20 Songs Inspired Enough To Carry Another Artist’s Name
Musicians love giving shoutouts to their heroes, and sometimes those tributes become legendary tracks themselves.
When an artist names a song after another musician, it’s like hanging a poster of your idol on your bedroom wall, except millions of people get to see it.
These tracks celebrate the legends who paved the way and the icons who continue to inspire.
1. Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera
Mick Jagger’s swagger became the blueprint for cool when The Rolling Stones took over the world.
Maroon 5 caught lightning in a bottle by comparing irresistible dance floor confidence to the legendary frontman’s iconic stage presence.
Christina Aguilera’s powerhouse vocals add extra sparkle to this catchy celebration of rhythm and charisma.
If you’ve ever tried copying those signature moves in your mirror, you totally get what this song’s about!
2. Girls Love Beyoncé – Drake feat. James Fauntleroy
Queen Bey’s influence stretches way beyond chart-topping hits and jaw-dropping performances.
Drake recognizes how Beyoncé’s music connects deeply with fans, especially when relationships get complicated and emotions run high.
James Fauntleroy’s smooth vocals complement Drake’s reflective verses perfectly, creating a vibe that feels both vulnerable and confident.
Though it started as a mixtape cut, this track shows how one artist’s legacy can inspire another’s storytelling magic.
3. Tim McGraw – Taylor Swift
derivative work: Sehome Bay (talk), licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.
Before Taylor became a global pop sensation, she wrote songs about summer romance and bittersweet memories.
Naming her debut single after a country superstar was bold, but it worked because the song captured that aching feeling of remembering someone through music.
Tim McGraw himself praised the track, proving that honoring your influences can open doors you never imagined.
Every time that familiar melody plays, it takes listeners straight back to their own first heartbreak.
4. Marvin and Chardonnay – Big Sean feat. Kanye West and Roscoe Dash
Marvin Gaye’s silky smooth voice defined an era of romance and soulful expression.
Big Sean pairs that legendary name with luxurious imagery, crafting a track about sophisticated vibes and unforgettable nights.
Kanye West’s production adds layers of richness while Roscoe Dash delivers a hook that sticks in your brain for days.
However you interpret the lyrics, there’s no denying this song knows how to set a mood that feels timeless and classy.
5. Buddy Holly – Weezer
Weezer brought nerdy cool to the mainstream with this infectious power-pop anthem celebrating rock and roll’s pioneers.
Buddy Holly revolutionized music in the 1950s with his signature glasses and guitar-driven sound that influenced generations.
The Happy Days-themed music video became an MTV staple, blending nostalgia with 90s alternative rock energy perfectly.
If catchiness were a superpower, this song would be wearing a cape and saving the world from boring music!
6. Let Nas Down – J. Cole
Nas represents hip-hop royalty, and disappointing your heroes cuts deeper than any diss track ever could.
J. Cole poured his heart into this vulnerable confession about feeling like he hadn’t lived up to expectations.
The track showcases raw honesty about artistic pressure and the weight of carrying a legend’s approval.
Though Nas later reassured him with “Made Nas Proud,” this original song remains a powerful reminder that growth means accepting criticism from those you admire most.
7. Springsteen – Eric Church
Bruce Springsteen’s music captures working-class dreams and youthful freedom like nobody else.
Eric Church weaves The Boss’s influence throughout this nostalgic country ballad about young love and carefree summer nights.
The lyrics paint vivid pictures of backroad adventures and mixtape memories that feel universal yet deeply personal.
When you hear that chorus, you can practically smell the bonfire smoke and feel the warm breeze through rolled-down car windows.
8. Black Beatles – Rae Sremmurd
The Beatles changed everything about popular music, and Rae Sremmurd channels that revolutionary spirit into modern hip-hop swagger.
This track became a cultural phenomenon thanks to the Mannequin Challenge, proving that viral moments and great songs create unstoppable combinations.
Mike WiLL Made-It’s production gives the track a hypnotic quality that keeps heads nodding from first beat to last.
Just saying, comparing yourself to the Fab Four takes confidence, but these brothers backed it up with undeniable hits!
9. Kanye – The Chainsmokers feat. sirenxx
Kanye West’s influence on music and culture extends far beyond his discography into fashion, production, and artistic fearlessness.
The Chainsmokers capture that larger-than-life confidence in this electronic track that pulses with ambition and self-assurance.
Sirenxx adds haunting vocals that balance the track’s bold energy with moments of introspective vulnerability.
Whether you’re a Yeezy fan or not, there’s no denying his name carries weight that instantly communicates creative boundary-pushing.
10. Luther – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
Luther Vandross defined romantic soul music with his velvet voice and heartfelt delivery that made millions swoon.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA channel that timeless romanticism into a modern collaboration that feels both fresh and classic.
The chemistry between these two artists creates magic that honors Luther’s legacy while carving out their own emotional territory.
If love songs had a Mount Rushmore, Luther would definitely be carved there, and this track pays beautiful respect to that fact.
11. Dua Lipa – Jack Harlow
Jack Harlow’s smooth flow meets pop culture name-dropping in this playful track about attraction and confidence.
Dua Lipa herself represents modern pop excellence, making her name perfect shorthand for someone who commands attention effortlessly.
The song sparked conversations about using celebrity names in lyrics, but mostly it just showcased Harlow’s clever wordplay and catchy delivery.
However you feel about the approach, the track definitely got people talking and streaming, which is half the battle in today’s music landscape!
12. Kehlani – Jordan Adetunji
Kehlani’s artistry blends vulnerability with strength, creating music that resonates deeply with fans seeking authentic emotional expression.
Jordan Adetunji captures that essence by using her name to represent a certain type of connection and understanding.
The track showcases how newer artists recognize and celebrate the influence of slightly more established peers who paved recent paths.
Though this song might not have decades of history behind it, it demonstrates how musical tributes evolve with each generation’s heroes.
13. Life Is Real (Song for Lennon) – Queen
John Lennon’s assassination shook the world, and Queen responded with this heartfelt tribute to the fallen Beatle.
Freddie Mercury’s emotional vocals carry the weight of grief and reflection, honoring a fellow musical revolutionary taken too soon.
The song appeared on their album Hot Space, showing that even rock legends need to process loss through their art.
Where words fail, music speaks, and this track proves that paying respect to departed heroes matters deeply to those who remain.
14. Walks Like Rihanna – The Wanted
Rihanna’s confidence and style became cultural touchstones that define what it means to own every room you enter.
The Wanted captured that magnetic presence in this uptempo pop track about someone whose swagger rivals the Barbadian superstar herself.
Though the British boy band has since disbanded, this song remains a snapshot of early 2010s pop culture and celebrity worship.
If imitation is flattery, then naming a song after someone’s walk takes admiration to a whole new level of specific praise!
15. Michael Jackson – Fatboy Slim
The King of Pop’s influence reaches into every corner of music, including electronic dance floors where Fatboy Slim reigns supreme.
Norman Cook crafted this big beat tribute that channels Michael’s revolutionary energy into pulsing rhythms and infectious grooves.
The track doesn’t try to copy MJ’s style but instead celebrates the fearless innovation he represented throughout his career.
Though Jackson’s legacy is complex, his musical impact remains undeniable, and this song honors that artistic genius beautifully.
16. Lady Gaga – Peso Pluma, Gabito Ballesteros & Junior H.
Lady Gaga represents fearless self-expression and boundary-pushing artistry that transcends genre and geography.
Peso Pluma and his collaborators bring her name into regional Mexican music, creating an unexpected cross-cultural moment.
The corridos tumbados movement embraces modern influences while respecting traditional sounds, and Gaga’s name fits that forward-thinking approach perfectly.
How cool is it that Mother Monster’s impact reaches from pop stadiums to regional Mexican charts, proving art knows no borders?
17. Tupac Back – Meek Mill feat. Rick Ross
Tupac Shakur’s spirit looms large over hip-hop, representing raw authenticity and revolutionary passion that never fades.
Meek Mill channels that energy alongside Rick Ross, declaring their own arrival with the confidence of rap royalty.
The track’s aggressive production and fierce delivery honor Pac’s legacy while asserting their place in hip-hop’s ongoing story.
Though comparing yourself to legends is risky business, sometimes you’ve got to claim your throne and let the music back it up!
18. She’s Madonna – Robbie Williams
Madonna redefined what it means to be a pop star, constantly reinventing herself while maintaining iron-grip control over her artistic vision.
Robbie Williams uses her name as the ultimate compliment, describing someone whose presence and confidence match the Queen of Pop herself.
The British superstar’s cheeky delivery adds playful charm to this celebration of feminine power and magnetic charisma.
If someone calls you Madonna, take it as the highest praise because it means you’re absolutely owning your moment!
19. Marvin Gaye – Kenyon Dixon
Marvin Gaye’s silky soul continues inspiring artists decades after his tragic death changed music forever.
Kenyon Dixon directly honors the legend with this smooth R&B track that channels classic vibes into contemporary production.
The song showcases how modern artists study and celebrate the masters who laid foundations for everything they create today.
Though nobody can replace Marvin’s unique magic, keeping his spirit alive through new music ensures future generations discover his timeless genius.
20. Bob Dylan – Fall Out Boy
Bob Dylan revolutionized songwriting by proving lyrics could be poetry and protest simultaneously.
Fall Out Boy tips their fedora to the folk legend with their signature pop-punk energy and clever wordplay intact.
The track appears on their album Save Rock and Roll, fitting perfectly into their mission of honoring musical history while pushing forward.
Where Dylan used acoustic guitars and harmonica, Fall Out Boy brings electric intensity, but both approaches celebrate the power of meaningful music!
