We wanted to follow up our Top Ten List of Jewelry in the Movies, with a list of Top Ten Jewelry in Music. So, without further ado, here is our list of great songs about beads, beading and everything jewelry. Let us know what your favorite jewelry-related song is!
10. John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey, Red Wooden Beads
Mary Ramsey and John Lombardo, of 10,000 Maniacs fame, did some great duos together for about 6 years. This catchy tune is about an immigrant named Marika. She finds the key to her “brand new life” when she finds some red wood beads to wear.
9. Hamilton, Joe, Frank, and Reynolds, Don’t Pull Your Love
“What about that brand new ring…doesn’t that mean love to you, doesn’t that mean anything?” Hamilton (or is it Joe, or Frank, or Reynolds?) cries to his lover not to leave, based on the fact that he gave her a ring, and that he would get down on his knees again if that would help. A little desperate for sure, and pointing up the fact that a ring by itself is never enough to show your love … you need a matching necklace and earrings at the very least.
8. Lee Greenwood, Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands
This country song from the early ’80s (also covered later by Reba McEntire) is a tear-jerker about a man who recognizes that he spent too much time away from home. He blames himself for leaving his wife with a little too much time on her hands, in spite of the ring on her finger. If he’d only known … a bead board and some beads could have kept her busy at home!
7. Beatles, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
A song that can be about just about anything you want, presumable inspired by some of John Lennon’s son Julian’s artwork. Whatever it’s about, it sounds like Lucy is happy, and we suspect the diamonds may have something to do with it.
6. George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Golden Ring
A sad little tale of a couple that could only afford a pawn shop ring with a tiny stone. After the marriage failed, they sold it back to another pawn shop, only to repeat the cycle when it (by implication) gets sold to the next forlorn, doomed couple. Geez, that George Jones can do tragedy like nobody’s business!
5. Iron Butterfly, Flowers & Beads
Yes, this is the same group (and the same album) that gave us the almost interminable 17-minute long psychedelic rock anthem In-a-Godda-Da-Vida that took up one whole side of the album. The other side had a song called Flowers & Beads, and of course flowers and beads were all the rage for both guys and gals in the flower child ’60s.
4. Marilyn Monroe, Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend
“Square-cut or pear-shaped these rocks don’t lose their shape.” Marilyn gave her iconic performance of this in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Nicole Kidman reprised it later in Moulin Rouge. The quintessential song for all material girls.
3. ZZ Top, Pearl Necklace
Yep guys, you can learn something from this song. When things get really “funky” and you don’t know what she wants, just ask. You might just learn “she wanna pearl necklace.” 16 inches of pearls can go a long way toward making her happy. However, we don’t recommend using the phrase “she’s as pure as the driven slush” in any context whatsoever.
2. Beyonce, Put a Ring on It
No song better states the case for at least one type of jewelry. We all want to get up and dance to ”if you like it then you better put a ring on it,” but there’s a message here, too. Old school values about commitment from Beyonce? Maybe so, but doesn’t every dad want their daughter to memorize (and use) this refrain?
1. Frank Sinatra, Baubles, Bangles, & Beads
Yes, the crooner has his bead song. And any song that talks about “those bright, shiny beads” has to top our list of great beads and jewelry songs. The message of this song is compelling, ladies: you might just get a man if you’re wearing “baubles, bangles, and them cool, cool beads.”
