Who is Johnny?
- Zimmerman
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Who is Johnny?
Whilst listening to the Doves earlier, I heard the mention of "Johnny" in one of their tracks.
Which got me thinking.... as I've heard many songs referring to a Johnny (not the prophylactic kind).
Obviously they're not all referring to the same guy.
But why so often (if indeed it is)?
Is it to do with its rhymability (if thats a word)? Or is it the fact that so many people know a John?
Here's a few that spring to mind;
1969 - New Order
Outsiders - Doves
Johnny Yen - James
Johnny be good - Chuck Berry?
Johnny Was - Bob Marley
Not now John - Floyd
Anyone know any others?
Which got me thinking.... as I've heard many songs referring to a Johnny (not the prophylactic kind).
Obviously they're not all referring to the same guy.
But why so often (if indeed it is)?
Is it to do with its rhymability (if thats a word)? Or is it the fact that so many people know a John?
Here's a few that spring to mind;
1969 - New Order
Outsiders - Doves
Johnny Yen - James
Johnny be good - Chuck Berry?
Johnny Was - Bob Marley
Not now John - Floyd
Anyone know any others?
- Billy Whiz
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Re: Who is Johnny?
Frankie and Johnny
Johnny Reggae
Johnny Reggae
- DrBunker
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Re: Who is Johnny?
Wasn't there a Killers track that talked about Johnny?
- Zimmerman
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Re: Who is Johnny?
Seems there was, Uncle Jonny.
- Knulpuk
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Re: Who is Johnny?
Johnny yen of course 1st surfaced in Iggy Pop's Lust for Life, starting as it does....
Here comes johnny yen again
Here comes johnny yen again
- The Elkmaster
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Re: Who is Johnny?
Be good Johnny - Men at work
Johnny, remember me - can't remember the singer, but it's an old 'un
Johnny, remember me - can't remember the singer, but it's an old 'un
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Re: Who is Johnny?
Johnny come home-fine young cannibals.
- DixieDean
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Re: Who is Johnny?
Fine Young Cannibals - Johnny Come Home
Great song from the 80s...
Great song from the 80s...
- SamD
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John song
UK Top 40 'Johns' from younger days:
Eddie Calvert, John And Julie, 1955
Marty Wilde, Johnny Rocco, 1960
John Leyton, Johnny Remember Me, 1961 *
Pat Boone, Johnny Will, 1961
Patti Lynn, Johnny Angel, 1962
Carol Deene, Johnny Get Angry, 1962
Piglets, Johnny Reggae, 1971
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Johnny B. Goode, 1972
David Bowie, John I'm Only Dancing, 1972
* only No.1 single in this list
Eddie Calvert, John And Julie, 1955
Marty Wilde, Johnny Rocco, 1960
John Leyton, Johnny Remember Me, 1961 *
Pat Boone, Johnny Will, 1961
Patti Lynn, Johnny Angel, 1962
Carol Deene, Johnny Get Angry, 1962
Piglets, Johnny Reggae, 1971
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Johnny B. Goode, 1972
David Bowie, John I'm Only Dancing, 1972
* only No.1 single in this list
- blahblah
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Re: Who is Johnny?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL5L5Y61Jyk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- Zimmerman
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Re: Who is Johnny?
Hearing Spiritualised's "Come Together" this morning reminded me of this thread.
Can also add Patti Smiths "Horses" to the list
Can also add Patti Smiths "Horses" to the list
- murf
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Re: Who is Johnny?
"Hey Johnny, where are you now when I need you?" from one of my favourite Waterboys B-sides.
He also got a mention in "When Will We Be Married".
Or maybe that should be "she" after their early single "A Girl Called Johnny"
Mike Scott was a huge Patti Smith fan so maybe there is a link there....
He also got a mention in "When Will We Be Married".
Or maybe that should be "she" after their early single "A Girl Called Johnny"
Mike Scott was a huge Patti Smith fan so maybe there is a link there....
- bluenosey
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Re: Who is Johnny?
Big John - Big Bad John - some 60s fella, need to Google
The Boy Looked at Johnny - Libertines
and somewhere there's a Razorlight song, can't think of it ?
The Boy Looked at Johnny - Libertines
and somewhere there's a Razorlight song, can't think of it ?
- bluenosey
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Re: John song
Got a feeling the Beeb banned this back in the daySamD wrote:UK Top 40 'Johns' from younger days:
Eddie Calvert, John And Julie, 1955
Marty Wilde, Johnny Rocco, 1960
John Leyton, Johnny Remember Me, 1961 *
Pat Boone, Johnny Will, 1961
Patti Lynn, Johnny Angel, 1962
Carol Deene, Johnny Get Angry, 1962
Piglets, Johnny Reggae, 1971
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Johnny B. Goode, 1972
David Bowie, John I'm Only Dancing, 1972
* only No.1 single in this list
- Spinynorman
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Re: Who is Johnny?
What about Robert Palmers Johnny, in Johnny & Mary?
Johnny's always running around, Trying to find certainty ...
Johnny thinks the world would be right,If it could buy truth from him...
Johnny says he's willing to learn, When he decides he's a fool...
Johnny feels he's wasting his breath, ...
Johnny should have been on Fiso.
Johnny's always running around, Trying to find certainty ...
Johnny thinks the world would be right,If it could buy truth from him...
Johnny says he's willing to learn, When he decides he's a fool...
Johnny feels he's wasting his breath, ...
Johnny should have been on Fiso.
- forestfan
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Re: Who is Johnny?
I guess it's just a very common/generic male name (it seems to have been particularly so in that era - a lot of rock and roll stars were called John(ny) something-or-other as well...) that scans well in songs.
Are there any other names that approach it in terms of musical ubiquity?
Are there any other names that approach it in terms of musical ubiquity?
- Spinynorman
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- morganb
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Re: Who is Johnny?
Who would be the lyrical female equivalent of Johnny, if one even exists?
- Spinynorman
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Re: Who is Johnny?
Apparently it's Mary.morganb wrote:Who would be the lyrical female equivalent of Johnny, if one even exists?
- murf
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Re: RE: Re: Who is Johnny?
Evangelinemorganb wrote:Who would be the lyrical female equivalent of Johnny, if one even exists?
- eastcentral1
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Re: Who is Johnny?
Johnny Too Bad - The Slickers. One of my all time favourites.
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