Golden Oldies -- Songs written for other stars
Since I stopped listening to music on the radio along about 1990, when rap became popular, I am officially designated an old fart. The result is that I'm not "up" on current music-- but, I do know of a few wonderful Golden Oldies that were written for or to or about other stars!
Can you think of more? This is what I've come up with, (in no particular order):
#1 Dear Prudence
When The Beatles went to India, to study with Ravi Shankar and the gurus, and partake of some, (what must have been), marvelous hashish, little did I know that Mia Farrow and her sister Prudence went with them. John Lennon wrote the song, "Dear Prudence" to help Prudence cope with her depression. I know that Ringo was also depressed in India-- he didn't like the food! (Yay, Ringo! The most sensible of Beatles...)
#2 Femme Fatale
Andy Warhol asked Lou Rawls, of The Velvet Underground to write a song for his muse, the troubled Edie Sedgwick.
#3 My Favorite Mistake
While Sheryl Crow will not tell anyone who this song is written for, all indications are that it was written about Eric Clapton, with whom she had an affair.
I met Sheryl Crow when she was about 8 years old. Her older sister was my sorority sister! Yeah, that makes me famous, (not). 
#4 How Do You Sleep?
During The Beatles' breakup, Paul McCartney took a few pointed jabs at John Lennon on his solo album, Ram . In response, John Lennon wrote the song, How Do You Sleep?
#5 Layla
Model Patti Boyd was married to George Harrison, when he began to collaborate with Eric Clapton. Eric Clapton grew so infatuated with Patti Boyd, he wrote Layla about her.
Now THIS is a song I can rock to!
#6 Rosanna
Played by the band, Toto, Rosanna is a hit that was actually written about many different women the writer had known. But, since Steve Porcaro of Toto, was dating Rosanna Arquette, the band allowed the public to think it was written for her!
#7 Key Largo
While not actually written about Bogie and Bacall, the song depicts the ending of a great romance, just like Bogie and Bacall's legendary one! Nyeh, it was close enough for government work, and I like the song, so why not?
Can you add to this list? I know all of you out there are MUCH smarter than I!
Thanks for coming by!
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I bet that all of you can come up with more! Just for the record, those were the days ...
Perfect! Certainly one of my favorites! Picture me and one of my best girl friends, sitting in her 1970 Chevette, singing it to the top of our lungs! LOL! Dear Karen, we're still friends!
My best guess has always been Mick Jagger.
when rap because popular
Rap is not music nor any other art form of any kind. Any. Changing it's name to Hip-Hop didn't change the fact that it is still garbage. It's still not music nor any other art form of any kind.
EGAD, I agree! It makes my ears bleed...
I think it is a distinct possibility. She sang backup on the Rolling Stone's hit, Gimme Shelter . Then, when Carly Simon was the UN ambassador for children, (like what Angelina Jolie is now), the Rolling Stones let them use the song for free... At the very least, I think they are very good friends!
Except of course those of us who are too perfect to have to be vain about it.
I was a junior in high school when it was a big hit-- perfect for us!
I thought of another one. Martha My Dear , it was written for Paul McCartney's daughter's hamster. Of course, it was a famous hamster!
I have a memory about this one, too! One of my best friends, was a fabulous person-- both of her parents were alcoholics. Her mother, named Martha, would get schnockered, and would scream at her that she was a "bitch brat". My friend would go to the piano and sing this at the top of her lungs, and tell her mother that she loved her. Her mother would smile and laugh, and all was right with the world again... It was good to know that the crazy wasn't just at my house!
I wonder who that was written for ? No doubt it was someone who did not heed the warning ...
Both are great!
Dear Friend Dowser: My favorite Olde 'N Moldy's in non alphabetical order are:
5. "He Was Only A Gossiping Ditch Digger. But My How the Mud It Would Fly"
4. "Kreplach Roasting On An Open Fire"
3. "She Was Only A Stock Brokers Daughter, But Everyone Got A Share"
2. "A Little Sheep, and a Little Ewe"
1. "My One and Only Glove"
Melodically Yours,
Enoch and the Supremes
I love those!
One of my favorites from childhood was a song for the ukelele-- about two brothers milking cows: Pass the udder udder over to my udder brudder!
I don't know, Petey... When it came out, Dr. Zhivago was a big hit, so I always thought of it as Russian!
I LOVE THAT SONG! An old lesbian girlfriend and I used to drive up to Winnipeg from Grand Forks and go pub hopping. There was this great pub that had this song on the jukebox and it seemed that every customer knew every word, because whenever it was played everyone in the place (except possibly a few confused tourists) used to swing our glasses of beer and sing along. I'll tell you it was heaven on a cold winter's night! I still dream of those days. Still young, some great friends and going to live forever.
Yep. Those were the days!
I have heard this... I'll look it up and post it!
I love Kris Kristofferson!
On a similar vein, The Righteous Brothers, Rock and Roll Heaven
I know this one really, technically, doesn't qualify. However it is written about a mythical man who lived in Paul McCartney's head for a few years and was finally recorded when they were making the Abbey Road album. Which shows that Sir Paul was either psychotic or on LSD at the time. One of the strangest things about was how obsessed he was that it be perfect, that it took them three days to record it and some of the other Beatles were getting a bit peeved at all of the time spent on it. Personally I think it was worth it and that it's a wonderful song.
Most songwriters have written songs about others. For example, many songwriters have written songs about Joni Mitchell:
As well, she has written songs about the men in her life, such as David Crosby, James Taylor, etc.
It's hard to imagine that he was a Rhodes Scholar! He seems so, uh, normal! A very talented man!
I love that song!!! We still sing it-- we used to sing it to Matthew, my son, when he used to bang things... (He had a little yellow plastic hammer.)
It's kind of strange how Paul was so obsessed with it...
Wow, Buzz, that's some GREAT information! Thanks so much for that link!
Love you, Buzz!
LOL!
I'll let ya'll guess who this was written for....
Hey Jude....
Lennon had said on a number of occasion who he wrote it to....
I wonder what he was trying to say to that person....
I read somewhere that it was written for Warren Beaty, but, I'm not sure.
NOw, that makes sense!
He was a bounder in his day, wasn't he?
I thought it was written for Julian, his son, who was upset about John and Cynthia's divorce-- but I could easily be wrong! I love this song!
I was written from a wonderful African folk song! (At least what I've heard...) I love it too! It's been recorded something like 150+ times! One of my very favorites!
I just love the melody!
I have no idea, but, it is such a beautiful song, one that I will never tire of.
Julian is correct, but I still wonder at just what he was trying to tell him...
Yes a very beautiful song, he put a LOT of heart into it...
Another song been covered so many times it doesn't matter anymore.
This replays in my head from my youth....
Peter, Paul and Mary, does this proud........
Peter Paul and Mary were a terrific group, and their songs were awesome!
Many of their songs were not only fun, but, very poignant at times.
Definitely!
He was trying to tell Julian to give Yoko a chance...
RW...Yes, Mama Cass (along with many others) Walked On too soon.
You said it!!!