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Songs About Fans: 20 Tracks Inspired by Real People
- Posted by Pat Pemberton
'She Came in Through the Bathroom Window'
The Beatles
Diane Ashley spent so much time hanging around Paul McCartney's house in London, she actually saw him 560 times. (The 16-year-old kept a diary with the official count.) One day, while McCartney was out of town, she used a ladder to enter the house through the bathroom window -- just as in the Beatles' 1969 song. Once in, she opened a door for her friends, and the giddy girls took souvenirs and dirty shirts but graciously left the famous Sgt. Pepper suits behind.
Ron Galella, WireImage
'I Promise It's Not Goodbye'
Chris Cornell
After 6-year-old Ainslee de la Rosa died of cancer in 2008, her father, Rory, got in touch with Cornell, telling the former Soundgarden singer his music had helped the de la Rosa family through trying times. He also sent Cornell a poem, written from Ainslee's perspective, and Cornell suggested they make a song of it, with proceeds going to the de la Rosa family. Tragically, 34-year-old Rory was also stricken with cancer and passed away -- just three months after his daughter.
Mark Venema, Getty Images
'Sweet Little Sixteen'
Chuck Berry
After a show in Canada in the '50s, Berry said, a little German girl approached him for an autograph, holding out a Mickey Mouse wallet "like the torch of the Statue of Liberty." Later, while in a Kansas City hotel, he remembered that girl and wrote this 1958 song about a determined (and slightly older) autograph seeker.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
'Billie Jean'
Michael Jackson
In this 1983 song, a woman levels false paternity claims at a protesting Jackson. Yet Billie Jean's identity is a bit of a mystery. When the single came out, some newspapers reported that a crazed fan had inspired the song. But a Jackson friend later told reporters it was inspired by a beautiful woman spotted outside MJ's home. In 1996, Jackson told MTV there really was a Billie Jean, but that the woman in the song is a composite of the groupies who used to hound his brothers.
Dave Hogan, Hulton Archive/Getty Images
'Justin'
Korn
Thanks to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, a 16-year-old boy with pancreatic cancer had a dream come true when he got to meet Korn, his favorite band, as they were recording their 1998 album 'Follow the Leader.' Because he was so courageous -- full of life while facing death -- the band was inspired to write this nu-metal song for Justin, who died the year the song came out.
Kevin Mazur, WireImage
'Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)'
Led Zeppelin
Even bad groupie experiences can inspire great songs, as Led Zep proved with this 1969 hard rocker about a fan that just annoyed the band (hence its original title, 'Living, Loving Wreck'). Jimmy Page reportedly didn't like the song, the B-side to 'Whole Lotta Love,' so it was never performed in concert. But Robert Plant later did it in his solo shows.
Jan Persson, Redferns
'Go Down'
AC/DC
After a gig at the Moomba Festival in Melbourne, an Australian singer named Ted Mulry introduced the band to a supergroupie named Wendy, nicknamed Ruby Lips. AC/DC, who also sang about a groupie in 'Whole Lotta Rosie,' wrote this 1977 tune about Ruby, leaving little to the imagination.
Ebet Roberts, Redferns
'Waste'
Staind
Inspired by 'Outside,' the band's 2001 song about detachment and loneliness, an Illinois teen bought a guitar, learned how to play 'Outside' and recorded a version of himself singing it. Then he looped the playback on his computer so it would play continuously after he hanged himself. Deeply affected by the event -- and a meeting with the boy's mother -- Staind recorded 'Waste,' an alt-metal tune that expresses anger at the boy for his suicide and questions why he would waste his life.
Frank Micelotta, Getty Images
'We're an American Band'
Grand Funk Railroad
When it comes to groupies, none are more famous -- or prolific -- than Connie Hamzy, who became so legendary, bedding her was considered a milestone for up-and-coming rock stars. The substitute teacher's reputation was immortalized in 1973 when Grank Funk -- introduced to her by a promoter -- wrote about "sweet, sweet Connie" in describing their 1972 tour.
RB / Redferns
'Traci Brown'
Hanson
This 2008 song could have been named after anyone -- provided they had a Facebook page. The former boy wonders introduced 'A Song For You,' a contest in which the winner was rewarded with a tune in their honor. To win, fans were asked to post a Hanson ad -- oh, the power of free publicity! -- on their website or social networking profile. The fan with the most traffic -- which turned out to be Brown -- would be declared the winner.
Sasha Haagensen, Getty Images
'Bodies'
The Sex Pistols
This f-bomb-heavy punk classic from 1977 was inspired by a woman named Pauline, who lived in a treehouse at a mental institution. She initially sent letters to singer Johnny Rotten, then she began showing up at the Pistols' homes. According to Rotten, Pauline would talk about her abortions in gory detail, but he has said that his mother's miscarriage also inspired the song's stark lines about terminated fetuses.
Chris Morphet, Redferns
'Carol'
Al Stewart
The Carol in this track from the 1975 LP 'Modern Times' was a "zonked-out" groupie with orange hair, whom Stewart met in New York. The Scottish singer-songwriter said he had a chance to sleep with Carol, but then he considered the number of partners she'd had and wisely decided to pass on the opportunity.
Jan Persson, Redferns
'Brianstorm'
Arctic Monkeys
After a mysterious, weird fan -- dressed in T-shirt and tie -- showed up in their dressing room after a gig in Osaka, Japan, members of the indie rock band were a little freaked out. So the Arctic Monkeys wrote this speedy, punk-inspired tune in 2006 about an obsessive fan with a hypnotic presence.
Paul Bergen, Redferns
'Not Broken'
Goo Goo Dolls
Goo Goo Dolls lead singer John Rzeznik was inspired to write this 2010 song by a letter he received from a military wife, whose husband was afraid to come home after getting seriously injured in Iraq. The song is a love letter from the woman to the vet, pleading, "We're not broken, so please come home."
Michael Hickey, WireImage
'Apple Scruffs'
George Harrison
The Apple Scruffs, so nicknamed by Harrison, were a group of women who hung out at the Beatles' Apple Records offices -- "in the fog and rain, through the pleasures and the pain" -- waiting for a glimpse of the Beatles and sending out jealous vibes whenever they saw the Fab Four's significant others. In honor of their loyalty, Harrison recorded this 1970 song, then invited some scruffs into the studio to give it a listen.
GAB Archive / Redferns
'Jolene'
Dolly Parton
This haunting, pleading tune about an insecure wife, covered by the White Stripes, 10,000 Maniacs and Olivia Newton-John, was inspired by a little redheaded girl named Jolene, who asked Parton for an autograph. Though the girl had red hair and green eyes -- like the Jolene in the 1974 song -- the tune's character was inspired by another ginger-coiffed woman, a bank teller who had a crush on Parton's husband.
David Redfern, Redferns
'Judy Is a Punk'
The Ramones
Story goes, this punk rocker from 1976 was based on two rabid fans -- Judy and Jackie -- who later died in a plane crash, making the Ramones' lyrics "perhaps they die" eerily prophetic. But the likelihood of the fans being together on a plane -- and a dearth of credible sources verifying the crash -- sets off our urban legend alert.
Howard Barlow, Redferns
'Mykel and Carli'
Weezer
Sisters Mykel and Carli Allan were such huge Weezer fans. They started the official Weezer fan club and had attended numerous shows, inspiring Weezer to record this 1994 song as a way to express their gratitude. Four years later, the girls were driving home from a Weezer concert with another sister, Trysta, when their car careened off a highway and crashed, killing all three. Weezer canceled a part of their tour to attend the funeral and later put on a benefit show for the Allan family.
Ebet Roberts, Redferns
'Plaster Caster'
Kiss
In the 1960s, there was stiff competition among groupies for the attention of sex-charged rock stars. Art student Cynthia Plaster Caster came up with a novel idea: She told the rockers she wanted to make a cast of their phalluses for an art project. While her collection includes molds of Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding and Eric Burdon, her work inspired two songs: 'Five Short Minutes,' by Jim Croce, and this 1977 track from Kiss -- who, surprisingly, have never been molded and hardened by the artist.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
'I Need Lunch'
Dead Boys
Before fronting New York No Wave band Teenage Jesus and the Jerks with James Chance, Lydia Lunch earned her nickname as a young runaway and Dead Boys fan, supplying them with lunch -- as well as other treats. Lydia moved on to a multi-disciplinary artistic career, but the Dead Boys' lusty 1977 serenade lives on to salute the bygone NYC art-punk era and one of its heroines.
Michael Ochs Archive / Getty Images
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Add a Comment
Uh Lord Randall---the guys name was J. Frank Wilson!
May 22 2011 at 7:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
chris
And the saying "don't spoil the ship for a hapeth of tar" actually refers to the old practice of sheep drovers taring sheeps feet to protect them on the long journey to market. If they skimped on the tar the sheep's feet could become injured on the rough roads and result in the sheep becoming lame and not making it to market. I'm going off to write a song about lame sheep now and become famouse and tell my story on the interthingy. Any ideas for a title anyone?
February 12 2011 at 4:46 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
fran
The Monkees/davy Jones classic fan song 'Star Collector' by Goffin/King from the album 'Pisces Aquarius Capricorn & Jones Ltd features apparently the first ever moog synth solo -
Think I'll let her keep on going
Where ever it is, she's goin', too.
Give her my autograph and tell her
It's been nice knowin' you.
She's a star collector (collector of stars)
She only aims to please young celebraties.
Yes, she's a star collector (collector of stars)
How can I love her, when I just don't respect her?
When everthing is goin' my way,
She wants to be close at hand.
She moves to some other doorway
When things don't go the way she planned.
She's a star collector (collector of stars)
She only aims to please young celebraties.
Yes, she's a star collector (collector of stars)
Oh it won't take much time, before I get her off my mind!
She's a star collector (collector of stars)
She only aims to please young celebraties.
Yes, she's a star collector (collector of stars)
Oh it won't take much time, before I get her off my mind!
Dave
My Sharona by The Knack
February 12 2011 at 3:05 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
T-Bone
if i am not mistaken, this was on aol two weeks ago. are we running out of things to talk about Damn It
February 09 2011 at 8:51 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Bink
1 reply to Bink's comment
What about "You're so Vain" I think that belongs here too!!!
February 03 2011 at 10:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Steph Hackett
1 reply to Steph Hackett's comment
Is that song about a fan? I dont think so. Does anybody know who its about?
February 12 2011 at 5:19 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHer Father !!!!, Ms Simon finally gave up long time, the long held secret person in the song she was singing about ( some thought at the time it might be Warren Beatty, Mick Jagger- who does the back-up vocals, and even her then at the time husband, James taylor.) But in a recent interview she finally gave up the source for the song her dad!
July 20 2011 at 2:16 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down
Lord Randall
Neil Diamond wrote the song " Sweet Caroline" about Caroline Kennedy. Jimmy Dean wrote"PT 109" about WWII john Kennedy. Paul Anka wrote about his baby-sitter "Diana", and "Last Kiss" was a story that actually happened to the song writer sung by J. Frank Reynolds.To name a few more.
February 03 2011 at 4:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Jordan
The Beatles' "Dear Prudence" (White Album) was inspired by Mia Farrow's sister, one of the group who followed John, Paul, George and Ringo on their spiritual retreat to Rishikesh, India. At some point she refused to come out of her hotel room, thus John wrote, "Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play..."
January 23 2011 at 6:33 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
bruce Williams
AC/DC...go down...best groupie song ever recorded...Bon we miss you!
January 23 2011 at 6:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
M.V.
Also add in Beatles "Hey Jude" a song Paul wrote for Julian Lennon.
January 23 2011 at 4:54 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
40 Comments