Pixiq

Photography and music go together like peanut butter and jelly. Well, maybe not like PB&J, but there are a lot of songs out there about photography, which in a way is a blending of art forms. Google “songs about photography” and the results will include many compilation lists that have been put together through the years. I’ve been thinking about compiling a list of my favorite photography focused songs (yes that pun was intended) for years and finally got to working on it, only to find there are many, many more songs that I had been aware of. Seeing how an editor’s job is doing the grunt-work for your readers, I’ve compiled what I think is the ultimate list of songs about photography, complete with links to Wikipedia pages about the songs or musicians/albums and interesting tidbits from those Wikipedia pages. In my research, I found that some lists included songs that have the word "picture" in the title even if the song doesn’t talk about a photographic picture. These didn’t make my cut. I’ve included only songs with lyrics that really focus on photographs, cameras or the like. The list includes almost every genre of music, from Paul Simon’s Kodachrome (the quintessential photo-related song) to Outkast’s Hey Ya! with the line “Shake it like a Polaroid Picture”. Interestingly, eight different songs on the list are titled “Photograph”. The songs are in no particular order.

Song: Kodachrome Album: There Goes Rymin’ Simon Musician: Paul Simon Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome_(song) Wikipedia Tidbit: Paul Simon didn’t start out to write Kodachrome about the iconic film, but the lyrics he was working on weren’t as catchy as Kodachrome turned out to be.

Song: Girls on Film Album: Duran Duran Musician: Duran Duran Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girls_on_Film Wikipedia Tidbits: According to the above mentioned Wikipedia page, a Canon camera’s motor drive was used to create the effects for the beginning of the song. Also, the uncensored full-length music video of the song was made before MTV launched in the U.S.

Song: Hey Ya! Album: Speakerboxxx Musician: OutKast Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Ya! Wikipedia Tidbit: The lyrics “Shake it like a Polaroid picture” and the song’s success helped to revitalize the Polaroid Corporation.

Song: A Photograph of You Album: A Broken Frame Musician: Depeche Mode Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depeche_Mode

Song: Photographic Album: Speak And Spell Musician: Depeche Mode Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depeche_Mode Wikipedia Tidbit: The song was originally recorded on the band’s debut album.

Song: Freeze-Frame Album: Freeze-Frame Musician: J. Giles Band Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeze_Frame_(The_J._Geils_Band_album) Wikipedia Tidbit: Freeze-Frame has been released as a download for Guitar Hero.

Song: Centerfold Album: Freeze-Frame Musician: J. Giles Band Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centerfold_(song) Wikipedia Tidbit: The song has been covered by Euro-Pop, Indie-Rock, Ska-Punk, and Fun-Metal bands.

Song: Kamera Album: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Musician: Wilco Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilco Wikipedia Tidbit: After being recorded, Wilco’s label cut them loose, and gave them the album gratis. They began streaming it on their website, and were picked up by another label. (Incidentally, both labels were owned by the same conglomerate.) Yankee Hotel Foxtrot turned out to be Wilco’s most successful album.

Song: Picture Book Album: The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society Musician: The Kinks Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kinks Wikipedia Tidbit: The Kinks are considered a British Invasion Band.

Song: People Take Pictures of Each Other Album: The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society Musician: The Kinks Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kinks http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kinks_Are_the_Village_Green_Preservation_Society Wikipedia Tidbit: The album The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society is #255 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time List.

Song: Photograph Album: All The Right Reasons Musician: Nickelback Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickelback Wikipedia Tidbit: In 2009, The Word magazine readers voted Nickelback "Worst Band In The World".

Song: Photograph Album: Pyromania Musician: Def Leppard Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photograph_(Def_Leppard_song) Wikipedia Tidbit: The song was written as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe.

Song: Photograph Album: Ringo Musician: Ringo Starr Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringo_Starr http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photograph_(Ringo_Starr_song) Wikipedia Tidbit: The song was written by Ringo Starr and George Harrison

Song: The Camera Eye Album: Moving Pictures Musician: Rush Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moving_Pictures_(album) Wikipedia Tidbit: Moving Pictures is one of two Rush albums listed in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Song: Camera Album: Reckoning Musician: R.E.M. Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.E.M. Wikipedia Tidbit: Reckoning took somewhere from 11 to 25 days to record in the studio.

Song: Photograph Album: Born to Choose Musician: REM with Natalie Merchant Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_to_Choose Wikipedia Tidbit: Born to Choose is a compilation album, released as a benefit album with proceeds supporting NARAL.

Song: Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You) Album: Listen Musician: Flock of Seagulls Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Flock_of_Seagulls http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wishing_(If_I_Had_a_Photograph_of_You) Wikipedia Tidbit: The song is performed almost entirely on the black keys of a keyboard.

Song: Pictures of You Album: Disintegration Musician: The Cure Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cure http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictures_of_You_(The_Cure_song) Wikipedia Tidbit: There are multiple remixes of this song including the original album version, multiple 12” vinyl single versions, as well as 7” vinyl versions, CD singles and extended remixes of the original album.

Song: 3x5 Album: Room For Squares Musician: John Mayer Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mayer Wikipedia Tidbit: 3x5 is not on the original album, but was added to the Columbia re-release of Room For Squares.

Song: Miniature Secret Camera Album: Love Hysteria and Pump Up The Volume Soundtrack Musician: Peter Murphy Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Murphy_(musician) Wikipedia Tidbit: Murphy is known as the Godfather of Goth.

Song: All the Negatives Are Destroyed Album: Telephono Musician: Spoon Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_(band)

Song: I Turn My Camera On Album: Gimme Fiction Musician: Spoon Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_(band) Wikipedia Tidbit: The song is a popular YouTube dance tune for the Japanese robot Keepon, which has over 2 million hits.

Song: Photograph Album: Catching Tales Musician: Jamie Cullum Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Cullum Wikipedia Tidbit: Cullum likes to beatbox during his concerts.

Song: Picture Of You Album: The Tennessee Fire Musician: My Morning Jacket Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Morning_Jacket Wikipedia Tidbit: The band’s moniker comes from the monogram MMJ, once seen on a discarded coat by guitarist Jim James.

Song: F-Stop Blues Album: Bushfire Fairytales Musician: Jack Johnson Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Johnson_(musician) Wikipedia Tidbit: The son of surfer Jeff Johnson, Jack had a very brief stint as a pro surfer till an accident at Pipeline, on Oahu’s North Shore resulted in 150 stitches and a few knocked out teeth.

Song: Paparazzi Album: The Fame Musician: Lady GaGa Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paparazzi_(Lady_Gaga_song) Wikipedia Tidbit: There are over two dozen remixes and edits of the song that have been done around the world.

Song: This is Not a Photograph Album: Signals Calls & Marches Musician: Mission of Burma Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_of_Burma Wikipedia Tidbit: Contemporary music critics point to Mission of Burma’s work as a pivotal turning point in North American Indie music. Some of the many bands that cite the group as inspiration include Nirvana, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Sonic Youth, Pixies, and Moby.

Song: Take A Picture Album: Title of Record Musician: Filter Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_a_Camera_(song) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_(band) Wikipedia Tidbit: The album is the band’s most popular hit, and a departure from their normal industrial rock sound.

Song: Please Just Take These Photos From My Hand Album: A Hundred Million Suns Musician: Snow Patrol Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Patrol Wikipedia Tidbit: The band founded Polar Music, a publishing company run through Kobalt Music, which signs bands of all genres.

Song: Picture Album(s): Cocky (Kid Rock) The Best of Sheryl Crow (Sheryl Crow) Musician: Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheryl_Crow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocky_(album) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kid_Rock Wikipedia Tidbit: Crow plays 12-string guitar, bass and sings vocals. Rock sings Vocals, and plays lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, Dobro, banjo, steel guitar, synthesizer, turntables, organ, piano, and bass.

Song: Photograph Album: Weezer Musician: Weezer Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photograph_(Weezer_song) Wikipedia Tidbit: During live shows in 2005, the band would close out their first set by having Weezer drummer Patrick Wilson take lead vocals and guitar on "Photograph" while lead singer/guitarist Rivers Cuomo played drums.

Song: Photograph Album: Villains Musician: The Verve Pipe Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Verve_Pipe Wikipedia Tidbit: Photograph was the first single released by the band.

Song: Panorama Album: Panorama Musician: The Cars Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panorama_(The_Cars_album) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cars Wikipedia Tidbit: The band emerged from the early new wave music scene in the late 1970s.

Song: Camera Album: After the Storm Musician: Crosby, Stills, Nash Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crosby,_Stills_%26_Nash Wikipedia Tidbit: With Neil Young on board, the group’s second gig was at Woodstock.

Song: Photobooth Album: The Forbidden Love Musician: Death Cab for Cutie Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Cab_for_Cutie Wikipedia Tidbit: In 2001, the band released the LP The Photo Album.

Song: Pictures of Lily Album: Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy Musician: The Who Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictures_of_Lily Wikipedia Tidbit: David Bowie has covered this song.

Song: Camera Shy Album: Naturaliste Musician: Lucksmiths Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lucksmiths Wikipedia Tidbit: Lyrics often feature wordplays or puns.

Song: Pictures of Me Album: Either/Or Musician: Elliott Smith Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliott_Smith Wikipedia Tidbit: All instruments were played by Smith on this song.

Song: Carry This Picture Album: A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar Musician: Dashboard Confessional Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashboard_Confessional Wikipedia Tidbit: The album peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard charts.

Song: Distant Camera Album: Silver and Gold Musician: Neil Young Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Young Wikipedia Tidbit: The album was accompanied by a live concert film.

Song: Into The Lens Album: Into The Lens Musician: Yes Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_(band) Wikipedia Tidbit: Yes is regarded as one of the archetypal bands and pioneers of the progressive rock genre.

Song: Photographs and Memories Album: Photographs and Memories Musician: Jim Croce Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Croce Wikipedia Tidbit: Photographs and Memories is a greatest hits album released posthumously.

Song: Fades Like a Photograph (Dead Angel) Album: The Trouble With Angels Musician: Filter Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trouble_with_Angels_(album) Wikipedia Tidbit: Release date: August 17, 2010

If I’ve missed any songs, please use the comment field to add to the list & happy listening!

Since we've had a couple of readers let us know about a few more songs about photography, we're adding them here, along with choice Wikipedia Tidbits about each. Read on...

Song: Penny Lane Album: Magical Mystery Tour Musicians: The Beatles Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Lane; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles Wikipedia Tidbit: Written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon/McCartney, Penny Lane was originally recorded during the Sgt. Pepper sessions; however it was released in February 1967 as one side of a double A-sided single, along with Strawberry Fields Forever (also recorded during the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band sessions). 

Song: Any Way You Look at it Album: Rarities Musicians: Rolling Stones Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagger/Richards#List_of_Rolling_Stones_singles_credited_to_Jagger.2FRichards Wikipedia Tidbit: In addition to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' songwriting partnership, they also produced or co-produced numerous Rolling Stones albums under the pseudonym The Glimmer Twins.

Song: Peg Album: Aja Musicians: Steely Dan Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steely_dan Wikipedia Tidbit: The guitar solo on the track was attempted by seven top session guitarists before Jay Graydon’s version became the "keeper". He worked on the song for about 6 hours before they were satisfied.

Song: What Does It Matter Album: Holiday Musician: America Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_(band) Wikipedia Tidbit: The original three members of the band were barely past their teenage years when they became a musical sensation, scoring #1 hits and winning a Grammy for best new musical artist in 1972. 

Song: Fountain of Sorrow Album: Late for the Sky Musician: Jackson Browne Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Browne Wikipedia Tidbit: In addition to being a musician and songwriter, Jackson Browne is also an outspoken activist.

Song: Popsicle Toes Album: The Art of Tea Musician: Michael Franks Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Franks_(musician) Wikipedia Tidbit: At age 14 Franks bought his first guitar, a Japanese Marco Polo for $29.95 with six private lessons included—the only music education that he received.

Song: Back on the Chain Gang Albums: The King of Comedy (released in March ’83) and on Learning to Crawl (January ‘84) Musicians: Pretenders Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_on_the_Chain_Gang; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pretenders Wikipedia Tidbit: The song was their biggest success in the US.

Song: Fotos y Recuerdos Album: Amor Prohibido Musician: Selena Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selena Wikipedia Tidbit: The late Mexican-American singer Selena included a cover version of Back on the Chain Gang with all-new Spanish lyrics. The song was retitled Fotos y Recuerdos (which translates as Photos and Memories). Although the cover didn't mention prisoners, it still had the chain-gang hook in the chorus. 

Song: I got a camera Album: Nothin Scary Musician: Wild Man Fischer Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Man_Fischer Wikipedia Tidbit: Outsider music are songs and compositions by musicians who are not part of the commercial music industry who write songs that ignore standard musical or lyrical conventions, either because they have no formal training or because they disagree with formal rules. This type of music, which is often bizarre and emotionally stark, has few outlets; performers or recordings are often promoted by word of mouth or through fan chat sites, usually among communities of music collectors and music connoisseurs. Outsider musicians usually have much "greater individual control over the final creative" product either because of a low budget or because of their "inability or unwillingness to cooperate" with modifications by a record label or producer.