click to enlarge |
Okay, here's the rules:
(1) The song has to have a female's name in the title, but not necessarily be about a female. In other words, "Lola" by The Kinks is about a male transvestite and "Martha My Dear" by The Beatles is about a sheep dog; neither about a chick, but both qualify.
(2) It has to be the first name. Thus, "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkle doesn't count. Also, it can only have a girl's name, not a boy's; so, "Jack and Diane" by John Cougar wouldn't count.
And, finally (3) This is Retrospace, so we're not looking at songs from the nineties on up to the present (not that any would deserve to be on the list, anyway).
Last thing I'll say is: please don't concentrate on the numerical order (i.e. "WTF? 'Lovely Rita' is before 'Billie Jean'!"). I'm more interested in the one's that I missed. Perhaps there's some oversights that you could shed some light on... please drop a comment if you've got some!
- Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles
- Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkle
- Lola - The Kinks
- Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
- Mandy - Barry Manilow
- My Sharona - The Knack
- For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her - Simon & Garfunkle
- Aimee - Pure Prairie League
- Suite Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stills and Nash
- Melissa - The Allman Brothers
- Along Comes Mary - The Association
- Michelle - The Beatles
- Beth - KISS
- Gloria - Them
- Ruby (Don't Take Your Love to Town) - Kenny Rogers
- Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
- Lovely Rita - The Beatles
- Layla - Derek and the Dominos
- Sarah Smile - Hall and Oates
- Sheena is a Punk Rocker - The Ramones
- Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac
- Josie - Steely Dan
- Help Me, Rhonda - The Beach Boys
- 867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone
- Martha My Dear - The Beatles
- Peg- Steely Dan
- Aubrey - Bread
- Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - The Beatles
- Come on Eilene - Dexy's Midnight Runners
- The Wind Cries Mary - Jimi Hendrix and the Experience
- Rosanna - Toto
- See Emily Play - Pink Floyd
- Fanny (Be Tender with My Love) - Bee Gees
- Roxanne- The Police
- Matilda's Mother - Pink Floyd
- Sweet Jane - Velvet Underground
- Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
- Jennifer Juniper - Donovan
- Darling Nikki - Prince and the Revolution
- Maggie Mae - Rod Stewart
- My Maria - BW Stephenson
- Valerie - The Monkees
- Candida - Tony Orlando and Dawn
- Bernadette - The Four Tops
- Annie's Song - John Denver
And, just for the record, here's a few of my Worst Songs Named After Women:
Sara - StarshipCarrie - Europe
Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson
Luka - Suzanne Vega
Also, I don't think "Sister Christian" by Night Ranger is actually a girl's name, so I didn't include it. I know a lot of people like "Angie" by The Rolling Stones, but I'm not too fond of it. CCR's "Suzie Q" isn't one of my favorites either.
I'll also mention that I think naming a song after a woman has become the biggest music cliche ever; however, it still is good fodder for music lists (it's even parodied on Family Guy). The death knell for the cliche came with Lou Bega, possibly the worst recording artist of all time with possibly one of the worst songs of all time, namely "Mambo Number 5".
Carrie Ann by the Hollies
ReplyDeleteSadie by Hound Dog Taylor
ReplyDeleteAnna - The Beatles & Arthur Alexander
ReplyDeleteVictoria - The Kinks
Sara - Bob Dylan
Lucille - Little Richard
Wendy - Beach Boys
and the biggest omission:
Alison - Elvis Costello
Lucille - Kenny Rogers
ReplyDeleteC'mon, sing it with me: "You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille, four hungry children and a crop in the field..."
Amanda - Boston
ReplyDeleteAngie - Rolling Stones
ReplyDeleteChristine - Siouxsie and the Banshees
ReplyDeleteCarol - Al Stewart
ReplyDeleteDaisy Jane - America
Mary Mary - The Monkees
Caroline, No- The Beach Boys
Cecilia - Simon & Garfinkel
Mandy - Barry Manilow
Oops, I guess I should have looked at your list closer! :/
ReplyDeleteThis is like shootin' chix in a barrel:
ReplyDeleteCharlena - Ruben and the Jets
Fannie Mae - Buster Brown
Jennie Lee - Shuggie Otis
Daisy Mae - The Seeds
Linda Lu - Ray Sharpe
Sheila - Tommy Roe
Gloria - The Cadillacs
Julia - The Beatles
Mary Ann - Link Wray
Rosalie - The Searchers
Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys or The Who
Matilda- Augie Meyers
Johnny Mae - Blues Rockers
Mary Lou - Buddy Knox
Suzie Q - Dale Hawkins or Creedence
I love CCR's version of Suzy Q. It has that groovy, dark attitude like no other. And yeah, you can't leave Allison off that list. Take that horrible 867-5309 off and stomp on its dorky little head. Or that awful whiney Layla. Nobody wants to hear 67 minutes of multiple guitarists playing slide at the same time. And I'd put Maggie May and Aimee up near the top.
ReplyDeleteShe Sheila - The Producers
Be My Girl / Sally - The Police
I have to disagree about Layla. It is an amazing collaboration, and while there are many guitar parts, they were all played by Clapton and Allman, whose chemistry was profound.
DeleteEmily -Frank Sinatra
ReplyDeleteJolene - Dolly Parton
Sara - Fleetwood Mac
Sherrie - Steve Perry
Wake Up Little Susie - The Everly Brothers
Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys
Lucille - Chuck Berry
I'm Not Lisa - Jessi Colter
Delta Dawn - Tanya Tucker
Elvira - The Oak Ridge Boys
Amanda - Waylon Jennings
Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly
Think of Laura - Christopher Cross
Christine 16- KISS
Delilah - Tom Jones
Sherry - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Diana - Paul Anka
Susie Q. - CCR
Oh Sheila - Ready For The World
Bobbie Sue - The Oak Ridge Boys
(thanks for doing this, the hubby and I had fun digging in our memories and even singing a little!)
I could really add a ton if songs from musicals count, we're a musical watching fool of a family :D
Tammy - Debbie Reynolds
ReplyDelete"Jenny Jenny" is my wife's name, so i'm a fan of Tommy Two tone's 8675309. Of course there's Little Richard's Jenny Jenny... and Mitch Ryder's version of J.J./Devil with a blue dress aint so bad either.
ReplyDeleteDawn - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (if someone else posted this I could not find it)
ReplyDeleteLuka by Suzanne Vega is about an abused boy (Luca is a male name in Italian).
ReplyDeleteWindy by the Association comes to mind
Cara-Lin by the Strangeloves (and not a lip-synced performance on Shindig, which is cool):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVJkjAGHZkY
Cinderella by the Sonics (1966. Wow!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W6htRe993Q
Doreen by Muck and Mires (Yeah, it's a new song, but it's still good and the video's cool):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_lZUI5vnKk
C'mon Marianne - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
ReplyDeleteAll the following by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band:
Betty Lou's Gettin' Out Tonight
Jody Girl
Mary Lou
I like most of your list. I wd have put away Layla, too..
ReplyDeleteI discovered a bunch of new songs! :D
My contribution:
Sad Lisa - Cat Stevens
Carol - Chuck Berry
Nadine - Chuck Berry
Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett
Mary jane's last dance - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
Caroline - Status Quo
-->> And some French songs of course:
Daniela - Les Chaussettes Noires
Oh ma jolie Sarah - Johnny Halliday
Ballade de Melody Nelson - Serge Gainsbourg
Aline - Christophe
Alexandrie Alexandra - Claude François
Donna - Ritchie Valens
ReplyDeletePamela by Toto. :) It wasn't a hit for them, but it's a great song.
ReplyDeleteJennifer Eccles & Sorry Suzanne - The Hollies
ReplyDeletePeggy Sue - Buddy Holly
Jeanette - The Beat
Eloise - Barry Ryan
Awesome selections; I must admit, I haven't heard of many of them (Anna - The Beatles & Arthur Alexander... huh?)
ReplyDeleteLayla may be overplayed, but the Allman riff at the end is awesome... it could go on for three hours and I'd be happy.
There's a lot of songs suggested that are, shall we say, far off the beaten path. I was tempted to include a bunch of obscure tracks, but realized the top 45 are obvious picks for a reason - they're damn good.
That being said, there's still a ton of good songs named after chicks that I couldn't justify putting in the top 45. This is where my next post comes in. You'll see what I mean.
anna banana - Great points. Luka is about an abused boy? Man is my face red. And YES, "Windy" is definitely an oversight. Good call.
ReplyDeleteOther good suggestions that should arguably be in the top forty five -
ReplyDeleteJolene by Dolly is an awesome song, and so is Christine 16 by Kiss. Good suggestions, Myrtle.
I love Boston, but I can't stand "Amanda"; and I like Journey but don't care for Perry's "Oh, Sherrie".
And, yes, I did sing along with you, Paul. Great one!
Runaround Sue - Dion & The Belmonts
ReplyDeleteAlice's Restaurant - Arlo Guthrie
A Boy Named Sue - Johnny Cash
ReplyDelete@gilligan I agree about Steve Perry's song!, I can remember having a lot of the songs on my list on 45's, 33's and 8-tracks!
ReplyDeleteAnd my husband was a KISS fanatic. He's a preachers son and his Dad caught him with KISS trading cards in the mid 70's and made him put them in a mayo jar and bury them by the garage!
Too bad they tore the garage down a few years ago, we have NO idea where to treasure hunt!
My husband text "Peggy Sue" to me last night from the bedroom after he went to bed, lol!
Sweet Lorraine - Uriah Heep
ReplyDeleteCome Away Melinda - also by Uriah Heep, though this song is about a daughter, not a girlfriend.
Charlotte the Harlot - Iron Maiden
Glad to see Peg & Josie here !
ReplyDeleteSteely Dan half, Donald Fagen also sang "Maxine", then rearranged "Ruby Baby".
Uh, Gilligan? You left out Jenny Artichoke by Kaleidoscope and Suzy Creamcheese by Zappa !
ReplyDeleteNot to mention:
Bernadette - Four Tops
Jessica - Allman Bros.
Oh, Candy - Cheap Trick
Oh, Caroline - Cheap Trick
And my anna wouldn't let me get away without mentioning this one :
Anna (el Negro Zumbon) - many covers including Chet Atkins, Esquivel, The Spotnicks, Martin Denny, Herb Alpert.....
What first struck me was the omission of Dyan's "Maggie's Farm." And just to be funny, I'm going to suggest "Me & Bobbie McGee" (the Kris Kristopherson version, perverts!)
ReplyDeleteBut the omission of Mustang Sally by the Wicked Pickett is simply unforgivable.
And I think "I'm Not Lisa" is a Crystal Gayle song.
Rio - Duran Duran
ReplyDeleteLet me see if I can add a few to tis list . . .
ReplyDeleteR. B. Greaves - Take a Letter Maria
Chuck Berry - Maybelline
Everly Brothers - Cathy's Clown
Frankie Avalon - Venus
Frankie Laine - Jezebel
Hugo Winterhalter - Vanesa
Jimmy Rogers - Honeycomb
Kingston Trio - Call The Wind Maria
Kingston Trio - Little Maggie
Kingston Trio - Saro Jane
Little Richard - Good Golly Miss Molly
Little Richard - Long Tall Sally
Mitch Miller - My Darling Clementine (cheat?)
Mitch Miller - Peg O' My Heart Peggy O'Neil
Nat King Cole - Mona Lisa
Nat King Cole - Ramblin' Rose
Edison Lighthouse - Love Grows where my Rosemary goes
That is about the end of MY collection.
Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind (cheat?)
Roger Williams - Maria
Bobby Goldsboro - Honey
Bobby Hebb - Sunny
Creedence Clearwater - Proud Mary
Ed Ames - Mary in the Morning
Herb Alpert - Mame
Johnny Mathis - Gina
Limelighters - Molly Malone
Maurice Jarre - Lara's Theme
Patti Page - Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte
Rod Mckuen - Jean
Seekers - Georgy Girl
Steely Dan - Josie
SHAUN CASSIDY - Hey Deanie
Tommy Roe - Shela
Tommy Roe - Heather Honey
Tommy Roe - Sweet Pea
Jimmy Castor Bunch - Bertha Butt
Billy Joel - Roberta (one of his best)
Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amour
Frankie Valli - C'Mon Marianne
Derek - Cinnamon
Frankie Valli - Dawn go Away
Cuff Links - Tracy
Kaleidoscope - Jenny Artichoke
ReplyDeleteThe Rolling Stones - Miss Amanda Jones
The Bonzo Dog Band - Hello Mabel
Buck Owens - Sweet Rosie Jones
Dickey Lee - I Saw Linda Yesterday
The Statler Brothers - The Official Historian On Shirley Jean Berrell
Nora Guthrie - Emily's Illness
Protozoa - Ring Around My Rosie
P.J. Proby - The Day That Lorraine Came Down
Paul McCartney - Sally G
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Angelyne
Two more I can't believe I missed . . .
ReplyDeleteJennifer Tomkins - Street People
Alice Long - Tommy Boyce
Cut and paste the link below into your browser to hear "Anna" by Arthur Alexander. (You seemed puzzled by my nomination.) It's a fantastic soul record from the 1960s that was also covered by The Beatles (on their first American LP). On my blog I posted the original version of all songs covered by the Beatles.
ReplyDeletehttp://onehorsetown.tumblr.com/post/1423126671/arthur-alexander-anna-go-to-him-this-is-song
Blue Sky - Allman Brothers Band
ReplyDeleteBlue Sky is the name of Dicky Betts' ex-wife
I was about to point out that Luka is not a girl's name but a boy's, but since Anna Banana beat me to it, I guess I won't.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Luca is the equivalent of the Spanish Lucas.
G n R My Michelle
ReplyDeleteRoxanne by Sting
ReplyDeleteIsabella by Dia Frampton
Carmen by Lana Del Ray
Miriam by Norah Jones
Hey Jude by The Beatles
Why Georgia by John Mayer
Do Mrs. Robinson and Lady Marmalade count?
Izabella by Hendrix - inspired the spelling of my daughter's name. :-)
ReplyDeleteRosie by Joan Armatrading
ReplyDeletesuzanne - Leonard Cohen
ReplyDeleteElenore by The Turltles
ReplyDeleteJamie's Cryin' - Van Halen
ReplyDeleteWendy -The Beach Boys
ReplyDeleteMinnie the Moocher- Cab Calloway
ReplyDeleteElvira and Bobbie Sue were both popular in the early/mid 80s - I don't remember who sang them, though.
ReplyDeleteValerie by Steve Windwood, you Flashback Fool.
ReplyDeleteWadsworth Mansion - Sweet Mary?
ReplyDeletecan't belive no one mention Denise by Randy & The Rainbows 1963
ReplyDelete"Caroline" and "Tomorrow, Wendy" are two great songs on Concrete Blonde's album Bloodletting.
ReplyDeleteLed zep Darlene
ReplyDeleteAngela-Motley Crue. And miss Emilys picture by Jon Conlee
ReplyDeleteLorelei. ..by the sticks
ReplyDeleteNobody remembers Candy-O by the Cars? Or Candy by Iggy Pop (with Kate Pierson of the B'52's? (Hey, im a diabetic and I remember them songs!) ;-)
ReplyDeletehow has no one said The Band - Ophelia yet???
ReplyDeleteSylvia's Mother by Dr. Hook
ReplyDeleteAngie Baby by Helen Reddy
ReplyDeleteLaura by Christopher Cross
ReplyDeleteSylvia's Mother by Dr. Hook
ReplyDeleteMaggie May by Rod Stewart is maybe the best of all of them.
ReplyDeleteAlison - Elvis Costello
ReplyDeleteGuys... Black Betty by Ram Jam? How did we miss that
ReplyDeleteLove this list:
ReplyDeleteCindy, (cindy's Birthday
Pattyanne
Debby all from Johnny Crawford
Am looking for a song Shirley from the early 1960s maybe 1962
forgot Judy
ReplyDelete"Judy Loves me" Johnny Crawford
Tammy
ReplyDeleteDebby rennals
Lydia the Tatooed Lady - Bing Crosby and Groucho Marx
ReplyDeleteMy absolute favorite
Ah Leah - Donnie iris
ReplyDeleteTrivia: Tammy by Debbie Reynolds is probably the biggest charted song with a women's name.
ReplyDeleteValerie? Stevie Winwood? Anyone?
ReplyDelete