
We've already looked at the biggest boozers in music, but what about the songs the demon drink has inspired? Here are ten to whet your whistle...
Semisonic - Closing Time

Listed as one of Rolling Stone Magazine's Most Annoying songs, this homage to moment the bright lights coming on and you slug that final unneeded mouthful of grog is actually about the birth of singer Dan Wilson’s child, apparently. That's either one hell of a metaphor or poor old Mrs Wilson had quite a labour...
John Lee Hooker - One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

Although he didn't write it himself, the delta blues legend made this song famous in 1966, before George Thorogood took it to a new generation 11 years later. The lyrics of this bar order set to music clearly indicate that this is not a nice, civilised round for three people, but rather one very thirsty man's choice of tipple - or tipples. Did nobody warn him about mixing? He'll have such a headache in the morning and there'll be no sympathy...
AC/DC - Have a Drink on Me

The alcohol-induced death of singer Bon Scott in 1980 led to the release of Back in Black, the first album featuring replacement, Brian Johnson. Although AC/DC denied it, word on the street is that this song was dedicated to Bon's hard-drinking, hard-living ways.”Whisky gin and brandy/With a glass I'm pretty handy,” sings Johnson in the opening line. Kinda sets the tone really...
Oasis - Cigarettes & Alcohol

Fourth single from the Manchester rock'n'rollers, all about life on the dole and the different pursuits one can follow to occupy all that free time. A spot of gardening perhaps? Maybe some shopping for the old lady down the road? Or what about a load of beer and fags? Oasis also sang Champagne Supernova but Noel Gallagher once admitted that those two words just sounded good together and meant nothing whatsoever, which is very profound...
The Pogues - Streams of Whiskey

If ever there was a man who had a right to sing about boozing it's Shane McGowan. It's fair to say the Pogues singer has done more than his fair share of research into the subject. “I was actually four when I started drinking,” he said in an interview. “I just remember that Ribena turned into stout and I developed an immediate love for it.” That must have been some special magic carton of Ribena then...
Kris Kristofferson - Sunday Morning Coming Down

“Well I woke up Sunday morning, With no way to hold my head that didn't hurt. And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad, So I had one more for dessert. Then I fumbled through my closet for my clothes, And found my cleanest dirty shirt. An' I shaved my face and combed my hair, An' stumbled down the stairs to meet the day.” Need we say anymore?
Dr Feelgood - Milk & Alcohol

This 1979 hit from the band who took their name from a slang term for heroine is apparently about a heavy night on the Kahlua, a bottle of which is used for the main image on the single's sleeve. The Mexican coffee-liqueur tends to go quite nicely with cream, hence the legendary White Russian cocktail. If you've never had one, go and watch The Big Lebowski NOW!!
Kanye West - Drunk & Hot Girls

Having had his say about Gold Diggers, Kanye lets rip about the minefield that is a club full of hot laydeez who are, you guessed it, a bit on the tipsy side. They keep tapping him up for more drinks, they want to dance with their mates, and then when he finally gets one in his car she falls asleep on him. We've all been there son...at least she didn't puke on you.
Snoop Dogg – Gin & Juice

Second single from the Dogg father, in which he let the world know his choice of tipple. So if you bump into him down the Naggs Head you know what to buy him, right? According to the song he also likes hoes quite a lot, too, but they don't usually serve them in you're average pub so you might have to settle for some Twiglets instead.
Beck – Beercan

Taken from his debut album, Mellow Gold which came out in 1994. It's about going to a party and not really feeling part of it. But let's face it, we're talking about a Scientologist ex-leaf blower who believes there is a “spiritual brotherhood” amongst the leaf-blowing fraternity of this world. Would you want get stuck with him at a knees-up??



















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