable songs containing non-explicit references to notable musicians or bands. The membership criteria for this list is strict. Each entry in this list includes identification of the famous musician or band in the song by a Wikipedia reputable source. This list does not include namechecking entries where a song simply mentions someone's name, such as those in List of songs containing overt reference to real musicians.
Syntax. Entries are listed with the following syntax:
Implicit references — allusions — to persons living or dead in are a common literary device written material. Writers often use allusion to express respect for those who have influenced them (or contempt for those against whom they are reacting). The person or group alluded to is not mentioned by name in the work, although in many cases the writer will acknowledge the reference elsewhere, such as in an interview or an autobiography. Typically, such writing includes clues within the writing that may reveal the identity of the living person when combined with information outside of the written material. For example, the name of Wittman Ah Sing, the titular character of Maxine Hong Kingston's Tripmaster Monkey clearly refers to Walt Whitman and possibly to early Chinese American spokesman Norman Asing; [1]; the title character of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane has been almost universally viewed a veiled commentary on the life of William Randolph Hearst, [2] although Welles denied it. [3]
Songwriters occasionally write songs that make implicit references to notable musicians and/or bands. That is, there is an implicit but unambiguous reference to that other person or group. In some cases, the song is about that person's life or work, and in others they are merely alluded to; often, but not always, their lyrics are paraphrased. The songwriter may say somewhere other than the song itself who has been referenced; alternatively, a biographer or critic may identify the reference.
"Runnin' Down a Dream" by Tom Petty references Del Shannon. "... me and Del were signin' little Runaway." http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1700