Revision as of 12:41, 6 April 2013 editSummerPhD (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Rollbackers91,322 edits doesn't say it's his signature song, does give Berry← Previous edit | Revision as of 07:45, 7 April 2013 edit undoMiddle 8 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users8,259 editsm arrgh -- fix link in refNext edit → | ||
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*] – "]"<ref>{{cite book|title=The rough guide to cult pop|author=Paul Simpson|page=83|accessdate=December 6, 2011}}</ref> | *] – "]"<ref>{{cite book|title=The rough guide to cult pop|author=Paul Simpson|page=83|accessdate=December 6, 2011}}</ref> | ||
*] – "]"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aolradioblog.com/2009/10/30/best-slayer-songs/ |title=10 Best Slayer Songs |publisher=AOL Radio Blog |date= |accessdate=November 11, 2011}}</ref> | *] – "]"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aolradioblog.com/2009/10/30/best-slayer-songs/ |title=10 Best Slayer Songs |publisher=AOL Radio Blog |date= |accessdate=November 11, 2011}}</ref> | ||
*] - "]"<ref>]. Review: . retrieved April 6, 2013.</ref> <ref>Steve Hendershot, ]. . October 07, 2005. retrieved April 7, 2013.</ref> | |||
*] – "]"<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/01/13/cq/Birtel.html | work=CNN | accessdate=May 23, 2010 | title=Celebrity Lawmaker Wore Renewed Fame Lightly}}</ref> | *] – "]"<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/01/13/cq/Birtel.html | work=CNN | accessdate=May 23, 2010 | title=Celebrity Lawmaker Wore Renewed Fame Lightly}}</ref> | ||
*] – "]"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1051541/Mel-B-I-barely-speak-Spice-Girls-Victoria-lives-miles-away.html|publisher=dailymail.co.uk|title=Mel B: 'I barely speak to the other Spice Girls even though Victoria only lives a few miles away'|accessdate=December 16, 2012}}</ref> | *] – "]"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1051541/Mel-B-I-barely-speak-Spice-Girls-Victoria-lives-miles-away.html|publisher=dailymail.co.uk|title=Mel B: 'I barely speak to the other Spice Girls even though Victoria only lives a few miles away'|accessdate=December 16, 2012}}</ref> |
Revision as of 07:45, 7 April 2013
A signature song is the one song (or, in some cases, one of a few songs) that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs. Signature songs can be the result of spontaneous public identification and/or a marketing tool developed by the music industry to promote artists, sell their recordings, and develop a fan base.
Importance
A signature song is important for many artists. Bands with a signature song often choose to perform it at every concert appearance. Marketing programs by recording companies and fan expectations for these signature songs sometimes result in the artist's having difficulty performing other kinds of music. Two examples of this phenomenon are Ricky Nelson's ill-treatment by his fans at Madison Square Garden in 1971 (see "Garden Party") and Merle Haggard's public fight with Capitol Records to release his tribute album of Bob Wills dance songs after the success of "Okie from Muskogee" in 1969.
One-hit wonder
The term signature song is generally not applied to the successful song of a one-hit wonder, an artist who is closely identified with one song because they have had no other successful songs.
Shared signature songs
Some songs are so iconic and popular that many different singers may share that song as their signature song. For example, "I Will Always Love You" was originally written and sung by Dolly Parton; it was then in turn sung by Whitney Houston nearly twenty years later and was a mainstay of hers as well. Other examples of songs that have been identified with more than one singer are "Ol' Man River," which became the signature song of both Paul Robeson and William Warfield, and "Goodnight Irene," which became the best-known track for Lead Belly and The Weavers.
Anthems
Official songs or anthems for dignitaries also perform a similar function of fanfare and/or association: being played when a particular person or group makes their entrance. An example of this is the President of the United States with "Hail to the Chief".
Examples
This section may contain excessive or irrelevant examples. Please help improve the article by adding descriptive text and removing less pertinent examples. (March 2012) |
- ABBA – "Dancing Queen"
- Louis Armstrong – "What a Wonderful World"
- Garth Brooks – "The Dance"
- Shirley Bassey – "Goldfinger"
- Tony Bennett – "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"
- Chuck Berry – "Johnny B. Goode"
- Andrea Bocelli – "Con te partirò"
- Bon Jovi – "Livin' on a Prayer"
- Jeff Buckley – "Hallelujah"
- Jimmy Buffett – "Margaritaville"
- Ray Charles – "What'd I Say"
- Cheap Trick – "I Want You to Want Me"
- Petula Clark – "Downtown"
- Bobby Darin – "Mack the Knife"
- Sammy Davis, Jr. – "I've Gotta Be Me"
- Deep Purple – "Smoke on the Water"
- Marlene Dietrich – "Falling In Love Again"
- Celine Dion – "My Heart Will Go On"
- Free – "All Right Now"
- Judy Garland – "Over the Rainbow"
- Crystal Gayle – "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"
- Lee Greenwood – "God Bless the USA"
- Bobby Helms – "Jingle Bell Rock"
- Bob Hope – "Thanks for the Memory"
- Lena Horne – "Stormy Weather"
- Etta James – "At Last"
- Rick James – "Super Freak"
- Janis Joplin – "Piece of My Heart"
- Judas Priest – "You've Got Another Thing Comin'"
- Kiss – "Rock and Roll All Nite"
- Gladys Knight & the Pips – "Midnight Train to Georgia"
- Avril Lavigne – "Sk8er Boi"
- Led Zeppelin – "Stairway to Heaven"
- Guy Lombardo – "Auld Lang Syne"
- Julie London – "Cry Me a River"
- Loretta Lynn – "Coal Miner's Daughter"
- Lynyrd Skynyrd – "Freebird", "Sweet Home Alabama"
- Madonna – "Material Girl"
- Barbara Mandrell – "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool"
- Richard Marx – "Right Here Waiting"
- Martina McBride – "Independence Day"
- Bette Midler – "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "From a Distance"
- Kylie Minogue – "Can't Get You Out of My Head"
- Alanis Morissette – "Ironic"
- Motörhead – "Ace of Spades"
- Nirvana – "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
- Ozzy Osbourne – "Crazy Train"
- Otis Redding – "Try a Little Tenderness"
- Savage Garden – "Truly Madly Deeply"
- Carly Simon – "You're So Vain"
- Slayer – "Raining Blood"
- Percy Sledge - "When a Man Loves a Woman"
- Sonny & Cher – "I Got You Babe"
- Spice Girls – "Wannabe"
- Rod Stewart – "Maggie May"
- James Taylor – "Fire And Rain"
- Eagles – "Hotel California"
- The Mamas & the Papas – "California Dreamin'"
- The Rolling Stones – "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
- The Verve – "Bitter Sweet Symphony"
- Tiny Tim – "Tiptoe Through the Tulips"
- Conway Twitty – "Hello Darlin'"
- Andy Williams – "Moon River"
- Bert Williams – "Nobody"
- Amy Winehouse – "Rehab"
- Tammy Wynette – "Stand By Your Man"
See also
References
- Umphlett, Wiley Lee (2004). The Visual Focus of American Media Culture in the Twentieth Century: The Modern Era, 1893–1945. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. p. 157.
This practice soon began equating performers with signature songs as a way to promote and sell recordings and sheet music as well as establish a cult of fans to market these songs to.
- Prescott, John (2000). A Career in Show Business: Variety Entertainer. Chicago: Institute for Research. p. 8.
And if there's a phrase ... or you have a signature song ... then your audience will probably be disappointed if you don't repeat yourself.
- "(Goodnight) Irene". NPR. August 19, 2000. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- Abba Gold. Continuum International Publishing Group. 2004. ISBN 9780826415462.
- "'What A Wonderful World' songwriter George David Weiss dies at age 89". ew.com. August 24, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
- "Garth Brooks Official Site". Garthbrooks.com. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
- "Shirley Bassey: New CD for 'Goldfinger' Diva". npr.org. March 15, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
- "His Heart's Still In San Francisco". CBS News. December 21, 2005/ Tony bennett.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - Allmusic. Review: "When A Man Loves A Woman". retrieved April 6, 2013.
- "Andrea Bocelli's Con Te Partiro". Computermusicshop.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- "Bon Jovi Stunned By Living On A Prayer Success". Contactmusic.com. August 20, 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
- "Buckley's Big Voice Built a Loyal Following". NPR. May 29, 2007. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
- "Jimmy Buffett sings for Clinton". CNN. August 26, 2000. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- "Ray Charles". Filmbug. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
- ^ Mansour, David. From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia. p. 204. ISBN 0-7407-5118-2.
- "Mini-Biography". Petula Clark.net. October 28, 2000. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
- "Mack The Knife". Bobbydarin.net. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- "Rhno masters Sammy Davis, Jr". Archived from the original on April 5, 2001.
- Deep Purple on allmusic (Made in Japan > Overview)
- "That Old Feeling: Marlene's Siren Songs". time.com. January 27, 2002. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
- "Emotions With Exclamation Points". nytimes.com. September 16, 2008.
- Stanford, Volumes 21–22. Stanford Alumni Association. 1993. p. 52.
- "Crystal Gale Set for POW! Foundation, 2/14". Sandiego.broadwayworld.com. August 20, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- "Cnn Live Event/Special". CNN. February 7, 2001. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- "Bobby Helms Bio | Bobby Helms Career". CMT. August 15, 1933. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
- "Thanks for the Memory". Archived from the original on February 4, 2007. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- allmusic (The Best of the RCA Years > Overview)
- "Etta James: Biography". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
- Pareles, Jon (January 6, 1998). "POP REVIEW; Rick James Still Enjoys Singing ... and All That". The New York Times, Rick James; Super Freak. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- "Jerry Ragovoy obituary". guardian.co.uk. July 19, 2001. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
- "Gladys Knight on biography.com". Retrieved March 29, 2012.
- "Avril Lavigne Rocks Seoul". Koreatimes.co.kr. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- "Official band website". Ledzeppelin.com. April 27, 1977. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- "Welcome to Producers, Inc". Producersinc.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- "Julie London at Brian's Drive-In Theater". Briansdriveintheater.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- "Lynn fights for her songs". Archived from the original on December 9m 2004.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|archivedate=
(help) - "Lynyrd Skynyrd Bio, Picture, Videos, Rolling Stone;". rollingstone.com. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- "Lynyrd Skynyrd's Releases "Sweet Home Alabama" [VIDEO]". Kqbr.com. July 27, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- Richard Buskin (December 22, 1984). "CLASSIC TRACKS: Madonna 'Like A Virgin'". Soundonsound.com. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
- "News : 20 Questions With Barbara Mandrell". CMT. October 18, 2006. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- "Richard Marx". www.radiocremebrulee.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- "CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- "Wind Beneath My Wings [Laserlight #1] by Judy Collins – AOL Music". Music.aol.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- "Can't Get You Out of My Head". rollingstone.com. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- "Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette". Rhino.com. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
- allmusic
- Nirvana's 'Nevermind' is ever-covered, spoofed-Retrieved January 13, 2012
- "Top Ozzy Osbourne Songs – Top 10 Ozzy Osbourne Songs of the '80s". 80music.about.com. September 13, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- Ian Inglis (2006). Performance and Popular Music: History, |Place and Time. Ashgate. p. 36.
'Try a Little Tenderness' was one of his signature tunes, an old standard that he regularly used to end his concerts.
- McFarlane "Whammo.com.au Encyclopedia Entry for Savage Garden|'Savage Garden' entry". Retrieved June 29, 2010.
- Paul Simpson. The rough guide to cult pop. p. 83.
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:|access-date=
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(help) - "10 Best Slayer Songs". AOL Radio Blog. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- Allmusic. Review: "When A Man Loves A Woman". retrieved April 6, 2013.
- Steve Hendershot, Chicago Tribune. Percy Sledge is still in love with "When a Man Loves a Woman". October 07, 2005. retrieved April 7, 2013.
- "Celebrity Lawmaker Wore Renewed Fame Lightly". CNN. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- "Mel B: 'I barely speak to the other Spice Girls even though Victoria only lives a few miles away'". dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- "Sarah McLachlan to perform at autism benefit". Livedaily.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- allmusic
- "Special Event". CNN. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- "Mamas and Papas' John Phillips: An appreciation". CNN. March 19, 2001. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- "Satisfaction is 'top Stones song'". news.bbc.co.uk. August 17, 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
- Richard Ashcroft – From urban hymns to united nations The Independent
- "Tiny Tim". Rhapsody. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- "CD Review: Oh Boy Classics Presents Conway Twitty – Conway Twitty – By Carrie Attebury". Countrymusic.about.com. February 24, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- allmusic (16 Biggest Hits > Overview)
- "Bert Williams – Free Music Downloads, Videos, Lyrics, CDs, MP3s, Bio, Merchandise and Links". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- "Mix104.1". Mix1041.radio.com. July 25, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
- allmusic (Stand by Your Man > Overview)