Immediately after Michael Jackson’s untimely passing, an outpouring of grief erupted in communities around the world, perhaps no more so than in the entertainment industry. Musicians like 50 Cent, The Game, and Usher responded not only with mournful messages, but with songs paying tribute to him as well. Singers honoring people who touched their lives in one way or another through song is nothing new; it’s a way to pay homage to their friends and mentors the best way they know how. And with the impact that these celebrities had on the world around them, a tribute song seems like the perfect way to celebrate their influential lives.
“All Those Years Ago,” George Harrison
Though Ringo, Paul, and George are featured on this track, the tribute to their friend and band mate, John Lennon, was recorded under Harrison’s name because he’s the one who wrote the lyrics. The song was recorded earlier, but after Lennon’s death, Harrison altered it to include lines like, “You had control of our smiles and our tears all those years ago” in remembrance of him.
“I’ll Be Missing You,” Faith Evans and Puff Daddy
Few people were affected more by Biggie Smalls’ murder than his ex-wife Faith Evans and Puff Daddy (known as P. Diddy now), his manager and best friend. They used the Police song, “Every Breath You Take,” as the background melody and sang about the fallen rapper.
“Night Shift,” The Commodores
When I first heard this song, I thought it was an ode to late-night lovin’ and dismissed it as cheesy, but my friend informed me it was actually a tribute to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson, both of whom died tragically—the former from a gun shot wound, the latter while in a coma after a heart attack—the year before the song was released.
“Angel of Harlem,” U2
The Angel of Harlem Bono and company speak of is actually Billie Holiday (also known as Lady Day), one of the most famous and renowned jazz singers to date. The lyrics talk about Holiday and the jazz scene itself, including references to a New York radio station
