Songs inspired by, or about actors/actresses

Zaqarbal · 02-24-2017, 12:38 AM

I guess there are hundreds of them (who hasn't been captivated by an actor/actress sometime?). Some I remember:

*Billy Bragg & Wilco: Ingrid Bergman (1998). *Bananarama: Robert De Niro's Waiting (1984).

*Kim Carnes: Bette Davis Eyes (1981). *Cinerama: Lollobrigida (2000, after Gina Lollobrigida, of course).

*My favourite one is this superb tribute to Gloria Swanson (1899-1983) by a pop-rock band from the 80's named Pistones: Lo que quieras oír ("Whatever You Want to Hear", 1984).

♫ "La tierra se partió; ................................ The Earth broke up;
una mitad te destruyó; ................................ one of the halves destroyed you;
tu imperio llega a su fin. ................................ your rule comes to an end.

La sombra fue a ocultar ................................ The shadow blocked out
la débil luz de una star. ................................ a star's dim light.
¿Quién brillará hoy por tí? ................................ Who will shine for you today?

¿Qué puede quedar? ................................ What could remain now?
Sólo existo yo, ................................ There's only me,
tu último admirador. ................................ your last admirer.
Vuelve a actuar ................................ Act again,
sólo para mí. ................................ only for me.
Diré lo que quieras oír. ................................ I'll say whatever you want to hear.

Tu larga enfermedad ................................ Your long illness
son unas fotos que cuidar, ................................ is just some
bien empapadas de alcohol. ................................ alcohol-soaked photos to keep.

Tu cara se olvidó; ................................ Your face fell into obscurity;
ya nadie espera el próximo guión; ................................ nobody expects the next screenplay anymore;
el gran estreno en Nueva York ................................ the grand première in New York
se aplazó. ................................ was cancelled.

¿Qué puede quedar? ................................ What could remain now?
Sólo existo yo, ................................ There's only me,
tu último admirador. ................................ your last admirer.
Vuelve a actuar ................................ Act again,
sólo para mí. ................................ only for me.
Diré lo que quieras oír. ................................ I'll say whatever you want to hear.

Tu cara se olvidó; ................................ Your face fell into obscurity;
ya nadie espera el próximo guión; ................................ nobody expects the next screenplay anymore;
el gran estreno en Nueva York ................................ the grand première in New York
se aplazó. ................................ was cancelled.

¿Qué puede quedar? ................................ What could remain now?
Sólo existo yo, ................................ There's only me,
tu último admirador. ................................ your last admirer.
Vuelve a actuar ................................ Act again,
sólo para mí. ................................ only for me.
Diré lo que quieras oír. ................................ I'll say whatever you want to hear." ♫

And from love.... to hate. *Deflator Mouse: F*** You, Tom Cruise (2006).

Chiomara · 02-24-2017, 12:56 AM

...Well, allegedly, certain Taylor Swift songs are about her female exes (her original violinist girl and also Dianna Agron) rather than the boyfriends as commonly assumed. I hate that I even know that, but there you go.

Aside from that, this is the only one I can think of right now; it's lovely:

I would love to know if there were any songs written about Natalie Wood or Ava Gardener.

Zaqarbal · 02-24-2017, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiomara

I would love to know if there were any songs written about Natalie Wood or Ava Gardener.

As for Ava Gardner, she was married to Frank Sinatra, and they say I'm a Fool to Want You is about her:

Chiomara · 02-24-2017, 10:51 AM

Thanks! Though I was wondering about songs aside from Sinatra's.
(I believe his album In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning was greatly inspired by her/the dissolution of their relationship as well? Their marriage was very strange and fascinating.)

Hmm.. What about Marlene Dietrich?

ribbons · 02-24-2017, 03:16 PM

Roxy Music - 2 H.B. (to Humphrey Bogart)

ribbons · 02-24-2017, 03:19 PM

Julian Cope - Robert Mitchum

ribbons · 02-24-2017, 03:21 PM

Nirvana - Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle

DwnWthVwls · 02-24-2017, 03:26 PM

Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood
Madness - Michael Caine

ribbons · 02-24-2017, 03:47 PM

The Kinks - Celluloid Heroes

ribbons · 02-24-2017, 03:53 PM

Jonathan Richman - When Harpo Played His Harp

02-24-2017, 12:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
Zaqarbal Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 824	Songs inspired by, or about actors/actresses I guess there are hundreds of them (who hasn't been captivated by an actor/actress sometime?). Some I remember: Billy Bragg & Wilco: Ingrid Bergman* (1998). Bananarama: Robert De Niro's Waiting* (1984). Kim Carnes: Bette Davis Eyes* (1981). Cinerama: Lollobrigida* (2000, after Gina Lollobrigida, of course). My favourite one is this superb tribute to Gloria Swanson* (1899-1983) by a pop-rock band from the 80's named Pistones: Lo que quieras oír ("Whatever You Want to Hear", 1984). ♫ "La tierra se partió; ................................ The Earth broke up; una mitad te destruyó; ................................ one of the halves destroyed you; tu imperio llega a su fin. ................................ your rule comes to an end. La sombra fue a ocultar ................................ The shadow blocked out la débil luz de una star. ................................ a star's dim light. ¿Quién brillará hoy por tí? ................................ Who will shine for you today? ¿Qué puede quedar? ................................ What could remain now? Sólo existo yo, ................................ There's only me, tu último admirador. ................................ your last admirer. Vuelve a actuar ................................ Act again, sólo para mí. ................................ only for me. Diré lo que quieras oír. ................................ I'll say whatever you want to hear. Tu larga enfermedad ................................ Your long illness son unas fotos que cuidar, ................................ is just some bien empapadas de alcohol. ................................ alcohol-soaked photos to keep. Tu cara se olvidó; ................................ Your face fell into obscurity; ya nadie espera el próximo guión; ................................ nobody expects the next screenplay anymore; el gran estreno en Nueva York ................................ the grand première in New York se aplazó. ................................ was cancelled. ¿Qué puede quedar? ................................ What could remain now? Sólo existo yo, ................................ There's only me, tu último admirador. ................................ your last admirer. Vuelve a actuar ................................ Act again, sólo para mí. ................................ only for me. Diré lo que quieras oír. ................................ I'll say whatever you want to hear. Tu cara se olvidó; ................................ Your face fell into obscurity; ya nadie espera el próximo guión; ................................ nobody expects the next screenplay anymore; el gran estreno en Nueva York ................................ the grand première in New York se aplazó. ................................ was cancelled. ¿Qué puede quedar? ................................ What could remain now? Sólo existo yo, ................................ There's only me, tu último admirador. ................................ your last admirer. Vuelve a actuar ................................ Act again, sólo para mí. ................................ only for me. Diré lo que quieras oír. ................................ I'll say whatever you want to hear." ♫ And from love.... to hate. Deflator Mouse: F** You, Tom Cruise (2006). __________________ "Lullabies for adults / crossed by the years / carry the flower of disappointment / tattooed in their gloomy melodies."

02-24-2017, 03:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
ribbons Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,265	Nirvana - Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle Last edited by ribbons; 02-24-2017 at 04:50 PM. Reason: fixed link

02-24-2017, 12:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
Chiomara mayor of spookytown Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 812	...Well, allegedly, certain Taylor Swift songs are about her female exes (her original violinist girl and also Dianna Agron) rather than the boyfriends as commonly assumed. I hate that I even know that, but there you go. Aside from that, this is the only one I can think of right now; it's lovely: I would love to know if there were any songs written about Natalie Wood or Ava Gardener.

02-24-2017, 10:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
Chiomara mayor of spookytown Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 812	Thanks! Though I was wondering about songs aside from Sinatra's. (I believe his album In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning was greatly inspired by her/the dissolution of their relationship as well? Their marriage was very strange and fascinating.) Hmm.. What about Marlene Dietrich?

02-24-2017, 03:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
ribbons Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,265	Roxy Music - 2 H.B. (to Humphrey Bogart)

02-24-2017, 03:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
ribbons Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,265	Julian Cope - Robert Mitchum

02-24-2017, 03:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
ribbons Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,265	The Kinks - Celluloid Heroes

02-24-2017, 03:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
ribbons Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,265	Jonathan Richman - When Harpo Played His Harp