Cotton-Eyed Joe
"Cotton-Eyed Joe" is a traditional
folk song and a
line dance mostly known in the Southern United States. Several different versions of it have been arranged by different artists.
In
1994, a
Swedish eurodance band called
Rednex covered the song as "Cotton Eye Joe", combining their style with traditional American instruments, such as
banjos,
fiddles, and
harmonicas. It was very successful in Europe, reaching number 1 in the
United Kingdom in January
1995, and also in the
United States and Australia (where it peaked at #8 in April 1995). The song was also remixed in 2002. It has become a "standard" for DJs all over the world, right up there with the "
Macarena", "
The Electric Slide", the "
YMCA" and the Paramus, NJ favorite, "
Blue Champagne" by Frank L. Ryerson.
The song is also popular at sporting events, especially in
Europe.
*Played in an
episode of
Beavis and Butt-Head.
*Sung with
lyrics in the
1984 movie Places In the Heart.
*Played in an
episode of
Malcolm in the Middle as the
original soundtrack marketed and recorded by
Rykodisc Records.
* - dubbing the
song over
Napoleon Dynamite's
dance routine.
*
How To Dance The Cotton Eyed Joe from Partydirectory.com*
In Depth Article on the Cotton Eyed Joe In depth article on the history of the song and its modern versions.
