What do you get when you combine the Hot 100 with television’s and box office’s hottest? Most likely, a rockin' song with some seriously memorable lyrics. For decades, bands and musicians have been throwing nods to their favorite TV shows and movies into their music.
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Whether it’s fun a play on words using the titles of films or flat-out singing the name of the show your girlfriend stars in, it’s a trend for the ages that will get you singing about your favorite TV shows and movies. More than one songwriter has mentionedThe Office,while another two namedropPsycho.From Michael Scott to Norman Bates, these are some of our favorite film and TV nods in music.
New Kids On The Block Sing AboutGrey’s Anatomy
You might think New Kids On The Block — the 90s boy band that’s had somesuccessful acting gigs— would pay tribute to one of their hit shows in a song, likeDonnie Wahlbergappearances onBlue BloodsorJoey McIntyre’sThe McCarthy’s.But it was their 2008 comeback album that featured a song that shouts out one of the hottest medical shows on television —Grey’s Anatomy.
“2 in the Morning” tells the story of a ticking clock on a relationship and gives a nod toGrey’sand its time slot with the lyrics, “Girl, it’s almost ten, Gotta know if you’re mad at me, Before Grey’s Anatomy, ‘Cause we could drag this out all night.”
Justin Timberlake Sings AboutSex And The City
Justin Timberlakesinging aboutSex and the Cityis about as late 90s/early 2000s as it gets. And in a song from his sophomore album, the formerN*SYNCmember does just that.
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In the 2006 hit “Chop Me Up,” Timberlake croons, “So grab your friends and let’s take it back to my house, Let’s watchSex and the CityorDesperate Housewives,“also giving a shout-out toprimetime dramaDesperate Wives.
Weezer Sings AboutTitanic
Alt-rock bandWeezerhas been known toreference popular films in their music,and in their 2009 single “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To,” they sing about theLeonardo DiCaprioandKate Winsletclassic.
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“The rest of the summer was the best we ever had, We watchedTitanicand it didn’t make us sad,” Weezer sing in their chart-topper all about young love.
Lady GaGa Sings AboutPsycho, Vertigo,andRear Window
BeforeLady Gagajoined the list ofsingers to hit the big screen,she was singing about it. “Bad Romance,” all about GaGa’s struggles with romance, references not just one, but three well-known films within two lyrics.
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When GaGa sings, “I want your psycho, your vertigo schtick, Want you in my rear window,” the use of those specific words was intentional, asPsycho,Vertigo,andRear Windoware allAlfred Hitchcockfilms.
David Archuleta Sings AboutThe Office
Not only doesDavid Archuleta’shit “Ok, All Right” tackle the struggle between debilitating negativity and positive thinking with its upbeat tune and hopeful mantra, but the lyrics also include a shout-out to one of the singer’s favorite shows.
Before the song even makes it to the chorus, Archuleta is thankingThe Officefor the company with the lyrics, “Some nights the TV’s on just so I don’t feel alone, WhichOfficeepisode should I choose?”
AJR Sing AboutThe Office
This song by the indie band of brothers is one of the most intriguing because, although it never once says"The Office"in the lyrics, the entire song is about the popular show. “Netflix Trip” by AJR was written back whenThe Officecould be found on the streaming platform.
AJR memberRyan Metpenned the song about his favorite TV show, and how characters like Michael, Dwight and Jim all had a hand in his growing up with lyrics like, “The one where Dwight became the head of sales, My 8th grade graduation wished me well.”
Jonas Brothers Sing AboutGame Of Thrones
In one of theJonas Brothers’comeback tracks titled “Cool,” not only do they give a nod toGame of Thrones,but they sing about the show for a very special reason.
The lyric, “Sittin’ there, winnin' like it’sGame of Thrones,“which is sung byJoe Jonas, was written as a clear shout-out to Joe’s now-wifeSophie Turner,who starred on the HBO fantasy as Sansa Stark for its eight seasons.
Kanye West Raps AboutSnakes On A Plane
TheKanye Westsong featuringT-Paintitled “Good Life” — while full of innuendos — also makes a reference to the 2006Samuel L. JacksonfilmSnakes on a Plane.
The lyrics refer to sipping champagne and having sex on an airplane, but when it comes time for the canoodling, the woman says, “I never seen snakes on a plane,” referring less to the movie and more to, well, Kanye.
Michael Jackson Sings AboutHappy Days
Written in the city it’s titled after,Michael Jackson’s1995 “Stranger in Moscow” is all about the King of Pop’s pleads for compassion and understanding from the media after being scrutinized for his scandals.
“Happy days will drown the pain, On and on and on it came,” the singer says, using the 1970s sitcom title as a play on words for literal happier days to come.
Billy Joel Sings About Everything
InBilly Joel’sGrammy-nominated song “We Didn’t Start The Fire,” the singer drops many a name, place, object, tv show, and movie title.
In the 1989 hit, Joel mentionsDisney’sPeter PanandDavy Crockett,Alfred Hitchcock’sPsycho,the Oscar-winningThe Bridge on the River Kwai,and popular game showWheel of Fortune,just to name a few.
