Ten songs named after famous people from Nicole Kidman to Elon Musk

Celebrities have long inspired name-dropping musicians, with famous people often referenced in music.

But it's a special honour indeed to have a whole song named after you.

Sometimes, however, the song in question doesn't have anything to do with the muse.

Here are 10 songs named after prominent people.

Adéla

Nicole Kidman

Slovak artist Adéla's track about Oscar winner Nicole Kidman has caught the attention of the Australian Hollywood star herself, with Kidman using the song to soundtrack an Instagram reel.

She's not the only star to do this, with everyone from Madonna to Lizzo sharing the song on TikTok, where it has gone viral.

The track is featured on Adéla's debut album Prima, and has risen to number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

In case you're wondering who Adéla is, the now solo star and ex-ballerina was cut in the first round of a YouTube reality show aimed at forming the next big girl group.

Those who made it became Katseye.

The singer told W Magazine that she was inspired to write Nicole Kidman after scoring an invitation to the Golden Globes.

"I've never been in a movie," Adéla said.

Elton John

Roy Rogers

Bernie Taupin (The One Who Writes The Words For Elton John) is famous for his fascination for America's Wild West — and for old movies and TV.

Those obsessions came together on this minor classic that turned up on side four of the classic double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road(1973).

The song is not really about the great sequined cowboy singer and actor — it's really about the comfort that someone gets from watching a familiar and much-loved character on late night TV — yet another warm, cozy, nostalgic song from one of the great albums of the 1970s.

Eagles

James Dean

Just like Bernie Taupin, the Eagles also had an obsession with the Wild West — but also with the dark side of the California Dream.

Mostly written by Jackson Browne, the song mentions Dean's most famous film role, Rebel Without A Cause, then cryptically alludes to his tragic death: "along came a Spyder and picked up a rider, and took him down the road to eternity".

On September 30, 1955, Dean was driving to a race in California when he was hit by a car that turned onto the highway in front of his Porsche 550 Spyder.

He was killed instantly … but his name, his look, his legend lives on more than 70 years later.

Taylor Swift

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor is from Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.

Swift describes Taylor in the official notes for the album as "one of the most ultimate, quintessential showgirls" she could ever imagine.

"You know, role models are pretty hard to come by, but I would absolutely say that she's one of mine."

Weezer

Buddy Holly

Sometimes songs that name check celebrities in the title tell the story of that star's life — but sometimes they don't.

A classic example is Buddy Holly by the 90s US rock group Weezer.

The song has nothing to do with the doomed early rocker who died in music's most famous plane crash (Weezer also mentions the TV star Mary Tyler Moore in the song).

Buddy Holly is best known for its clever music video — seamlessly blending their modern performance with old episodes of the 70s TV comedy Happy Days.

The film clip is more memorable than the song itself.

Charlie Puth feat Meghan Trainor

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye was the lead single from American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth's debut studio album Nine Track Mind.

The single was released in 2015 and features singer Meghan Trainor.

Gaye's name is used as a verb in the song, which draws inspiration from Motown.

The song reached number four in Australia and went two times Platinum, but it was savaged by critics around the world.

Time Magazine even wondered why Gaye's estate didn't sue for tarnishing the star's legacy.

Puth said the song was a musical icebreaker for "any guy who wants to go up to a girl at a bar", saying it would be hard to not have a conversation about the track if it was playing.

Duck Sauce

Barbra Streisand

Canadian American DJ duo Duck Sauce's catchy 2010 hit has nothing to do with the most successful female singer in history — but naming the song after her got people's attention and helped it to the top of the charts all over the world — including the top 10 in Australia and number 15 on triple j's Hottest 100 for 2010.

The lyrics of the song mention all sorts of random things with regular interruptions from people saying Barbra Streisand.

So far Babs hasn't returned the favour by recording a song named Duck Sauce … but never say never …

David Bowie

Andy Warhol

David Bowie became a huge fan of Andy Warhol after seeing the pop artist's play Pork in London in 1971 — but apparently had already written this song before seeing it.

It first appeared on his classic LP Hunky Dory.

Bowie flew to New York to meet Warhol and play him the song — which the notoriously self-conscious artist apparently didn't like because of the line "Andy Warhol looks a scream".

Many years later — after Warhol's death in 1987 — Bowie played him in the 1996 film Basquiat — wearing one of Warhol's infamous wigs. Apparently, the likeness was so convincing that even Warhol's brother thought that it was Andy.

High praise indeed.

Ice Spice

Princess Diana

Princess Diana was released in 2023 by drill rapper Ice Spice, who hails from the birthplace of rap music — The Bronx.

There's a remix version featuring rapper Nicki Minaj. That version peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song is a nod to memes comparing portraits of Ice Spice to the late princess.

The rapper has also been given the nickname "The People's Princess", a title synonymous with Princess Diana.

DDG featuring Gunna

Elon Musk

Named after the richest person in the world, Elon Musk is a melodic track with a galactic-themed music video.

American rapper and online streamer DDG says the song came to him while he was freestyling on a day that Musk was going viral on X.

DDG was asked in an interview uploaded by pop culture site and content studio Uproxx what he would do with a billion dollars.

"I like buying stuff for other people.

"I get more satisfaction out of giving people stuff than giving myself something."