Josie Cotton
Encyclopedia
Josie Cotton is an American
singer/songwriter, best known for her minor hits "Johnny Are You Queer" and "He Could Be the One" from 1982. "Johnny Are You Queer" has been featured on the soundtracks to the movies Jackass Number Two and Valley Girl.
, Cotton sang with Dallas area bands before moving to Los Angeles, California
. Josie Cotton recorded her hit single "Johnny Are You Queer" under Bomp Records in 1981. The performance of the single attracted the attention of Elektra Records
, which re-released both the single and a full album in 1982. The Convertible Music
LP featured music reminiscent of the 1960s girl group tradition. Cotton made an appearance in the 1983 film Valley Girl
, singing "Johnny Are You Queer?", "He Could Be the One" and "School Is In" during the film's prom scene. In 1984, Elektra issued Josie's follow-up album, From the Hip, which returned a minor hit with the cover of Looking Glass
' "Jimmy Loves Maryann" (featuring guitar work by Lindsey Buckingham
of Fleetwood Mac
). In 1986, Cotton appeared in a minor film role as the character Silver Ring in the John McTiernan
horror film Nomads opposite Adam Ant
and Pierce Brosnan
. "Johnny Are You Queer" was later featured in Jackass: Number Two
during the "Anaconda Ballpit" stunt and in the compilation album "A Date With John Waters". The punk band Screeching Weasel
covered the song on their 1994 album How To Make Enemies And Irritate People
.
Cotton recorded Frightened by Nightingales (as Josey Cotton) in 1993. The collection of songs by songwriter/violinist Bill Rhea was released on the French label Silences. Continuing to work behind the scenes, Cotton co-founded B-Girl Records, which issued recordings by Goldenboy
and Alaska!
A new album of her own music, The Influence of Fear on Salesmen, was planned for release in 2002 on B-Girl but failed to materialize under that title. Eventually, Cotton released Movie Disaster Music in 2006, followed by Invasion of the B-Girls, composed of B-movie theme song covers, also produced in part by Bill Rhea, in 2007. Building on the critical success of those disks, Cotton released Pussycat Babylon in late 2010.
In 2009, "Johnny Are You Queer" ranked at #81 on VH1's "Top 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders Of The 80's" list.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer/songwriter, best known for her minor hits "Johnny Are You Queer" and "He Could Be the One" from 1982. "Johnny Are You Queer" has been featured on the soundtracks to the movies Jackass Number Two and Valley Girl.
Career
Born Kathleen Josey in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Cotton sang with Dallas area bands before moving to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Josie Cotton recorded her hit single "Johnny Are You Queer" under Bomp Records in 1981. The performance of the single attracted the attention of Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
, which re-released both the single and a full album in 1982. The Convertible Music
Convertible Music
Convertible Music is the 1982 new wave debut album by pop rock artist Josie Cotton, released on Elektra Records.Convertible Music contained Cotton's two most well-known songs, the minor hits "Johnny, Are You Queer?" and "He Could Be The One", both of which were later performed by Cotton herself in...
LP featured music reminiscent of the 1960s girl group tradition. Cotton made an appearance in the 1983 film Valley Girl
Valley Girl (film)
Valley Girl is a 1983 romantic comedy film, starring Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, Elizabeth Daily, Cameron Dye, and Joyce Heiser. The film was the directorial debut of Martha Coolidge, and was the first film in which Nicolas Coppola was billed as Nicolas Cage.The American release of Valley Girl...
, singing "Johnny Are You Queer?", "He Could Be the One" and "School Is In" during the film's prom scene. In 1984, Elektra issued Josie's follow-up album, From the Hip, which returned a minor hit with the cover of Looking Glass
Looking Glass (band)
Looking Glass was an American pop music group of the early 1970s that was part of the Jersey Shore sound. They are best remembered for their million selling 1972 song, "Brandy ".-Career:...
' "Jimmy Loves Maryann" (featuring guitar work by Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Adams Buckingham is an American guitarist, singer, composer and producer, most notable for being the guitarist and male lead singer of the musical group Fleetwood Mac. Aside from his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has also released six solo albums and a live album...
of Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
). In 1986, Cotton appeared in a minor film role as the character Silver Ring in the John McTiernan
John McTiernan
John Campbell McTiernan, Jr. is an American film director and producer, best known for his action films and most identifiable with the three films he directed back-to-back: Predator, Die Hard, and The Hunt for Red October, along with later movies such as Last Action Hero, Die Hard with a...
horror film Nomads opposite Adam Ant
Adam Ant
Adam Ant is an English musician who gained popularity as the lead singer of New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s...
and Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brendan Brosnan, OBE is an Irish actor, film producer and environmentalist. After leaving school at 16, Brosnan began training in commercial illustration, but trained at the Drama Centre in London for three years...
. "Johnny Are You Queer" was later featured in Jackass: Number Two
Jackass: Number Two
Jackass Number Two is a 2006 American comedy film. It is the sequel to Jackass: The Movie , both based upon the MTV series Jackass. Like its predecessor and the original TV show, the film is a compilation of stunts, pranks and skits...
during the "Anaconda Ballpit" stunt and in the compilation album "A Date With John Waters". The punk band Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Jughead.Since their formation, Screeching Weasel have broken up and reformed numerous times with numerous line-up changes. Ben Weasel has been the only constant...
covered the song on their 1994 album How To Make Enemies And Irritate People
How to Make Enemies and Irritate People
How to Make Enemies and Irritate People is the sixth studio album by the American punk rock band Screeching Weasel. It was released in 1994 through Lookout! Records. It was meant to be the band's last album. Shortly after the release of 1993's Anthem for a New Tomorrow, bassist/backing...
.
Cotton recorded Frightened by Nightingales (as Josey Cotton) in 1993. The collection of songs by songwriter/violinist Bill Rhea was released on the French label Silences. Continuing to work behind the scenes, Cotton co-founded B-Girl Records, which issued recordings by Goldenboy
Goldenboy
Goldenboy is an indie rock band from Diamond Bar, California that has collaborated with Weezer's former bassist, Matt Sharp. Their second album "Underneath the Radio" was released in October of 2006...
and Alaska!
Alaska!
Alaska! is an indie rock trio from the United States. The band was formed in San Francisco by Russell Pollard , Imaad Wasif , with Lesley Ishino later joining as drummer.-Discography:The band released their debut album, Emotions, in 2003, and a second, Rescue...
A new album of her own music, The Influence of Fear on Salesmen, was planned for release in 2002 on B-Girl but failed to materialize under that title. Eventually, Cotton released Movie Disaster Music in 2006, followed by Invasion of the B-Girls, composed of B-movie theme song covers, also produced in part by Bill Rhea, in 2007. Building on the critical success of those disks, Cotton released Pussycat Babylon in late 2010.
In 2009, "Johnny Are You Queer" ranked at #81 on VH1's "Top 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders Of The 80's" list.
Studio albums
- Convertible MusicConvertible MusicConvertible Music is the 1982 new wave debut album by pop rock artist Josie Cotton, released on Elektra Records.Convertible Music contained Cotton's two most well-known songs, the minor hits "Johnny, Are You Queer?" and "He Could Be The One", both of which were later performed by Cotton herself in...
- 1982, Elektra RecordsElektra RecordsElektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
(#147, US) - From the Hip - 1984, Elektra
- Frightened by Nightingales - 1995, Roxco Records
- Movie Disaster Music - 2006, Scruffy
- Invasion of the B-Girls - 2007, Scruffy
- Pussycat Babylon - 2010, Scruffy
Compilations
- Convertible Music/From the Hip (double album CD reissue) - 2002, Collectables RecordsCollectables RecordsCollectables is a reissue record label founded in 1980 by Jerry Greene. Greene was previously associated with New York City's Times Square Record Shop, Philadelphia's Record Museum retail chain, and the Lost Nite and Crimson record labels....
Singles
- "Johnny Are You Queer" (Bomp) (1981)
- "Johnny Are You Queer" (Elektra reissue) (1982) #38 Billboard Club Play Singles
- "He Could Be the One" (1982) #34 Billboard Mainstream Rock, #74 Billboard Pop Singles
- "Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne" (1984) #82 Billboard Pop Singles
- "Johnny Are You Queer" A Date With John Waters (2007)
- "See The New Hong Kong" (2011) Remixes #12 Billboard Dance/Club Play 2011
Filmography
- Valley GirlValley Girl (film)Valley Girl is a 1983 romantic comedy film, starring Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, Elizabeth Daily, Cameron Dye, and Joyce Heiser. The film was the directorial debut of Martha Coolidge, and was the first film in which Nicolas Coppola was billed as Nicolas Cage.The American release of Valley Girl...
(1983) - Nomads (1986)
- Jackass Number Two
- GleeGlee (TV series)Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
(2011)