Jenny Lizak writesA Holiday Feast: Top 9 Favorite Songs About Food

Happy Thanksgiving, CHIRP turkeys! Every year, I’ve done a special edition of my show on Thanksgiving weekend, featuring two hours of songs referencing food in some way. I thought this year, it would be fun to share a few of my favorite songs about food, so you can listen while you chop carrots, roast the turkey and bake pies - or just make a trip to the liquor store for the wine, if that’s more your speed. Happy feasting!

First off, you have to go shopping before you can cook, or eat, so start your musical feast with “The Market of Farms” by Artichoke.

What’s a holiday feast without potatoes? James Brown’s dance craze, the Mashed Potato, inspired this recording of “(Do The) Mashed Potato.” And if you do the dance, you’ll work off some of that feast too!

Continuing the potato theme, Imperial Teen’s “Sweet Potato” uses this side dish as a term of endearment.

One of the most well known songs with food in its title is Booker T & The M.G.s “Green Onions.” An instrumental blues classic, some say it was also inspired by the funky walk of a cat named Onions.

Chicago’s own Psalm One makes a mean “Macaroni and Cheese,” something she did for women at Deborah’s Place for her video.

Get in a healthy side with Franz Ferdidand’s “Fresh Strawberries,” an allegory for the fleeting nature of life.

For my Southern friends who may bring some non-traditional food to the feast, Hank Williams’ “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" is a song that will transport you down to a Cajun feast.

You can’t have Thanksgiving without some turkey, just don’t be a “Jive Turkey” as The Ohio Players sing.

What’s Thanksgiving without desert? Chicago’s own White Mystery offers their dreams in “Pumpkin Creme.”

However you celebrate your Thanksgiving feast, know that we at CHIRP are thankful for you, our listeners. Have a wonderful holiday seasons, and don’t forget to tune in on Sundays from 4-6pm for my show or listen to past episodes on Radio Free America!

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