Whenever I write these lists, I end up talking a lot about lyrics. I've always been a lyrics man, ever since I was a lonely teenager sat with his headphones on studying the Steinbeckian stories of Bruce Springsteen or trying to puzzle out the puns of vintage Elvis Costello or wondering (in my 20s, sadly, as I came to him late) how Morrissey could write so incisively about my life when he'd never even met me.
But... there is an alternative. Those jubilant singalongs where the lyrics don't matter - all you need is a good nananana! I was reminded of this recently when I saw the video to the new My Chemical Romance single (guest starring comics writer Grant Morrison - see the link below). But... could I really come up with a Top Ten?
Lemon squeezy. Turns out I can do 20, with loads to spare. And these are just the nananas - don't even start me on the sha-la-las, lalalas, shooby doos or woo-hoos...
20. The Beatles - Hey Jude
Na. Na. Na. Nana na naaaa. Nana na naaaa. Na naaaa.
Would be higher but it's by the Beatleys and more ubiquitous than fresh air.
19. KC & The Sunshine Band - Give It Up
Nana nana nana nana na na naaa.
Lead singer Harry Wayne Casey (you see what they did there?) was from Florida, the Sunshine State.
18. Sheryl Crow - The Na Na Song
Na-na, na-na na-na, na-na na-na na-na.
The chorus makes more sense than the verses.
17. Bon Jovi - Born To Be My Baby
Nana nanaa nana na nana na na.
We need more Bob Jobi in these lists. That'll make my cool undeniable.
If you've recently lost a poodle, can I suggest you check the top of BJB's head in this video. I understand it answers to Rex.
16. Madder Lake - 12 Pound Toothbrush
Specially for my Australian reader. If Jon BJ doesn't win our Best Haircuts In Rock award, surely these guys must walk it.
This song begins with 54 consecutive na's. I didn't count them myself, but someone on the internet did.
15. Jermaine Stewart - We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off
Nana nanaa nanana na naa.
Sad to hear that Jermaine Stewart left us back in 1997, aged only 39. Those nonstop 80s reunion shows will miss him.
14. Superchick - Na Na
I swear to god I didn't know these were Christian rockers when I chose this song. Nothing against religion, but it never mixes well with beat music. Unless we're talking Satanism.
Still, this is pleasant enough in an Avril-Lavigne-lite-how-the-hell-did-this-end-up-in-my-music-player? kind of way.
13. The Stylistics - Na Na Is The Saddest Word
I dunno. If you ask me, 'hopeless' is sadder.
12. Blur - Charmless Man
Nana nana naa na-naa-aa...
See also my token Morrissey reference for this list, This Charming Man, which is as close as the Smiths ever got to a na na song. (Unless your memory is better than mine.)
11. Cozy Powell - Na Na Na
Ah, singing drummers. You've got to love 'em. Except Phil Collins, of course.
Cozy Powell was the drummer with Rainbow. Also Whitesnake. Occasionally Black Sabbath. And some other bands you're probably not that bothered about.
And if you're thinking Cozy isn't a very rock 'n' roll name... his real name was Colin Flooks.
10. Bananarama - Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye
Originally by Steam, who had an unfortunate habit of being photographed like this...
...hence why I went with the Bananarama version. Well, that and they have nana in their name.
(I think I see Steve in that picture.)
9. Opus - Live Is Life
Na-na na na-na.
Could this be the unhippest list I've ever compiled?
Fucking Opus, man? Are you for real?
8. Kaiser Chiefs - Na Na Na Na Naa
See also Everyday I Love You Less & Less... and just about everything else the Kaiser Chiefs ever recorded. Still, they're from Leeds so I'll always have a soft spot for them.
7. Blink 182 - All The Small Things
Nana nana nana na nana naa. Nana nana nana na nana naa.
Skate-cred restored. Pff!
6. Wilson Pickett - Land Of 1000 Dances
Na. Nana na naa. Nana na naa nana na nana na. Nana na naaa.
You know, the one that also gave us Here Comes The Hot Stepper by Ini Kamoze.
5. The Hidden Cameras - In The Na
Definitely the weirdest thing on this list. (Even weirder than that Steam photo.) If you only quick one link, can I recommend this? And give it time to get going.
4. King - Alone Without You
Na-na. Na n-na. Nana na na na n-na.
Surely you must be paulking?
3. My Chemical Romance - Na Na Na
Apparently, all the emo kids are up in arms because MCR have sold out and gone pop. I like Gerard Way more every day.
2. J Geils Band - Centrefold
Na na nana na na. Na na na nana na na na.
Their harmonica player was called Magic Dick. That's all you need to know.
1. Pink - So What
Nana nana na na naa, nana nana na na.
I love Pink. And I don't care who knows it.
She does scare the bejeebus out of me though.
So... which nana did I na na naa?
