Home » Lists » 5 Songs that reference famous art and artists
The artist Rosalia wearing all black against a red dotted background with a blue and yellow halo.

5 Songs that reference famous art and artists

Pop music and fine art may seem like opposites — one is blasting through headphones, the other hanging in hushed galleries. From Lady Gaga to David Bowie – these singers have been inspired by great artists and art of the past. Check out this fun fact list and

“Andy Warhol” – David Bowie

A photo of David Bowie with red mullet hair and a black eyepatch, making a growling expression at the viewer. He is wearing a polka dot navy scarf and red and checked top against a blue background.
Andy Warhol sat with a plant behind him

David Bowie released “Andy Warhol” in 1971 on his album Hunky Dory as a tribute to the pop art artist. Bowie opens the song by doing an impression of Andy in an American accent. Bowie went to the Andy Warhol’s New York studio The Factory in September 1971 to play it in person. The artist absolutely hated it! After the performance, there was an awkward silence. Andy finally said to Bowie, “I like your shoes.”

“Venus” – Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga wearing white at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party
A photo of the Birth of Venus painting by Botticelli. It depicts a woman with long red hair riding nude on a shell from the ocean with two angels blowing wind to her right and a woman with a red shawl ready to drape over her on her left.

Lady Gaga released her album Artpop in 2013 and her song “Venus” is inspired by her love for the famous Botticelli painting The Birth of Venus which shows the Roman Goddess of Love coming to earthly lands from the ocean. Lady Gaga once said she is inspired to dance whenever she hears Venus’s name being spoken. What inspires you to dance?

“La Noche de Anoche” – Rosalía x Bad Bunny

A photo showing the singer Rosalía performing on stage in a black top and leather skirt with a performer next to her wearing a light up helmet and black and silver top - they are both against a black background.
Salvador Dalí

Rosalía’s music video for “La Noche de Anoche” with Bad Bunny features imagery that looks very similar to Salvador Dali’s surreal paintings. The video, directed by Stillz, draws inspiration from Salvador Dalí and Giorgio de Chirico, using dreamlike visuals including the two artists catching fire to symbolise their passion. Both Rosalía and Dali are Spanish so paying homage to the Spanish surrealist is perfect for the modern singer Rosalía. Which artist from your country would you may homage too creatively?

“Viva la Vida” – Coldplay

A photo of Chris Martin from the band Coldplay singing on stage into a mic with his hands outstretched above his head with stage lighting in the background.
A painting by Frida Kahlo depicting a bunch of watermelons in various stages of preparation - some exposing their red flesh and others partially cut or whole. One piece at the front has the words "Viva la Vida" which means Long Live Life. The background is like a blue cloud filled sky.

Coldplay’s song “Viva la Vida” which means Long Live Life is a direct quote from the Frida Kahlo painting above, inscribed into one of the watermelon slices. This is Kahlo’s final painting before her death in 1954.

“Dog Days Are Over” – Florence Welch

Florence and The Machine performing
A photo of an art installation by Ugo Rondinone which shows an arch of giant letters in rainbow colours that say "DOG DAYS ARE OVER" above a city skyline at night.

The Florence + The Machine song “Dog Days Are Over” was inspired by a public artwork by Ugo Rondinone, specifically his large-scale text installation also titled “Dog Days Are Over” shown above in giant rainbow letters. Florence Welch would see this piece regularly while traveling over Waterloo Bridge. The phrase “Dog Days” refers to a difficult period, and the song is a celebration of overcoming adversity and embracing happiness.

You might also like

Customised blue and white adidas trainers, with comical stick on eyes, nose and teeth dancing back and forth. Promoting the Young V&A museum in Bethnal Green, London. A new museum for creativity. Now open, free for all.