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Songwriters have found inspiration in all sorts of places, from transvestites to team tennis titans. Maggie Koerth-Baker has read between the liner notes to find out for whom 8 famous songs were written.
1. “Philadelphia Freedom”
Written by: Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Written for: Billie Jean King, as a thank-you for a tracksuit she gave Elton. And what a tracksuit it must have been! The 1975 song remains one of the most popular disco hits ever, leaving thousands of Hustle enthusiasts wondering just what Billie Jean King had to do with Philadelphia, anyway.
Turns out, the song was a reference to King’s pro tennis team, The Philadelphia Freedoms. Prior to 1968, tennis players were all considered “amateurs” and weren’t eligible to receive prize money. So, if you didn’t have the wealth to support yourself, you couldn’t play. Billie Jean King fought against those constraints, ultimately founding Professional World Team Tennis in 1974 and turning tennis into a paid league sport. [Photo courtesy of EltonJohn.com.]
2. “Lola”
Written by: The Kinks’ Ray Davies
Written for: A transvestite. But the question is, which one? According to Rolling Stone, “Lola” was inspired by Candy Darling, a member of Andy Warhol’s entourage, whom Ray Davies briefly (and cluelessly) dated. If that’s the case, then “Lola” is just another notch on Darling’s song belt—she’s also referred to in Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side.” (”Candy came from out on the Island/ In the backroom she was everybody’s darlin’.”)
But, in the Kinks’ official biography, Davies tells a different story. He says “Lola” was written after the band’s manager spent a very drunken night dancing with a woman whose five o’clock shadow was apparently obvious to everyone but him.
3. “867-5309/Jenny”
Written by: Jim Keller (of Tommy Tutone) and Alex Call
Written for: Unknown, as the songwriters apparently make up a different story about its inspiration every time they’re asked. While the woman continues to remain a mystery, however, the phone number is all too real. In fact, it’s been wreaking havoc ever since 1982the passage of time hasn’t quelled of the number of crank calls. In 1999, Brown University freshman roommates Nina Clemente and Jahanaz Mirza found that out the hard way, when the school adopted an 867 exchange number for its on-campus phone system. Immediately, the girls’ innocuous Room No. 5309 became a magnet for every drunk college kid with a 1980s fetish.
Other unfortunate phone customers have fought back with creative and profitable solutions, like the holder of 212-867-5309, who put his phone number up for auction on eBay in 2004. Bids approached $100,000 before eBay pulled the item at the request of Verizon, the number’s actual owner.
4. “Für Elise”
Written by: Ludwig van Beethoven
Written for: Some girl probably not named Elise. In fact, as far as most historians can tell, Beethoven didn’t even know an Elise. Instead, the song was originally titled “Bagatelle in A minor” based on some handwritten notation a Beethoven researcher claimed to have seen on a now-lost copy of the sheet music.
Further complicating things, Beethoven had hideous handwriting—to the point that some scholars speculate the song was actually written “for Therese,” as in Therese Malfatti, one of several women who turned down a marriage proposal from the notoriously lovesick maestro.
5. “Oh, Carol”
Written by: Neil Sedaka
Written for: Carole King, naturally. Sedaka and King actually dated briefly in high school — a romance Sedaka was able to successfully milk with “Oh, Carol,” a then top-10 (if now somewhat forgettable) 1959 pop song.
However, the real success of “Oh, Carol” came a few months later, when it inspired King to write a rebuttal entitled “Oh, Neil.” At the time, King and her husband, Gerry Goffin, were fledgling songwriters in need of a hit tune. “Oh, Neil” wasn’t that, but it did pay off. After Sedaka gave a tape of the song to his boss, King and Goffin landed jobs at the legendary Brill Building pop music factory, where the duo went on to write chart-toppers like “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” and “The Loco-Motion.”
6. “It Ain’t Me, Babe”
Written by: Bob Dylan
Written for: Joan Baez, though it clearly wasn’t the nicest gift Dylan could have given her. The two met in 1961, when Baez was an up-and-coming folk singer and Dylan was a nobody from Minnesota. Desperate to make his break in the music biz, Dylan worked like crazy to get Baez’s attention. He eventually ended up going on tour with her, which is how he first became famous, and also how the two began dating. For a while, they seemed like the golden couple, but things soon went downhill.
During a European concert tour together in early 1965, they had a huge fight and parted ways. That May, Dylan was holed up in a hotel after being hospitalized with a virus, and Baez, hoping to remain friends, decided to bring him flowers. Sadly, that’s how she found out that her ex was already dating someone else. That someone else was Sara Lownds, whom Dylan married a mere six months later.
7. “Our House”
Written by: Graham Nash (of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)
Written for: Joni Mitchell. In December 1968, Nash and Mitchell moved into a cozy little house in the Laurel Canyon section of Los Angeles. Though commonly left out of the hippy pantheon, Laurel Canyon was sort of a commune-home away from commune-home for San Francisco society — not just CSN&Y, but also Jim Morrison, the Eagles, Frank Zappa, and more.
“Our House” was directly inspired by a lazy Sunday in the Nash/Mitchell household. The couple went out to brunch, hit an antiques store, and then returned to find the house just a bit chilly, at which point Nash literally “lit a fire,” while Mitchell “placed the flowers in the vase that she bought that day.” No, really. The whole tableau seemed so ridiculously domestic to Nash that he immediately sat down and spent the rest of the day writing about it.
8. “Dear Mama”
Written by: Tupac Shakur
Written for: Afeni Shakur, who is, obviously, Tupac’s mama. A fascinating character in her own right, Afeni Shakur was born Alice Fay Williams, but changed her name while working with the Black Panthers in the 1960s. In fact, Tupac (named after the Peruvian revolutionary leader Tupac Amaru II) was born in 1971—just a month after Afeni was acquitted of bombing conspiracy charges. (She had spent most of her pregnancy behind bars.) As the song implies, she and Tupac didn’t always get along, particularly during his adolescence, when Afeni was addicted to crack. But, by the time of Tupac’s death in 1996, she was clean and the two had patched things up long enough for Tupac to write that she “was appreciated.” Today, Afeni runs a charity in her son’s name and is (somewhat controversially) responsible for Tupac’s multiple posthumous CD releases.
This article was written by Maggie Koerth-Baker and originally appeared in mental_floss magazine.
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Comments (42)
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Yuoiu forgot Stand Down Margaret, by The Beat, which was inspired by Margaret Thatcher
posted by seymour on 4-13-2008 at 9:50 pm
This is a really interesting read. I have a few others tho…
Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden: Written for a black prostitute.
Your Body Is A Wonderland – John Mayer: Written for Jennifer Love Hewitt.
And wasn’t American Pie supposed to be about a whole lot of people?
posted by Andre on 4-13-2008 at 9:52 pm
American Pie (Don McLean) was written as a memorial to the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP Richardson (The Big Bopper). Not women, but a great tribute song.
posted by TomH on 4-13-2008 at 10:11 pm
Layla, by Eric Clapton for Pattie Boyd who was then George Harrison’s wife but later married Clapton.
Best. love. song. ever.
posted by Claire on 4-13-2008 at 10:20 pm
I’m surprised you left off Layla. usually it is one of the mentioned. Eric Clapton wrote it for Pattie Boyd, who was married at the time to George Harrison.
posted by Claire on 4-13-2008 at 10:22 pm
Laurel Canyon was also home to Cass Elliot, of the Mamas and Papas. Her biography “dream a Little Dream of Me”, tells of the many characters who lived, or hung on, there during the late 60’s and early 70’s. This is a great read for Cass fans, or “Lost” fans, or anyone interested in the period. The book skips a lot of hyperbole, although that is the greatest, and brings Cass and her “friends” to a human level. As a footnote, she wanted to do an album of standards long before the current crowd was even heard of. She was told it would never sell.
posted by gus on 4-14-2008 at 8:42 am
“American Pie”, while inspired by the death of Buddy Holly, does mention many rockers. Some were not remembered fondly (Bob Dylan, The Beatles), some reverently (Bill Graham, Janis Joplin), and some simply historically (The Birds, Hugh Masakela). The title comes from the name of the plane, American Pie, yet with periods inserted stands for People in Entertainment.
posted by gus on 4-14-2008 at 8:49 am
If we’re going to talk about Pattie Boyd, then “Something” also needs to be mentioned. I have to say that I’m a little jealous that two such great songs were written about her. I’m pretty sure NO songs have been written about me, let alone any as good as these two :).
posted by Fruppi on 4-14-2008 at 9:35 am
Another addition:
“Chelsea Hotel #2″ by Leonard Cohen was written about Janis Joplin.
posted by Elizabeth on 4-14-2008 at 9:43 am
Not just Layla, but Wonderful Tonight and Something were all written for Patti Boyd (Harrison) (Clapton).
Other “obvious” songs include “Lovely Linda” (by Paul McCartney), “Oh Yoko” (John Lennon).
posted by beth on 4-14-2008 at 9:45 am
Sex Pistols “God Save the Queen” written lovingly for Queen Elizabeth II.
Ritchie Valens “Donna” written for his girlfriend Donna Ludwig.
Jane’s Addictins “Jane Says” written for Perry Farrell’s ex-housemates, Jane Bainter, who was an office worker by day and herion addict by night.
posted by Tim Wright on 4-14-2008 at 10:07 am
How about Barenaked Ladies, “Be My Yoko Ono”? Not written to Yoko Ono, but to have your “love” compared to that of John and Yoko, doesn’t seem like a bad thing….
posted by Jamie on 4-14-2008 at 11:38 am
Was Donna by Ritchie Valens too obvious to be included?
posted by Ggrrl on 4-14-2008 at 1:06 pm
8 Songs Inspired By Real Women | Emusiclist.com…
\r\nSongwriters have found inspiration in all sorts of places, from transvestites to…
posted by Emusiclist.com | The web's music news on 4-14-2008 at 2:56 pm
If I Needed Somwone – by George Harrison for Pattie Boyd (Harrison)
Something – by George Harrison for Pattie Boyd (Harrison)
For Your Blue – by George Harrison for Pattie Boyd (Harrison)
Layla – by Eric Clapton for Pattie Boyd (Harrison)
Why Does Love Have To Be So Sad – by Eric Clapton for Pattie Boyd (Harrison)
I Looked Away – by Eric Clapton for Pattie Boyd (Clapton)
Bell Bottom Blues – by Eric Clapton for Pattie Boyd (Clapton)
Keep On Growing – by Eric Clapton for Pattie Boyd (Clapton)
Wonderful Tonight – by Eric Clapton for Pattie Boyd (Clapton)
posted by Warren on 4-14-2008 at 7:10 pm
What about Rosa Parks by Outkast???
I am gonna have to start compiling these lists I reckon.
posted by Glenn Parrington on 4-14-2008 at 7:14 pm
Dude, what about Momus’ song Walter Carlos? It’s EPIC! It postulates what would happen if wendy carlos could travel back in time and marry walter carlos, her pre-transexual persona. Wendy Carlos wasn’t amused, sued him for 22 million dollars, he lost, and the song has only been avaliable on the inital pressings of his 1998 album “the little red songbook”
Tell me that’s not a little more facinating than these commonly-known retreads you filled the article with.
posted by Aoe on 4-14-2008 at 7:15 pm
Yeah, also Night Ranger’s “Sister Christian” was written by their drummer, Kelly Keagy, about his sister. Essentially the song is about her coming of age.
posted by Brian on 4-14-2008 at 7:20 pm
Not along the same lines of Layla or 867-5309/Jenny, but what about Heart-Shaped Box?
posted by Adam on 4-14-2008 at 7:20 pm
Norwegian Wood – Beatles, supposedly about an incident involving John Lennon’s exploit.
posted by Watch Television Online on 4-14-2008 at 7:40 pm
“The Girl Who Had No Name” by The Byrds
about: Girl Freiberg
wikipedia “Younger_Than_Yesterday”
posted by baranri on 4-14-2008 at 7:45 pm
“Cinnamon Girl,” written about a neighbor of Neil Young in Topanga.
posted by Dave on 4-14-2008 at 7:59 pm
Laurel Canyon was certainly where lots of hippie-types lived, but claiming it had anything to do with the San Francisco scene is nonsense. All the bands you mention were LA bands, not SF bands hanging out in LA. Frank Zappa in particular used to go off on rock journalists who talked up SF while ignoring the LA scene of the time, and dissed the SF scene in general.
posted by Walnut on 4-14-2008 at 8:27 pm
‘my sharona’ by the knack was written about one of their groupies, Sharona.
she’s selling real estate in So Cal now. Check her out at http://www.mysharona.com
great list!
posted by Dave Goossen on 4-14-2008 at 9:06 pm
The Wish was written by Bruce Springsteen about his mother.
posted by Spike-X on 4-14-2008 at 10:38 pm
I’m shocked “Sweet Caroline” wasn’t mentioned!
posted by Paul on 4-14-2008 at 10:45 pm
‘Candle in the Wind’ by Elton John for Marilyn Monroe (and there’s also the Princess Di version)
posted by robspiro on 4-14-2008 at 11:09 pm
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes -CSNY
For Judy Collins who was with Stephen Stills
posted by james on 4-14-2008 at 11:23 pm
Let’s not forget Rosana by Toto for Rosana Arquette (OK, let’s).
posted by willfully anonomous on 4-14-2008 at 11:25 pm
Patti Boyd is the Queen, but Rossana Arquette is a decent 2nd place.
Arquette inspired: “Rossana” de Toto and “In your eyes” de Peter Gabriel.
posted by Spike on 4-15-2008 at 12:49 am
“50 Ways to Leave your Lover”. was about Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) who was married to Art Garfunkel at the time.
posted by Jim on 4-15-2008 at 1:11 am
The story is very nice to read
posted by musicman on 4-15-2008 at 1:34 am
Biggest sin of omission is, as others stated, Patty Boyd, who I believe holds the record for highest number of high-profile songs written about her. “Something” and “What is Life” by George Harrison, and of course “Layla” and “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton.
posted by Tom on 4-15-2008 at 2:56 am
aha, you all forgot one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs “Lady D’Arbanville”, which was written by Cat Stevens for then girlfriend, actress Patti D’Arbanville. “Wild World” was apparently also written for her.
posted by D on 4-15-2008 at 8:15 pm
There’s also “The wind cries Mary” by Jimi Hendrix. Wonderfully written after a domestic fight
posted by Makar on 4-17-2008 at 5:24 pm
‘Sweet Child O Mine’ by Guns & Roses was written for Axl Rose’s girlfriend that he was with at the time. I bet nobody knew that one!
posted by SoL on 4-30-2008 at 9:50 am
“Wings for Marie” and its immediate sequel “10,000 Days (Wings Pt. 2)” by Tool. Both songs were written by Maynard James Keenan about his recently-deceased mother, and the 27+ years she lived as a paraplegic after suffering a stroke.
posted by Spat on 4-30-2008 at 11:34 pm
That Dear Momma song caught me by surprise when i downloaded it and listened to it however fur elise is an all time favorite
posted by Tupac Quiz on 5-5-2008 at 1:43 pm
“Natalie” by Ozma (Natalie Portman)
posted by Dan Jo on 7-21-2008 at 9:46 am
“Girl of Ipanema”???
posted by CurlsRulz on 12-4-2008 at 12:15 am
Here is a list of over 4,000 songs with female names in them
posted by everysongsaboutagirl.com on 2-27-2009 at 2:10 pm
I give men who write and sing songs about their mothers such as Tupac, Kanye West a lot of credit for taking the time to do it while they were alive to hear it. Peace. Check out the This Song Is My Life Project Blog at: globallifestory.blogspot.com and take the survey or leave a comment
posted by MT on 3-12-2009 at 6:06 pm