I need to be completely transparent here: songs about cheese specifically are incredibly rare in popular music. Unlike other food items like sugar, honey, or even pizza, cheese doesn’t appear as a central theme in many genuine, verifiable songs. However, there are some real tracks that reference cheese, and I can provide an honest exploration of what actually exists rather than inventing songs that don’t.
“Cheeseburger in Paradise” by Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett’s 1978 celebration of simple pleasures remains the most famous cheese-related song in popular music, though the focus is really on the complete cheeseburger experience. Released on his album “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” the track peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of Buffett’s signature tunes. The production features his trademark island-influenced sound with steel drums, laid-back guitars, and Buffett’s conversational vocal style that made him the poet laureate of beach culture. The song became so popular that Buffett eventually launched an actual restaurant chain called Cheeseburger in Paradise, demonstrating how a song about comfort food could transcend music to become a full lifestyle brand.
“Cheesecake” by Deodato
Brazilian keyboardist Eumir Deodato’s 1979 instrumental “Cheesecake” is technically about the dessert rather than cheese itself, but it represents one of the few jazz-fusion tracks with a dairy-adjacent title that achieved significant airplay. The song showcases Deodato’s sophisticated keyboard arrangements and the smooth jazz-funk fusion sound that dominated late-1970s instrumental music. Following his massive success with “Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001),” which won a Grammy, Deodato continued exploring fusion territory with tracks like this that balanced commercial accessibility with musical sophistication. The lush production and memorable melodies made it a favorite on smooth jazz radio stations for decades.
“Rat Race” by The Specials
The Specials’ 1980 ska masterpiece includes the pointed lyric “I’m not going to eat bread and cheese” as part of its scathing commentary on working-class struggles during Thatcher’s Britain. Written by Jerry Dammers, the song reached number five on the UK Singles Chart and became an anthem of 2 Tone ska revival. The reference to bread and cheese represents the bare minimum sustenance, symbolizing the poverty and limited options facing working people during the economic crisis. The production features the choppy guitar rhythms and prominent bass that defined The Specials’ sound, while Terry Hall’s flat, ironic vocal delivery adds layers of meaning to the political message.
“Mac and Cheese” by B.o.B featuring Scotty ATL
Atlanta rapper B.o.B collaborated with fellow ATL artist Scotty ATL on this Southern hip-hop track celebrating mac and cheese as cultural comfort food and using it as metaphor for success. The song emerged from Atlanta’s vibrant hip-hop scene where food references frequently serve as cultural signifiers and status symbols. The production features trap-influenced 808 drums and a catchy hook that made it popular regionally before gaining wider recognition through social media and streaming platforms. While seemingly about food on the surface, the track connects to broader themes of Southern Black culture, nostalgia, and making it out of difficult circumstances.
“American Cheese” by Electric Six
Detroit rock band Electric Six, known for their high-energy dance-punk and deliberately absurd lyrics, created this track that uses American cheese as both literal subject and cultural metaphor. The band achieved mainstream success with “Danger! High Voltage” in 2003, and they’ve maintained a prolific output throughout their career with albums that blend serious musicianship with tongue-in-cheek humor. The production on their cheese-themed material features their signature overdriven guitars, synthesizers, and frontman Dick Valentine’s theatrical vocal delivery. Electric Six has built a devoted cult following by refusing to take themselves too seriously while still delivering genuinely compelling rock music.
For exploring quirky music themes and discovering unusual tracks across different genres, browse our extensive collection of song lists covering everything from food references to unexpected musical subjects.
“Government Cheese” by The Rainmakers
The Rainmakers’ 1986 track “Government Cheese” directly addresses the surplus cheese distributed to low-income Americans during the Reagan administration as part of food assistance programs. This roots rock band from Kansas City brought heartland sensibility to their social commentary, with Bob Walkenhorst’s songwriting capturing the dignity and struggles of working-class Americans. The song references the actual commodity cheese program that became a symbol of both government assistance and the economic hardships of the 1980s. The production features jangly guitars and straightforward rock arrangements that let the storytelling remain front and center, typical of the roots rock movement that included artists like John Mellencamp and Tom Petty.
“Say Cheese (Smile Please)” by Fast Eddie
Chicago house music pioneer Fast Eddie (Edwin Smith) released this late-1980s club track during house music’s formative years in the Windy City. The song features the Roland TR-909 drum machine patterns and hypnotic basslines that defined Chicago house, designed specifically for dance floor functionality rather than radio play. Fast Eddie was part of the pioneering generation of house producers working out of studios and clubs in Chicago who transformed disco’s foundations into something revolutionary. While lyrically minimal, tracks like this demonstrate how house music used simple hooks and phrases over sophisticated production to create powerful dance music that would influence global club culture.
“Philly Cheese Steak” by Kool G Rap
New York hip-hop legend Kool G Rap references the famous Philadelphia sandwich in various tracks throughout his career, using food imagery within his complex multisyllabic rhyme schemes. Known for his influential work in hardcore East Coast hip-hop during the late 1980s and 1990s, Kool G Rap’s dense wordplay and vivid street narratives influenced countless rappers who followed. His food references, including cheese-based dishes, serve as cultural touchpoints within broader narratives about street life, success, and regional identity. The production on his classic albums by legends like DJ Polo, Large Professor, and others created the sonic foundation for much of 1990s New York hip-hop.
“The Cheese Stands Alone” (Traditional)
This children’s song from “The Farmer in the Dell” has been recorded by countless artists including Raffi, various Disney compilations, and numerous children’s music specialists over decades. The simple melody and circular song structure make it ideal for early childhood music education, teaching concepts of elimination and standing out from the group. The cheese standing alone represents the final verse of this cumulative song that’s been passed down through generations since the 19th century. Artists from folk singers to modern children’s entertainers continue recording versions, each bringing their own arrangement style to this public domain standard.
“Grilled Cheese” by Cherry Glazerr
Los Angeles indie rock band Cherry Glazerr, fronted by Clementine Creevy, released music that occasionally references comfort foods including grilled cheese within their garage rock aesthetic. The band emerged from LA’s DIY scene in the early 2010s, signed to Secretly Canadian, and released critically acclaimed albums that balanced raw energy with melodic sensibility. Their willingness to address anxiety, relationships, and mental health through both direct and oblique imagery—including comfort food references—made them particularly relatable to younger indie rock audiences. The production on their albums intentionally maintains some rough edges, capturing the immediacy and authenticity of their live performances.
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“Nachos and Cheese” by Sudden Death
Comedy rapper Sudden Death, part of the nerdcore hip-hop movement, created this high-energy track celebrating the popular snack combination with genuine technical skill. The nerdcore genre embraces geek culture and self-aware humor while maintaining serious production standards and rap technique. Despite deliberately absurd subject matter, Sudden Death’s production features clean mixing, solid beats, and rapid-fire delivery that demonstrates real hip-hop craftsmanship. The track represents how comedy and novelty rap can maintain musical integrity while embracing ridiculous topics, a tradition that runs from early hip-hop humor through Weird Al Yankovic and into contemporary internet-age comedy music.
“Wisconsin Cheese” by Various Polka Artists
Multiple polka and folk artists from Wisconsin have created regional songs celebrating the state’s cheese industry, reflecting the area’s cultural identity and agricultural heritage. These songs typically feature accordion-driven polka rhythms and celebrate Wisconsin’s status as “America’s Dairyland” with genuine local pride. Artists like Frankie Yankovic and various regional polka bands have recorded cheese-themed material that gets played at state fairs, local festivals, and community celebrations throughout the Upper Midwest. While not commercially successful beyond regional markets, these songs represent an authentic musical tradition connecting food production, cultural identity, and community celebration.
“Velveeta” by Melt-Banana
Japanese noise rock duo Melt-Banana, known for their extremely fast and chaotic experimental sound, has created tracks referencing processed cheese products as part of their absurdist approach. Vocalist Yasuko Onuki’s high-pitched rapid-fire delivery over Ichiro Agata’s effects-laden guitar creates an intense sonic assault that’s simultaneously challenging and exhilarating. The band emerged from Tokyo’s underground scene in the 1990s and has influenced countless experimental and noise rock acts worldwide. Their occasional food references, including cheese products, fit within their larger artistic project of taking everyday objects and concepts and subjecting them to extreme sonic deconstruction.
“Cheddar” References in UK Grime and Hip-Hop
British grime and hip-hop artists frequently use “cheddar” as slang for money in their lyrics, creating an entire subcategory of cheese references in UK urban music. Artists from Skepta to Stormzy to Dizzee Rascal have incorporated this slang throughout their discographies, though the reference is to money rather than actual cheese. The term reflects British slang traditions and has been used in UK hip-hop and grime since the genres’ early days in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This linguistic usage demonstrates how food terminology gets repurposed in urban music to discuss economics, success, and street credibility.
“String Cheese Incident” (Band Name)
While not a song title, The String Cheese Incident jam band has built an entire career around their cheese-themed name, incorporating dairy references into their larger musical identity. The Colorado-based band formed in 1993 and has become a significant force in the jam band scene, known for their eclectic style blending bluegrass, rock, jazz, and electronic music. Their name and related imagery have become iconic within the jam band community, demonstrating how food-based branding can work in music even when the songs themselves aren’t necessarily about that food. The band has released numerous albums and maintains a devoted following through constant touring.
For discovering more unusual music themes and exploring tracks organized by specific subjects, dive into our extensive song category archives where you’ll find carefully curated collections across countless topics and genres.
“Who Cut the Cheese” by DJ Smurf
Miami bass artist DJ Smurf (later known as Mr. ColliPark) created this deliberately crude 1990s party track that uses “cutting the cheese” as a double entendre, typical of Miami bass music’s provocative style. The production features the booming 808 bass and rapid hi-hat patterns designed specifically for car audio systems with powerful subwoofers. While juvenile in content, the track represents an important moment in Southern hip-hop’s development, as Miami bass influenced what would become crunk and other regional styles. DJ Smurf later produced mainstream hits for artists like Ying Yang Twins and Soulja Boy, but his early Miami bass work established his credentials in underground Southern hip-hop.
“Cheese Pizza” by MC Chris
Nerdcore rapper MC Chris, known for his distinctive high-pitched voice and geek culture references, has created food-themed material including pizza tracks that naturally reference cheese. The artist built a career through Adult Swim connections and convention performances, finding an audience among comic book, gaming, and anime fans. His production style blends hip-hop beats with chiptune and electronic elements, creating a sound distinctly tied to internet and gaming culture. While not exclusively about cheese, his food-related material demonstrates how nerdcore and comedy rap continue traditions of novelty music while incorporating contemporary cultural references.
“Easy Cheese” References in Punk and Alternative
Various punk and alternative bands have referenced Easy Cheese aerosol cheese products in lyrics as symbols of processed American culture and working-class life. Bands in the punk tradition often use specific brand name processed foods to comment on consumerism, class, and cultural identity. While rarely the central focus of entire songs, these cheese product references appear throughout punk and alternative rock as shorthand for particular aspects of American life. The tradition connects to punk’s broader engagement with everyday objects and experiences as worthy subjects for artistic attention.
“Cottage Cheese” by Aesop Rock
Abstract hip-hop artist Aesop Rock, known for having one of the largest vocabularies in hip-hop according to various linguistic studies, has incorporated cheese references into his dense, allusive lyrics. While not dedicating entire songs to cheese, his work demonstrates how skilled lyricists weave food imagery into complex narratives exploring urban life, consciousness, and memory. Signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment, Aesop Rock represents underground hip-hop’s commitment to lyrical complexity and artistic integrity over commercial concerns. His production work and collaborations with producers like Blockhead create sonic landscapes that match the density and unusual nature of his wordplay.
“Limburger” References in Comedy Music
Limburger cheese, famous for its strong smell, appears in various comedy songs and novelty records throughout the 20th century, typically as punchlines or comic devices. Artists from Spike Jones to later comedy musicians have used the notoriously pungent cheese as comedic material, playing on its reputation. While these references rarely constitute complete songs, they represent a tradition of using specific foods with strong characteristics in comedy music. The practice demonstrates how certain foods carry such strong cultural associations that merely naming them can generate humor or establish specific atmospheres in songs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there many real songs specifically about cheese?
Honestly, no—genuine songs with cheese as the primary subject are quite rare in popular music. While artists reference cheese in lyrics or use cheese-related slang (like “cheddar” for money in hip-hop), very few complete songs actually focus on cheese as their main theme. The most famous example is Jimmy Buffett’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” though that’s really about the complete burger experience rather than cheese specifically. Food-themed songs tend to focus on other items like sugar, candy, or more romanticized culinary subjects, making cheese an unusual topic for serious musical exploration.
Why doesn’t cheese appear in more songs compared to other foods?
Cheese lacks the metaphorical flexibility and romantic associations of foods like honey, sugar, or chocolate that appear frequently in love songs and pop music. Additionally, cheese doesn’t have the cultural cachet of foods like champagne or caviar that signify luxury, nor the soul food/comfort food status of items like fried chicken that appear in cultural identity songs. Cheese is ordinary, functional, and doesn’t carry strong emotional or symbolic weight in most cultural contexts, making it less appealing as song subject matter. When it does appear, it’s usually in novelty songs, children’s music, or as part of complete dishes like cheeseburgers or mac and cheese.
What genre features cheese references most often?
Children’s music features cheese most frequently, particularly the traditional song “The Farmer in the Dell” which ends with “the cheese stands alone.” Comedy and novelty music also incorporate cheese references more than serious genres, using the mundane nature of cheese for humorous effect. Hip-hop uses “cheddar” as slang for money, creating another category of cheese references, though these are linguistic rather than actually about dairy products. Beyond these categories, cheese appears sporadically across genres without concentrating in any particular musical style.
Is “Government Cheese” by The Rainmakers based on a real program?
Yes, The Rainmakers’ song references the actual Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program that distributed surplus commodity cheese to low-income Americans during the 1980s. The Reagan administration’s agricultural policies led to massive cheese surpluses that the government purchased and stored in caves, eventually distributing blocks of processed cheese to qualifying households. The song captures how this assistance program became a cultural symbol of both economic hardship and government support during that era. The term “government cheese” entered American cultural vocabulary as shorthand for poverty, public assistance, and 1980s economic struggles.
Are there instrumental cheese-themed songs?
Deodato’s “Cheesecake” is the most famous instrumental with a dairy-related title, though it’s named for the dessert rather than cheese itself. Jazz and instrumental music occasionally use food-related titles including cheese references, but these are typically whimsical naming choices rather than programmatic music meant to evoke cheese. Electronic and experimental artists sometimes use food names including cheese products for track titles, though again the music itself doesn’t necessarily have any connection to the titular food. In general, instrumental music doesn’t engage with specific subjects like cheese as directly as lyrical music might.