15 songs that reference someone by name
Lyrics are a powerful artistic tool. Musicians often draw inspiration from their past experiences to write captivating songs. Less often, these same musicians will call out the people who inspired these songs by name.
Whether it’s a sweet homage or a bittersweet confrontation, here are some noteworthy tunes that reference individuals in their lyrics.
Read more: blink-182 song gets ‘American Idol’ update with contestant’s country take
1. All Time Low – “Dear Maria, Count Me In”
Twelve years ago, Charm City rockers All Time Low decided to write a tune about a young woman named Maria—a friend of theirs who they later found out worked as a stripper. Interested by her secret profession, the band turned her story into what we now know as one of the greatest pop-punk anthems of the late 2000s.
2. Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness – “Cecilia And The Satellite”
For over two decades, singer-songwriter Andrew McMahon has been a pioneer within the alternative scene, founding such established acts as Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin. His most recent solo project began in 2014 with the release of his debut single, which was written in dedication to his now 5-year-old daughter, Cecilia.
3. As It Is – “Hey Rachel”
From As It Is’ sophomore album okay. comes the emotionally driven single “Hey Rachel,” written for frontman Patty Walters’ sister. Led by upbeat guitar riffs and cathartic lyrics, the song is the singer’s apology for years of misunderstanding toward his sister’s battle with depression and anxiety. Today, the siblings are closer than ever, and Walters acts as an advocate for mental health awareness.
4. blink-182 – “Josie”
One of blink-182’s earliest hits narrates the familiar feeling of being stoked on your crush. However, did you know that the title didn’t come from a real girlfriend, or even person, at all? Instead, it turns out the tune is named after a dog, specifically one owned by Dance Hall Crashers’ Elyse Rogers. Despite its odd origin, the ditty is widely recognized as a classic account of teenage romance.
5. Bowling For Soup – “High School Never Ends”
Although there’s no name listed in the title, Bowling For Soup waste no time to name-drop several famous celebrities in this humorous hit. It appears no star was safe from their lyrics: Jessica Simpson, Bill Gates, Reese Witherspoon, Jack Black, Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise are just a handful of names mentioned. Now we’re just waiting for the band’s sequel to the song, “(I Wish) College Never Ended.”
6. Fountains Of Wayne – “Stacy’s Mom”
In terms of eponymous titles, this quintessential 2003 bop from Fountains Of Wayne is probably the most well known on our list. At first glance, the song’s lyrics seem pretty self-explanatory, chronicling a prepubescent boy’s adventures in courting his teen girlfriend’s mother. Unbeknownst to most, the song’s subject matter was actually inspired by a friend of bassist Adam Schlesinger, who had a crush on his grandmother. Harold And Maude, much?
7. Metro Station – “Kelsey”
After the success of their previous singles “Shake It” and “Seventeen Forever,” Metro Station were well on their way to gaining the status of scene icons. “Kelsey” was no different, produced by Motion City Soundtrack’s Justin Pierre and Josh Cain. The song was written with Pierre’s friend Kelsey Siemens in mind, and the music video features Friday Night Lights’ Aimee Teegarden.
8. Motionless In White – “Abigail”
Already very theatrical onstage, it should serve as no surprise that Motionless In White would write an entire song themed around another theatrical work. For their debut album’s first single, the band took inspiration from Arthur Miller’s 1953 play, The Crucible. It was written from the perspective of John Proctor, a landowner and the object of Abigail Williams’ affections, for whom the song is titled.
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9. My Chemical Romance – “Helena”
Immortalized as one of the greatest emo tracks of all time, most die-hard MCR fans will know this song as a tribute to Gerard and Mikey Way’s late maternal grandmother, Elena Lee Rush. Rush served as a major creative influence for the two brothers, teaching Gerard to sing and paint from a young age. Gerard has since used her teachings in many areas, notably in the development of his comic, The Umbrella Academy.
10. The Offspring – “Kristy, Are You Doing Okay?”
In many cases, musicians may utilize their songwriting abilities to write heartfelt letters to those they know from their past or present. That was certainly the case for Offspring frontman Dexter Holland, who wrote this song as a reparation toward a former classmate of his. The song serves to bring awareness and give a voice to victims of sexual violence.
11. The Spill Canvas – “The Tide”
There has been much discussion about the motif of this early Spill Canvas single, which details the events surrounding three children named Veronica, Vada and Dade. Many have come to the consensus that the song centers around the effects of divorce, citing the lyric “bedridden by her ex-lover, their father,” although there’s still some debate. The track was rereleased as a full-band version this year.
12. The Summer Set – “Chelsea”
Back in 2009, the Summer Set broke into the scene with their catchy, vibrant sound and image, steered by the release of their debut single, “Chelsea.” The “Chelsea” in question was revealed to be none other than actress Chelsea Kane, who formerly dated the band’s lead vocalist, Brian Logan Dales. You may recognize her from her roles in the Disney Channel show Jonas or the Freeform sitcom Baby Daddy.
13. twenty one pilots – “Nico And The Niners”
Like all other songs on the album, “Nico And The Niners” is just one chapter of TOP’s Trench. In this particular installment, the duo tell the dark story of a fictional character named Clancy who lives in the horrible, walled city of Dema, ruled by nine evil bishops led by Nico. Clancy then seeks the help of a rebel group called the Banditos to escape the city.
14. We The Kings – “Check Yes Juliet”
In 2007, people everywhere witnessed the rise of We The Kings as we all swooned to the romantic croons of “Check Yes Juliet.” Years later, we’re looking to see which Shakespeare play the band will tackle next: Hamlet? Macbeth? The possibilities are endless.
15. Yellowcard – “Rough Landing, Holly”
Fame can be tough, but Yellowcard took that notion to a new level through the genesis of Holly Wood, who would serve as the fictional raconteur for their 2006 album, Lights And Sounds. Holly was the embodiment of the band’s disdain for living in Los Angeles, with vocalist William Ryan Key going on to describe her as “a character where sometimes you love her, and sometimes you hate her.”
