Same name, different song. Which one wins?
Last week, Midnight Sun scribe Lindsey Citron did a little digging and came up with a pretty extensive list of totally different songs that share the same name.
There are some pretty wild ones, and I'm sure Lindsey just scratched the tip of the iceberg. So feel free to add yours to the list. Here goes:
"[Female Dog]" -- The Rolling Stones vs. Meredith Brooks
The figurative versus the literal.
"Vienna" -- Billy Joel (pictured) vs. The Fray
The Fray takes on the lonely aspect of a foreign city, while Billy Joel romanticizes the idea of leaving it all behind. ...
"We’re All in This Together" -- Ben Lee vs. High School Musical
Whether you liked it or not, after High School Musical debuted, little Zac Efrons were everywhere chanting this Disney-fave. Ben Lee’s version has the same catch phrase, but with just a slightly better set of verses before and after.
"Alcohol" -- Barenaked Ladies vs. CSS
With lyrics like “Am I a horse? / Am I on fire?” we find ourselves asking if there is more than just alcohol in the mix of CSS’ song.
"Higher Ground" -- Stevie Wonder vs. Bedouin Soundclash
Stevie Wonder’s classic phrase takes on a religious tone in the ska-reggae hit by Bedouin Soundclash.
"Amsterdam" -- Coldplay vs. Peter Bjorn and John vs. Guster
There’s something about those Socialists. The Coldplay song is more famous, but Peter Bjorn and John and Guster get points for including the city’s name in their lyrics. Oddly enough, not one of the versions explains what exactly happened in Amsterdam. Between the hot air balloon in Guster’s song, to the trance-like whistling in PB and J’s version, one thing is for certain: Strange things happen in Holland.
"Closer" -- Nine Inch Nails vs. Jimmy Eat World vs. Kings of Leon
It’s hard to hold any song against one that lines up “you let me violate you” and “penetrate you” back to back, but Kings of Leon produce a ballad that, well, more suits its name. Jimmy Eat World’s version deserves an honorable mention as well.
"Superman" -- Dave Matthews Band vs. Lazlo Bane
Both Supermen claim not to be so in their individual renditions. Shouldn’t the titles be “The Un-Superman?”
"Intuition" Jewel vs. Feist (pictured)
It’s hard to remember if Jewel’s song existed before the Schick razor commercials. Feist’s has more of a singer-songwriter feel than a full-fledged radio-pop song.
"Bang Bang" -- Iggy Pop vs. Dispatch
One bang-bang to wake you up and the other heading towards outer space make for two great songs.
Even more:
"Hollywood" -- Madonna vs. The Cranberries
"Whiskey and Wine" -- 311 vs. and Matt Costa
"Everyday" -- Buddy Holly vs. Dave Matthews Band
"Stronger" -- Kanye West vs. Britney Spears
"Someday" -- The Strokes vs. Sugar Ray
"See the World" -- Gomez vs. The Kooks
"Run" -- Ben Kweller vs. Amy McDonald
"California" -- Any and every surf-rock band in the United States.
"All At Once" -- The Fray vs. Jack Johnson
"Again and Again" -- Keane vs. The Bird and the Bee
"I Want You" -- The Beatles vs. Bob Dylan
"Satellite" -- Dave Matthews Band vs. Guster vs. TV on the Radio vs. Anna Nalick.
"Invisible" -- Modest Mouse vs. Taylor Swift
"Is This Love" -- Bob Marley and the Wailers vs. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
(AP photos)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
How about Forever Young? You could have a 3-way battle between Dylan, Rod Stewart, and Alphaville. Maybe Will.I.Am could help out Bob.
Posted by: TS | March 30, 2009 12:41 PM
As performed at the Egg Babies Orchestra show on Saturday, "Xanadu", by ELO. As opposed to the Peart-heavy Rush version.
Posted by: TheBeav | March 30, 2009 12:48 PM
"Hollywood" and "Run" in the list above could also include Collective Soul- both songs were huge hits for them.
Posted by: Bruce | March 30, 2009 12:49 PM
DMB does not have a song titled "Superman" dude.
Posted by: Dave | March 30, 2009 1:10 PM
What are your top 5 local bands?
Posted by: Dunn | March 30, 2009 1:31 PM
REM also has a Superman. Can't recall the name of the Five For Fighting Superman-ish song.
Is This Love -- Don't forget Whitesnake!
Also, "One" -- U2 vs. Metallica vs. Creed.
Posted by: Steve D. | March 30, 2009 2:11 PM
Black Flag - Vanilla Ice / "I love you"
Posted by: Allan | March 30, 2009 2:17 PM
fun idea. here are a few additions (in parentheses):
"Run" -- Ben Kweller vs. Amy McDonald (vs. George Strait)
"All At Once" -- The Fray vs. Jack Johnson (vs. Whitney Houston)
and sammeroo, thanks for running the photo of billy joel. it's a good shot. and circa his great album "river of dreams" from 1994. oh yeah...
Posted by: pianogal | March 30, 2009 2:55 PM
Sam, I respect you more for misstating a song by Dave Matthews Fart Sound. DMB sucks.
"Crazy" - Patsy Cline vs. Seal vs Aerosmith
Posted by: AC-M | March 30, 2009 3:16 PM
Here's a list of different songs with the same title made by at least three artists, all of which are pretty well known:
Carol King, Dire Straits, Staind – So Far Away
Dave Matthews Band, Shakespeare Sister, Lisa Loeb – Stay
Def Leppard, Nickleback, Weezer, the Verve Pipe – Photograph
Del Shannon, Bon Jovi, Janet Jackson – Runaway
Escape Club, Kool Moe D, Will Smith – Wild Wild West
Foo Fighters, Tom Petty, Pink Floyd – Learning To Fly
Heuy Lewis & The News, Celine Dion, Luther Vandross – The Power of Love
Live, Warrant, Bryan Adams – Heaven
Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, Chad Kroger, Phil Collins and David Crosby – Hero
Mariah Carey, Led Zepplin, Dionne Warwick – Heartbreaker
Ohio Players, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen – Fire
Seal, Aerosmith, The Boys – Crazy
Stone Temple Pilots, TLC, Radiohead – Creep
Aerosmith, Sarah McLaughlin, Shaggy – Angel
The Cars, Incubus, REM – Drive
The Cranberries, Fleetwood Mac, Van Halen – Dreams
The Strokes, Glass Tiger, Nickelback, Mariah Carey – Someday
Three Dog Night, Metallica, Bee Gees – One
Van Morrison, U2, Laura Branigan – Gloria
Posted by: Rich B. | March 30, 2009 3:22 PM
Mostly additions to songs already mentioned.
Alcohol - The Kinks
Amsterdam (Jacque Brel) – David Bowie
Are You ready to Rock – Roy Wood’s Wizzard, there must be at least another.
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) – Cher
Crazy (Willie Nelson) - Patsy Cline
Downtown - The B-52s, Petula Clark
Heartbreaker - Pat Benatar
Heaven - Talking Heads, Pere Ubu
Holiday - The Kinks
Miles Away – Madonna, John Foxx
Misfits – The Kinks, there has to be another.
Photograph - Ringo Starr
Stay - David Bowie
(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman – The Kinks
Vienna - Ultravox
Posted by: GDA | March 30, 2009 4:33 PM
LOVE this. and if you love this, check out Current's Coldplay-off, going on right now on our site. :)
Posted by: shana | March 30, 2009 5:02 PM
Why do you have a picture of Feist? There's no mention of her.
Posted by: Shankman | March 30, 2009 8:08 PM
Shankman,
Please read again.
"Intuition" Jewel vs Feist (pictured)
Posted by: RayRay | March 31, 2009 8:42 AM
"Fire" - Ohio Players, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen ...add Crazy World of Arthur Brown
"Call Me" - Blondie, Lulu, Al Green
"Wish You Were Here" - Pink Floyd, Incubus
"Hey" - Butthole Surfers, Pixies, Fear
Posted by: Tomato Head | March 31, 2009 9:30 AM
"I'm on Fire" - Dwight Twilley Band, Bruce Springsteen
"Fire" - a Bruce Springsteen song written specifically for Robert Gordon, first recorded/released by Robert Gordon with guitar legend Link Wray.
Posted by: GDA | March 31, 2009 10:06 AM
"Love Shack" - B-52s, Sheila Dixon
Posted by: Tomato Head | March 31, 2009 12:08 PM
Bang bang (on the door baby)
Bang bang
Your what?.... Tin roof, rusted!
Posted by: karlosi | March 31, 2009 5:32 PM