Red and Blue Songs
I enjoyed the article in yesterday’s Press-Register from Sebastian Kitchen about the “group of lawmakers singing and playing country, rock and bluegrass music at the Goat Hill Tavern” on Wednesday nights.
Being that it is a bi-partisan group, I wondered what blue or red songs they might include in their playlist.
So here you go…
Top Ten Red and Blue Songs
10. “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” - Back when pop radio played country songs, this Crystal Gayle song went to #1 on the country chart and #2 on the pop chart.
9. “Little Red Corvette” - This song was a first introduction to Prince for many.
8. “Red Headed Stranger” - Title track of Willie Nelson’s multi-platinum blockbuster album which also has the list-appropriate “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.”
7. “Blue Moon” - The Rodgers and Hart ballad is probably known more widely as a doo-wop ballad by the Marcels.
6. “Blue Bayou” - The Roy Orbison original and the Linda Ronstadt cover are both terrific.
5. “99 Red Balloons” - No doubt the catchiest song ever written about the Cold War. The song was a hit for Nena in its original German and later in English.
4. “Blue Suede Shoes” - Sun Records’ 1st million-seller was a chart-topper for Carl Perkins. Many remember it for Elvis Presley’s later version.
3. “Red Red Wine” - Neil Diamond’s song is probably remembered more for the reggae version recorded by UB40. The B-side of Diamond’s original was a cover of the list-appropriate “Red Rubber Ball,” a personal favorite co-written by Paul Simon for The Cyrkle.
2. “Lil’ Red Riding Hood” - The follow-up to “Wooly Bully” for Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
1. “Devil with the Blue Dress On” - The most famous version is the medley with “Good Golly Miss Molly” recorded by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels.
Honorable Mention by Category:
Wardrobe - “Lady in Red” and “(She Wore) Blue Velvet”
Christmas - “Blue Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
Neil Diamond (again) - “Song Sung Blue” and “Forever in Blue Jeans”
Miscellaneous - “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron” (a personal favorite), “Mr. Blue Sky,” “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion” and “Bluer than Blue.”
(R) Jeff Sessions (1-19)
(D) Vivian Figures (33-1)
(D) Artur Davis (1-49)
(R) Mike Hubbard (13-1)
(?) David Bronner (OFF)
Nice work Danny. I think maybe these guys could also play some campaign songs appropriate for candidates. They could take David Frizzell’s country classic “I’m Gonna Hire a Wino (To Decorate Our Home)” and adapt it for 2nd congressional district candidate Jay Love as “I’m Gonna Send a RINO (To Represent Our Home).”
Comment by Anonymous — April 1, 2008 @ 11:46 am
Could have gotten both colors with “Rednecks, White Socks, and Blue Ribbon Beer.”
Comment by Music Fan — April 1, 2008 @ 8:07 pm
If they Dems and Repubs sing together, they could do “Purple Rain” by Prince.
Comment by Margaret — April 1, 2008 @ 8:27 pm