Cotton Eye Joe (Rednex song)

"Cotton Eye Joe" is a song by Swedish Eurodance group Rednex from their debut studio album Sex & Violins (1995). Based on the traditional American folk song "Cotton-Eyed Joe", it combines the group's style with traditional American instruments such as banjos and fiddles. The vocal verses are performed by Annika Ljungberg, while the "Cotton Eye Joe" chorus is sung by Göran Danielsson, who never appears in the video. 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
The Gavin Report wrote about the song: "Simply put, this isn't just an international hit, but one of the biggest number one songs ever in more than just a few European countries. This group from Sweden puts a techno spin on a square dance staple—what a concept. It's that fresh, unique approach that makes 'Cotton Eye Joe' so hot."

Music & Media wrote: "It takes three to set a trend: the Grid's "Swamp Thing", the Two Cowboys's "Everybody's Gon Figon" and Bravado's "Harmonica Man". Rednex are the next modern barn dance act."

Music video
The music video for "Cotton Eye Joe" was directed by Swedish director Stefan Berg. The video won the prize for the best Swedish dance video at the 1995 Swedish Dance Music Awards. It featured the band performing in a barn during a hoedown where the guests did activities such as dancing, playing and splashing in old wild west baths, and riding a mechanical bull. Several signs can be seen in the barn, with inscriptions like "Horses outside", "No bath!" and "No sex allowed". The video ends with a short fast motion clip of a girl riding the mechanical bull.

Impact and legacy
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.

ThoughtCo listed the song at number 92 in their list of The Top 100 Best Party Songs of All Time  in 2018.

2001 BDO World Champion John Walton uses this as his walk-on music.

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