Pop a bottle in celebration of the opening of Evanston’s very first and long overdue micro-distillery, FEW Spirits (named after our favorite Women’s Christian Temperance Union President, the one and only Francis Elizabeth Willard). At FEW Spirits, which opened last Thursday on Chicago Avenue, you can pick up bottles of American Gin and White Whiskey spirits, tour of the in-house brewing facilities or just troll the tasting room. So to help you get buzzed to concoct your very own craft cocktails, North By Northwestern has a list of the top 10 drink-themed songs to help you sample these specialty sips right.
“40 Oz. to Freedom” by Sublime
Worshipped on boardwalks from Santa Cruz to Seaside, Sublime’s signature ska-punk sound is what gives one of their biggest hits, “40 Oz. to Freedom,” that little extra zip only the finest of malt liquors can usually provide. With such excellent advice as “the answer is always waiting at the liquor store,” Bradley Nowell and co. truly know how to start the night off right with a little surf, a lot of reggae and ton of Steel Reserve.
“Gin and Juice” by Snoop Dogg
Cannabis connoisseur, alcohol expert and rap legend Snoop Dogg became the godfather of gin-themed drinking songs with his 1994 classic “Gin and Juice,” complete with fro, "phat booty bitches” and gin fizzes. So get your own cup, make sure you chip in and drink as much Seagram’s as you can stomach — 'cause Snoop’s supplying the “Tanqueray and chronic.”
“What Do You Say” by Mickey Avalon feat. Dirt Nasty, Andre Legacy and Cisco Adler
Made famous by the booze-filled bromedy “The Hangover,” “What Do You Say” is the jangly junkie anthem sung by none other than Mickey Avalon (known best for timeless classics such as “My Dick”) and former adult porn star-turned MTV VJ Dirt Nasty. And while there are more references to crack cocoaine in the chorus than there are references to chasers and cocktails, just take the spirit of partying hard to heart (no coke busts, please), because really, “what do you say when you’re too fucked up?"
“Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett
A favorite among the 50+ crowd, “Margaritaville” is the easy-listening beach bum song your parents like to groove to on bargain booze cruises to sad places like Baja California. But just take your forced family bonding in stride by running up the tab, kicking it with Gramps and satisfying those post-Bingo drunchies with some of those tasty Margaritaville brand buffalo wings.
“Alcohol” by Millionaires
It’s hardcore chipmunks on speed with The Millionaires, the all-girl rap group straight out of 2005 that’s better known for being tween scenester queens from the age of skull rings and Kiki Cannibal. A Myspace sensation from day one, “Alcohol” is the cutesy coontail party anthem complete with nagging synths, lyrical gems such as “Jaeger, vodka, even whiskey, down that shit, don’t be a pussy” and even a spelling lesson (“A-L-C-O-H-O-L!”).
“Shots” by LMFAO feat. Lil’ Jon
A Fratmusic.com favorite, “Shots” is a verifiable vodka-chasin’ classic on college campuses around the country. And as such, you’re guaranteed to hear this electro-hop hit a minimum of five times a night whether you’re pre-gaming, post-gaming, passing out or anything in between, because in the wise words of Lil’ Jon himself, “if you’re not drunk, ladies and gentlemen, get ready to get fucked up.”
“Drunken Lullabies” by Flogging Molly
Featured on those Tony Hawk video games and every 12-year-old skater boy’s playlist, “Drunken Lullabies” is a punky Irish-American tribute to everything Dublin and depressing drunkard.
So when you’re done doing aerial varials and wiping out to these Warped Tour veterans, cozy up with an Irish coffee and comfort yourself by “singin’ drunken lullabies” all night long.
“Brass Monkey” by Beastie Boys
One part rum, one part vodka and one part O.J., and you have a basic brass monkey, the cocktail made eponymous by the 80s Beastie Boys’ song and enjoyed in high-class establishments across the country. And if you feel like classin’ it up even more in the way only Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock could, switch out the rum for beer and say cheers with a little help from your favorite Black Flag-loving punks turned white boy rap band and their “chunky,” “funky” brass monkeys.
“Drunk Girls” by LCD Soundsystem
Of all these songs, “Drunk Girls” by LCD Soundsystem is probably the one that best describes your typical night out. Featuring lines like “drunk girls like to file complaints” (about how they “wait an hour to pee,” of course) and a catchy bassline, the vaguely disco dance vibe makes you want to just drink down a couple more to forget that LCD Soundsystem is actually no more.
Any Ke$ha song
A staple on any party playlist, Ke$ha was a no-brainer for our list of drink-themed songs. From brushing her teeth with a bottle of Jack on “TiK ToK” to the alcohol-fueled hook-up of “Blah Blah Blah,” Ke$ha just has so many drinkable electro-pop party anthems that we couldn’t just choose one. With glitter, grinding and more than her fair share of gin, Ke$ha knows what she’s doing. So take a page out of her book, pound back a few and party like a true rockstar (unicorn butlers and all).
Bonus Track: “Last Friday Night” by Katy Perry
This one’s for the morning after, because Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night” is an infectious dance-pop party song that’s a little more than familiar for many a freshman or Four Loko fanatic (Does “Is this a hickey or a bruise?” sound familiar?). Katy Perry (plus Kenny G) knows exactly what's up after a night of streakers, sloppy hook-ups and too many Screwdrivers, and her song is almost as good a hangover helper as a big serving of Clarke’s sweet potato fries.