Hit Singles That Mention Famous People

[Clatty McCutcheon]

Black Grape - In The Name of the Father

Presumably the ever-erudite Shaun Ryder penned the following line -

"Neil Armstrong — Astronaut.  He had balls bigger than King Kong"

Reached number 8 in '95.

[TheMonk]

Goodbye Lucille #1 by Prefab Sprout
" You're still in love with Hayley Mills"

'True' by Spandau Ballet has the line " Listening to Marvin all night long", but doesnae make clear whether they mean Lee Marvin, or that Android off " The Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy" or what, so fuck 'em.

Fuck me, I have thought for 35 years he was saying "Listening to more than All Night Long". Never questioned it really.

[Clatty McCutcheon]

I did also think of 'Ready or Not' by the Fugees, but that mentions several -

Al Capone
Nina Simone
Elliot Ness
Cassius Clay

[Gulftastic]

Just one? OK then, 'I Am The Mob' by Catatonia mentions 'Luca Brasi'

[The Culture Bunker]

Assuming 'hit single' means top 40, then there's also Lloyd Cole and the Commotions' 'Perfect Skin' ("at the age of ten, she looked like Greta Garbo").

[Jockice]

Young Parisians by Adam And The Ants. They love Patti Smith apparently.

And from Adam's solo chart-topper there's 'opening the eyeballs eyeballs, pretending that you're Al Green Al Green." Aimed insultingly at Kevin Rowland, fact fans.

[Sin Agog]

Adverts/Gary Gilmore's Eyes/no. 18.

[Clatty McCutcheon]

Just one? OK then, 'I Am The Mob' by Catatonia mentions 'Luca Brasi'

The King of New York by Fun Lovin' Criminals mentions John Gotti (New York mobster).

[Jockice]

God in Babies by Pulp.

[Fr.Bigley]

Nightshift by the Commodores mentions both Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson.

[Doomy Dwyer]

The King of New York by Fun Lovin' Criminals mentions John Gotti (New York mobster).

It mentions Joe Pesci, too, which would make two famouses. But I'd argue that Gotti was infamous rather than merely famous and, much like the notorious Teflon Don, I'd get off on a dubious technicality, win the pop quiz and resume my lucrative racketeering, hijacking, loan sharking, drug trafficking, bookmaking, prostitution, extortion, pornography, illegal gambling interests while wearing a series of nice suits.

[Jockice]

Bros
When Will I Be Famous?
Karl Marx

Again stretching the rules but so does Where's My Jumper? by Sultans Of Ping FC.

[Brundle-Fly]

Damn! No More Heroes by The Stranglers mentions four. Not admissible.

[Captain Z]

Moves Like Jagger

[Fr.Bigley]

Moves Like Jagger

But he was talking about Amy Jagger the British Olympic gymnast of the 30's, so that doesn't count.

[buzby]

Kevin Cater by the Manic Street Preachers mentions..... wait for it...... Kevin Carter.

Adverts/Gary Gilmore's Eyes/no. 18.

Moves Like Jagger

Some people haven't read THE RULES:

- mentions a famous person in the lyrics, but not in the title

Nightshift by the Commodores mentions both Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson.

Blondie's Rapture doesn't count as it mentions Fab Five Freddy, Grandmaster Flash and Francois Kervorkian Same with Nightshift by The Commodores - mentions Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson

[Pearly-Dewdrops Drops]

Example
Carter USM
After the Watershed
David Icke

"Do Re Me So Far So Good" also works; mentions Elvis in the first line

[eifion]

Shaun Ryder mentions himself by name in "Hallelujah" by Happy Mondays.

[Lisa Jesusandmarychain]

Shaun Ryder mentions himself by name in "Hallelujah" by Happy Mondays.

But he mentions his John Thaw lookalike brother as well, and neither of them were that famous at the time of recording ( late 1989). I 'd be very surprised if the Doc considers your entry.

[The Culture Bunker]

But he mentions his John Thaw lookalike brother as well, and neither of them were that famous at the time of recording ( late 1989). I 'd be very surprised if the Doc considers your entry.

However, that other bunch of Northern scamps on that particular episode of Top of the Pops did mention the Marquis de Sade in their hit single 'Fool's Gold'.

[Famous Mortimer]

Kevin Cater by the Manic Street Preachers mentions..... wait for it...... Kevin Carter.

Rule 3 :(

Never mind, didn't notice there was a page 2.

[Clatty McCutcheon]

However, that other bunch of Northern scamps on that particular episode of Top of the Pops did mention the Marquis de Sade in their hit single 'Fool's Gold'.

'Legacy' by Mansun also mentions the Marquis de Sade.

[KennyMonster]

Guess who's had an idea for a pop quiz round...

OK, what I'm looking for is:
- UK hit single
- 80s or later
- mentions a famous person in the lyrics, but not in the title
- not multiple famous people, just one

Example
Carter USM
After the Watershed
David Icke

I think this might prove to be a bit niche, unfortunately, but 10+ would be nice.

That song also mentions Ruby 'Tuesday' Murray, the inventor of the Indian Takeaway[nb]Although she complained and demanded her name get removed from subsequent editions.[/nb]

[Natnar]

Kate Bush - Moments Of Pleasure
Douglas Fairbanks

[Tombola]

Candle in the Wind mentions both Norma Jean and Marilyn Monroe, but they're the same person so...

[Golden E. Pump]

My Name is Prince makes multiple references to just one particular celebrity.

[Norton Canes]

The Rain
Oran 'Juice' Jones
Rambo

[Crabwalk]

Eminem
'Lose Yourself'
Mekhi Phifer

[Crabwalk]

Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
'Perfect Skin'
Greta Garbo

Edit: Already mentioned

[The Culture Bunker]

Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
'Perfect Skin'
Greta Garbo

Assuming 'hit single' means top 40, then there's also Lloyd Cole and the Commotions' 'Perfect Skin' ("at the age of ten, she looked like Greta Garbo").

Sorry.

The Pretenders' 'Message of Love' mentions Brigitte Bardot.