Cotton Eyed Joe (Rednex song)

"Cotton Eye Joe" is a song by Swedish Eurodance group Rednex from their debut studio album Sex & Violins (1995). Sampling the traditional American folk song "Cotton-Eyed Joe", it combines the group's style with traditional American instruments such as banjos and fiddles. In 2002, "Cotton Eye Joe" was remixed in a dance version, and was released from Rednex's greatest hits album, The Best of the West.

Chart performances
The Rednex version of the song (using "Eye" instead of "Eyed"), along with a dance-mix version, was very successful in Europe, where it remained at number one in Norway for 15 weeks, Switzerland for 13 weeks, Germany for 10 weeks, Sweden for 8 weeks, Austria for 7 weeks, and for 3 weeks on the UK Singles Chart. In Ireland, it peaked at number 2 in January 1995. In Oceania, it topped the New Zealand Singles Chart for 6 consecutive weeks. In Australia it peaked at number 8 in April 1995. In the US, it peaked at number 25 in March 1995.

Critical reception
Blender magazine ranked the song at number 38 on the list of the 50 Worst Songs Ever.

MTV Dance placed "Cotton Eye Joe" at #51 in their list of The 100 Biggest 90's Dance Anthems Of All Time in November 2011.

Paste Magazine ranked the song number 17 in The 60 Best Dancefloor Classics list in 2017.

Track listings

 * Original CD
 * 1) "Cotton Eye Joe" (original single version) – 3:14
 * 2) "Cotton Eye Joe" (Madcow Mix) – 4:46
 * 3) "Cotton Eye Joe" (Madcow Instrumental) – 4:46
 * 4) "Cotton Eye Joe" (Overworked Mix) – 6:20
 * 5) "Cotton Eye Joe" (Original Instrumental) – 3:08


 * 2002 CD
 * 1) "Cotton Eye Joe 2002" – 3:33
 * 2) "Cotton Eye Joe 2002" (Dance Nation Remix) – 7:32
 * 3) "Cotton Eye Joe 2002" (Aquagen Remix) – 7:45
 * 4) "Ride the Hurricane's Eye" (Winnetoons version) – 3:02
 * 5) "Cotton Eye Joe 2002" (extended version) – 5:56

Chart successions

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