The greatest songwriters are able to craft timeless pop songs that feature more than just hummable melodies and catchy hooks; they also tell a story. In fact, when done well, these songs create iconic characters that become as enduring as those from popular sitcoms or movies. The following tell the tales of the mostly-fictitious people we’ll never forget, partly because their names are right there in the song title.
10. Cecilia – Simon & Garfunkel, “Cecilia”
Less cryptic than the duo’s “Mrs. Robinson,” this is a pretty straightforward tale of a couple being off-and-on. Think of it as a more exuberant, and less crappy, version of Katy Perry’s “Hot and Cold.” Cecilia starts off as a love interest, then becomes an unrequited ex-lover. Finally, in one of the happiest endings Simon or Garfunkel would ever sing, transforms into a legitimate companion once again.
Although this story seems like a simple one, there is some mystery lurking around the edges. For example, why did Cecilia leave the narrator in the first place? Was he unfaithful? Was she unfaithful? When Paul Simon sings the line “When I come back to bed, someone’s taken my place,” should that be taken literally? Did he catch her in the act of cheating? Or is it merely a metaphorical reference to being replaced as her suitor? And finally, why did they get back together? Did one of them apologize? Did they just kind of trip and fall into each other on the sidewalk, and decide to get back to creating some afternoon delight?
If any character deserves an explanatory sequel, it’s Cecilia.
9. Rosealia – Better Than Ezra, “Rosealia”
In one of the most bluntly honest and accurate depictions of domestic violence ever put into a pop song, “Rosealia” tries to understand a woman who refuses to leave her abusive partner. Why would someone commit to such a destructive relationship? There’s no clear answer to be found (as is true in real life,) but the chorus expertly depicts Rosealia’s strange dedication to her despicable man:
“You say no, no, no, the fighting has left you tired / You say no, no, no but the fighting goes on / Put on your mask, wearing your cape / Put on your mask, my Rosealia”
She doesn’t want this. But she wouldn’t know what to do without it. So, for now, she acts like everything’s okay, though the story behind closed doors is a much sadder one.
8. Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry, “Johnny B. Goode”
It’s no coincidence that one of the first songs to popularize fast-paced, technical guitar playing, was written about a guitar player. Johnny B. Goode is basically a stand-in for Chuck Berry, probably to subvert the idea that Berry was a raving narcissist, though the song was originally conceived as a tribute to his former pianist. In any case, Johnny B. Goode is now synonymous with guitar virtuosos, his name helping launch an entirely new style of rock n’ roll.
He’s appeared as the main character in several other Chuck Berry tunes, developing his life story along the way. “Go Go Go,” which makes more obvious allusions to Berry, sees Johnny becoming a worldwide phenomenon, making all the girls crazy with his “duck walkin'” ways. And in “Bye Bye Johnny” he ditches music for a stab at acting, a move which naturally turns him into an even greater success. Johnny B. Goode is undoubtedly the most Mary Sue character ever sung about, but how can you argue with his greatness?
7. Mr. Jones – Counting Crows, “Mr. Jones”
By writing a heartfelt song about the intersection of dreams, realities, passion, and loneliness, Adam Durwitz created an ode for listeners who were facing crippling timidity, and felt like losers. He told them that he knew what they were feeling. Which is nice, sure. But by having this second guy, Mr. Jones (in reality, his friend Marty Jones), jointly commiserating these feelings, Durwitz is telling people there is probably someone very close to them — like, physically very close in proximity — who also feels those things. So go out, find that person, drink with them at a dive bar, and work on winning over your very own black-haired Flamenco dancer!
Unlike most of the Counting Crows songs that would follow, this actually seems to have a pretty significant silver lining. All thanks to Mr. Jones.
6. Jenny – Tommy Tutone, “Jenny (867-5309)”
She’s the lady who forever made 867-5309 an undesirable phone number. Retrieved from the bathroom wall of a presumably sketchy establishment, that phone number is literally the only piece of information we know about Jenny. Maybe the narrator knows something we don’t; perhaps the scratching in the wall went on to note how much she enjoys French cuisine or that she owns several cats. But if he does, he never reveals any of that information to us. Which makes this the most baffling expression of affection ever.
5. Caroline – Neil Diamond, “Sweet Caroline”
No fictional character has ever been serenaded by so many drunken people inside of a karaoke bar. Ever. There’s nothing unusual about the love story being told here and, in fact, we know very little about Neil’s love interest. She’s sweet, of course, but what makes her so sweet? If you’ve ever stopped to follow what all those drunken people are screeching about, it seems like Caroline might be Neil Diamond’s first real love. Talking about the good times that came from being with his new girl, he sings, “I’ve been inclined to believe they never would.” He didn’t think love could feel so good so good, until Caroline came along and proved him wrong.
Good for you, Caroline. And good for you, Neil, for finding such a special gal.
4. St. Jimmy – Green Day, “St. Jimmy”
In their grandiose rock opera / concept album American Idiot, Green Day tells the story of Jesus of Suburbia, a character created very much in lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong’s own image. This makes him incredibly uninteresting. So, after tolerating several songs about our main character’s agonizing and misunderstood youth, it’s refreshing to move past all that angst with a shot of life from St. Jimmy, a punk rock freedom fighter who’s just as wild and crazy as anyone from the movie Trainspotting.
“The product of war and fear,” the “son of a gun and Edgar Allen Poe,” Jimmy is the embodiment of everything the main character wants to be. This man’s life is no bore; it’s chalk full of anarchy. Outside of his title song — which is more or less a character study delivered in bursts of excited aphorisms — St. Jimmy operates as the main character’s guide to self-destruction. Various songs cast Jimmy as a drug pusher (“Give Me Novocaine”), the personification of his father’s anger issues (“Letterbomb,”) and, perhaps most profoundly, the unencumbered, ultimately suicidal, side of our main character’s own personality (“Homecoming”.) Who exactly St. Jimmy is remains open to interpretation by the end of the album, which helps him live on as a mythical figure.
3. Leroy Brown – Jim Croce, “Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown”
You might know him as a more frightening successor to King Kong. You might know him as the man who puts junkyard dogs in their place. But everyone knows that he’s a bad, bad man. Here’s a guy who walks around with a gun in his pocket, and a razor in his shoe, and still manages to attract all the ladies. Talk about a man’s man.
The biggest lesson Leroy Brown teaches us though, is that no matter how bad you think you are, there’s always someone out there just a little but tougher. What most people tend to forget about Leroy, is that he gets a solid whoopin’ at the end of the song when he tries to hit on a married woman. As it turns out, jealous rage trumps general “badness” every time.
2. Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles, “Eleanor Rigby”
In the entire Beatles catalog, there are more than a dozen characters who’ve received their own odes. None of their stories are as depressing as Eleanor’s. She’s a lonely, presumably older lady, who hangs around wedding ceremonies after everyone has left. She gets dressed up every day, but doesn’t leave her home. She has no children, and no siblings. And when she dies, no one attends her funeral. No one. Not a single person. Is there a more depressing end to someone’s life story? If so, I’m not sure I want to hear it.
1. Bobby McGee – Kris Kristofferson, “Me and Bobby McGee”
Oh Bobby. You probably don’t even know it, but you went ahead and started a cultural revolution. We all know the famous line from the chorus to “Me and Bobby McGee”: “freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose.” But how many of us pay attention to the tragic love story at its center?
Kris and Bobby had a special kind of affection for each other, built on the search for their individual places in life. It just so happened that the two of them were able to do most of their searching together. As Kris tells us, their souls were intertwined as long as they were walking down the same path, but once that fork in the road came and they had to go their separate ways, Kris left a little bit of his soul with Bobby. And Bobby didn’t reciprocate. So poor Kris was left shouting her name into the wind.
Nothin’ left to lose, indeed.
Jacob Trowbridge often writes very snarky things on his blog, Letters to My Coworkers, Whom I Hate.
29 Comments
“A boy named Sue” without a doubt.
Come back suzanne- Bill Wyman
C’mon Eileen – Dexxs Midnight runners.
Sister Christian – Night Ranger
Christine 16 – Kiss
Beth – Kiss
Mr Brownstown – GNR
Mrs Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel
Eloise – Paul Ryan/The Damned
your’e so vain – carly simon
Julia – TMG
Alice – Smokey
Angie – Rolling stones
long tall woman….. – the hollies
annie get your gun – (UK) Squeeze
Daniel – Sir Elton John
Oh Sherrie! 1984 Steve Perry.
Major Tom???
Good idea for a list, but maybe you should have put more restrictions on it to keep the numbers manageable. I’d add “Luka” by Suzanne Vega and “Stormy” by the Association.
I’d also add the Association’s “Along Comes Mary.” She sounds like a heck of a woman.
“Jane” by jefferson starship
“ballad of Jane ” by L.A. Guns
“Jane Says ” by Jane’s Addiction
“Janie’s got a gun” by Aerosmith
You could to a whole album with “Songs about Jane” ohh wait, it’s been done.
“Jane Says” almost made the list, but the story was ultimately too similar to “Rosealia,” which is a personal favorite of mine.
Jimmy Jazz by The Clash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShCSuFSauzU
Billie jean?
That’s a great shout, but she’s just a girl…
Honestly, this is one I really regret not including. How could I have forgotten MJ???
How about “The Girl All The Bad Guys Want”? We all know that girl…we all tried to get that girl…and we all failed. You…raising your hand…about to tell you didn’t fail…you’re lying.
I’ve got one more, “Suzanne” by Leonard Cohen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otJY2HvW3Bw
I think Roxanne by The Police definitely should be on this list !!! I think the same of “Hey Jude” and “Michelle” but it´s true that there´s too many characters in The Beatle’s songs. Other ideas: Lola by the Kinks, Elenore by the Turtles and Ruby by Kaiser Chiefs
how come stacy’s mom isnt here she had it goin on
Where is Pink? I don’t see any of the others on the list with their own movie. Plus pink floyd outsells all the artists on the list except the beatles.
There isnt a song called “pink”. You must have misunderstood the list
Mrs. Robinson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY4QB1bkL3g
1. Who is Julio, what are they doing down by the school yard. What did the Mama saw?
2. Who is Carly singing about in your so vain. We know it is a person and she has revealed it. Warren Beatty has said he thought the song was about him.
3. Rolling Stones Angie.
4. Love Grows where my Rosemary goes and smile a little smile for me Rosemarie.
5. What ever happened to Brandy such a fine girl (looking glass Brandy).
6. In Ode To Billy Joe, what were the singer and Billie Joe throwing off the talahachie bridge (ignore the movie with Robby Benson).
7. Jim Croce also song about Messing around with Jim, which is a nice song with a teachable moment at the end.
8. Jimmy Dean’s Big John was number one on the chart’s for several weeks. He resurrected the character in one of the worst follow up song’s ever.
9. Maggie May Is one of Rod Stewart’s most memorable songs. She appears in at least one other song (Ain’t love a b_ _ _ _.).
10. The small child that is dying in Dishwalla’s Counting Blue Cars has no name but is hauntingly memorable.
11. And a ton of others.
Nice add-ons. I particularly agree with 1 and 9.
This is a very odd and ambiguous list. There are 100’s of characters in popular songs, 1000’s. What makes these ones “Titular” – I would not call most of them iconic.
Cecelia? Really? Not Layla? Not Lady Madonna, Not Jude, not Angie, not Suzy Q, not Litlte Suzy, not Mandy, not Brandy, not Sandy/Mary . . . .
Oh, Suzy Q definitely, I forgot about that, even though I have actually once met Dale Hawkins. What about Peggy Sue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku5UeUT7yIQ and Mary Lou: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMoLGe1-x4c
Some lists are just too big to contain to the top 10. The fun is in trying to do so and then seeing what everyone else adds. I love all the additions. Musical walk down memory lane.
They’re “titular” just because they have their names in the title. That’s what that means.
These are just my personal Top 10, because they’re the names who’ve stuck with me all these years. Lady Madonna never made much of an impression, and Angie and Mandy and Brandy and Sandy are just syllables in the wind to me.
“Leroy” by Jack Scott: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1qLw1s0cPQ
“Long Tall Sally” by Little Richard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxNSvFMkag
“Bony Moronie” by Larry Williams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2RYJxh16Vk
According to American Dad, Eileen is about his wife lol
Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline was written about Caroline Kennedy.
867-5309 is the number of a used car dealership in my town. Always make me chuckle and wonder if Jenny works there.
No “Tommy” by the Who?