Songs that mention other artists

[hbelkins]

Probably the most famous is "Sweet Home Alabama" with its Neil Young reference.

Others:

"Surrender" by Cheap Trick, mentions Kiss.

"Take It Like A Man" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive, mentions ZZ Top.

"Scrapbook" by Chicago, mentions Jimi Hendrix and the Beach Boys.

"Gator Country" by Molly Hatchet, mentions a bunch of other Southern rock artists.

[1995hoo]

Country singer Eric Church has a song called "Springsteen."

"All the Young Dudes" (best-known version is by Mott the Hoople, though David Bowie wrote it) refers to the Beatles and the Stones.

Weird Al's parody of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" repeatedly refers to Nirvana, including, of course, in the title ("Smells Like Nirvana").

[kphoger]

Probably the most famous is "Sweet Home Alabama" with its Neil Young reference.

For those unaware:

Well I heard Mister Young sing about her
Well I heard ol' Neil put her down
Well I hope Neil Young will remember
A southern man don't need him around anyhow

[formulanone]

Literally every third rap song.

[Konza]

A number of country songs.

Garth Brooks' "Much Too Young"  mentions "A worn out tape of Chris LeDoux" , for example.

Many tributes to artists like Hank Williams, George Jones, Johnny Cash, and Merle Haggard.

[kphoger]

w/r/t Sweet Home Alabama:

Back in high school, I made a a lot of mix tapes (remember those?).  I aimed to have a wide variety of music on each tape, and I based my song selections on style, length, and frankly my mood at the time.  On one such mix tape, I recorded Alabama by Neil Young.  Then I set about the task of deciding what song to put next.  Without even considering lyrics or song title, I eventually decided on Sweet Home Alabama as the next song.  It wasn't until later that I realized how apropos that happy little accident was.

[roadman65]

Led Zeppelin and Hats off to Harper referring to Roy Harper.

Then Who Do You Love by George Thorogood indirectly refers to Bo Diddly.

[Mapmikey]

R O C K in the USA (John Mellencamp) name checks numerous artists
as does Sweet Soul Music (Arthur Conley)
and Sir Duke (Stevie Wonder)

Who Are You (Who) mentions T-Rex
God (John Lennon) mentions Elvis, The Beatles and Robert Zimmerman
Club at the End of the Street (Elton John) mentions Marvin Gaye, as does Rock Witcha (Bobby Brown)
Long May You Run (Neil Young) mentions Elvis and the Beach Boys
That Don't Impress Me Much (Shania Twain) mentions Elvis
Paul McCartney did a song called Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)
Hey 19 (Steely Dan) mentions Aretha Franklin
Weird Al Yankovic had a song called Still Billy Joel to Me that he didn't put out because Billy Joel objected
We Didn't Start the Fire (Billy Joel) mentions at least the Beatles

[1995hoo]

ELO have an unreleased track called "Beatles Forever." You can probably find a bootleg online (whether it's authentic, who knows).

[ran4sh]

"The Real Slim Shady" (Eminem) mentions Tom Green, Will Smith, Britney, Christina Aguilera, Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), and references several other artists of that era without naming them

[NWI_Irish96]

Weird Al Yankovic had a song called Still Billy Joel to Me that he didn't put out because Billy Joel objected

"Weird Al"'s song "Word Crimes":

You should never
Write words using numbers
Unless you're seven
Or your name is Prince

He also had two songs "The Brady Bunch" and "Couch Potato" that rattle of large numbers of TV shows/stars.

[1995hoo]

"Thunder Road"  ("Roy Orbison singing for the lonely" )

The Monkees' "Randy Scouse Git"  plainly refers to the Beatles ("The four kings of EMI are sitting stately on the floor" ).

[kphoger]

"Weird Al"'s song "Word Crimes":

You should never
Write words using numbers
Unless you're seven
Or your name is Prince

Love the song.  Didn't remember that part.  Thanks for prompting me to watch the YouTube again.   

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Steely Dan "Everything You Did" : "Turn up the Eagles, the neighbors are listening."

[kphoger]

I got a batch of margaritas, a jacuzzi in the back,
  Clapton on the radio, how about that?
We could build a fire, yeah, we could go nuts,
  Dancing all around till the sun comes up.

[kurumi]

Mojo Nixon - Don Henley Must Die mentions Don Henley and Sting
Steely Dan - Gold Teeth mentions Cathy Berberian
Sabaton - Metal Crüe is basically a list of other artists: Iron Maiden, Rush, Queen, Slayer, etc.

[ethanhopkin14]

"The Late Great Johnny Ace" by Paul Simon mentions The Beatles, The (Rolling) Stones, John Lennon and of course Johnny Ace.

[Avalanchez71]

ABC When Smokey Sings a tribute to Smokey Robinson.

The song mentions Marvin (Marvin Gaye), Luther (Luther Vandross) and others.

[ethanhopkin14]

"The Indifference of Heaven" by Warren Zevon

"Billy (Joel) and Christy (Brinkley) don't
Bruce (Springsteen) and Patty (Scialfa) don't."

[Throckmorton]

   
Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge and Martin Mull, in Lonesome L.A. Cowboy by NRPS.   
   
   

[Big John]

Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)

Many artists.

[ethanhopkin14]

"Jokerman" by Bob Dylan

"Michelangelo indeed could've carved out your features."

Unless we are not talking about those kinds of artists. 

[ethanhopkin14]

"Waiting for You" by Jackson Browne

"I don't care about Madonna, or the next thing she might do."

[kevinb1994]

Steely Dan "Everything You Did" : "Turn up the Eagles, the neighbors are listening."

And then the Eagles made a reference to Steely Dan in "Hotel California" .

"They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast" .

[KCRoadFan]

"The Seeker" by the Who - mentions Bob Dylan and the Beatles.