Top 10 Tribute Songs

As of today I am changing Half Inch Speakers to Mon-Wed-Fri because of the spring semester.


There are many ways for a band to pay tribute to an artist they love. They can cover one of their songs, or can name check them in one of their own. But every now and then a band will go beyond those simple ways and will be inspired to write a song about the band/artist they idolize. These are my 10 favorites

10.) Lennon Song – Daniel Johnston

A very simple song that is an honest confession by Johnston about how Mr. Lennon’s music affected his life; very raw, very personal, very good.

9.) Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder took the event of Duke Ellington’s passing as an opportunity, not just to write a song for him but to write a song around him. There is very little talk about The Duke himself but the entire song is an anthem about the unifying power of music. Using horns that would make Ellington proud Wonder pulls another optimistic song out of his soul.

8.) S.R.V. – Eric Johnson

This song is completely instrumental. The fact that is still manages to evoke images of Stevie Ray Vaughan should make you realize how great this song it. It is actually done using Johnson’s usual echoing guitar tone and not one that is close to Vaughan’s. But the over all style of playing is SRV’s. The points where he stops, the licks he uses, and the over all pace all belong to Stevie.

7.) Harry’s Song – Ringo Starr

This song is a tribute to the late Harry Nilsson, a constant friend and collaborator to Ringo. It seems constantly performing songs written but Nilsson left it’s mark. This song would not seem out of place on a Nilsson record. A soft shuffle with some weird noise and an almost child-like naivety, this song is just smile inducing.

6.) Rock and Roll Heaven – Righteous Brothers

This is a song that is in tribute to all those performers that went to early. In the original version (read “best version”) they name check Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Otis Redding, Jim Croce, and Bobby Darin. There have been plenty of updates and such but the original gets the point across better then any of these.

5.) Looking For Bob Dylan – Wiser Time

This is the first tribute on the list for someone who isn’t dead (one of only 3 on the list). Wiser Time use plenty of allusions to Dylan’s songs and albums over a pleasant acoustic track. What makes this special is how they arrange these references. They make them flow as humble psycho lyrics that Bob himself would be proud of.

4.) Brian Wilson – Barenaked Ladies

Now there are two things that make this one of the best songs by the Barenaked Ladies: the bass line and the lyrics. The Bass line is just killer there is nothing really to say besides that. As for the lyrics, this isn’t a song about sunshine happy Beach Boys Brian Wilson. This is about creatively drained depressed Brian Wilson and, just like the music Wilson was writing at that point in his life, the upbeat music hides it well.

3.) Alex Chilton – The Replacements

Big Star is probably the best candidate for “greatest failure commercially but greatest success influence wise”. Their head man Alex Chilton is one of the reasons they are so influential with those hip alternative kids. The Replacements pay tribute in what is without a doubt there best song that has not a single note out of place in tribute to Big Star’s pop side instead of it’s weird one.

2.) Never Without You – Ringo Star

Second time Ringo makes the list (and if I was doing a top 11 list ‘Liverpool 8’ would be on here too). Ringo’s music is all based on nostalgia and nothing makes you wish for the good old days more then losing a friend. This one is to George Harrison with guest star Eric Clapton on guitar. This is a touching song from one friend to another about how George put all of himself into his music. “And your song will play on without you/ and this world won’t forget about you/ every part of you was in your song/ now we will carry on/ never without you”

1.) Real Good Looking Boy – The Who

There are so many songs out there that are about Elvis. Ones that cement him as the King and ones that tear him down as an overrated no talent hack; ones that pay tribute to his rockin’ voice while ignoring his cheesiness and visa versa. This song by The Who (well half of ‘em Keith and John were already gone [I might start calling them The Half Who]) is about what Elvis really was; a symbol and an inspiration. Daltrey’s vocal delivery definitely pays tribute to the power behind Elvis while the rollicking piano definitely harkens back to the gospel cheese Elvis loved so much. This is a song of adoration and eventually growing past that to being your own person.