The other day I was listening to the song “Black Balloon” from The Kills, and it made me think of the Goo Goo Dolls song “Black Balloon”. And then a song called “Drive” started to play, and for a second, I wondered whether it was Jon Bon Jovi’s or R.E.M.’s. So inspired by these namesake songs, I decided to write a trivia for bands/artists that wrote different songs, with the same title. This article features songs “Black Balloon” and “All I Want Is Everything”. Please let us know if you like them and prefer which one.
Namesake Song: Black Balloon (Goo Goo Dolls vs. The Kills)
Black Balloon — Goo Goo Dolls
“Black Balloon” is featured on the American modern rock band Goo Goo Dolls’ 1998 album, Dizzy Up the Girl. Even though the band was formed in 1987, it became a lot more popular in 1995 with their album A Boy Named Goo (the band’s 5th album). The following album Dizzy Up the Girl was also a success due to the song “Iris”, which was featured in the soundtrack of the romance movie City of Angels (starring Meg Ryan and Nicolas Cage). Dizzy Up the Girl sold over 3 million copies.
“Black Balloon” is performed by the band’s usual front man John Rzeznik (bass guitarist Robby Takac performs lead vocals on some of the songs). Written by Rzeznik.
Sample Song Lyrics:
Baby’s black balloon makes her fly
I almost fell into that hole in your life
And you’re not thinking about tomorrow
‘Cause you were the same as me
But on your kneesA thousand other boys could never reach you
How could I have been the one
I saw the world spin beneath you
And scatter like ice from the spoon
That was your womb
Black Balloon — The Kills
“Black Balloon” is from American indie rock band The Kill’s album Midnight Boom (the band’s third album, released in 2008). The band is fronted by Alison Mosshart, who formed the band with guitar player Jamie Hince in 2000.
The song is a little negative, both where the lyrics and the music are concerned. A catchier, faster song is “Sour Cherry” — which was used in the Canadian fantasy TV series Lost Girl (starring Anna Silk & Kristen Holden-Reid), as well as the hit American show Gossip Girl.
Sample Song Lyrics:
Elevator straight into my skull
The escalator rises as it falls
I swear our chant is crashing in my mind
You can hold on but I wouldn’t waste your timeFarewell my black balloon
Farewell my black balloonI’ve stood in a thousand street scenes
Just around the corner from you
On the edge of a dream that you have
Has anybody ever told you it’s not coming true
Namesake Song: All I Want is Everything (Bon Jovi vs. Def Leppard)
All I Want is Everything – Bon Jovi
“All I Want” is featured on the 1995 Bon Jovi album These Days, which remains the band’s darkest, and one of the most critically acclaimed albums. These Days features almost no glam rock elements. The album genre is more a combination of modern and hard rock, with darker lyrics. There are virtually no happy-go-lucky songs on the album, with the exception of some more hopeful ones.
All I Want is Everything is a fast rock track with lyrics promoting the desire for freedom and control over one’s life, despite the circumstances.
These Days is the album following the compilation Crossroad (released in 1994). These Days sold about 10,000,000 copies worldwide.
Sample Song Lyrics:
I’ve had enough of havin’ nothing, I won’t take just anything
I got my mind set on something, all I want is everything
It’s my life Mr. – I ain’t running, I’m no puppet on a string
I want more than I see coming
All I want is everything
All I want is everything
All I Want is Everything – Def Leppard
Written by the band’s singer Joe Elliott, “All I Want is Everything” is featured on the band’s more different album Slang. Slang is the band’s sixth studio album, following the band’s glam rock record Adrenalize (1992). Slang is much darker and slower, as it reflects the band’s mood at the time: Phil Collen got divorced, Rick Savage had Bell’s Palsy (a diseases that paralyzed one side of his face), and both Elliott and Allen were arrested for marital problems. Ouch. They also didn’t work with their regular producer Mutt Lange, so they went on to the dark side. Fortunately the change in style wasn’t reflected in sales — the album was a commercial hit.
Sample Song Lyrics:
The man behind these empty words
Is crying out in shame
Holding on to this sinking ship
When nothing else remainsAll I want is everything
Am I asking too much?
All I want is everything
Like the feel of your touch
But all I have are yesterdays
Tomorrow never comes
[…] See the article here: Namesake Songs – Different Songs Same Title […]