Misc. Mental Musings
Name That Tune, Remix
S. G. Lacey
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Here’s another version of the lyrical name game, this time spanning from 1985 to 2005 in chronological order, thus encompassing a much broader range of music genres.
Below are one-line descriptions of people’s personas hidden in common songs. This moniker doesn’t appear in the title of the track, and is only stated once, or a few times, rarely in the chorus, throughout the lyrics. Pay attention to every word of the clue, as there are hidden hints on artist, title, and verbiage provided. In some cases, multiple moniker queries are linked to the same anthem.
As an example, there’s one specific song, which came out early in this period, that's so packed with luminary’s names the work deserves its own separate post. However, this epic poetic execution can provide insight on the depth of thoughtful interpretation required for this trivia challenge.
“We Didn’t Start The Fire” by Billy Joel condenses several decades of history into a single ballad. The lyrics have been memorized and researched by many, but this tune is still mandatory to include in a discussion of musical monikers.
What is the first name belted out the most in this song?
The answer is “Joe”, stated 3 times, in reference to famed men “DiMaggio”, “McCarthy”, and “Stalin”. Each character was of a different age and ilk, but shared the same common biblical title. A pair of these odes occur in the very first stanza of the plot.
Classic rock writings were personified by whimsical stories about star-crossed lovers and amusing life anecdotes. The 1990’s ushered in a period of realism, with refrains focusing on lost souls and aggrieved citizens. As a result, expressive naming took on an entirely new context.
Nicknames also came into prevalence, especially in the hip-hop space, with subtle innuendos and secret inferences, making tracks an avenue for subtle communication.
As the century turned over, and social media took over, overt references to celebrities became increasingly common, especially in the pop and rap genres. Some of these callouts were in idyllic tribute, others inciting trouble.
Good luck with this list; your age of formative years and extent of melodic experience will likely dictate the breadth of knowledge available to name these names.
January 1985: Alliterative band members not named Bryan; one quit, and another got married, ending the best summer of their lives as the 1970’s began?
Answer
​“Jimmy" & " Jody"
Summer Of 69
[Bryan Adams]
February 1986: This lovely girl, vacationing in the outfield at a baseball game, needs to grow up?
Answer
​“Josie”
Your Love
[The Outfield]
October 1986: Per Jon’s life experience, this hard-working, blue-collar couple is living and praying every day?
Answer
“Tommy and Gina”
Livin' On A Prayer
[Bon Jovi]
November 1987: The quartet of men with initials “L. B.” who are contemplating the world’s end while in REM sleep?
Answer
“Leonard Bernstein, Leonid Brezhnev,
Lenny Bruce, and Lester Bangs”
End Of The World
[REM]
September 1989: While an unnamed girl is just a friend, recall the quartet of real pals this marque rapper has?
Answer
“Agnes, Agatha, Germaine, and Jacq”
Just A Friend
[Biz Markie]
March 1991: A country couple with common names; the boy has a rusty pick-up truck, and is short on brains, but the front porch girl doesn’t care, and loves him anyways?
Answer
“Tommy” & "Katie"
She's In Love With The Boy
[Trisha Yearwood]
March 1992: A heartbreak kid vents about his girlfriend’s frustrating family, notably this big brother who punched him, and this annoying aunt? Line dancing is optional.
Answer
“Cliff” & "Louise"
Achy Breaky Heart
[Billy Ray Cyrus]
November 1992: It’s a good day to fuck this beeping babe all night, after playing some ice-in-the-veins hoops, then gambling on craps and dominos?
Answer
“Kim”
It Was A Good Day
[Ice Cube]
September 1993: This poor religious girl, clearly not from here, arrived from Nashville with just one suitcase, but has now taken off all her clothes, as she feels nervous?
Answer
“Maria”
Round Here
[Counting Crows]
April 1993: Last name of the Spanish boyfriend who’s missing out on executing rhythmic arm and torso movements tied to an incredibly catchy earworm party track, since he left to join the army?
Answer
“Vitorino"
Macarena
[Los Del Rio]
March 1994: This 8-year-old country boy who doesn’t wanting to go fishing with a girl, instead pleading with his dad to bring any of these three boys, two of which have alliterative, rhyming names?
Answer
“Johnny” & “Jimmy Johnson,
Tommy Thompson” + "Bo”
Don’t Take The Girl
[Tim McGraw]
May 1994: Wheezing after drinking the last Heineken in the fridge, then wrestling against this college roommate, while so-so shows play on the television?
Answer
“Jimmy"
Say It Ain't So
[Weezer]
August 1994: One rapper’s big inaugural release, starting a sadly short but supremely saucy career, acknowledges this quintet of folks with unique monikers who supported him along the way?
Answer
“Ron G, Brucie B, Kid Capri,
Funkmaster Flex, Lovebug Starski”
Juicy
[Notorious B.I.G.]
September 1995: Check yes for this gal, a straight-up elementary school story that becomes a lifetime country romance?
Answer
“Emmylou Hayes"
Check Yes Or No
[George Strait]
December 1995: In a single bold intro verse to a classic Cali anthem, the rap doctor references this two-pack: a Chicago prohibition era cop, and a Milwaukee born flamboyant entertainer?
Answer
“Eliot Ness” & "Liberace"
California Love
[2Pac & Dr. Dre]
May 1996: A broken-hearted pauper turned flowery princess, who’s putting it all together, while driving around in a padiddle at night?
Answer
“Cinderella”
One Headlight
[The Wallflowers]
November 1996: A vending machine repair man’s pastel daughter, who was born on a Tuesday night; their life has been quite a winding road, eschewing how a crow efficiently flies?
Answer
“Easter”
Every Day Is A Winding Road
[Sheryl Crow]
September 1998: A scantily-clad band of lasses, composed of all men, belts out this trio of celebrity likes in a single quartet of lines, which were compiled in just one week, and guaranteed to satisfy?
Answer
“Harrison Ford” & “Sting” & “Kurosawa"
One Week
[Barenaked Ladies]
September 1998: A repeated 3-letter term in the chorus, which can be interpreted as a question, timeline, or individual, this potential go-go girl is beautiful, engaged, and sliding, in more ways than one.
Answer
“May”
Slide
[Goo Goo Dolls]
January 1999: In a rap song with lots of shady references, name the fan who got an alliterative autograph at White Castle, despite founding a different burger chain?
Answer
“Dave”
My Name Is
[Eminem]
April 1999: A little bit of begging will have you dancing the mambo with these #9 lovely ladies?
Answer
“Angela”, “Pamela”, “Sandra” and “Rita” + “Monica”, “Erica”, “Tina”, “Mary”,
and “Jessica”
Mambo #5
[Lou Bega]
February 2000: A pair of 4H chicks, one gal a compassionate character from Gilligan’s Island, the other a redhead witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who plot the killing of abusive husband Earl?
Answer
“Mary Anne & Wanda”
Goodbye Earl
[The Dixie Chicks]
May 2000: A JV rocker in the formative years references this crooner living his way?
Answer
“Frankie”
It's My Life
[Bon Jovi]
August 2001: This skirt and jacket clad lady switched her name, and her vehicle, from a friendly cat to an annoying online meme, well ahead of her time? Carpe Cakem!
Answer
“Kitty & Karen”
Short Skirt/Long Jacket
[Cake]
August 2003: Hey! Identify the duo of sexy celebrity starlets referenced to call folks onto the dance floor, performed by an ensemble of Atlanta hip-hop outcasts?
Answer
“Beyonce and Lucy Lui”
Hey Ya!
[OutKast]
September 2003: A trio of names on gravestones, each with different skill sets and life experiences? Matthew is not one of them, and bonus points for recalling the documented dates?
Answer
“Cyrus Jones” <1810 – 1913>,
“Muriel Stonewall” <1903 – 1954>,
& “Mikey Carson” <1967 – 1975>
Gravedigger
[Dave Matthews]
December 2003: In a freaky chorus by an alliterative popular Pete rapper, identify this baker’s dozen of first name hos he’s extremely interested in? Extra credit for identifying the female trailer park caller on the request line who initiates this horny rant?
Answer
“Shameka”, “Keisha”, “Tara”, “Shawna”,
"Sabrina", “Crystal”, “Daronda”, “Felicia”,
“Tenisha", “Sharon”, “Monique”,
"Christina”, "Yolanda” + “Dominique"
Freek-A-Leek
[Petey Pablo]
May 2005: This rap anthem incorporates several dozen famous personalities, but only a diverse trio, all assassinated black martyrs, now dreaming, are referenced in the chorus of this game, along with the egotistical singer/producer’s moniker, of course?​
Answer
“Martin Luther King” & “Aaliyah”
& “Left Eye”
Dreams
[The Game]