Girls names

Songs with a girls name in the title

Sure, this list is as overdone as the subject that it is about; but I figured I should have a crack at it sooner or later.  There have been great songs written through the years that have represented so many things. Usually they are love songs, sometimes they are just songs. Often written about real life women or muses. 

Personally if I was in a band every song I wrote would have a woman’s name as a title. The song might not mention the name once but I think it would be a cool naming system. Besides, have you ever read the title of some of Fallout boy’s songs?

So here is the list, today’s list is a top ten, and like always it is my top ten…

10. Along Comes Mary – The Association

Ok so first of all, let’s drop the notion that the song is about pot. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. I don’t know.  If it is, well then that makes this song a much cooler song than it already is.

Lyrically the song makes little sense. Which is good when it comes to music, sometimes.  Musically it is a pretty groovy song. There is great instrumentation going on in the background. There is that crisp opening on the keyboards that fades into a totally different song. I mean, come on;  there is a steady cowbell, along with some good tambourine action.

Not to mention one of the best recorder solos of all time.

Right after the recorder solo there is a mention of flaccid kids. Does it really get any better.

So this is definitely not a love song. More or less just a weird song to keep you intrigued. 

This was The Association’s first hit, so give the song credit where it is due. It brought forth one of the coolest bands of the late 60’s. Just a great song over all, plus the way they introduce it…….

9. Oh Sherrie – Steve Perry

First things, first, for anyone that thinks that this is a Journey song, I am sorry to burst your bubble but Steve Perry did this one all by himself.  Sure the band performs it, and it sounds a hell of a lot like Journey, I assure you it is from Perry’s first solo album

That being said, it is a kick ass song, and one of the best love songs written for a specific girl.  The girl in question is Sherrie Swafford, who actually is in the music video. 

And the video, the video is fucking brilliant,  It is an anti- video, Perry doesn’t want to make a video so he just sings and struts his stuff instead. 

It is a good love song too. I mean realistically it includes many realizations that everybody has, sort of, not wanting to continue and knowing that a relationship will be rocky and troublesome. But then in the end Perry, knows that his love will hold on, and that of course is most important. 

8. Brandy (You’re a fine girl) – Looking Glass

This was a number one and rightfully so.

Ok, So Looking Glass isn’t even a band that you think about beyond this song. But this song was all they needed to be forever cemented into any music lovers mind.  It is just classic Seventies yacht rock. Beautiful organ, and horns and smooth voiced lyrics.

It is about a lady named Brandy who  is apparently the  greatest thing since sliced bread. But nobody wants her, because the only men attracted to her are sailors who won’t give up their life on the seas for her.  She did love once, but the man she loved went back to sea and now all she has to remember him by is her locket. 

I mean, can you hear the name Brandy without thinking of this song?

7. Sara Smile – Hall & Oates

If any song on this list sports the name of a girl that I wanted simply because of the song, this is it.  I never dated a Sara, or a Sarah for that matter, so I never got the chance to sing this song to anyone.

But if I ever did, I would have gotten some. 

Fucking Daryl Hall had to get more action than any musician ever.  That is probably not true, but his voice is soothing and soulful. Hell, the song was about Hall’s woman, and they stayed together for almost 30 years , which probably would have been like 1, hadf Hall not sung her name so beautifully.

This song is so smooth, with that hot, almost Marvin Gaye-inspired guitar lick and Hall’s voice; seriously, it is like listening to Prince, Little Richard, Cee Lo Green, Michael McDonald, Van Morrison and Ray LaMontagne, all at once.  The lyrics are just a sweet  love song, and really you don’t need much else.

6. Rosanna – Toto

As soon as that drum line comes in, you know you are destined to hear something good, but you don’t realize how good, until the bottom drops out and the band starts harmonizing. Then out of nowhere the horn section comes blasting in. By that point you are sitting on your ass, half ready to cry from the sheer beauty of all of it, and half trying to get up and dance.

This song needs no introduction, no explanation.

But I will give you one anyway.  I already went over the beginning of the song, with its half-time shuffle beat, and smooth keyboard lines. The band really does harmonize well, someone is capable of hitting some pretty good low notes.  The horn section rocks.  The other beauty of this song is its use of keyboards and synthesizers.  The breakdown of the song seriously sounds like it was ripped from  a Manheim Steamroller Christmas album. 

The lyrics are about being love with a girl whose name just so happens to be Rosanna. Contrary to popular belief the song is not about Rosanna Arquette, that is just an urban legend.  It is supposedly about a bunch of different women and just comprised into one song under the name Rosanna. Don’t let the fact that the Keyboard player was dating Rosanna Arquette fool you.

The video is pretty hip too. The band is stuck behind a fence just rocking, and then a West Side Story dancing gang fight gets going, all the while a girl dances all sexy like. Oh and did I mention that if you look closely Patrick Swayze appears in one of the dancing gangs.   If that doesn’t get you going, then you must be dead.

5.  867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone

Now I have dated some Jennys in my life, more importantly I have written plenty of ex girlfriend’s numbers on walls.

This song is probably more known by the numbers, but the whole title includes the name Jenny. So of course it deserves a rightful spot on this list.

The song starts with that fade in of the guitar and then goes into the riff of the song.  It has what I consider a beautiful pre chorus, and then the chorus(the call and response of the number) which goes back into the verse, same chords and everything. Then the bridge of I got it.  It is a great song.

Legend tells of all the different people in the world that have been harassed because this in fact is a real number.  I personally have done some of that harassing. The number is still active in the 847 area code. I call it probably once or twice a year. (and I just did in order to check.) The guy that answers is usually angry, but you would think he would embrace it. 

The song really is a killer song. Almost every cover band I have ever seen plays it, and why shouldn’t they? It is one of the best 80s songs ever. Tommy Tutone has not done dick since, and they don’t need to really. Every now in then some incarnation of the band appears live but nobody pays attention until they play this song, then everyone leaves…. So here ya go. And do me a favor call the number once.

4. Jane Says – Jane’s Addiction

I mean, seriously, this is an incredible song by an incredible band.

But, think about this, Imagine if you are Jane Bainter, not only did the band name themselve’s after you, now they have a song about you, and it is one of the coolest songs ever.

Jane’s Addiction is another one of those bands that people usually love or hate.  I have to tell you, I love them. Now that being said, most Jane’s Addiction lovers usually hate this song because of it’s simplicity. I get it, I mean after all, you have fucking Dave Navarro as a guitarist and you come up with this two chord ditty. 

But this is a fucking jam song. Bongos and pan drums prove that early on.  And there is no mistaking or replacing Perry Farrell’s voice.

The song is simple, and not a love ballad, really just a song about Jane’s trials and tribulations, most notably her trying to “kick” her drug habits.  It is so weird, but for some odd reason whenever I hear this song, I want to get stoned on anything and just hang out for a while. I don’t know what it is, but it’s just so chill, see for yourself…….

3. Roxanne- The Police

This is another great song, and one that most people know. Subsequently I don’t think I have ever seen a cover band do it. Which makes no sense. But Coverbands usually don’t do anything by The Police, I don’t know why that is.

So maybe you know this song because you got very drunk once while listening to it. If you haven’t then you probably don’t know of the drinking game behind it. But well, just don’t try it, trust me it is not worth it.

The song is about prostitutes, and was inspired by the play Cyrano de Bergerac. Sadly not the Steve Martin movie. 

In case anyone is wondering, at the beginning of the song you hear a piano then Sting laughs. That is because he accidentally sat on the piano while they were recording.  But the take was so good, Sting’s ass solo got to stay. 

The song itself is  awesome, and I am sure you know how it goes. If not….............

2. Gloria –Them

Before Van Morrison was Van the man, he was making music with his band, Them.

This is one of their finest songs and was actually the B side to Baby Please Don’t Go.

Lyrically It is a simple song about a girl named Gloria and how good she makes him feel.  The guitar line is relatively repetitive and so are the rest of the instruments. The part that really makes this song work is Morrison’s voice, I mean he sounds like no other, and I won’t even lie to you, when I was younger I thought he was black.  Turned out he was just a very soulful Irish dude.

This song really rocks honestly, but hey don’t just take my word for it…

1. Alison – Elvis Costello

This song is at the top of my list for a variety of reasons. I don’t know which to name off first. 

I just have always loved the simplicity of this song. Elvis Costello could sing anything and I would listen. This song doesn’t rock as hard as some of his others, but it doesn’t need to.

I never had a girlfriend named Alison, my third grade crush was called Alison though.

This song I don’t know, Elvis Costello has never really divulged too much of its origins except to say that it is about “disappointing someone”  To me it’s about lost love and maybe trying to find it.  That old girlfriend, ya know. I mean why not. He is Elvis Costello, afterall.

This is one of his earlier songs, so the Attractions aren’t even on it, it is just him by himself with the help of some of Huey Lewis’ friends. What can I say about this song that I haven’yt the rest. Well, this song you can listen to on repeat and it never gets old, you always hear the almost tearful way he is singing. It brings me to tears after a while.

Alison

Someday there will be another list of these because my pre list had thirty songs on it, so stay tuned for songs 11 thru 20.  Until then talk about music, with everyone. Seriously, everyone in the world knows something about music that you don’t.