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AS STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL, A MUSICAL HISTORY LESSON

Hi Gary,

With the ascension of "Moves Like Jagger," by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera, to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, Mick Jagger becomes, by my count, the 18th real-life historical figure whose name is included in the title of a Hot 100 No. 1.

The honorees are:

"Tom Dooley," the Kingston Trio (1958) (Tom Dula, Confederate War soldier who was convicted and hanged for the murder of his fiancée)

"Stagger Lee," Lloyd Price (1959) (Stagger Lee Shelton, cab driver and pimp convicted of murder)

"Mr. Custer," Larry Verne (1960) (General George Armstrong Custer, Indian War general killed at the Battle of Little Big Horn)

"Dominique," the Singing Nun (1963) (Saint Dominic, Spanish priest and founder of the Dominican Order)

"Ringo," Lorne Greene (1964) (Johnny Ringo, Old West gunfighter)

"I'm Henry VIII, I Am," Herman's Hermits (1965) (King Henry VIII, British monarch)

"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey," Paul and Linda McCartney (1971) (WWII American Fleet Admiral William Halsey, Jr.)

"A Fifth of Beethoven," Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band (1976) (Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer)

"Sir Duke," Stevie Wonder (1977) (Duke Ellington, American jazz musician)

"MacArthur Park," Donna Summer (1978) (General Douglas MacArthur, American general and field marshall of the Philippine Army)

"Bette Davis Eyes," Kim Carnes (1981) (Bette Davis, two-time Oscar-winning film actress)

"St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)," John Parr (1985) (Saint Erasmus of Formiae, aka St. Elmo, Christian saint and martyr; patron saint of sailors)

"Rock Me Amadeus," Falco (1986) (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer)

"Jacob's Ladder," Huey Lewis and the News (1987) (Jacob, Biblical patriarch; third patriarch of the Hebrew people with whom God made a covenant)

"Ice, Ice Baby," Vanilla Ice (1990) (Vanilla Ice, American rapper)

"Hey There Delilah," Plain White T's (2007) (Delilah DiCrescenzo, American distance runner)

"Crank That (Soulja Boy)," Soulja Boy Tell 'Em (2007) (Soulja Boy, American rapper and record producer)

"Moves Like Jagger," Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera (2011) (Mick Jagger, British singer-songwriter; lead vocalist of iconic rock band the Rolling Stones)


Despite popular belief, "Angie", by the Rolling Stones, is not about David Bowie's ex-wife, model and cover girl Angela Bowie; Michael Jackson's "Dirty Diana" is not about Diana Ross or Princess Diana; and OutKast's "Ms. Jackson" was not written about Janet Jackson.

Here's wishing you, and everyone reading, a great Labour Day weekend!

Blair Buchta
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada