Meta Music List

Created Wednesday 17 July 2024

This is a list of music about music, music about the music business, and music that lampshades or otherwise breaks the "fourth wall" of music. It started from a discussion on the Music, Movies and TV Signal group.

Ordered by artist, when known.

Unknown - Little Drummer Boy

A song about someone playing the drums.

Unknown - Sur Le Pont D'Avignon

Traditional French folk song about a social gathering on the
bridge of Avignon. Includes references to the musicians providing
the music for the dance.

A Day To Remember - Downfall Of Us All

A song about how the band basicall sold their souls when they
signed on with a major record label.

Above The Law - Freedom of Speech

About censorship in the music industry. "Whether I say a rhyme
fast, slow, sloppy or neat / See I wish, when I do it, to have
freedom of speech."

Aldean, Jason - Dirt Road Anthem

Self-referential title. Also, it is Country Western Rap. See
Gilbert, Vance - Country Western Rap for why this might be
amusing to me.

Bad Company - Bad Company

Because they wanted a theme song, I guess.

Bad Company - Live For The Music

"I'm gonna live for the music / Give it everything you've got /
Live for the music / You know you're gonna find a lot / To ease
your mind"

Bareilles, Sara - Love Song

About songwriting: "I'm not gonna write you a love song 'cause you
asked for it / 'cause you need one, you see"

Barenaked Ladies - Gordon (Album)

Lampshading. They were told their album needed a name, so they
named it Gordon.

Beastie Boys - No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn

About riding the tour bus.

Beatles, The - A Little Help From My Friends

"What would you do if I sang out of tune? / Would you stand up and
walk out on me?" Ringo was very self-conscious about his ability
to sing.

Beatles, The - Only A Northern Song

Yes, this song really is supposed to sound that fucked up. Don't
think anything of it, it's only a Northern song.

Beatles, The - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

This is a song about a marching band that bears a striking visual
similarity to the Beatles.

Beatles, The - While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Pretty self-explanatory.

Berry, Chuck - Johnny B. Goode

Tells the story about the rise to fame of a rock 'n' roll
guitarist who grew up poor.

Billy Joel - The Entertainer

Blues Traveler - Hook

This is a song with lyrics about how inane song lyrics are. "But
I've Said nothing so far / And I can keep it up as long as it
takes"

Blur - Song 2

Title. Also a great ass-kicking song. It is possible that the
song itself is a troll.

Boston - Rock 'N' Roll Band

About their rise to fame.

Brick - Dazz

A song blending Disco and Jazz, with lyrics that emphasize
blending Disco with Jazz.

Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star

C+C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)

"Here is the goal, back with the bass / The jam is live in effect
and I don't waste time / On the mike with a dope rhyme"

CAKE - Guitar Man

Self explanatory

Cocker, Joe - A Little Help From My Friends

See Beatles, The - A Little Help From My Friends

Cowboy Junkies - Musical Key

A song about how music was critical to the singer's upbringing,
and how her parents always sang, to her, even when it was off-key.

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - Night Song

Self-referential title and lyrics. "From my heart / Why can't we
/ sing this night song" and "Why not keep on singing anyway?"

Cure, The - Love Song

Self-referential title.

Daniels, Charlie - The Devil Went Down To Georgia

About a fiddling contest between our protagonist, "Johnny" and the
devil.

deadmau5 - Album Title Goes Here (Album)
deadmau5 - For Lack Of A Better Name (Album)
deadmau5 - Random Album Title (Album)
deadmau5 - W:/2016ALBUM/ (Album)

Lampshading....

Doobie Brothers - Listen To The Music

...it's good for business.

Dr. Hook - Cover of the Rolling Stone

Can't get his picture there despite fame.

Fall Out Boy - My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark

Self-referential title . . . and sentient music?

Four Tops, The - It's The Same Old Song

Song is metaphorical in this case, but also literal -- the bass
line for this song is the same as one of their other songs (Sugar
Pie Honey Bunch) played backwards.

Gilbert, Vance - Country Western Rap

Song that mocks the recording industry for inducing the singer,
being both a Country singer and an African-American, into
creating a whole new genre of music combining Country and Rap.

Gomez, Selena and The Scene - Love You Like a Love Song

"It's been said and done / Every beautiful thought's been already
sung / And I guess right now, here's another one / So your melody
will pay on and on, with the best of 'em."

Healey, Jeff - While My Guitar Gently Weeps

See Beatles, The - While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Hot Water Music (Band)

Self-referential title.

Jett, Joan - Album (Album)

Yep, that's what she called her 1983 album.

Jett, Joan - I Love Rock 'N' Roll

Two points for this one. The title refers to the song's own
genre, and the song's lyrics talk about using the same to set the
mood.

"The beat was going strong / Playing my favorite song" and, of
course, the hook, "Singing, I love rock and roll / So put another
dime in the jukebox baby / I love rock and rol / So come and take
your time and dance with me"

Jett, Joan - I Love Rock 'N' Roll (Album)

Title refers to the album's own genre as well as the points noted
elsewhere about the album's title song.

Joel, Billy - The Piano Man

About the miseries he sees as the piano player at an upscale bar.

Lady Gaga - Telephone

"Just a minute, it's my favorite song they're gonna play / And I
can't text you with a drink in my hand, eh!"

Lucassen, Arjen Anthony - Pink Beatles In A Purple Zeppelin

"Every song's been sung before, Every note's been played, Every
chord's been strung before, And every melody's been made"

Lynnyrd Skynnyrd - Working For MCA

MCA is the record label that carried Lynnyrd Skynnyrd.

Madonna - Music

"Music makes the people come together / Music mix the bourgeoisie
and the rebel"

Marshall Tucker Band, The - Heard It In A Love Song

Trying out romantic thoughts heard in a love song.

Martin, Norman - Song That Never Ends, The

Yes, it goes on and on my friends. . . .

McCartney, Paul - Silly Love Song

The world doesn't need another one....

Mendoza y Cortés, Quirino - Cielito Lindo

"Canta y no llores / Porque cantado se alegran / Cielito lindo los
corazones" translates roughly to: "Sing and don't cry, because
when you sing, pretty darling, it makes the heart happy."

Metallica - Turn The Page

See Seeger, Bob - Turn The Page

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus - Eine kleine Nachtmusik

Self-referential title: translates to "A little bit of night
music."

Nelson, Willie - On The Road Again

Song about touring.

Nena - 99 Luftballons

Song refers to itself twice in the first verse in the original
German (not so in the English version): "Hast du etwas Zeit für
mich? / Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich / Von neunundneunzig
Luftballons / Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont / Denkst du vielleicht
grad an mich? / Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich / Von
neunundneunzig Luftballons / Und dass sowas von sowas kommt"

Translated to English: "Do you have some time for me? / Then I
will sing a song for you / About ninety-nine balloons / On their
way to the horizon / Perhaps you are thinking of me? / Then I will
sing a song for you / About ninety-nine balloons / And what sort
of thing they caused."

Nine Inch Nails - Head Like A Hole

This is about Trent Reznor's fight over the ownership of his
music. "Head like a hole / Black is your soul / I'd rather die /
Than give you control"

One Direction - The Best Song Ever

It could be any song, really, but because I danced with you, it
was the best.

Pink Floyd - Have A Cigar

This song parodies the empty words of the talent agent who signs
the band. "The band is really fantstic / That is really what I
think. / Oh, by the way / Which one's Pink?"

Pink Floyd - Shine On Crazy Diamond

This is a tribute to former band mate Sid Barent, who lost his
mind.

Pink Floyd - Welcome To The Machine

This is a song about the party after the band signed their
contract.

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

This is a song lamenting the absense of former band mate Sid
Barent during the band's rise to stardom.

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (Album)

This entire album is about the rise to stardom. See individual
tracks as follows (yes, there are only four songs):

Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Wish You Were Here
Have A Cigar
Welcome To The Machine

Pretty Reckless - Take Me Down

A song about how the band basically sold their souls when they
signed on with a major record label.

Prima, Louis - Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)

Self explanatory.

Prima, Louis - The Music Goes 'Round and Around

Explanation of how a trumpet works - "I push the first valve down
/ The music goes 'round and around / And it comes out here"

Ramones, The - Censorshit

About the PMRC. "Tipper, what's that sticker sticking on my CD? /
Is that some kind of warning to protect me?" and "Ask Ozzy, Zappa,
or me / We'll tell you what it's like to be free."

R.E.M. - Eponymous (Album)

Blues Traveler released an album called Blues Traveler. Led
Zeppelen released Led Zeppelin. This is R.E.M.'s answer to
eponymous albums.

R.E.M. - Radio Song

"I tried to sing along / But damn that radio song" Played to
death, I guess.

Rihanna - Don't Stop The Music

I'm having too much fun, keep the music going!

Rush - Spirit of Radio

Both a criticism of the broadcast industry and a tribute to the
station that gave them their first airplay, CFNY Toronto.
Interesting side-note, the Canadian pressing of the album it
appeared on (Permanent Waves) has 1021 in the catalog number, a
reference to CFNY's frequency of 102.1 MHz.

Seeger, Bob - Turn The Page

It seems Bob was not happy touring, and he poured that misery into
this song.

Sheeran, Ed - Sing

Pretty self-explanatory.

Simon, Carly - You're So Vain

Has these lyrics: "You're so vain, I bet you think this song is
about you."

Slipknot - The Heretic Anthem

Self referential title. Also, the song is about a dispute the
band had with the record company over foul language.

Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight

"Now what you hear is not a test / I'm rappin' to the beat."

System of a Down - Steal This Album!

Album title is a referance to it's self as well as other works.

"The album title is a possible reference to Abbie Hoffman's book
Steal This Book, which is regarded as a classic example of
counterculture literature. A similar title (Steal This Movie!) was
used for a movie about Hoffman's life. A year prior to this album
however, The Suicide Machines had already released an album titled
Steal This Record. The Coup had also released a Steal This Album
in 1998."

Technotronic - Pump Up The Jam

Go on, turn up the music!

Tesla - Love Song

Self-referential title

Thomas, BJ - Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song

Self referential

Three Dog Night - An Old Fashioned Love Song

A song about hearing a song on the radio, of the type that's never
really gone away.

Toy Dolls, The - The Devil Went Down To Scunthorpe

See Daniels, Charlie - The Devil Went Down To Georgia. Substitute
a guitar playing contest for a fiddling contest.

Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby

Most of the song, really, but here's a good example: "Deadly, when
I play a dope melody / Anything less than the best is a felony"
and, of course, every chorus leads with "Check out my hook while
my DJ revolves it."

Ви́тас - 7 элемент (Vitas - Element 7)

"Я пришёл дать эту песню / Из мира грез / Я пришёл дать эту песню
/ Из хрустальных слез / Я пришёл дать эту песню / Для любви / Я
пришёл дать эту песню" English: "I came to bring this song / From
the world of dreams / I came to bring this song / From the crystal
tears / I came to bring this song / For the sake of love / I came
to bring this song"

Wall of Voodoo - Mexican Radio

Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music, White Boy

A rocker discovers funk.