To All the Girls We’ve Loved Before, Classic Songs About Classic Women
To All the Girls We’ve Loved Before, Classic Songs About Classic Women
Aidin Vaziri
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05.03.2008
We once asked Pattie Boyd, the inspiration behind Eric Clapton’s “Layla,” what she did to drive her former husband to pen such an epic song about her. “It’s an obvious question for you to ask and an incredibly difficult and elusive question for me to answer,” she said . “I just happened to be there, I suppose is all I can say.”  Here are some of the other greatest rock tunes inspired by ladies who happened to be at the right place at the right time. 
The Rolling Stones “Angie”
For a long time people thought Mick Jagger wrote this about his friend David Bowie’s wife, Angela, the woman who once claimed she walked in on the two rock stars in bed together. But the Stones frontman eventually cleared things up. “The truth is that Keith wrote the title,” he said. “And I think it was to do with his daughter. She’s called Angela. And then I just wrote the rest of it."
Kiss “Beth”
Famous for their full throttle stadium anthems, Kiss let drummer Peter Criss take the lead on this rare piano ballad co-written by Stan Penridge. Originally titled “Beck,” in honor of Stan’s girlfriend Becky, the song that doesn’t even feature any other members of the band unwittingly became their biggest hit.
Beach Boys, “Caroline, No”
One of the most popular songs inspired by a bad haircut, the opening line of this classic Pet Sounds track was written by Brian Wilson’s collaborator Tony Asher after his girlfriend chopped her lustrous mane. Originally titled “Carol, I Know,” Wilson misheard the title and all parties involved ended up preferring the artier version. This was just one of many Beach Boys songs about specific girls, among tunes like “Wendy” and “Barbara Ann.”
Rod Stewart “Maggie May”
Written about the cougar who took his virginity, Stewart originally dismissed this song as the b-side to “Reason to Believe.” But its coming-of-age theme was hard to resist for smarmy radio DJs who quickly made it a No. 1 tune on both sides of the Atlantic. Even though it remains his finest moment, Rod is still ambivalent about it: “I still can’t see how the single is such a big hit. It has no melody. Plenty of character and nice chords, but no melody.”
Prince “Darling Nikki”
One of the standout moments from 1984’s Purple Rain soundtrack, this song was deemed so risqué at the time it is partly responsible for those stark “Parental Advisory” warnings that appear on album covers now. Oddly, it’s not about a real woman but rather Prince’s muse in the film, Apollonia Kotera, the so-called sex fiend he was battling over with rival Morris Day.
Chuck Berry “Carol”
Famously covered by both the Beatles and the Stones, this early rock and roll classic is about as direct as it gets. Basically, it repeats the scientific fact that women prefer men who can get down on the dancefloor. Especially the ones named Carol.
 
 
Elvis Costello “Alison”
While he has never revealed the true identity of the woman who inspired this song, she should be profoundly thanked for breaking his heart so badly that he couldn’t help but dash out this classic tune for his debut album.
The Beatles “Martha, My Dear”
Unlike “Michelle,” which was just an attempt for Paul McCartney to try out his remedial French, this song was actually about a real bitch. It was about his sheepdog Martha. It seems true love knows no species.
Michael Jackson “Billie Jean”
Always eager to embrace weirdness, in what is possibly his most popular single ever, Michael Jackson recounted his encounter with a stalker who claimed he had fathered one of her fraternal twins. Quincy Jones didn’t want her name in the title but Michael insisted on keeping it. The stalker, meanwhile, still hasn’t let up. Now 60, she was reportedly arrested last month for trespassing on Neverland Ranch, claiming the property was rightfully hers.
Patti Smith “Gloria”
Written by Van Morrison and covered by the Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and the Grateful Dead. But it was Patti Smith who did the definitive version of this song about simple teenage lust, simply by twisting the relationship dynamic, giving it a tough punk bite and milking it for every ounce of desire.