Actors are inspired by musicians, singers. It's the same the other way around, as this song list proves.
We have compiled the best songs about actors.
Some of the singers or bands that honor their cinematic heroes with their songs are world stars themselves.
1. Robert De Niro‘s Waiting - Bananarama
In 1984, "Robert De Niro's Waiting" by Bananarama reached number three on the British singles chart.
After hearing about the song, in which his name appears in the title and chorus, movie star Robert de Niro invited the band members of Bananarama for a drink.
Bananarama accepted the invitation in London in 1984 and a meeting between the English 80s girl group and the Hollywood actor took place.
2. Jeff Goldblum - Mattiel
"Jeff Goldblum" is a single by American band Mattiel, released on November 15, 2021.
Independent music magazine Atwood Magazine wrote about the song on November 21, 2021, including:
"A sweet and rockin’ ode to crushing hard, the dreamy “Jeff Goldblum” is a catchy surrender to our innermost desires." [1]
3. Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz
The single "Clint Eastwood" from the debut album by the virtual band Gorillaz put in a ravishing international chart performance after its release in March 2001.
Damon Albarn is a fan of the American actor Clint Eastwood. In an Entertainment Weekly interview from 2005, Damon Albarn revealed how Gorillaz actually came up with the name for the song, as you can read here:
"Albarn revealed that the song got its name because the programmed beat that supports Del the Funky Homosapien’s rapping throughout bears similarity to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly theme music." [2]
4. Carly Simon - You‘re So Vain
The single "You're So Vain" by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon was a huge chart hit in 1972: the song reached number 1 in the official singles charts in the USA and other countries.
In a 2015 People interview, Carly Simon revealed a long-suspected meaning of the song "You're So Vain."
She confirmed that the second verse is indeed about American Actor Warren Beatty. Or rather, she pointed out in the interview that she confirmed the fact in writing in her memoir, Boys in the Trees, which appeared shortly after the People interview.[3]
The restriction to verse two thus also means that Carly Simon's song is not just about Warren Beatty.
5. Just Like Fred Astaire - James
In October 1999, the website of the British newspaper The Telegraph featured the song "Just Like Fred Astaire" in an online article:
"A dewy-eyed ballad that captures the dizziness of a new romance, it skips along as deftly as its eponymous hero."[4]
In the chorus of the song, the band James refers to the American dancer and actor with the following lines:
'Cause when I hold her in my arms
I feel like Fred Astaire
6. Michael Caine - Madness
When British actor Michael Cane was asked about appearing "on that Madness record" in a 2007 interview with William Orbit, he replied that he agreed at the time because of his 10-year-old daughter:
"My daughter, who was 10 at the time, said: 'You've got to do it, dad, it's Madness!' I did it for her."[5]
In 1984, the single "Michael Caine" by the English ska band reached #11 on the UK Singles Chart.
7. Matthew Modine - Pony Up!
The debut EP, released in early 2005 and titled after the band name of the Canadian all-female band Pony Up!, features "Matthew Modine" as the fifth song.
The Canadian Exclaim! Music Magazine wrote about the song:
"Horny girl talk is the order of the day on cleverly composed songs like "Shut Up and Kiss Me" and the infectious "Matthew Modine."[6]
8. Bela Lugosi‘s Dead - Bauhaus
Bela Lugosi was an American horror movie actor. He gained great fame with the 1931 film "Dracula", which became a box office hit.
The English rock band Bauhaus named their first 1981 single after Bela Lugosi.
The international online magazine PopMatters wrote about the importance of "Bela Lugosi's Dead" for alternative rock music, especially Goth:
"Goth was one of the earliest (if not the first) alt-rock styles to emerge, and “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” is roundly established by goth historians as the first true record in the genre."[7]
References
[1] Mosk, M. (2021). Today’s Song: Mattiel Crush Hard on Dreamy (New Single) “Jeff Goldblum” Atwood Magazine. https://atwoodmagazine.com/jfgb-mattiel-jeff-goldblum-song-review/, para. 2
[2] Potter, J., & Potter, J. (2023, February 27). Damon Albarn of Gorillaz reveals the ‘Clint Eastwood’ secret. Far Out Magazine. https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/damon-albarn-secret-gorillaz-clint-eastwood/, para. 4
[3] Dowd, K. E. (2015, November 18). Carly Simon Says 'You're So Vain' 'Is' About Warren Beatty – Well, Only the Second Verse: 'He Thinks the Whole Thing Is About Him!' Peoplemag. https://people.com/books/carly-simon-says-youre-so-vain-second-verse-is-about-warren-beatty/
[4] Briggs, S. (n.d.). And the band keeps marching on - The Telegraph. https://web.archive.org/web/20200604085541/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4718585/And-the-band-keeps-marching-on.html, para. 9
[5] Observer Music Monthly (2017, May 31). Michael Caine meets William Orbit. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/oct/14/popandrock7
[6] Khanna, V. (2005, April 1). Pony Up! Pony Up! | Exclaim! (2005, April 1). https://exclaim.ca/music/article/pony_up-pony_up
[7] Ramirez, A. (2009, October 31). “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”: 30 Years of Goth, Gloom, and Post-Post-Punk, PopMatters. PopMatters. https://www.popmatters.com/115525-bela-lugosis-dead-thirty-years-of-goth-gloom-and-post-post-punk-2496118963.html, para. 7