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10 Songs Inspired by J.D. Salinger

Before 'The Catcher in the Rye' was published in 1951, The New Yorker turned down an excerpt, saying the novel was "showoffy." J.D. Salinger's only novel would endure for nearly 60 years precisely because so many could relate to main character Holden Caulfield, an antihero who spoke like a real teenager and rebelled against conformity. With his conclusion that successful people were phonies, Caulfield was punk rock long before punk rock existed.

It's no wonder 'Catcher' has long been a popular muse for songwriters. Accordingly, we honor the late, great J.D. Salinger with 10 songs that give a nod to the reclusive writer and his classic book.
'Catcher in the Rye,' Guns N' Roses (2008)
This song, from the long-delayed 'Chinese Democracy' album, alludes to Mark David Chapman, who was obsessed with 'The Catcher in the Rye' when he killed John Lennon. Years before the song was released, Queen guitarist Brian May recorded a part for the tune, but it was later cut, leading to the inevitable question: Who would turn down a chance to have Brian May play guitar on their song?

'6 Minutes,' Jonas Brothers (2006)
Wait a second -- the Jonas Brothers writing about Holden Caulfield? Their chipper Disney image doesn't seem to fit. Of course, their 'Catcher' reference is more about a guy pining for a girl than teen rebellion. They sing, "Sometimes I feel like 'The Catcher in the Rye"/Sometimes I wish I could catch her eye." Awwww.

'Get It Right,' The Offspring (1993)
Before they became a household name, this punk-metal band wrote a song influenced by Caulfield's disillusionment. "Like Holden Caulfield I tell myself there's got to be a better way/Then I lay in bed and stare at the ceiling, dream of brighter days." For the Offspring, brighter days came with their next album, which sold a million copies.

Watch the Offspring Perform 'Get It Right'
'Rollerskate Skinny,' Old 97's (2001)
OK, follow along: Frontman Rhett Miller once went out on a date with actress Winona Ryder, whose favorite book is 'The Catcher in the Rye,' which includes a line with the description "rollerskate skinny." So when Rhett wrote a song about Rider, he decided to name it 'Rollerskate Skinny,' which also happens to be the name of an Irish band, but we won't get into that. Miller, who once had a creative writing scholarship to Sarah Lawrence College, could certainly appreciate an obscure literary title like this.

'Shadrach,' Beastie Boys (1989)
The line "I got more stories than J.D. Salinger" is a little ironic given that Salinger didn't publish any stories the last 45 years of his life. But, hey -- maybe now we'll discover that he was writing all along. This song features a host of pop culture references, citing everything from the Bible to Mad magazine, Goodyear tires to Jerry Falwell.

Watch the Beastie Boys Perform 'Shadrach'
'Le Pastie de la Bourgeoisie,' Belle & Sebastian
These cerebral indie rockers met while in college, so it's no surprise they would write a story about reading. Here the song's main character, a mousy girl, likes books. "Wouldn't you like to get away?" the song asks. "Give yourself up to the allure of 'Catcher in the Rye.'" Can a book about an alienated, frustrated teen be described as alluring?

'Who Wrote Holden Caulfield,' Green Day (1992)
Billie Joe Armstrong, a high school dropout, deals with his empathy for the 'Catcher' protagonist in this song, which speaks of lack of motivation and frustration. Armstrong didn't like the book when he had to read it in high school but came to appreciate it as a punk-rocking adult.

'We Didn't Start the Fire,' Billy Joel (1990)
When he turned 40, Joel said he needed to take stock of his life, so he wrote out a laundry list of things that had occurred during his lifetime, plus some of the memorable names and titles in pop culture. Salinger's book is mentioned early on: "Rosenbergs, H-Bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom, Brando, 'The King and I,' 'The Catcher in the Rye.'" Feel free to Google the ones you don't know.

'3 Warning Shots,' Rick Springfield (2008)
The normally poppy Springfield addresses Lennon's assassin -- "Holden Caulfield's stable boy" -- in an angry letter during which he fantasizes about killing the killer. Springfield, who covered Lennon's 'Imagine' on a previous album, is, naturally, a big Beatles fan. But, really, Rick: Let's let the parole board decide what to do with Chapman, OK?

'Good Year,' The Refreshments (1997)
We know at least one member of the band was an avid book reader. After the group split, bassist Art Edwards earned an MFA in writing and penned two novels. In this song, about a relationship gone sour, a couple initially shares the things they love, including a copy of 'Abbey Road' and 'The Catcher in the Rye.'

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lexicondevil913

Greatest book :D

February 09 2010 at 6:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Signe

Salinger wrote his whole life. Now maybe his heirs will allow his work to be published.

February 01 2010 at 7:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bry

list means nothing to me without The Rainmakers on Franny/Zooey!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rF4_A3zhag

February 01 2010 at 5:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Craig

What about Josh Joplin's "I Am Not The Only Cowboy"? It features the line:
"I am not the only Caulfield who's catching more than kids."

February 01 2010 at 8:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dave

Red Shoes by Elvis Costello.

February 01 2010 at 8:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rob

Unfortunately Mark David Chapman was inspired by J.D. Salinger too.

February 01 2010 at 7:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
waker1

The Gold Standard song "My Foolish Heart," which has been covered by many iconic ballad singers, is the theme to the movie My Foolish Heart, which was based on "Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut," one of the stories in J.D.'s Nine Stories.
I believe that was Salinger's first and last commiseration with Hollywood. The movie only resembled the short story insofar as as there were people in it.

February 01 2010 at 3:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
TK

I'm not much of a fan of the book, but what about Sammy Walker's "Catcher in the Rye"? A nice folk song that I really like. "Why, Lord, why must I learn to testify/when all I wanna be is just a catcher in the rye".

February 01 2010 at 12:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
B. Ishler

I always thought that A Separate Peace was better than Catcher in the Rye.

January 31 2010 at 10:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Meg

"The Jonas Brothers writing about Holden Caulfield?" Please! "6 Minutes" was actually written in 2001 by LFO (yes, "Lyte Funky Ones") et al. Both LFO and the Jo Bros. may be boy bands, but I'm waiting for Joe, Nick and the awkward one to rival the lyrical genius that Rich, Devin and Brad created via "Summer Girls."

January 31 2010 at 7:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply