Thursday, April 19, 2007

Top 10 Songs About States

Must have state name in the title. Overrepresentation of the South and West probably not very surprising... and this doesn't even include "Mississippi Queen," "Tennessee," or "Mary Queen of Arkansas."

10. Hotel Arizona, Wilco.

9. Massachusetts, The Bee Gees. A little syrupy, but it's got a hook. Supposedly a response to the hippie westward movement of the late '60.

8. Montana, Frank Zappa. Do you think Frank Zappa ever really spent time in Montana?

7. Georgia On My Mind, Ray Charles.

6. Alabama, Neil Young. I actually like the Leonard Skinner tune, but this is Neil we're talking about. Even though I know he didn't spend much time in Alabama.

5. My Idaho Home, Ronee Blakely (off the Nashville soundtrack).

4. Oklahoma, U.S.A., The Kinks.

3. The Only Living Boy In New York, Simon & Garfunkel. Sinatra was the obvious choice here, but in fact it came down to this one against Sting's transcendent masterpiece, "Englishman In New York." He's an alien! A legal alien!

2. California, Joni Mitchell.

1. Nebraska, Bruce Springsteen. Wins although most of the action takes place in Wyoming. "Well sir I guess there's just a meanness in this world..."

8 comments:

John said...

Leonard Skinner?

Matt K said...

ya know, the Jacksonville gym teacher with the band named after him. you must have heard of them...

Jeffrey said...

"My Old Kentucky Home" - Randy Newman

K. said...

"Louisiana" and "Maine" (among others) by John Linnell. From his album "State Songs" vol 1. "Maine" in particular is awesome.

John said...

What about the original "Old Kentucky Home" by Steven Foster? That one fucking rocks.

Michael said...

Ten more:
"By the Time I Get to Arizona" - Public Enemy
"Arkansas Revisted" - The Brian Jonestown Massacre
"California" - Wax
"California Love" - Tupac Shakur
"Maryland, My Maryland" - James Ryder Randall
"Nebraska" - Bruce Springsteen
"Ohio" - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
"Tennessee" - Manic Street Preachers
"Sweet Virginia" - Rolling Stones
And last but not least, "Washington, D.C." - The Magnetic Fields

Joe said...

"Midnight Train to Georgia" -Gladys Knight and the Pips

Unknown said...

"Rhode Island is Famous for You" --Blossom Dearie (later Erin McKeown)