Top 20 songs with a woman’s name in the title!!!
Okay, I know what you’re thinking, It’s Top TEN By Ken, but this was a list that was too difficult to compile only ten, so for this list (and I reserve the right to do it with future lists as well … hey, my rules, I make ’em up), we’re going to call it TOP TWENTY BY KENNY! I know that, as with any musical list, this one will spark some debate amongst readers … and by debate, I mean psychotic disagreements. AND, as so much of music is opinion and taste, I’ll keep most of my music major commentary out of it … in fact, there will not be much commentary at all, must to the delight of most 🙂 Also, this is pretty much going to be ’50’s-90’s rock, in case there are some new school listeners that hate me …
20. “Josie” – Steely Dan: This was a hard pick over their other one, “Peg”, but “Josie” gets the nod, just in my opinion, because, well, I just like it better!
19. “Peggy Sue” – Buddy Holly: I’ve tried to put a little taste from every musically relevant decade, and what would a rock and roll music list be without some of the pioneers. Also, see “Oh, Carol”, by Chuck Berry!
18. “Angie” – Rolling Stones (tie) w/ “Michelle” – Beatles: To be perfectly honest, I’ve never much cared for “Michelle”, but being the only Beatles song to ever win a Grammy has to count for something, doesn’t it? Personally, I’d probably go with “Polythene Pam” or “Julia”, but … also, “Angie” DOES happen to be one of my favorite Stones tunes … and it just seemed fitting to tie the two most well-known and influential bands of all time!
17. “Roxanne” – The Police: Was never a real fan of Sting, to be honest, but it’s really hard not to like this raw, emotional song.
16. “Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson: Possibly the most well-known song by one of the most influential artists of all time!
15. “Sunny Came Home” – Shawn Colvin: As we are trapped by visions (or nightmares) of Ol’ Dirty Bastard, we tend to forget that this is, simply put, a great song!
14. “Cracklin’ Rosie” – Neil Diamond: The only artist with two songs in this list … hey, man, it’s Neil!
13. “Proud Mary” – CCR/Ike & Tina: I must go with the rip-roaring Ike and Tina Turner version on this one, even though it was written by Fogerty. They followed the cover rule: if you’re going to do a cover, do it completely differently, better … or, preferably, both!
12. “Rosanna” – Toto: There are those that would see this one as being too high on the list, but it’s one of my absolute favorite ’80’s tunes, and does not overuse the sometimes annoying ’80’s synth element!
11. “Annie’s Song” – John Denver: If you cannot admit that this is an incredibly well-written and heart-wrenching song, you just don’t have a soul!
… and then, there were 10 …
10. “Melissa” – The Allman Brothers Band: I’ve played this song in 3 different bands, heard it a thousand times, and I honestly can’t say anything about it … except that, like the lyric, it’s sweet!
9. “My Sharona” – The Knack: If you are an adult of GenX, you are pretty much required to get up and dance when this most-recognizable song is played!
8. “Lola” – The Kinks: I know that this is kind of a contradiction, considering the subject matter, so if you don’t agree, I won’t argue! Nonetheless, a terrific song, and one of 2 or 3 signature Kinks tunes!
7. “Carrie Ann” – The Hollies: One of the most underrated bands of all time, and one of their signature songs … always puts me in a good mood, and for a miserable bastard like me, that counts for a lot!
6. “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” – Crosby, Stills and Nash: Trivia Question: what does this song have in common with song #7?
5. “Donna” – Ritchie Valens: One of classic rock and roll’s most well-known and most simple tunes. It is straight from the heart, and oddly enough, it goes straight to the heart of the listener!
4. “Brandi” – Looking Glass: This was the song that my wife and I were introduced to at our wedding reception, and if you know the lyrics, you’ll understand how ironic that is. The only thing more ironic is that our first dance was “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” by Elton John. If you think that this one is too high, I honestly think it’s too low, so we’ll meet in the middle at #4!
3. “Layla” – Eric Clapton: Knowing that this song was a plea to Eric Clapton’s best friend’s (George Harrison) wife (who was still married to him) SHOULD make one like it less, but the song’s so good, you tend to forget that!
2. “Gloria” – Them: There is something about a Van Morrison sung song, especially when it is such a raw, garage tune that pretty much everyone can play, but NOBODY can play well! A staple of classic rock, if there ever was one!
and the #1 tune with a woman’s name in the title …
…
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1. “Sweet Caroline” – Neil Diamond: Is it overplayed at this point? Probably. Is it overplayed in 2010? Probably. Could that be evidence for how great and effective this song is? Definitely! You will NOT find a person over the age of 20 that does not know this song … and that’s something that cannot be said about any other on this list. And for some reason, something inside you just tends to smile when you hear those first few bars! There’s just something about Neil!
Okay second-guessers. That’s the Top 20 by Kenny. Even if you don’t agree (and I sincerely hope you don’t), I hope you liked it!
Now, please … for the love of GOD, comment! I want to hear what you think I’ve missed!
LK
Karen, 
Top 10 By Ken 
Lisa 6:36 pm on September 3, 2010 Permalink |
Wow! Do you read my mind? Ha ha! These have to be some of my most favorite songs. As for #4 Brandi, I heard it on my way home from the grocery store today. I actually didn’t go in the house until the song was over so I could finish singing it. 😀 I think it is listed on my FB top 100.
Now, “Peg” is one of my favorite Steely Dan songs so I am going to go with that one. “Carrie Ann” I put on a mix CD of mine that has favorite oldies, and “Donna” is one that I heard growing up that I never get tired of. My sister’s name is Donna and it just reminds me of her. I do love it and have always loved Ritchie Valens. His other songs were great as well.
Thanks for your top 10…well 20. Unfortunately I can’t debate much or disagree, but it was excellent reading 😀
Karen 8:48 pm on September 3, 2010 Permalink |
I know the song has a different meaning, but I think walking into your reception with “Cathy’s Clown” playing would have been a hoot. 🙂
First of all, to answer your question, “Carrie Anne” and “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” were written about famous female singers…Marianne Faithfull for the former and Judy Collins for the latter.
I love “Carrie Anne,” but I have a certain affection for “Jennifer Eccles” too. Speaking of Jennifer, I would put “Jennifer Juniper” by Your Son 🙂 on the list. I love the Scottish folk element with a twist.
Hard to argue with most of your choices. I love “Lola,” “Sunny Came Home,” “My Sharona,” and “Layla” (even though it goes on too long). “Roxanne” gets a big thumbs-up from me, especially Eddie Murphy’s version in “48 Hours”.
Oh Beatles fan, why did you exclude “Eleanor Rigby”, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” and “Dear Prudence”?
I must not have any soul because “Annie’s Song” sucks monkey balls, in my opinion. The lyrics are so cloying. The worst was when I heard a rabbi sing it at a wedding. Everyone in attendance was muffling their laughter, and the matron of honor had to hide her face behind a bouquet. “You filled out my census…” :p
Apart from “Layla,” I find it funny that Clapton also wrote “Wonderful Tonight,” one of the most sarcastic songs in pop history. (I burst many women’s bubbles about the song when I told them what Clapton really meant.)
“Cecilia” by the Nice Jewish Boys would make it because of some of the funny imagery. “When I got up to wash my face, when I come back to bed, someone’s taken my place.”
Some great songs…”Bernadette” by the Four Tops, “Allison” by Elvis Costello, “Barbara Ann” by The Beach Boys, “Ruby Tuesday” by the Old Farts, “Mustang Sally” and “Long Tall Sally” by Anyone with a Mr. Microphone, “Wake Up Little Susie” by the Everly Brothers, “Good Golly Miss Molly” by Little Richard, “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” by the Ramones, “Candy’s Room” and “Rosalita” by that Guy from Jersey…I could go on.
My tuppence….
Kenny 9:19 am on September 4, 2010 Permalink |
Actually, that’s not what I was thinking of, but I guess that counts. “Carrie Ann” and “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” were both by groups that included Graham Nash. I actually made a list of over 60 to pick this list from, and many of your choices were on there …
Karen 10:05 am on September 4, 2010 Permalink |
I thought the Graham Nash connection was too obvious.
I am still scratching my head over “Michelle” beating “Dear Prudence”.
Lisa 10:04 am on September 4, 2010 Permalink |
I thought of another one that I really like…after reading Karen’s reply and mentioning Elvis Costello…one of my favorite songs is “Veronica” I was so disappointed when I saw Mr. Costello in concert and he didn’t sing that song.
Kenny 2:15 pm on September 4, 2010 Permalink |
I had that on my list that I picked from. Cathy helped me compile it over 2 bottles of wine one night. As I said on the list, I’m actually not a really big fan of Michelle, or those that get the sont les mon quis von tres bien ensemble part wrong and sing something about monkeys. So, yes, I actually DO like Dear Prudence better …
Karen 10:12 am on September 4, 2010 Permalink |
So is there going to be a list of songs with men’s names?
Karen 10:14 am on September 4, 2010 Permalink |
If you don’t put “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” on that list, I will drive down and kick your ass. Actually no, I will just ask Cathy to give you “the wife look” until you are begging for mercy.
Kenny 2:11 pm on September 4, 2010 Permalink |
I’ll let you do that for the white room, Karen!
Kenny 2:21 pm on September 4, 2010 Permalink |
Just in case you guys were curious, some of the other songs that came close to making the cut were:
“Mrs. Robinson”, “Cecilia”, “Kathy’s Song”, and “For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her” – S&G
“Ruby Tuesday” – Stonies
“Amie” – Pure Prairie League
“Suzie Q” – CCR
“Peg” – Steely Dan
“Corina Corina” – Dylan
“Sarah Smile” – H&O
“Come On, Eileen” – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
“Rhiannon” – F. Mac
“Beth” – KISS
“Jessica” – Allman Brothers
some song that is called “Alita”, I think, Cathy was about to kick my ass b/c I didn’t seem to know it
“Wake Up, Little Susie” – Everly Bros
“The Wind Cries Mary” – Jimi Hendrix
“Jane Says” – Jane’s Addiction
“Hang On Sloopy” – The McCoys
“Jackie Blue” – Ozark Mountain Daredevils
“Help Me Rhonda” – Beach Boys
“Hey Paula” – Paul & Paula
“Jack & Diane” – Johnny Cougar
there were some more, but those are pretty much off the top … should have had an honorable mention …
Karen 9:54 am on September 5, 2010 Permalink |
Did Cathy mean “Rosalita”?
Karen’s 10 Worst Popular Songs with Men’s Names in the Title « The White Room 4:40 pm on September 6, 2010 Permalink |
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