Notable Ladies Known to Have Inspired Iconic Songs

Jane Asher



"I'm Looking Through You" by the Beatles, written by Paul McCartney (Lennon/McCartney)

 

Pink Floyd - Vera....Their very short song from 'The Wall' about 'Forces Sweetheart' Dame Vera Lynn, whose songs were very popular and uplifting to servicemen/troops during World War Two.

 

If you listen to the early demo of Peregrine, there's an extra verse that says "You, and Pattie, too," which makes me wonder if that was inspired by Jenny as well.

It's probably impossible to count how many of Donovan's songs were inspired by his wife Linda Lawrence (mother of Brian Jones's son Julian), including the notable Sunshine Superman.

Turquoise was inspired by Joan Baez.
Beverley Martyn is in a few of his songs. I read somewhere that Museum was about Nico, but I have no idea if that is backed up anywhere. Fat Angel was named for Mama Cass. Bleak City Woman is about Enid Karl. Ymmv on the notability of those.

 

Beatles, "Her Majesty", the Queen
The Cult, "Nico", Nico
Elton, "Candle In the Wind," Marilyn Monroe
Jackson Browne, "Ready Or Not," about his first wife, former model Phyllis Major
Jackson Browne, "My Problem Is You," Darryl Hannah
I tend to think every thing Lindsey Buckingham writes is about Stevie Nicks and vice versa really
CSN, "Suite Judy Blue Eyes," Judy Collins
Marvin Gaye, "Here My Dear," about his exwife, Barry Gordy's daughter
GnR, "Sweet Child of Mine," Erin Everly
Lenny Kravitz, "It Ain't Over Til It's over," Lisa Bonet

just to name a random few.

 

Linda - Jan and Dean

 

Mary Austin



"Love of My Life" by Queen, written by Freddie Mercury

 

Many (most?) of these posts stretch the term “iconic” a bit.

fun thread nonetheless.

 

Winona Ryder
My sister inspired It's Not The Same by England Dan & John Ford Coley

 

if you can’t remember her, she’s not a notable woman.

 

both notable and iconic are getting stretched

 

Here's an interesting one. Marvin Gaye's "Try It Baby", first recorded in 1964 with backup by the Temptations was written by Berry Gordy and entirely inspired by his infatuation with Diana Ross. Obviously she's more high profile than any of the women so far name checked here, but the lyrics of the song sort of put into focus Berry's relationship with Diana.

He was a mentor, he was her boss and she was his muse and "star". Their relationship was as personal as it was professional and Berry's goal was for Diana to become as big of a star as she could be.

Ironically, when it was written the Supremes had JUST begun to see sizeable mainstream success and it supports the idea that Diana became Berry's priority very early on. The two didn't become intimate till the following year (1965).

Marvin knocks it out the park though as do the Tempts.

 

Theresa Russell / Athena

 

that’s not a notable woman. Every love song is about someone, but this is asking for famous songs about famous women.

 

Yes but she doesn't seem very bright or ambitious. I could be wrong but nothing I ever read led me to believe the opposite at least.

 

In the context of your avatar;
Claudia Linnear.

Brown Sugar
and
Lady Grinning Soul.

 

Chasey Lain

The Ballad of Chasey Lain
by Bloodhound Gang

Chases Lain is legendary. The band perhaps less so …

 

Hi all, I just joined and I can't resist saying WOW! about that Carrie-Anne video with that gorgeous Graham Nash. My god the man was hot.

As for this particular thread, I love the '60s look for women as exemplified by Patti Boyd (and others): the big doe eyes and normal-sized lips.

 

Well, she managed to snap out of her dull, vacant aimlessness long enough to publish a pretty cool autobiography in 2007 that the New York Times called "a charming, lively and seductive book, and like all good memoirs, it also works as a cultural history," but I'm sure your suspicion that Pattie Boyd was an attractive dolt is a fair one.

 

Well regarding Pattie Boyd, I don't know what your criteria is for being "very bright or ambitious", but she...

1. Was a top fashion model in the UK and Europe;
2. Became a successful professional photographer with exhibitions around the world, including in the National Geographic Headquarters in Washington, DC. Pattie Boyd – The Official Home of all things Pattie Boyd
3. Became involved in charity work following her separation from Clapton in the late 1980s. In 1991, she co-founded SHARP (Self Help Addiction Recovery Program) with Barbara Bach, the second wife of former Beatle Ringo Starr;
4. Wrote a successful autobiography (Reviewing Wonderful Today for The Daily Telegraph, Lynn Barber described it as "absolutely gripping" and a memoir that "gives more insight into the weirdness of rock-star life than anything I have ever read". In the United States, the book debuted at the top of the New York Times Best Seller list.).

Besides, how many of you have been married to TWO Major rock stars and has THREE iconic songs inspired by you? (how ambitious is that?)

(Plus, I have heard interviews she has given and she definitely sounded pretty bright to me.)

 

“Whine and Grine/Stand Down Margaret" - The (English) Beat, which refers to the want for the then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the UK to resign.

 

Re: Pattie Boyd's photography--she had a couple of gallery exhibits at the San Fransisco Art Exchange. This page has a bunch of her photos, and the prints aren't cheap!

 

Joan Baez - The Death of Queen Jane

 

Is Chris O’Dell “notable”? If so, there’s three songs, or so she claims. After all. she is part of the mosaic cover of The Rolling Stones, Exile on Main Street.

Both “Pisces Apple Lady” and “A Song For You” - Leon Russell and “Miss O’Dell” - George Harrison.

 

Rita Coolidge inspired Leon Russell’s “Delta Lady”.

 

Inspired by, and featuring the guest gurglings of, Aisha Morris.