The Playlist: Health

Stayin Alive is one of the most iconic songs attributed to a health-related incident (giving CPR) but check out these other health-related songs.

Peggy Lee - Fever

• This is a smooth, sultry song about a woman whose temperature rises whenever a man kisses her. The minimal arrangement of vocals, percussion, bass, and finger snaps created an intimate connection between jazz singer Peggy Lee and the beat generation.

Robert Palmer - Bad Case of Loving You [Doctor, Doctor]

• So many songs have been penned about a love affair gone awry. This is more than just another one where the singer seeks medical assistance – which we all know won’t help.

Olivia Newton-John - Physical

• This record scored number one on the Billboard’s Top 100 Songs of the 1980s, transforming the artist into an international superstar. Although the lyrics are sexually suggestive, the song continues to be a staple on the playlists of exercise classes today.

Vivian Blaine - Adelaide’s Lament

• If you aren’t familiar with Guys and Dolls, this video is a must! Vivian Blaine’s performance of Adelaide becoming ill because her fiancé Nathan keeps preferring his gambling to her is iconic in the true sense of the word.

Jackson Browne - Doctor My Eyes

• Browne asks if there’s something wrong with his eyes which have seen so much sadness. Did he “keep them open for so long?”

Harry Nilsson - Coconut

• What can you do for an upset stomach? Don’t wake up your doctor in the middle of the night because the answer will be a confused muddle!

David Seville - Witch Doctor

• Sometimes doctors can give good advice for would-be Romeos wanting a charm to attract a lover. The answer is, of course, quite simple. Merely say, “Ooo eee ooo ah ah” and your dreams will be realized.

Weird Al Yankovic - Like a Surgeon

• At Madonna’s suggestion, Weird Al created a parody of her giant hit--“Like a Virgin.” This clever song is a critical satire of the medical profession.

The Bee Gees - Stayin’ Alive

• Brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb wrote this number one hit for the motion picture Saturday Night Fever. This song is used in CPR training to keep the right tempo for chest compressions at 100 beats per minute.

Joe Cocker - Feelin’ Alright

• Joe Cocker turned a pessimistic song by the British band Traffic about unreturned love, into a joyous anthem about feeling good about yourself. Cocker and John Belushi (impersonating Cocker) performed a hilarious duet of the song on Saturday Night Live.

Join the conversation. Email Seth ([email protected]) by February 20 to tell us the songs about health that you’d add to our playlist and why they’re fitting contributions. Then watch for the next issue of Voice of Experience for an updated list.