Tuesday Top Ten: Mardi Gras Songs

With Mardi Gras (pronounced "mar-dis grass") coming tomorrow, I figured I would give you an early musical Tuesday Top Ten in case you want to have something festive to listen to tomorrow. I chose to combine some early New Orleans rock and R&B with some other non-New Orleans songs that are either about getting rocked, walking on sunshine, or levees breaking. No matter what, you should listen to all of these at least once on Fat Tuesday.

They are in alphabetical order by artist:

10. "The House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals. I chose The Animals' version because Eric Burdon's vocals are so dark and fantastic, they make me want to go back to New Orleans to wear that ball and chain.
9. "When the Saints Go Marching In" by Louis Armstrong. It's not a New Orleans list without this song or Satchmo, so why not both at the same time.
8. "You Never Can Tell" by Chuck Berry. The teenage newlyweds in the song honeymoon in New Orleans, where they were undoubtedly robbed and murdered.
7. "Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino. Fats Domino is the quintessential New Orleans rock and roll star. Hence, you get two songs from him.
6. "Walking to New Orleans" by Fats Domino
5. "The Things That I Used to Do" by Guitar Slim. A classic from a New Orleans blues and early R&B legend.
4. "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina & The Waves
3. "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin. Have no place to stay.
2. "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" by Lloyd Price. This 1952 million-selling single was the first hit from New Orleans to be accepted into rock and roll.
1. "Rock You Like a Hurricane" by The Scorpions. You see, in addition to being a devastating natural disaster, the "hurricane" is a famous alcoholic drink available for purchase and consumption in New Orleans. Either way, you're wrecked.

Here is a playlist featuring those songs that were available on Playlist.com.