Fun Music Information -> Steely Dan
This is the most recent information about Steely Dan that has been submitted to amIright. If we have more information about Steely Dan, then we provide a link to the section where it appears (the actual page whenever possible).
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Band Name Origins:
- I was watching this 70's action movie on TV once. I don't remember the name of the movie, but I do remember that the main character wielded a big gun called the Steely Dan. So, that's most likey where the name came from. [Ed.'s note: but it more likely came from the steel vibrator from the novel "Naked Lunch".] Submitted by: Mr. X
- The band's name (like a number of others) is derived from the works of William S. Burroughs: Steely Dan is the name of a giant flying steam-powered dildo that appeared in Burroughs' book Naked Lunch. Fagen once explained, "We just wanted to give the band a little more thrust than most other bands." Submitted by: GF
Better Off Solo:
Name | New Career | Comments & Submitter Name |
| "Walter Becker" | "During a 15-Year Hiatus from Steely Dan, Walter Becker made a Minor hit called 'Book of Lies'." | - Paul Warren |
| "Donald Fagen" | "During a 15-Year Hiatus from Steely Dan, Donald Fagen wrote songs for the movies 'Heavy Metal' and 'Bright Lights, Big City'. And one of his videos was seen in 'Beavis and Butt-Head'." | - Paul Warren |
Song Titles Not Used as Lyrics:
Song Name | Comments & Submitter Name |
| "Pretzel Logic" | Though this is the song that's also the album title, it should be known as "Those Days are gone forever over a long time ago". - Paul Warren |
Better Names for Current Songs:
Original Song Name | New Song Name | Submitter Name |
| "Rikki, Don't Compute That Number" | "Rikki, Don’t Lose That Number" | jgm87 |
| "Groucho Marx" | "Gaucho" | Paul Warren |
| "King Charlemange" | "Kid Charlemange" | Paul Warren |
| "XM" | "FM" | Paul Warren |
| "Black Fly Day" | "Black Friday" | softrock |
There are additional new song names available. | ||
Literally Impossible Song Titles:
Song/Performer | Comment | Submitter Name |
| "Pretzel Logic," | Pretzels don't have brains or think. | oldiesfan |
| "Reeling In The Years," | You can't catch years with a fishing pole. ;-D | Lisa Cohead |
| "Reeling In The Years," | I didn't know you could go fishing for years! | Larcen Tyler |
Use a Song Title to Answer a Different Song:
Song & Band Name | Song & Band Name | Comments & Submittor Name |
| "Who's That Girl?" | "Josie," Steely Dan | Ferragamo |
| "I Kissed A Girl" | "Do It Again," Steely Dan | Hey, maybe I will! - baa |
| "I Did It" | "Do It Again," Steely Dan | I wasn't paying attention the first time! - Josh |
| "Do That To Me One More Time" | "Do It Again," Steely Dan | Kathy |
| There are additional songs titles that answer other songs available. | ||
Remove a Letter From a Song Title:
"Back Friday" originally "Black Friday"
Some Person
"Lack Friday " originally "Black Friday"
Does that mean that we lost the weekend?
Some Person
"Rikki Don't Lose That Umber" originally "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"
Antiques like those don't grow on trees.
Fiona Apple Cider
"Reeling In The Ears" originally "Reeling In The Years"
Naomi Swanson
"Jose" originally "Josie"
A sex-change just by removing a letter.
MOR
Add a Letter To a Song Title:
"Kind Charlemagne" originally "Kid Charlemagne"
Pam Tabor
"Rikki Don't Louse That Number" originally "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"
Jen
"My Mold School" originally "My Old School"
Peter
"My Cold School" originally "My Old School"
Peter
"My Bold School" originally "My Old School"
Peter
Change a Letter In a Song Title:
"Dirty Work" originally "Dirty Word"
Joe
"Pea" originally "Peg"
Now the song is about a vegetable!
Alina
"Rikki Won't Lose That Number" originally "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"
Mallory
"Dirty Pork" originally "Dirty Work"
Not recommended for consumption.
U. Guest It
"The Fed" originally "The Fez"
short for the Federal Government!
Kirstie Alley Cat
There are additional song titles with a letter changed available.
Song Parodies:
Original Song Name | Parody Song Name | Parody Author |
| "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" | "Tiger Give Her Your Number" | Tony Wiseguy |
| "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" | "Nikki Cut Lose The Rumba" | Lionel Mertens |
| "FM (No Static at All)" | "Let's Win (No Mercy at All)" | Elephant Talk |
| "Do It Again" | "Win it Again (Tribute to Title #27)" | Max Power |
| "Do It Again" | "Eat With Your Hand" | Fred Snider |
| "Reelin' In The Years" | "Roundin' Up The Steers" | Fred Snider |
| "Do It Again" | "Losin' Again" | blackjack21 |
| "Reeling in the Years" | "Pealing In the Ears" | John A. Barry |
| "FM" | "CM" | Guy DiRito |
| "Show Biz Kids" | "Blow Biz Kids" | Andy Primus |
There are additional song parodies available. | ||
Untapped Commercial Ideas:
Song Name | Product | Submittor |
| Pretzel Logic | Rold Gold or other pretzel company | MOR |
| Black Friday | Any store's Black Friday sale | MOR |
| Throw Back The Little Ones | Fish And Wildlife Conservation | Tim Hall |
Bad Choices for On Hold Music:
Song Name | Company/Organization | Submittor |
| Pretzel Logic | George W. Bush Presidential Library | Rosie Finch |
| My Old School | Any School | Paul Warren |
| The Boston Rag | New York Yankees ticket purchasing | Mike Spessard |
| Here At The Western World | Iraqi Government | Mike Spessard |
| Deacon Blues | Wake Forest University Athletic Department | Daniel Gordon |
| There are additional on hold music ideas available. | ||
Duets Not Yet Performed:
First Band/Song Name | Second Band/Song Name | New Song Name | Submittor |
| Get 'Em Out By Friday Genesis | Your Gold Teeth Steely Dan | Get Your Gold Teeth Out By Friday | neptunevsmars |
| Inner Logic Bad Religion | Pretzel Logic Steely Dan | Inner Pretzel Logic It has Cheese in it! | Paul Warren |
| My Name Is Eminem | Peg Steely Dan | My Name Is Peg | crazydon |
| Hey 19 Steely Dan | I Was Only 19 Redgum | Hey, I Was Only 19 I needed the money, OK? | neptunevsmars |
| There are additional duets that haven't been done yet available. | |||
If Groups Combined, Their Names Might Be :
Steely Danzig
Steely Dan combined with Danzig
Submitted By: TomW
Steely Daniel Powter
Steely Dan combined with Daniel Powter
Submitted By: Rachel
Steely Dan Knife
Steely Dan combined with Shonen Knife
Submitted By: Raphael
Misheard Lyrics:
"Hey Nineteen"
Misheard Lyrics: I was the dandy of Hammock High.
Original Lyrics: I was the dandy of Gamma Chi.
| "Reelin' In The Years"
Misheard Lyrics: Are you reeling in the east
Original Lyrics: Are you reeling in the years?
|
"Gaucho"
Misheard Lyrics: Bodacious cowboys, such as your friend will never be welcome here high in the Cuspador.
Original Lyrics: Bodacious cowboys, such as your friend will never be welcome here high in the Custerdome
| "Reeling In The Years"
Misheard Lyrics: Are you reeling in the years?
Trolling away the time? Original Lyrics: Are you reeling in the years?
Stowing away the time |
| There are additional misheard lyrics available. | |
Misheard Lyrics Story:
|
"Green Earring"
Misheard Lyrics: The rings your friend designed
Original Lyrics: The rings of rare design
|
Story about this misheard lyric by: Melegorm Love the song, but always swore that "the rings your friend designed" were the lyrics. In a way, it sounds a lot more dramatic to steal rings designed by someone known to the person who's the victim of the theft implied in the song. |
| There are additional misheard stories available. | |
Song Parody Fragments:
"Hey Nineteen"
Better Lyrics:
I was a dandy glamour guy
Original Lyrics:
I was a dandy Gamma Chi
Submitted by: Carlos R. Zapata
Funny Lyrics:
"Show Biz Kids"
The Funny Lyrics: They got the shapèly bodies/they got the Steely Dan T-Shirt/and for the coupe de grace, they're outrageous
Why They're Funny: Only the Dan would insert a reference to themselves in a song about Hollywood cultural decadence and/or wild parties.
Submitted by: Ben Kalafut
| "Cousin Dupree"
The Funny Lyrics: When I see my little cousin Jenine walk in
Well all I could say was ouch! Why They're Funny: The entire song is a hoot relating the angst of a loser infatuated with his hot young cousin.
Submitted by: Joe
|
| There are additional Funny lyrics available. | |
Repetitive Lyrics:
"Kid Charlemagne"
The Repetitive Lyrics: Is there gas in the car?
Yes there's gas in the car Why They're Repetitive: That one gets *everybody's* attention...
Submitted by: Ben Kalafut
| "Doctor Wu"
The Repetitive Lyrics: Doctor Wu
Why They're Repetitive: This story is about meeting a Chinese doctor who was originally from China and they're in love with each other. note: The doctor is a woman
Submitted by: wxyztv
|
| There are additional repetitive lyrics available. | |
Nonsensical Lyrics:
"Kid Charlemagne"
The Nonsensical Lyrics: Is there gas in the car?
Yes there's gas in the car. Why They're Nonsensical: ok, I guess it makes sense, but...Well, even Walter Becker said in an interview that he was roasted by a cabbie who realized during the cab ride who he was, and asked if he was the one who wrote those 'ridiculous' lyrics.
Submitted by: Jim
| "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"
The Nonsensical Lyrics: ...send it off in a letter to yourself.
Why They're Nonsensical: What good would this do? Rikki could simply lose the letter once it was delivered. This is no more effective than simply writing oneself a note!
Submitted by: Andy
|
| There are additional nonsensical lyrics available. | |
Insulting Lyrics:
"Hey Nineteen"
The Insulting Lyrics: Hey nineteen That's 'retha Franklin
She dont remember The queen of soul Why They're Insulting: I know it's not meant to be insulting, and it was directed at a potential groupie, but I was 14 when that song came out, and I knew who Aretha Franklin was even before then. If Donald Fagen is suggesting that somebody five years older wouldn't have a clue who she is it almost sounds to me like he's slamming all teenagers.
Submitted by: The Skuz
| "Reeling in the Years"
The Insulting Lyrics: Well, you wouldn't know a diamond if you held it in your hand
The things you think are precious I can't understand Why They're Insulting: The song is sung from the point of view of a man who's broken up with his girlfriend; he questions her ability to determine what is good in life.
Submitted by: Martha Hankins
|
| There are additional Insulting lyrics available. | |
Dirty Lyrics:
"Black Cow"
The Dirty Lyrics: Drink your big black cow, and get out of here.
Why They're Dirty: When I first heard the song, I immediately thought of the scene in 'Freddy Got Fingered' where Tom Green was 'milking' a male cow. Plus, the lyrics sound like they allude to somebody performing oral sex on an obese black woman. That's why the lyrics sounds dirty to me.
Submitted by: Darth Chaos
|
Song Lyrics That Name Check Celebrities:
"Show Biz Kids"
The Lyrics: They got the shapely bodies They got the Steely Dan t-shirt
Who They Mention: Steely Dan
Submitted by: KarenHlly
| "Everything You Did"
The Lyrics: I never knew you, you were a roller skater You gonna show me later Turn up the Eagles, the neighbors are listening
Who They Mention: The Eagles
Submitted by: KarenHlly
|
| There are additional celebrity lyrics available. | |
Song Lyrics That Mention Brand Name Products:
"Glamour Profession"
The Lyrics: I drove the Chrysler
Product Brand Name: Chrysler
Submitted by: Hank Kiosk
| "Hey Nineteen"
The Lyrics: The Cuervo Gold, the fine Columbian
Product Brand Name: Cuervo Gold
Submitted by: rocky
|
Songs That Open With Their Titles:
"Bodhisattva"
Opening Lines: Bodhisattva, would you take me by the hand?
Comments: Submitted by: Larcen Tyler
|
Bad Grammar in Song Lyrics:
"Hey Nineteen"
The Lyrics: She don't remember the queen of soul
Why: It should be "she doesn't remember" but Steely Dan very rarely did this sort of thing.
Submitted by: Rich Braham
|
Band Name Anagrams:
Leaden Sty Submitted by: Condoleezza Rice Pilaf
Let Ned Say Submitted by: George Straitjacket
What does Ned want to say?
Ten Delays Submitted by: Josh
Ten Slay Ed Submitted by: Lydia Helton
Song Title Anagrams:
"I Got Naiad" originally "Do It Again"
Submitted by: Condoleezza Rice Pilaf
"Colt Leg Prize" originally "Pretzel Logic"
Submitted by: Condoleezza Rice Pilaf
"Got Cell Prize" originally "Pretzel Logic"
Submitted by: Condoleezza Rice Pilaf
"Mandate Kite Love" originally "Don't Take Me Alive"
Submitted by: Josh
Super Long Pop Songs:
"Deacon Blues" Length: 7:36
It's 20 seconds shorter than 'Aja' which is on the same album "Aja".
Submitted by: Paul Warren
"Bodhisattva" Length: 7:41
Submitted by: jdizzy
Super Short Pop Songs:
"Through With Buzz" Length: 1:34
The song is taken off from 1974's "Pretzel Logic."
Submitted by: Mickey D.
Song Title Spoonerisms:
"I Scold Mule" originally "My Old School"
Submitted by: Cynthia Avery
Foreign Language in English Songs:
"Third World Man"
The Lyrics: E l'era del trezo mondo.
Why: This is Italian for "And it was of the Third World".
Submitted by: Paul Warren
|
Band Name Spoonerisms:
Dealy Stan originally "Steely Dan"
Submitted by: Herculina Alencar
Movies Named After Song Titles:
"Dirty Work"
This film was directed by Bob Saget
Submitted by: Paul Warren
