Life influences art, and art influences life. These four popular songs were actually directly inspired by art, specifically in the form of famous artwork, paintings, and photography.
1. “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence + The Machine
“Dog Days Are Over” was the song that introduced the world to the incredible songwriting and singing prowess of Florence Welch via Florence + The Machine. Some fans might be surprised to learn that this hit 2010 song was actually inspired by real-life artwork.
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Back in the day, Welch would travel via bike to Central London, where she would pass a poster outside of Hayward Gallery. The poster featured artwork by the Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, with the words “DOG DAYS ARE OVER” written across the work in brightly-colored letters. Welch said that it was a reference to Sirius, the “dog” star.
“When it was closest to the Earth, all the animals would get languid and sleepy,” said Welch. “When it moved away, they’d wake up.”
2. “Vincent” by Don McLean
“Vincent” by Don McLean was a massive international hit in the 1970s. The song was inspired by a book of artwork by Vincent Van Gosh. McLean said he found the book and was shocked by how different the actual artist behind “Starry Night” was compared to contemporary folklore. He wasn’t a madman; rather, he was a tortured but brilliant individual. McLean wrote the song “Vincent” about him while observing a print of “Starry Night” and wrote the lyrics on the back of a paper bag.
“Suddenly I knew I had to write a song arguing that he wasn’t crazy,” said McLean.
3. “Andy Warhol” by David Bowie
Artist Andy Warhol designed a few paintings and works of art that singer David Bowie enjoyed. So much so that the artist was an inspiration and a bit of a muse for Bowie. The famed singer visited Warhol’s studio, The Factory, in New York in 1971 to perform the song “Andy Warhol” to his idol in person.
Shockingly, Warhol didn’t seem to enjoy the song; there was a heavy silence after he performed it for him. Warhol broke the silence by simply saying “I like your shoes.” Fortunately, Bowie didn’t take it to heart and released the song anyway.
4. “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” by Green Day
American Idiot is one of the most beloved punk revival albums of all time, and one more somber song from that album that got a lot of attention was “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams”. It’s almost a ballad, but not quite; regardless, it’s a heartfelt song that is still loved by Green Day fans today.
Singer Billie Joe Armstrong told an audience back in 2005 that the song was inspired by a photo of James Dean walking around New York, which was titled “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams”. However, he was kind of incorrect. The photo he was referencing was titled “James Dean Alone In The Rain, In The Middle Of Times Square”. There is, however, a painting of Dean along with other celebrities by Gottfried Helnwein titled “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams”.
Photo by Susan Greenwood / Liaison Agency
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