Last night on the way home from work, Elvis Costello's "Alison" came on my Zune. I don't know why I started thinking about it (frankly, I don't know why I ever start thinking about anything), but I realized it's the perfect 'song about a girl.' The title is even the girl's name. Then I decided I was going to make a mix of songs with girls' names in the title. It wasn't easy; I definitely had to to make some tough choices. This was by far the most significant thing I accomplished today.
Song For Whoever The Beautiful South
Stephanie Says The Velvet Underground
Help Me Mary Liz Phair
Maggie May Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs
Romeo And Juliet Dire Straits
For Emma Bon Iver
Ingrid Bergman Billy Bragg & Wilco
Alison Elvis Costello
Oh Sherrie Steve Perry
Venus Television
Billie Jean Michael Jackson
Jack & Diane John Cougar
Agnes, Queen Of Sorrow Palace Songs
Pocahontas Neil Young
Angelyne The Jayhawks
Chasing Heather Crazy Guided By Voices
Jackie The New Pornographers
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) Bruce Springsteen
Cindy Johnny Cash featuring Nick Cave
Doreen Old 97's
Doreen Old 97's
[this is good] Don't forget "Aimee", Pure Prairie League. Even though it's not spelled like my name, I still get this song sung to me every so often.
Posted by: AmyH | April 23, 2010 at 06:44 PM
There's almost certainly going to have to be a second volume to this mix because of the arbitrary rules I set up for myself. Specifically, I limit the length of any mix I make to eighty minutes - what I can burn onto a CD. A lot of great songs didn't make the cut.
Posted by: hotrod | April 23, 2010 at 06:49 PM
I was always more partial to Veronica than Allison. Allison has a crapton of songs (Allison's Starting to Happen, Allison road) anyway.
Posted by: Jodi | April 23, 2010 at 06:49 PM
I love that one. It's about his grandma, though. I just heard it a couple days ago, coincidentally.
If I had a daughter, I'd name her Whoever.
Posted by: crankypants | April 23, 2010 at 06:52 PM
"Alison Road" (to say nothing of "Veronica") is a crappy song, though.
Posted by: hotrod | April 23, 2010 at 06:53 PM
i have a version where Elvis duets with Paul McCartney.
Posted by: Jodi | April 23, 2010 at 06:53 PM
I hesitate to admit this, but I didn't recognize this song title/band until I Googled it just now. Of course, it's never been sung to me. Fantastic song, though.
Posted by: hotrod | April 23, 2010 at 07:03 PM
Which, the post title song?
Posted by: crankypants | April 23, 2010 at 07:05 PM
If I had a daughter, I'd name her Whoever.
Um, yeah... That's a song about writing songs about girls. It's meta, you see.
Posted by: hotrod | April 23, 2010 at 07:05 PM
No, AmyH's song. Weird. I thought I clicked 'reply'
Posted by: hotrod | April 23, 2010 at 07:07 PM
Okay, I'm in. Here's a little EP I threw together in response to your mix:
1.) the Left Banke - Walk Away Renee
2.) Material Issue - Something's Happened to Catherine
3.) the Vaselines - Molly's Lips
4.) Girl Trouble - Neko Loves Rock & Roll
5.) Golden Smog - Jennifer Save Me
6.) Pure Prairie League - Amie
7.) Dan Bern - Estelle
Fun times.
Posted by: M-----l | April 23, 2010 at 07:26 PM
I wanted to put that Golden Smog song on the this mix, but I already had both the Jayhawks and Wilco. So no dice. Glad it found a home on your EP.
Posted by: hotrod | April 23, 2010 at 07:45 PM
Question - The Four Tops did "Walk Away Renee" as well. Who was first?
Posted by: AmyH | April 23, 2010 at 07:53 PM
And that's a question because I really don't know, it's not like I'm quizzing you and I know the answer.
Posted by: AmyH | April 23, 2010 at 07:53 PM
When I worked at Megacorp, one of the IT guys set it up so every time I turned on my computer that song would start up. It was really kind of funny and I kind of miss it.
Posted by: AmyH | April 23, 2010 at 07:55 PM
I can think of worse ways to start the day than with that song. I've always loved it, and the only reason it didn't make my initial cut is because I don't already have it on my iTunes. See also: "Rosanna," Toto; "Roxanne," the Police; "Come On, Eileen," Dexy's Midnight Runners.
Posted by: hotrod | April 23, 2010 at 08:03 PM
The song was written by Michael Brown of the Left Banke around 1966-7. The Four Tops version came out a couple years later.
Speaking of "Amie", my babybook says that was my favorite song when I was three years old.
Posted by: M-----l | April 23, 2010 at 08:36 PM
More ideas for future volumes:
Material Issue - Valerie Loves Me, Little Christine
Hollies - Carrie Anne
Beach Boys - Barbara Ann
Neko Case - Margaret vs. Pauline
Beatles - Michelle
Little Richard - Jenny, Jenny, Jenny
Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue
Ritchie Valens - Oh, Donna
...
Posted by: homebody | April 24, 2010 at 01:29 AM
I realized this morning that my cousin Allison is engaged to a guy named Austin Rhodes. I'm one hundred percent positive she'll be taking his name. Poor girl.
Posted by: hotrod | April 24, 2010 at 05:39 PM
The beauty of "Walk Away Renee" was that the real-life Renee totally blew off the singer-songwriter. He got his revenge by making it sound like he dumped her. Of course, then he had to hear Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops make him sound even wimpier.
One of the biggest "girl's name" songs ever was "Mony, Mony" by Tommy James & the Shondells (and Billy Idol). Tommy James wanted to write a girls name song, but he couldn't think of a suitable name. He happened to see the Mutual of New York building at night, with it's lit-up MONY logo, and the rest is pop song history.
Jeez, I bore myself sometimes.
Posted by: tom | April 28, 2010 at 06:19 PM
She blew him off because she was dating another guy in the band. The Left Banke was doomed from the start.
Posted by: M-----l | April 28, 2010 at 06:27 PM
[this is good] Darling Nikki- Prince/Foo FightersSweet Melissa- The Allman Brothers Band
;)
Posted by: Melissa O | May 05, 2010 at 11:32 AM