Posts from the The Hit List Category

Best Summertime Songs

The summer of 2000 belonged to 'Thong Song' and 'Who Let the Dogs Out.' The dog days of 1997 would have been unrecognizable without 'MMMBop.' But the truly timeless songs of summer are the ones written about the season itself. These all-time summer hits are hotter than black vinyl car seats in Arizona and more fun than running through the sprinkler.

10. 'In the Summertime,' Mungo Jerry

Sun-soaked lyric: "When the weather's fine, you got women, you got women on your mind"

Not a lone bloke named Jerry but a British jug band named after a T.S. Eliot poem. This warm-weather classic is dated by its no-no suggestion of road beers ("Have a drink, have a drive"). But it was also ahead of its time: Check the pre-hip-hop beatboxing.

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Song-Inspired Band Names: Charlotte Sometimes

Charlotte Sometimes
Inspired by the Cure's 'Charlotte Sometimes'

Jessica Charlotte Poland says both she and the Cure took the phrase from a children's novel "about this girl who gets trapped in time and has to be someone else while trying to get back to herself. I'm always struggling with the person I am, the person that I want to be and the way that people perceive me. Charlotte Sometimes gives in to all those personalities."

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Song-Inspired Band Names: Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie
Inspired by the Bonzo Dog Do-Dah Band's 'Death Cab for Cutie'

Quite a pedigree to this odd little phrase: Neil Innes, who co-wrote 'Death Cab for Cutie' with Vivian Stanshall, says he came across it in an old pulp fiction magazine. Written as an Elvis parody, the Bonzo Dog Band song appeared in the Beatles' 'Magical Mystery Tour' film. Thirty years later, Pinwheel guitarist Ben Gibbard borrowed it for his new band's name.

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Song-Inspired Band Names: Deep Purple

Deep Purple
Inspired by Bing Crosby's 'Deep Purple'

Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore just couldn't say no to his grandmother, who, when told that little Ritchie was forming a band with his mates, couldn't stop asking whether they'd be playing her favorite tune. History does not specify whether Granny's beloved version was the one by Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra or by Bing Crosby. Donny and Marie's came later.

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Song-Inspired Band Names: Godsmack

Godsmack
Inspired by Alice in Chains' 'God Smack'

Despite admitting being aware of the song in question, Godsmack insist they're "not some Alice in Chains clone band" and have given two alternate origin myths for the name. Either the band is named after the Almightly smiting singer Sully Erna with a cold sore after he made fun of someone else's blemish, or it stems from the band's favorite retort, "God will smack you for that one."

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Song-Inspired Band Names: Judas Priest

Judas Priest
Inspired by Bob Dylan's 'The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest'

"Originally, yes, we named the band from the Dylan song," Priest bassist Ian Hill admitted. It's safe to assume they wouldn't be the metal gods they are today had they taken the 'Frankie Lee' half of the title instead.

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Song-Inspired Band Names: Ladytron

Ladytron
Inspired by Roxy Music's 'Ladytron'

It was the sound of the song title more than the influence of the band, said Ladytron's Daniel Hunt of using the Roxy Music song as their name. "We met Bryan Ferry, though. He likes us." Ladytron has considered remixing the original Roxy track: "I thought about what I could do with it, but I just haven't got 'round to it. Maybe it'll be crap." We can't wait.

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Song-Inspired Band Names: Pretty Girls Make Graves

Pretty Girls Make Graves
Inspired by the Smiths' 'Pretty Girls Make Graves'

The Seattle art punkers admitted they swiped the name from a track on the Smiths' first album. But Morrissey, Marr & Co. have no grounds on which to lodge any complaints, as they themselves nicked the phrase from Jack Kerouac's novel 'The Dharma Bums.'

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Song-Inspired Band Names: Radiohead

Radiohead
Inspired by Talking Heads' 'Radio Head'

Radiohead originally formed under the name On a Friday, which was the only day they could all practice together. When a critic pointed out that he was bored by their name, they swapped it for the title of the song 'Radio Head' from Talking Heads' 'True Stories' album.

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Song-Inspired Band Names: The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones
Inspired by Muddy Waters' 'Rollin' Stone'

"He stole my music," the blues giant Muddy Waters, who hit big with the song 'Rollin' Stone' in 1948, once said of Mick Jagger, "but he gave me my name." He doesn't mean that literally, as Muddy, born McKinley Morganfield, received his own stage name from his childhood fondnes for playing in mud.

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