Yesterday Once More

28 Apr 2015

Real People

Hi Listeners

This week we are presenting songs about real people. In recent years there have been some standout songs abut real people such as Pink’s ‘Mr President’ directed at President George Bush. But throughout pop history songwriters and singers have drawn on real people for inspiration. Some of the songs are about celebrities such as Elton John’s memorable tribute to Marilyn Monroe (Candle In The Wind) later re-mastered as a tribute to Lady Di. Pablo Picasso is depicted here by Paul McCartney and Wings (Pablo Picasso) while actress Lee Remick is lovingly remembered by Australia’s Go Betweens (Lee Remick).

There are also songs about more notorious characters such as Georgie Fame’s extremely popular ‘The Ballad of Bonnie And Clyde’, Johnny Cash’s surprising eulogy to ‘Ned Kelly’ and Boney M’s ballad about the mad monk (Rasputin). Two other songs treat their subjects obliquely: Stevie Wonder’s cutting comment on President Nixon is evident in the lyrics of ‘You Haven’t Done Nothin’ and Style Council’s ascerbic critique of the Thatcher regime in ‘Big Boss Groove’. There are also more personal tributes such as Robin Luke’s ‘Susie Darlin’ and the Mommas And Papas song ‘Creeque Alley’ and Axiom’s ‘A Little Ray Of Sunshine.’

We hope you will enjoy the songs and their connections to real people.

Playlist