Friday on My Mind: Mamas!

It’s time again for Friday on My Mind. Our weekly blog post where we look at videos centered around one common theme. This is a collaborative effort between KEXP and King 5 News.

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. Don’t forget to give lots of love to all of your moms. Here are a few mama songs for the occasion...

Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings - Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys

“Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” was originally written and recorded in 1976 by Ed Bruce. Bruce wrote the song along with Patsy Bruce who was his wife at the time. They divorced in the late 80’s after 22 years of marriage due to what Ed Bruce claimed was "cruel and inhuman treatment" by Patsy. Yikes! And while the union and song didn’t prove so successful for Ed and Patty, the dreamy pair made up of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson had better luck. Their version of the song went to the top of the country charts and even won a Grammy. Here they are performing the song during Farm Aid in 1986:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIan1LDa3hUThree Dog Night - Mama Told Me (Not to Come)

Some of you may or may not know that Three Dog Night in fact did not write “Mama Told Me (Not To Come)”, which was one of the biggest hits and a tune that a lot of people associate with the band. The songwriting credits in fact go to Randy Newman of “Short People” and Toy Story fame. The song was first recorded by and actually written for Eric Burdon. Three Dog Night released their version of “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” in 1970. featuring it on their full length, It Ain’t Easy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKaQzQAlNn4

Scissor Sisters - Take Your Mama

After catching the attention of Polydor with their dramatic and electro-ed out cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb”, NYC’s Scissor Sisters released their self titled debut in 2004. One of the more popular songs on the album is “Take Your Mama”, which was inspired by lead singer Jake Shears experience coming out to his Mom. Check out the tripped out and colorful official video in all of it’s bell bottomed glory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od7-fyGa9DQ

Honorable Mentions:

The Dead Weather - Treat Me Like Your Mother

Off of the debut album Horehound from the super dee duper group, The Dead Weather. The video is pretty simple. Jack White and Alison Mossheart face off in a head on battle of bullets. Nothing says Happy Mother’s Day more than a semi-automatic weapon shootout.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7QSkI6My1g

The Shirelles - Mama Said

Many consider The Shirelles as the very first "girl group" that inspired many more to come throughout the 1960's. They formed while still in High School, truly making them a "girl" band. Various incarnations of the group continue on even until this day, but the original lineup formed back in 1957. "Mama Said" was a hit for them in 1961:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xue4xieJWZ0