General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCan you name the song with this interesting origin?
1. This Elvis Presley hit was inspired by a suicide note.
2. This Beatles song was about a family pet.
3. This Sam & Dave classic was written because one of the songwriters stayed in the bathroom too long.
4. This Elton John song was adapted from a short story by Ray Bradbury.
5. The title of this Paul Simon song was borrowed from a menu item at a Chinese restaurant.
6. The title of this Aerosmith song came from a joke in a Mel Brooks movie.
7. This Bonnie Tyler hit was originally about vampires.
8. The lyrics to this Blondie song were directed at a stalker.
Can anyone name any of these songs? Does anyone know of another song whose origins were unusual in some way? Let me know.
Scrivener7
(50,993 posts)Other than that I have no guesses.
But great thread!
Clash City Rocker
(3,398 posts)I was always puzzled by the lyrics to One Way or Another. Show says shes going to get someone, then says shell give him the slip. Does she want to get him, or get rid of him? Turns out that Deborah Harry had a stalker, and the lyrics were a threat that she was going to get him and turn him over to the police. Good job!
EYESORE 9001
(25,965 posts)Clash City Rocker
(3,398 posts)Bernie Taupin has acknowledged that the lyrics were inspired by a Ray Bradbury short story named Rocket Man, and by another song by a band called Pearls Before Swine, which was also based on Bradburys story. Apparently, Ray Bradbury was popular with rock artists of the time. Who knew?
kimimer
(20 posts)Hold On, I'm Coming
Delphinus
(11,840 posts)Clash City Rocker
(3,398 posts)From the Wikipedia entry The song was written by the songwriting team of Isaac Hayes and David Porter, who came up with the title of the song spontaneously when Hayes was trying to get Porter to hurry out of the Stax Studios restroom and get back to songwriting.
Mr. Ected
(9,670 posts)8 is One Way or Another
Clash City Rocker
(3,398 posts)Paul Simon had lost a pet dog, and wrote the song about the sadness he felt as a result. He didnt have a title until he visited a Chinese restaurant that had a chicken and egg dish called Mother and Child Reunion.
And, as stated above, you were also correct about #8. Well done.
Mr. Ected
(9,670 posts)But I wanted to let someone else have some fun, too!
I'm a total nerd about these things.
thucythucy
(8,086 posts)is Heartbreak Hotel.
2 is Martha My Dear.
3 is Hold On, I'm Coming (I think)
4 Rocket Man?
5 Mother and Child Reunion
I'm not sure if this qualifies, but Leonard Cohen's "Bird on the Wire" was inspired by the small Greek village where he was living at the time getting wired for electricity.
Clash City Rocker
(3,398 posts)All those are correct.
The suicide note said I walk a lonely street. The rest was history. One of the songwriters was the mother of another great songwriter, Hoyt Axton.
Martha was the name of Paul McCartneys beloved sheepdog.
Oh, and now I have to look up more info on Bird on a Wire. Thanks!
thucythucy
(8,086 posts)that Cohen had gone to live in a small Greek village to get away from the modern world, but while there the government came in and electrified the place.
Cohen was bummed by the idea that even in so remote a place he couldn't get away from the world. And yes, he saw birds on the wires. Also, many nights a group of guys, after much to drink, would sing in a "midnight choir."
I love that song.
Best wishes.
JHB
(37,161 posts)Guessing.
hatrack
(59,592 posts)Pretty sure #1 is Heartbreak Hotel
#2 is Martha My Dear
#7 Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Clash City Rocker
(3,398 posts)Total Eclipse of the Heart was written by Jim Steinman, who also wrote Meat Loafs best songs. The lyrics make a little more sense when you know it was originally for a musical about vampires. Good job!
Glorfindel
(9,733 posts)#1 "Heartbreak Hotel"
#2 "Hey Bulldog"
#7 "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
Just guesses, but what a fun post. Thanks, Rocker!
Blues Heron
(5,939 posts)Clash City Rocker
(3,398 posts)There was a walk this way gag in Young Frankenstein, which the band had recently seen. Man, you people know your music trivia. Good job!
Blues Heron
(5,939 posts)Emile
(22,882 posts)nuxvomica
(12,438 posts)Totally off the top of my head without looking at other resaponses. The only one I'm sure about is 5.
usedtobedemgurl
(1,143 posts)If I remember properly, from Jeopardy. My concussion often confuses me.
nuxvomica
(12,438 posts)I seem to remember that too.
intheflow
(28,497 posts)Jet was a song by Paul McCartney's post-Beatles band, Wings. Since Paul wrote Martha My Dear, it's likely that he was inspired by another pet to write Jet.
usedtobedemgurl
(1,143 posts)I should know this, as I have over 200 Beatles albums .different versions/different countries/bootlegs, etc .
spanone
(135,861 posts)Walk This Way, Bette Davis Eyes, One Way or Another
#7 Is actually 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'
Clash City Rocker
(3,398 posts)DU sure has some smart people. Good job to all.