BitchTapes: Love Songs for Furry Friends
Not only is today Valentine's Day, it's also the final day of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show! Celebrate either (or both) holidays with a mix of love songs for the pets in your life.
1. Norma Tanega - Walkin' My Cat Named Dog
This single made its way to #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. Rightly so, as it's super catchy and charming. Fun Fact: While she didn't reach the top of the chart again, Tanega was romantically involved with Dusty Springfield and she helped to write some of Springfield's songs.
2. Jonathan Richman - Our Dog is Getting Older Now
A bittersweet ode to an aging pet. It's hard not to love Jonathan Richman, especially when he's sticking up for the pit bulls.
3. Joanna Newsom - Sadie
When asked about the story behind this song, Newsom said, "In this particular song, the most straightforward subject is my then-dog, Sadie, who passed on recently. She was a lovely white Labrador who liked nothing more in the whole world than to play fetch. And I've always been impatient about that; I'd look at the soggy pinecone dropped at my feet while I was trying to get into my car, and I'd say, 'I'll play with you later'...It's about all sorts of things, but I guess the main story is about death, love, putting things off." I think what she's trying to say is to get off the Internet and go play fetch with your dog.
4. Belle and Sebastian - I Love My Car
"I love my dog/I love my pussy cat, I love the rat/That lives under the floor and makes his bed from novelettes," sing chamber pop superstars Belle and Sebastian.
5. The Shaggs - My Pal Foot Foot
'60s sister band The Shaggs sing about a cat gone missing.
6. Michael Jackson - Ben
MJ's song about a pet rat.
7. Nellie McKay - The Dog Song
Nellie McKay (pictured with the dogs above) sings this snappy, jazzy song about walking her dog. (Also, If you've yet to hear "Mother of Pearl", McKay's tongue-in-cheek ditty that critiques feminist stereotypes, I suggest you listen to it now.)
8. Cat Stevens - I Love My Dog
In the first single ever released by Cat Stevens, he sang a sweet song about his dog.
Which pet songs would you add to this mix?
This mix originally appeared on the Bitch blogs on February 11, 2011, but it's time to sing to your dog/cat/rat again!
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McCartney's 'Martha'! (White
McCartney's 'Martha'! (White Album)
Martha my dear though I spend my days in conversation
Please
Remember me Martha my love
Don't forget me Martha my dear
Hold your head up you silly girl look what you've done
When you find yourself in the thick of it
Help yourself to a bit of what is all around you
Silly Girl.
Take a good look around you
Take a good look you're bound to see
That you and me were meant to be for each other
Silly girl.
Hold your hand out you silly girl see what you've done
When you find yourself in the thick of it
Help yourself to a bit of what is all around you
Silly girl.
Martha my dear you have always been my inspiration
Please
Be good to me Martha my love
Don't forget me Martha my dear.
The Suicide Machines-
The Suicide Machines- Sometimes I Don't Mind
Song's inspired by pets
Jane Siberry, Everything Reminds Me of My Dog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1hjM-VknFc
"Little Friends" by The
"Little Friends" by The Ponys.
He's a Good Dog by Fred
He's a Good Dog by Fred Eaglesmith
Old King!
Old King by Neil Young! I can't believe I didn't think of this one when we were talking about pet songs in the office yesterday. Another great song about missing your dearly departed dog.
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Kelsey Wallace, contributor and social media strategist
Ask me about our Comments Policy!
Hayden sings an awesome song
Hayden sings an awesome song about his cat
"My Cat" by Jack Off Jill.
"My Cat" by Jack Off Jill.
Indigo Girls' Secure
Indigo Girls' Secure Yourself. It's about Amy Ray's cat. Yes, I'm gay.
...and you're Awesome
Plus, she wrote Ozilline about mourning/celebrating her grandmother and her dog...LOVE AMY. But I actually didn't know Secure Yourself was about her cat. Thanks! :)
I'm not GLBTQ and I'm a longtime Indigo Girls fan
You're "Yes, I'm gay" remark made your comment sound like one has to be GLBTQ to be an Indigo Girls fan. I've been a fan for well over 20 years and I did not get into their ever-awesome music because of sexual preference. Put simply, I fell in love with it it as it was moving my heart and soul when the misogynist "hair metal" could not. I did not get into feminism, either, because I'm a "bra-burning, lesbian man-hating baby-killer." I get into things because they move my heart and soul into influencing making positive changes in our "sick, sad" society. That's what matters to me.
"Feed Jake" : don't rule it
"Feed Jake" : don't rule it out because it's country!
"Molly", by Thingy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc_OE6Ppn-A
molly molly molly molly molly molly molly molly
she gonna lie down
she gonna spread out
she's one of the few things
that makes me happy
molly molly molly molly molly molly molly molly
she gonna lie down
she gonna spread out
she's one of the few things
that makes me happy
with her yellow-red eyes
that stare stare right at me
with her yellow-red eyes
that stare stare right at me
molly molly molly molly molly molly molly molly
she gonna lie down
she gonna spread out
she's one of the few things
that makes me happy
The Weakerthans
I love love love The Weakerthans' "Plea from a Cat Named Virtute", a wonderful song from a cat to its owner. There's also the heartbreaking "Virtute The Cat Explains Her Departure" about that same cat, lost and missing home.
Love songs to animals
Neil Young, Old King from Harvest Moon
Man of the Hour by Norah Jones
You never lie and you don't cheat.
And you don't have any baggage tied to your four feet.
"Pitbull Blues" - John Shipe !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtGT2apOlKw&feature=player_embedded
Pit Bull Blues (by John Shipe)
People see me walking down the street, they all run and hide.
I used to take it personally, now I take it in stride.
I got nothing against no one, I wouldn’t hurt a fly.
But people seem to think I’m mean, and here’s why:
Chorus
I’m a Pit Bull
A big brown, red-nosed pit bull.
A tooth-bearing, muscle-bound Pit Bull.
I look like I could tear the steel off a locomotive freight train.
People park three spaces when I’m waitin’ in the car.
All the kids in the neighborhood, they never walk through my yard.
There’s a rumor floating ‘round the county that I ate three cats.
But I swear from the bottom of my canine heart that I didn’t do that, no I didn’t do that.
But I’m a Pit Bull,
A tooth-bearing, muscle-bound Pit Bull.
A big brown red-nosed Pit Bull.
I looks like I could dig a hole through a concrete wall.
Bridge
I got these Pit Bull Blues,
All I wanna do is sniff your shoes,
I ain’t no killer hound.
No, I’m the friendliest dog in town.
The sheer sound of my barking could break through arctic ice.
But deep down, I’m a pussy cat; I’m just trying to be nice.
In case you didn’t notice, I’m wagging my tail at the speed of light.
But no matter what I do, I’m accused of looking for a fight.
‘Cause I’m a Pit Bull,
A tooth-bearing, muscle-bound Pit Bull.
A big brown red-nosed Pit Bull.
I look like I could crush a cannonball in my jaws.
But I couldn’t do any of those things.
lyrics from: http://www.johnshipe.com/2010/01/15/pit-bull-blues-chords-lyrics/
add this to da list!
You can't forget Harry Nilsson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBbT40H74sc