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'Without You' - Quavo -

Quavo's song 'Without You' is a loving and respectful tribute to his late nephew, Takeoff. The family members and collaborators formed the rap trio Migos along with Quavo's cousin Offset, but Takeoff was killed in a shooting on November 1 at the age of 28. Two months later, Quavo paid tribute to his lost friend with a devastating track that expresses all of his heartbreak and grief. "Tears rolling down my eyes / Can’t tell you how many times I cried / Days ain’t the same without you / I don’t know if I’m the same without you." The video simply features the rapper rocking slowly in an armchair with his eyes downcast. The song ends with Quavo singing, “Taaaaake… I’m sorry.”

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'Vogue' - Madonna -

Madonna runs off a veritable roll call of vintage celebrity names on 1990's 'Vogue,' stars that include Greta Garbo, Marylin Monroe, Gene Kelly, and Fred Astaire.

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'Pocahontas' - Neil Young -

The lyrics to 'Pocahontas,' released on Neil Young's 1979 album 'Rust Never Sleeps,' primarily describe the massacre of an indigenous tribe by European colonizers. Fittingly, Marlon Brando's name is mentioned in the song. Brando championed the rights of Indigenous Americans. He even boycotted the Oscars to protest Hollywood's treatment of Native Indians.

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'That Don't Impress Me Much' - Shania Twain -

Canadian country singer-songwriter Shania Twain mentions Brad Pitt and Elvis on her 1998 hit single 'That Don't Impress Me Much.'

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'For You Blue' - The Beatles -

Beatle George Harrison's traditional 12-bar ditty 'For You Blue' references American blues guitarist Elmore James in spoken dialogue.

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'Free Fallin'' - Tom Petty -

Taken from Tom Petty's 1989 debut solo album 'Full Moon Fever,' 'Free Fallin' references Elvis Presley in the lyrics.

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'Johnny Cash' - Lenny Kravitz -

Lenny Kravitz's tribute to legendary country singer Johnny Cash appears on his 2018 album 'Raise Vibration.' He also references June Carter Cash.

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'Andy Warhol' - David Bowie -

David Bowie's 1971 album 'Hunky Dory' includes three songs dedicated to American icons: Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, and Lou Reed. With 'Andy Warhol,' Bowie waxes lyrical about the artist's appearance and his filmmaking career.

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'This Is How We Do' - Katy Perry -

Taken from her 2013 album 'Prism,' Katy Perry admits to singing real bad at Mariah Carey-oke early on in this dance-pop song influenced by hip hop. A remix edition features American rapper Riff Raff.

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'Tower of Song' - Leonard Cohen -

Taken from his 1988 album 'I'm Your Man,' 'Tower of Song' includes the lines "I said to Hank Williams, how lonely does it get?/
Hank Williams hasn't answered yet." The man he is referring to remains one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century.

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'Back in the Day' - Christina Aguilera -

Christina Aguilera gets all retro and nostalgic with 'Back in the Day' from 2006. The lyrics mention jazz greats Etta James, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis, as well as Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Marvin Gaye.

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'Betty Davis Eyes' - Kim Carnes -

Kim Carnes' cover of 'Betty Davis Eyes' was a huge hit in 1981. The legendary Hollywood actress was 73 years old when Carnes' version climbed up the charts.

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'Vincent' - Don McLean -

Don McLean's seminal 1971 album 'American Pie' is noted for the eponymous single describing "the day the music died"—when Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens were all killed in a plane crash. Whereas the track doesn't actually mention the deceased rock stars by name, 'Vincent,' also taken from the album, is a direct reference to Vincent van Gogh.

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'We Didn't Start the Fire' - Billy Joel -

Johnnie Ray, Liberace, Brigitte Bardot, Buddy Holly, Chubby Checker, Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and U2 all get a mention, among others, in Billy Joel's fast-paced 1989 reference to some of the 20th century's most significant political, cultural, scientific, and sporting events.

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'Don't Phunk with My Heart' - Black Eyed Peas -

"I'll play Bobby and you'll play Whitney (all long)" sings Fergie on 2005's ''Don't Phunk with My Heart,' an obvious reference to Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston.

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'Love Unlimited' - Fun Lovin' Criminals -

Fun Lovin' Criminals' 1998 release 'Love Unlimited' is a tribute to larger-than-life soul, funk, and disco legend Barry White.

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'It's My Life' - Bon Jovi -

The line "Like Frankie said, 'I did it my way'" is repeated several times by vocalist Jon Bon Jovi throughout 'It's My Life,' a hit for the band in 2000. 'My Way' became Frank Sinatra's signature song.

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'Best Life' - Cardi B -

In 'Best Life,' Cardi B raps off the names of some of her influencers and contemporaries, including The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Beyoncé, and Jamie Foxx.

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'John and Elvis Are Dead' - George Michael -

No surprises as to the music artists George Michael is referring in the now ironically titled 'John and Elvis Are Dead.' The track appears on the singer's 2004 album, 'Patience.'

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'I'm Still Remembering' - The Cranberries -

Taken from 1996's 'To the Faithful Departed', 'I'm Still Remembering' has vocalist Dolores Riordan commemorating the passing of Kurt Cobain. US president John F. Kennedy is also mentioned. 

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'Giorgio by Moroder' - Daft Punk -

The French electronic music duo's 2013 tribute to synth-pop pioneer Giorgio Moroder also references the Moog synthesizer, developed by Robert Moog in the early 1960s.

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'Dinner with Gershwin' - Donna Summer -

Disco diva Donna Summer yearns for a bite to eat with celebrated composer George Gershwin. But she also wants to watch Rembrandt sketch, talk moods with Picasso, and fly with Amelia Earhart in this well-received 1987 single release from 'All Systems Go.'

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'Pop Style' - Drake -

Canadian rapper Drake mentions Justin Timberlake in 2016's 'Pop Style.' He also kind of mentions Channing Tatum, but as a play on words, calling him Chaining Tatum—a reference to himself being tied down by chains.

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'Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)' - Elton John -

Elton John's poignant 1982 song 'Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)' is a tribute to John Lennon, who had been murdered 15 months earlier.

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'The Real Slim Shady' - Eminem -

Tommy Lee, Pamela Anderson, Dr. Dre, Will Smith, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Fred Durst all get an airing on Eminem's signature 2000 rap, 'The Real Slim Shady.'

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'Message of Love' - The Pretenders -

"Like Brigitte Bardot," declares Chrissie Hynde at the close of the first verse of 'Message of Love,' a hit for the band in 1981.

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'Michael Jackson' - Fatboy Slim -

Released in 1997 as a double A-side with 'Going Out of My Head,' 'Michael Jackson' features the King of Pop's name chanted throughout the single.

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'Silver Heels' - Fleetwood Mac -

Paul McCartney and Etta James both get a mention on 'Silver Heels,' taken from 1974's 'Heroes Are Hard to Find.' This is the last album recorded with Bob Welch (second, right) who left the band at the end of 1974, and who was replaced by Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.

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'Roll Over Beethoven' - Chuck Berry -

Chuck Berry's 1956 rock and roll classic urges the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven to step aside for a new genre of popular music.

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'There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis' - Kirsty MacColl -

No surprises as to which famous performer British singer-songwriter Kirsty MaColl thinks is moonlighting in a chippy. Kirsty MacColl's demise in 2000 after being struck by a powerboat while swimming off a reef in Cuba remains one of the most controversial celebrity deaths. 

Sources: (Newsweek) (Rolling Stone)(The Guardian)

See also: Bizarre celebrity deaths you've probably never heard of

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