There are so many songs with women’s names in the titles. Let’s take a look at which ones from the 1980’s made Mason’s list!
The name doesn’t have to be the only word in the title, or even the only name (yes, we’re looking at you, Mellencamp). Here are Mason’s favorite 15.
13. Who's Holding Donna Now by Debarge
(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
There may have been a Donna that inspired the song, written by Jay Graydon, Randy Goodrum and David Foster.
12. Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners
(Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Kevin Rowland, lead singer of Dexy’s Midnight Runners, sang the song about a girl he knew when they were both kids.
11. Amanda by Boston
(Photo by Mary Schwalm/Getty Images)
Amanda was a name chosen by a brilliant, well educated songwriter Tom Scholz of Boston.
10. Sara by Starship
(Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for IEBA)
Singer Mickey Thomas was lead vocalist at the time for the band, and the song was named for his first wife, Sara.
9. Joanna by Kool and the Gang
(Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images)
The song was originally titled “Dear Mom.” After a few tweeks by Kool & The Gang’s Ronald Bell, they changed the title to “Joanna.”
8. Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes
(Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMHOF)
Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss wrote the song. It was inspired by Bette Davis’ performance in “Now Voyager.” However, though DeShannon recorded it in 1975, it was Kim Carnes who spent 9 weeks in the #1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100.
7. Valerie by Steve Winwood
(Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
Valerie was a real person, Valerie Carter. Jackson Browne sang “That Girl Could Sing”, also about her. She wrote “Cook with Honey”, sung by Judy Collins and co-wrote “Turn It Into Something Good” for Earth, Wind & Fire. Valerie was born in Winter Haven, Florida and sadly passed in St. Petersburg in 2017.
6. Gloria by Laura Branigan
(Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)
Gloria is a fictional character, and the song is a cover. The song has been performed in differnet languages, and each time has a different translation and story.
5. Jack & Diane by John Cougar Mellencamp
(Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)
Diane, and Jack for that matter, are fictional. They were just names that Mellencamp used for the song. The actress who played Diane in the video, Victoria Granucci, was married to Mellencamp from from 1981 until 1989.
4. Rosanna by Toto
(Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for NAMM)
The song got its name from actress Rosanna Arquette, who was dating Toto keyboard player Steve Porcaro. However, the song is not about her. Songwriter David Paich simply used the name, though it was about one of his first loves.
3. Oh Sherry by Steve Perry
(Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for City of Hope)
Steve Perry wrote this song about his real girlfriend, Sherrie Swafford. If you remember the music video, that in fact is the real Sherrie.
2. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Billie Jean was said to have been a stalker of Jackson’s. She claimed one of her twins was Michael’s, according to Songfacts.com.
1. Roxanne by The Police
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
There wasn’t a Roxanne that the song is about, but Sting liked the name because of some famous Roxannes in literature, such as Cyrano de Bergerac’s girlfriend.
