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Friday Coffee Break: Movie Stars In Song

Posted at 8:05 AM on February 25, 2011 by Steve Seel (62 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

With the Academy Awards coming up this Sunday night, it's time for another edition of songs that mention the names of actors and/or actresses for the 9:30 Coffee Break. It's been a popular topic before, but there are a lot of song possibilities, so we thought we'd revisit it again. (Note: this topic is not "movie stars who think they can make pop records," so no, we won't be bringing out the Bruce Willis record this morning).

Songs Played:

Billy Bragg and Wilco: "Ingrid Bergman"
Bauhas: "Bela Lugosi's Dead"
The Clash: "The Right Profile"
Cake: "Frank Sinatra"

Comments (62)

Gene Hackman - Hoodoo Gurus

Posted by ken | February 25, 2011 8:46 AM

Steve McQueen - Sheryl Crow

Posted by ken | February 25, 2011 8:49 AM

Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz
Candle in the Wind - Elton John
Roy Rogers - Elton Johns
Frank Sinatra - Cake
Teen Angst - Cracker (mentions Sinatra)
Year of the Cat - Al Stewart (mentions Bogart)

Posted by Becky | February 25, 2011 8:53 AM

Bette Davis Eyes -- Kim Carnes

The Right Profile [Montgomery Clift] -- the Clash

Robert DeNiro's Waiting -- Bananarama

That Pretenders song where Chrissie says "Bridget Bardot'!

Michael Caine -- Madness

Posted by lou | February 25, 2011 8:53 AM

They Might Be Giants-- "Au Contraire" (mentions of Jodie Foster, David Bowie)

Posted by Nick | February 25, 2011 8:56 AM

China Girl -- David Bowie
James Dean -- The Eagles

Posted by Michael | February 25, 2011 8:57 AM

Winona [Ryder] -- Matthew Sweet

Posted by lou | February 25, 2011 8:57 AM

John Wayne Walking Away - Lari White
Silent Film Star - Paul Westerberg

Posted by ken | February 25, 2011 8:57 AM

Bollock Brothers - "Harley David Son-of-a-Bitch" mentions James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Jim Morrison

Posted by scott | February 25, 2011 8:57 AM

Brimful of Asha - Cornershop
Ingrid Bergman - Billy Bragg
Bela Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus

Posted by cal | February 25, 2011 8:58 AM

Celebrity Sanctum - Dogs Die in Hot Cars (lucy liu, catherine zeta jones mentioned)

Posted by Marisa | February 25, 2011 8:58 AM

Gaslight Anthem - I Coulda Been a Contender - Judy Garland mention (and I'm from Kansas - that's good for something, right?)

Posted by Mark Crouser | February 25, 2011 8:58 AM

My "We Didn't Start the Fire" mentions a bunch of actors and actresses. It's a modern classic!

Posted by Billy Joel | February 25, 2011 8:58 AM

"I Do The Rock" - Tim Curry

Liz and Dick and Britt and Liza
Jaclyn, Kate and Farah
Meg and Roddy, John Travolta
Governor Brown and Linda

Interview and People Magazine
Miss Rona and the Queen
It must be really frightful to attract publicity

I do the rock
Myself
I do the rock

Posted by IndyR | February 25, 2011 8:58 AM

White Stripes - Take Take Take (mentions Rita Hayworth)

Posted by KG | February 25, 2011 8:58 AM

Somewhere in Hollywood - 10cc
Celluloid Heroes - The Kinks
Bela Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus

Posted by juanita | February 25, 2011 8:59 AM

Madonna - Vogue

Posted by Oj | February 25, 2011 9:00 AM

I would like to second "The Right Profile" by the Clash. One of my favorite Clash songs, and a great song about Montgomery Clift's car accident and how it messed up his face and profile.

Posted by steve-o | February 25, 2011 9:00 AM

Electrolite - R.E.M. (Martin Sheen & James Dean)

Car Song - Elastica (Peter Fonda)

Car Jamming - The Clash (Lauren Bacall)

Posted by Tara | February 25, 2011 9:01 AM

Yo La Tengo - Tom Courtenay
Yo La Tengo - Let's Save Tony Orlando's House
Clutch - I have the Body of John Wilkes Booth
Beastie Boys - Posse in Effect (Abe Vagoda)

Posted by ericd513 | February 25, 2011 9:01 AM

Iggy Pop - "Get Up and Get Out" (mentions Bette Davis)

Posted by Susan Roberts | February 25, 2011 9:01 AM

David Duchovny Why Don't You Love Me - Bree Sharp, Cheap and Evil Girl album

Posted by Mary | February 25, 2011 9:02 AM

Grace Kelly - Mika

Posted by Cat | February 25, 2011 9:02 AM

"Hey Ya" by Outcast. Beyonce and Lucy Liu.

Posted by steve-o | February 25, 2011 9:03 AM

In addition to "Take Take Take" by the White Stripes also:
Barbra Streisand - Duck Sauce

Posted by Kathleen | February 25, 2011 9:03 AM

Sheryl Crow-Steve McQueen

Posted by Susan Roberts | February 25, 2011 9:03 AM

David Duchovny - Bree Sharp

Posted by Matthew Cox | February 25, 2011 9:03 AM

Beastie Boys - Sure Shot

"I've Got More Action Than My Man John Woo"

Not a movie star, but a director (although he often appears in his movies).

Posted by Aaron Roberts | February 25, 2011 9:03 AM

Shawn Mullins- Lullaby

Posted by burbs | February 25, 2011 9:04 AM

Late Night Grande Hotel-Nanci Griffith (Greta Garbo)

Posted by Susan Roberts | February 25, 2011 9:05 AM

Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle - Nirvana

forest whitaker - brother Ali

Robert DeNiro's Waiting- Bananarama

Clint Eastwood- Gorrilaz

David Duchovny - Bree Sharp

Posted by Sadie | February 25, 2011 9:05 AM

Grace Kelly - Mika

Posted by Susan Roberts | February 25, 2011 9:06 AM

"gene hackman" by hoodoo gurus! (in a black turtleneck in "poisedon adventure" -- sexy! and a minister . . .)

Posted by georgy | February 25, 2011 9:08 AM

i second yo la tengo's 'tom courtenay'! julie christie!

Posted by skates | February 25, 2011 9:09 AM

Weezer - Buddy Holly (Mentions Mary Tyler-Moore)

Posted by S Squared | February 25, 2011 9:10 AM

velvet underground- The New Age

Posted by mark b | February 25, 2011 9:12 AM

Lisa Ling and Lucy Liu - Mike Doughty
Janine - Soul Coughing (rumored to be about Janeane Garafalo)

Posted by Angie | February 25, 2011 9:12 AM

The OTHER Winona Ryder--Unrest (either version)
second that Tom Courtenay--Yo La Tengo

Too many to mention!

Posted by Jud | February 25, 2011 9:13 AM

Postal Service - Clark Gable

Posted by Jennifer | February 25, 2011 9:14 AM

Doesn't fit the criteria but what the hell, but they're going to make a big star out of him,
Buck Owens - Act Naturally

Posted by TJ | February 25, 2011 9:15 AM

Sigourney Weaver- John Grant

Posted by Jenna | February 25, 2011 9:15 AM

billy bragg & wilco- Ingrid Bergman

Posted by mark b | February 25, 2011 9:17 AM

Bell & Ponce (At the Movie Show)--Olu Dara

David Duchovny--Bree Sharp

Olu Dara's a jazz musician, and he also happens to be Nas' father. He often makes appearances on Nas' albums. He put out a couple of excellent world-influenced albums a little over a decade ago; this song is from the second of the two, "Neighborhoods." Lots of references.

Posted by Derek | February 25, 2011 9:18 AM

I forgot - Year of the Cat also mentions Peter Lorre

Posted by Becky | February 25, 2011 9:20 AM

The Clash-The Right Profile

Banannarama-Rober DeNiro's Waiting

Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry -2HB

Posted by RexV | February 25, 2011 9:21 AM

REM - Electrolite

-"Hollywood is under me.....I'm Martin Sheen......I'm Steve McQueen.....I'm Jimmy Dean"

I just got back from being stuck in LA because of the snow. This is a great song about that that town.

Posted by Patrick | February 25, 2011 9:21 AM

Celluloid Heroes- the Kinks.
Absolutley!