30-Day Song Challenge: Day 21

DAY TWENTY-ONE: Song I Like with a Person’s Name in the Title

How can anyone choose one song for this category? I find it nearly impossible. When names are added to titles, somehow it just feels more personal. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll never find my name in a song title unless the artist is a friend. But when you hear names, it’s as though you get a personal peek into the artist’s life with the said person.

Dolly Parton – Jolene

When Dolly Parton sang to Jolene, begging her not to take her man, I could see myself crooning right beside her (Why would you do that Jolene? She’s asking you nicely!). Dolly has a voice that rings out and demands attention, some much so that she gave the name Jolene a new appeal to me.

Elton John – Bennie and the Jets 

I was obsessed with ‘Bennie and the Jets’ from the moment I heard it in its entirety. I loved the stutter of the name Bennie. I loved the added artificial audience noise given to the track for a live feel. And I loved the futuristic woman that Elton John sang about.

Rick James – Mary Jane

I remember ‘Mary Jane’ from my childhood, but it didn’t hold any real significance to me until college… when I realized that I was in love with Mary Jane as well. I mean, he did say that he knew that he wasn’t the only one who loved her. And I loved Mary Jane for the same reasons that James did, making the song so much more relatable.

Prince – Darling Nikki

Darling Nikki was probably the first song that I immediately knew was about sex (and I used to sing along to Ginuwine’s ‘Pony’). It felt sexy, even before I watched Prince perform it in Purple Rain. Nikki seemed to be a bad bitch and I really wanted to be able to command the attention of men like Prince as she did, I think I still do. I use it as my confidence-song; whenever I want to turn my inner sex kitten on, I listen to ‘Darling Nikki.’ And even more interesting, THIS SONG was the reason that record labels had to start using warning labels on albums that contained explicit content.