Name songs. They are countless, and their quality is variable. From the heartbreaking beauty of Lennon’s “Julia” to the mind-numbing crassness of… well, there are too many bad’uns to choose from.
It struck me recently that Candy, a name which doesn’t crop up much on your average school or office register, appears to have produced a disproportionately high number of great songs. I offer “Candy Says” [Velvet Underground], “Candy” [Iggy Pop], “So Like Candy” [Elvis Costello] and “Candy” [Paolo Nutini] as evidence.
Is there any other name to rival it in songwriting history?
Just put Candy into my i-tunes search and there seem to be quite a few, albeit many relating to sweets and the men that sell them. Here’s one I hadn’t heard in a while. (Another by the Pretty Things featuring Matthew Fisher wasn’t on youtube)
From and for the film Candy, makes a nice play on words, “can you give your love away like Candy”. Neat.
Well, I know a Candy.
Pop-culture theory alert: the popularity of Candy songs could have something to do with the legendary dirty book Candy, by Terry Southern and Mason Hoffenberg, published in 1958. It was one of those Olympia Press books you had to smuggle back from Paris, along with Lolita and The Naked Lunch. (Southern also co-wrote Dr Strangelove.) The 1968 movie was a kind of psychedelic Carry On film featuring a lot of heavyweights who should have known better, including James Coburn, Richard Burton, Marlon Brandon and John Huston.
But nobody who readthe book could fail to attach a little erotic charge to the name Candy – including quite a few songwriters, I would guess.
Not to mention Some Candy Talking (jamc) and I want Candy by The Strangeloves …. that’s early / mid 60s so possibly the source of the Candy canon?
Candy came from Miami FLA, hitchhiked her way across the USA
It was this same Candy who was the inspiration for Lola
Jesus and Mary Chain
PychoCandy and Some Candy Talking
Although those might refer to a different “Candy”
I’m certain the most common will be a female name. If you include variations, such as Maria, I’m betting Mary is right up there. Do you accept Angel as being an abbreviation of Angela?
Still, I’m going to suggest Alice, featured in song titles by Tom Waits, Aril Lavigne, Ben Folds Five, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Charlie Parker, Elton John, Jesus and The Mary Chain, Arlo Guthrie and The Grateful Dead, that I can think of.
And Afterword favourites Smokie.
Plus Sleeper (“Alice in Vain”) and the Sisters Of Mercy.
Could Alice be considered as a diminutive form?
If yes, we could add Elvis Costello’s Alison
To be honest, Tiggs, I was looking for the number of HIGH-QUALITY songs involving a certain name, rather than simple frequency.
I’d say those artists I listed are ‘quality’ singing ‘quality’ songs. Except for The Grateful Dead, of course. 😉
Alice Cooper’s Hard Hearted Alice
I remember a Cameo song called Candy. Featuring the memorable line “you’re giving me a heart attack – but it’s the kind I like”
Sally
She’s got a Mustang, has been asked to lay down, and waited whilst standing next to a fireplace.
Probably done quite a bit more too.
I caught her sneaking’ through the alley last night.
Julia was acting a bit peculiar shortly beforehand..
A cracking song about an Irene from Courtney Marie Andrews.
I don’t think there are many songs about Jolenes.
Ray La Montagne’s mournful.
And of course you can sing Dolly’s classic in different ways.
and another Irene
The Photos
And while the name is not in the title, Dr. Feelgood’s Paradise namechecks Irene (Wilko’s wife).
“Well everybody know I love ice cream
I’m wild about cookies too
I’m crazy about Candy and I’m coo coo over you”
Springsteen has 47 songs with Mary (or Maria in them) …. possibly.
…and one about Candy’s Room.
Good point.
Ash – Candy
Not forgetting Candy O by the cars. I really wish I could post a picture of Candy O on the album cover so we can all admire it’s artistic merit.
And of course Bow Wow Wow and their request…..
Caroline has inspired some very fine songs
Neil Diamond – sweet
Status Quo – boogietastic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZHH7gsKbE0
Beach Boys . melancholic
Matching Mole regretful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXXFp-9zsCQ
Kaiser Chiefs – offering the affirmative to the Beach Boys negative
(say what you like, I still think their debut album is fine disc of shiny metal)
Annie.
.
Annie? Well we’ve got to have Ronnie Lane, then…
Back in the day when I was a grim faced blues rock dullard I had a great love of The Manhattan Transfer, oddly enough. This is a great number! In fact I like everything they did, and two albums were produced by Jay “guitar solo on Peg” Graydon and feature equally staggering playing.
As a competitor to Candy there are a lot of Louise songs (with sub variants, Louie etc). Here’s some jangle tastic pop from Ian Gomm, all of whom’s solo albums are quite superb.
Emily
Pink Floyd – See Emily Play
.
Simon & Garfunkel – For Emily (Wherever I May Find Here)
Add in the Zombies and I think Emily is the winner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF55LNrHBSw
XTC’s Omnibus – still my favourite track of theirs (at least this week) – is apparently inspired by a few notes in ver Floyd’s tune.
Heard See Emily Play live last Monday, bizarrely it was sung by Gary Kemp (Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets)
The great Art Brut – Emily Kane
It’s 6:00am so I’m not about to start listing any examples, but I’d suggest any variation of Sue/Susie/Susan/Suzanne/Susannah might count as a nomination.
Is everyone too cool to mention Robbie Williams? I’m not!
Talk Talk had form.
Candy and Does Caroline know.
I hope she doesn’t, she’s my wife.
Valerie and Virginia have a fair few song instances between them, but like Candy, confusion or allusion to something other than a lady is going to crop up with the US state. Or tobacco possibly.
Valerie?
From wikipedia…
Valerie (Steve Winwood song), 1982
Valerie (The Zutons song), covered by Glee Cast, One Direction, Panic! at the Disco, Bruno Mars, and, most famously, Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
Valerie, a song by the Austrian band Joy
La Valérie , a song by Malajube
Valerie, a song by Bad Company from the album Fame and Fortune
Valerie, a song by Richard Thompson
Valerie, a song by The Weeknd
Valleri, a song written by Boyce and Hart for The Monkees
Valerie, a song by Patti Scialfa from the album Rumble Doll
Valerie, a song by Quarterflash
I was astonished by just how many varieties of ‘Valeries’ there are in popular song.
Several years ago I agreed to dep for guitarist in a band. At the end of a rushed but successful rehearsal we agreed we’d throw in a cover of ‘Valerie’, impromptu on the night. I was delighted – I’ve always loved Stevie’s Valerie.
On the night, after a count of four, I launched into Steve Winwood’s song whilst the others started playing something by Amy Winehouse.
No, no, I mean’t what is the “other” Valerie (other than the name)?
I was referring to Virginia the state, name and source of tobacco. Poorly argued and stated, but par for the course.
Lorraine has had a few outings – most famously with Bad Manners
Slightly more obscurely there was a song to her from Explainer
My favourite to her is Linton Kwesi Johnson’s
Alessi got a bit familiar, just calling her Lori
Getting a bit more esoteric there is US singer songwriter Peter Bradly Adams
So there’s a lot of love for Lorraine. Maybe more than I know of.
Country Joe too! “Not so sweet Marta Lorraine”.
“Sweet Lorraine” is one of my all-time favourite songs, and one I sing when I’m happy. This is the version I enjoy the most, by Frank Sinatra:
Joyce may not be a particularly popular name, but there is this one
Half Man Half Biscuit – Ode To Joyce
Even Morag has a song.
And Agnes.
So the original question asked for the most popular names in song, and we end up go for the more obscure little used names
Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
Love that song.
Split Enz were quite enamoured with Iris as well…
I was about to post Donna as a one-fer with 10CC, but according to this there is a veritable shed load… https://m.ranker.com/list/the-best-songs-about-donnas/reference
And another one… Maureen has a boat load. I was thinking of Nick Lowe and maybe Ringo, but seems like there’s a ton more.. https://www.lyrics.com/lyrics/maureen