113: I'm Not Expecting to Grow Flowers In the Desert

113. "In a Big Country" by Big Country {#17; 10/83} [iTunes? Yes] {Video: In a Big Country.}

"I've never seen you look like this without a reason."

I remember when this song first came out I was pretty amazed that they were able to make their guitars sound like bagpipes. And yes, I liked the fact that the guitars sounded like bagpipes.

This is, of course, one of the best examples of a group using the name of their band as lyrics in one of their songs. So here, because no one asked for it, here are the Top 10 Uses of a Band Name In Their Own Song:

10. ELO: "Shine a Little Love"--As the song begins to fade, you can hear the band sing its own name.

9. Talk Talk: "Talk Talk"--These songs aren't being listed in order of the best song, just the best use of the band name in the song. (Because "Shine a Little Love" is a much better song than "Talk Talk.")

8. Queen: "Killer Queen"--Might by higher, but I'm not sure if the use of the word "queen" is just a use of the word "queen" or the use of the band name.

7. Who: "Who Are You?"--Same thing I just said about Queen.

6. Bad Company: "Bad Company"--'Til the day I die.

Bad Company, looking like they are living up to their name.

5. They Might Be Giants: "They Might Be Giants"--And what are we gonna do unless they are? (Tabloid footprints in your hair. Tabloid footprints everywhere!)

4. Survivor: "Eye of the Tiger"--No one had heard of Survivor when this song came out. But afterwards, everyone was singing about the "last known survivor."

3. Living In a Box: "Living In a Box"--That's a four word band name, which is much harder to pull off than "Queen" or "Who." Also, the lead singer from Living In a Box was surprisingly handsome. It's too bad it looks like they put all of their apples in the "Living In a Box" box.

Too good looking to be living in a box.

2. Big Country: "In a Big Country"--They were a talented group. It's too bad they didn't have any other big hits. (Although "Fields of Fire" is a pretty darn good song.)

1. Wang Chung: "Everybody Have Fun Tonight"--Sorry, Big Country, but Wang Chung wins here. Any time you can successfully turn the name of your band into a verb, and not just any verb, but a verb with undetermined, vague, and possibly comical and/or sexual meaning, you have won. Congratulations, Wang Chung! Go out and Wang Chung tonight, you deserve it!


[NOTE: This post has been edited to include Survivor in the list at #4. Because I am an idiot.]


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