Hooniverse Asks- What Is It About Cadillacs That Make Great Songs?

Marcal Eilenstein

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1959-Cadillac

While dialing up some Dwight Yoakam on Grooveshark the other day (don’t judge), one of his hits “Guitars, Cadillacs, & Hillbilly Music” came on. That got me to thinking about other songs about Cadillacs. Turns out, there are several good country songs about these 6-ton sleds. Here are few of my favorite.

Guitars, Cadillacs, & Hillbilly Music

[youtube width=”700″ height=”525″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtkeCC3Z27I[/youtube]

Long White Cadillac

[youtube width=”700″ height=”525″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbloyFlwQHQ[/youtube]

Keeping it country, here’s a little Chris LeDoux.

Cadillac Ranch

[youtube width=”700″ height=”525″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp2HpuTPAbM[/youtube]

Who could forget the sweet strains of Sammy Kershaw?

Cadillac Style

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBGCsn5ZfL4[/youtube]

Lest you think this post is entirely about country music, here’s one from The Boss.

Pink Cadillac

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29_RZ82aZ6A[/youtube]

We want to hear from you. What’s your favorite Cadillac song? Who does it best?

Image source: Freepublic

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Marcal Eilenstein

Marcal Eilenstein

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53 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- What Is It About Cadillacs That Make Great Songs?”

  1. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    The Man in Black did it best.[youtube rWHniL8MyMM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWHniL8MyMM youtube]

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      I like this one too.[youtube v5R-T_YF-wU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5R-T_YF-wU youtube]

      Reply
    2. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Commander Cody is racing a Caddy in his Hot Rod Lincoln.[youtube F9QpDvhshOQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9QpDvhshOQ youtube]

      Reply
    3. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      "She had a ragtop El Dorado, tuck and roll pleat"[youtube FAPdrHgjetM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAPdrHgjetM youtube]

      Reply
  2. IronBallsMcG Avatar
    IronBallsMcG

    Attainable, everyman , luxury and performance.
    There may not have been a Porsche dealer in the middle of nowhere, but there was probably a Cadillac dealer, and you can bet he sold to the banker and crooked sheriff.

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Oddly Cadillac had a little bit of stigma among the middle class. I remember my dad bought a used mid 1980s Fleetwood Broughm (Brown with the 4.1L V-8) in the early/mid 1990s, my mother didn't like riding in it to church, thought it gave the wrong impression. This from a woman that had no qualms about driving < 10 year old Buicks, Oldsmobiles, or Mercurys and now daily drives a SRX.
      And the banker probably drove an Imperial
      <img src="http://www.imcdb.org/i229913.jpg&quot; width="400/">
      At least Mr. Drysdale did.

      Reply
      1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
        FuzzyPlushroom

        My grandmother felt exactly the same way. A less-than-religious Protestant mother of five (though no more than three to four at once), she left her first abusive husband, married my quite-Jewish grandfather, and together, they worked their way solidly into the middle-class American dream. Bubbe always swore, though, that she'd never own, or ride in, a Cadillac… over the years, she had a Fiat, a Subaru, a couple of Grand Ams, a Chrysler, a Mitsubishi, and two Volvos, but never did she – or my grandfather – own a Cadillac. (Before his Subarus, he's had a streak of boring Chevrolets and Mercuries punctuated by an even more boring Oldsmobile, in my lifetime.)
        Her statement held true throughout her life… and as far as I know, the first, and last, trip she took in a Cadillac was after her death. If only my grandfather had thought to suggest a Buick or Lincoln.
        In my life, a hearse would similarly be my only exception… although I'd still prefer one from a less, ah, prestigious marque.

        Reply
        1. P161911 Avatar
          P161911

          Re Hearse, see the Confederate Railroad song above.

          Reply
        2. Maymar Avatar
          Maymar

          What about a first-gen CTS? Boxy? RWD? Available with a stick? Or a Catera, just for the ducks?

          Reply
      2. IronBallsMcG Avatar
        IronBallsMcG

        Well, he's one of those high falutin' Beverly Hills types.

        Reply
      3. Devin Avatar
        Devin

        I remember my mom hated Cadillacs but I don't remember why. One day she just went on about how she'd never drive one, and she thought Oldsmobiles were inherently superior.
        Then again, she also had similar tirades about both minivans and Dodge products, and a Caravan now sits in her garage.

        Reply
      4. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
        C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

        Mmmm…Imperial.
        I had, in 2001-2004, a white '85 Fleetwood Brougham d'Elegance, myself.
        That HT4100…it was difficult to control all 135 HP!
        /facepalm
        It drove/rode nicely, though, and I'd been in a severe motorcycle accident very shortly after purchasing said car. I understand, now, why older folks like land yachts like this. They require almost no effort to drive, and it's akin to driving your livining room.

        Reply
    2. Irishzombieman Avatar
      Irishzombieman

      Don't forget Boss Hogg.
      <img src="http://media.screened.com/uploads/0/5125/383325-car.jpg&quot; width=400>

      Reply
  3. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    Black Cadillac's by Modest Mouse is my favorite Caddy themed tune.
    <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/7e85c48e25eaf101f5c54a8aebefaf92/tumblr_mgafk7KSQq1r11lhoo1_500.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. danleym Avatar
      danleym

      Geeze, mention a good song and don't post it so that I have to go look it up myself? The nerve of some people.
      [youtube WmqlI5rSuws http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmqlI5rSuws youtube]

      Reply
  4. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    The one and only, Aretha Franklin…………"riding on the freeway of love in my pink Cadillac."
    <img src="http://www.soulmusicdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ArethaCaddy0011.jpg"width="500"/&gt;

    Reply
    1. OA5599 Avatar
      OA5599

      Paris Hilton sang about a Pink Cadillac, and apparently 600,000 people cared enough to click on the link.
      [youtube 1riiDGBdZWg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1riiDGBdZWg youtube]

      Reply
  5. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
    FuzzyPlushroom

    You can set my Volvo on fire, and roll it down a hill, and I still wouldn't trade it for a Coupe de Ville.
    [youtube eGs-T5FNAyc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGs-T5FNAyc youtube]

    Reply
    1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
      FuzzyPlushroom

      However, in fairness, the Blasters do a wonderful cover of Yoakam's 'Long White Cadillac'. I once followed a white '90s DeVille several miles while listening to it… just because.
      [youtube 8zDkMfhSteE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zDkMfhSteE youtube]

      Reply
  6. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    Cadillacs make great songs because nobody's daddy ever had a Caddy he wasn't immensely proud of.
    [Unless you're a songwriter who's currently about 40 years old, and your pops had a Cimarron. But in that case, you're probably in a deathpunk band and still apt to write some sort of ironicynical song about it anyway.]

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      I'm not a songwriter, but I am about 40, and my dad had a 1980s brown Fleetwood Broghm with the HT4100, that has to come a close second to the Cimarron. I still remember the squishy deteriorated leather on the steering wheel and complete lack of acceleration.

      Reply
      1. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
        C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

        Mmmm…Imperial.
        If that were a two door, I'd be bothering the owner, daily, about when he's going to sell it to me.
        From my screen name, you can guess I like this marque.
        I've owned more of these than anything else, 3.
        1973 Coupe deVille, that one got me hooked on yachting.
        The '85 RWD Fleetwood.
        My current '05 STS with the Northstar…and almost bald rear tires.
        I still very much want a couple of others, besides the obvious ones. A '95 Fleetwood, and a '73 Eldorado.

        Reply
  7. englishcarguy Avatar
    englishcarguy

    Neil Young once sang "My love's bigger than a Cadillac"

    Reply
  8. Vavon Avatar
    Vavon

    As an 80s kid from Europe: Because it's bigger than a Honda [Honda] and it's bigger than a Subaru [that too]!
    [youtube admyAPe93ds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=admyAPe93ds youtube]

    Reply
  9. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    Easin' down the highway in a new Cadillac,
    I had a fine fox in front, I had three more in the back.
    [youtube 96K6Fvpbk3Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96K6Fvpbk3Q youtube]

    Reply
  10. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    "…saw a deadhead sticker on a Cadillac. Little voice inside my head said,'Don't look back…'"

    Reply
    1. pj134 Avatar
      pj134

      Err…
      …I CAN SEEEE YOUUUUU. YOUR BROWN SKIN SHINING IN THE SUN….

      Reply
  11. flatfive Avatar
    flatfive

    Black coat white shoes, black hat, Cadillac…yeah, the boy's a time bomb.
    [youtube MC2lhGgbJiU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC2lhGgbJiU youtube]

    Reply
  12. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    Cadillac is also synonymous with luxury. Just ask Kid Rock and Hank.
    [youtube ScgPe0s806Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScgPe0s806Q youtube]

    Reply
    1. PotbellyJoe Avatar
      PotbellyJoe

      Drinkin' Smokin' from Kid Rock also talks Fleetwood. And hockey. So Detroit.
      "I'm a pimp, you can check my stats
      An' rollin' a Fleetwood, that's how I Mac
      I rock all the tracks so the World knows
      I love all the girls, smack all the Ho's
      Show love to those who come real with it
      Life's a bitch but I deal with it
      I'm in it to win it like Yzerman
      Can drink about fifteen Heinekens"

      Reply
  13. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    Even though it's not mentioned in the song, a black Caddy is the baddies' ride in the video for If I Survive.
    [youtube lbbQ8RrZe-U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbbQ8RrZe-U youtube]

    Reply
  14. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
    Dean Bigglesworth

    Hello from Finlandistan.
    [youtube VXvydYjlDe0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXvydYjlDe0 youtube]

    Reply
  15. Irishzombieman Avatar
    Irishzombieman

    Bitchin old tune. "Brand New Cadillac," by The Clash.
    [youtube SYVLxLvdhpY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYVLxLvdhpY youtube]

    Reply
    1. scroggzilla Avatar
      scroggzilla

      The original version ain't so bad either.
      [youtube Dc2pTC0D0j0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc2pTC0D0j0 youtube]

      Reply
      1. Irishzombieman Avatar
        Irishzombieman

        Dang. Always sorta figure they'd covered the song but never went looking for the original.
        This's fantastic. Gracias.

        Reply
      2. Texmarc Avatar
        Texmarc

        The original was by Vince Taylor…as featured on Tricks Synthetic Podcast's, "a Caddy for Daddy" in January.

        Reply
        1. Texmarc Avatar
          Texmarc

          Here's the whole play list:
          Caddy For Daddy
          January 2013
          I Want My Fleetwood Back – Tony Joe White
          Cadillac – The Firm
          Pink Cadillac – Lynn August
          Black Cadillac – Sonny Wallace
          White Cadillac – The Band
          Pink Cadillac – The Band From TV
          Brand New Cadillac B2B with Vince Taylor and Procol Harum
          Welfare Cadillac – Gary B.B. Coleman
          Blue Cadillac – Chainsaw Dupont
          Lilly's Daddy's Cadillac – Mink DeVille
          Cadillac Woman – Bill Wyman's Rythmn Kings
          Cadillac Jack – Andre Williams
          VooDoo Cadillac – Southern Culture On The Skids
          Cadillac Walk (fade out) – The Hamsters

          Reply
  16. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    Perhaps not originally written as a song about Cadillacs, but a great song that eventually became Cadillac's signature.
    [youtube gpD7f8gWgDg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpD7f8gWgDg youtube]

    Reply
  17. needthatcar Avatar
    needthatcar

    [youtube E7ktEYvzRqQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7ktEYvzRqQ youtube]

    Reply
  18. MVEilenstein Avatar
    MVEilenstein

    Awesome choices.

    Reply
  19. PotbellyJoe Avatar
    PotbellyJoe

    Even Denis Leary was in on the act:
    [youtube UrgpZ0fUixs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrgpZ0fUixs youtube]
    "You know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna get myself a 1967 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, hot pink, with whale skin hubcaps and all leather cow interior and big brown baby seal eyes for headlights. Yeah! And I'm gonna drive around in that baby at 115 miles an hour, getting 1 mile per gallon, sucking down quarter pounder cheeseburgers from McDonald's in the old-fashioned non- biodegradable Styrofoam containers! And when I'm done suckin' down those grease ball burgers I'm gonna wipe my mouth on the American flag and then toss the Styrofoam containers right out the side, and there ain't a God-damned thing anybody can do about it. You know why? Because we got the bombs, that's why!"

    Reply
  20. K5ING Avatar
    K5ING

    I've always loved the Stray Cats doing "Look at that Cadillac". They also did a couple of other Cadillac songs too.
    [youtube BDuNM2rbYfU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDuNM2rbYfU youtube]

    Reply
  21. racer139 Avatar
    racer139

    Here's another' Two Black cadilliacs buy Carrie underwood. Though Im not fond of her music the video is a play on Stephen Kings Christine, which is one of my favorite cheesy movies. Also I would not kick her outa bed. I guess now that by laptop is fully fuctioning again I should learn how to embed pics and vids…….

    Reply
  22. racer139 Avatar
    racer139

    I cant figure out the embed video link. I'll try again later when I dont want to huck this thing into a wall…

    Reply
    1. Vairship Avatar
      Vairship

      I believe the only videos that'll embed easily are YouTube videos, and even then you have to get rid of the 's' in https if they're https instead of http.

      Reply
  23. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
    Scandinavian Flick

    Ask this guy. After all, he owns 6 dealerships.
    <img src="http://i.imgur.com/jPztKx4.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      I sometimes wonder if Adam Reed's ever read Hooniverse.
      I also really hope that the line about an "El Camino full of rampage" was a deliberate car guy play on words.

      Reply
      1. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
        Scandinavian Flick

        Wow, I didn't catch that myself… That's awesome! I do love the cars in Archer. Well, I love the whole show, but the cars, along with the purposefully ambiguous timeline, really make it awesome.
        Hmmm, that could make an interesting idea for an article for Sumission Thursdays. The Cars of Archer…

        Reply
  24. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    "I know you're looking for a ruby in a mountain of rocks
    But there ain't no Coupe deVille hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box"
    [youtube jAsM6KP3kis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAsM6KP3kis youtube]

    Reply
  25. windbuechse Avatar
    windbuechse

    Austin Lounge Lizards – The Car Hank Died In
    [youtube nFfM0oLgzwA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFfM0oLgzwA youtube]
    "I want to ride in, the car Hank died in…" Pretty well sums it up.

    Reply
  26. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
    BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

    [youtube NDRA-4ITtFU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDRA-4ITtFU youtube]
    Los Fabulosos Cadillacs – Cadillacs

    Reply
  27. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    More importantly, what is it about Cadillac that makes for really stupid tattoos? (I know, tattoos aren't stupid, people are stupid.)
    <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AxTkUnqBSRc/TIOZcmoL2sI/AAAAAAAADs0/s8gG4yu94pg/s400/pauly+d+tattoo+and+travis+barker+tattoolah.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  28. Frere P. Avatar
    Frere P.

    http://gummysoul.bandcamp.com/track/wish-i-had-a-…
    Another performer from Nashville, but the other side of the tracks. This is a hip-hop song by an emcee named Petty. I would post the cover art which features a Cadillac, but it's a bit nsfw.
    He calls out a number of his favorite Cadillac models and pines for "something sweet and smooth that you don't see today, like a Series 62" A bit of a surprise choice for a 20-something rapper, I would say.

    Reply