The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun
Encyclopedia
"The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun" is a 1984 song by American singer–comedian Julie Brown
parodying 1950s
"teen tragedy" songs.
The song and music video—both released more than a decade before school shootings became real-life events— revolve around a teenaged Valley girl
's oblivious recounting of how her best friend, Debi, who upon being crowned homecoming queen unexpectedly pulled out a weapon and began indiscriminately killing classmates and teachers at the parade. In the end, Debi is shot by police and confesses before she dies that she murdered for a mysterious person named "Johnny", leaving her friend to ponder whether she means a nerdy classmate that always had food stuck in his braces; the queen's bouquet in the music video
has the words 'Debi, I love you, Johnny' written on a label. The narrator compares the unrevealed identity of "Johnny" to "Rosebud" in Citizen Kane
, observing, "It's like that movie Citizen Kane, you know, where you later find out that 'Rosebud' is his sled? / But we'll never know who Johnny was, 'cause, like, she's dead!"
The song appeared as a B-side to Brown's single "I Like 'em Big and Stupid
", and took off after being played frequently on the Dr. Demento
Show. As a result, "The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun" is remembered better than the A-side of that single, turning into what music critic Jonathan Taylor called "one of the most delightfully silly singles and videos of the past few years." A re-recorded dance version appeared as a B-side to Brown's 2005 single "I Want to Be Gay
", 21 years after the original was released.
The song was ranked No. 324 in the KROQ
Flashback 500 of 1996, and No. 488 in the KROQ Flashback 500 of 1988. It was part of a special by the Australian national radio station Triple J
on school songs in 2001. "The Homecoming Queen's Got A Gun" also appears on the Rhino Records compilation album Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection
as well as in a 1985 compilation called Teenage Tragedy that included non-comic songs of the genre Brown was satirizing. At least one reviewer cited the song as evidence of a sea change in novelty songs, observing: "The songs got sicker and more nihilistic. In 1960, a pretty girl wore an 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
'; in 1985, a pretty girl in Julie Brown's cult classic "The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun" grabs a machine gun and does a Rambo
on most of the senior class."
Brown admitted in a July 2000 interview that for months after the Columbine High School massacre
she no longer felt comfortable performing "Homecoming Queen", even though the circumstances of the song were quite different from the real-life case and it had been comic at the time of its debut. "I can be very sensitive about whether I am doing something that will hurt people," Brown said. "So you are always drawing the comedy line of what you will or won't do."
In October 2008, Brown released a re-written version of the song entitled "The Ex-Beauty Queen's Got a Gun" which parodies Sarah Palin and the McCain–Palin bid for election in 2008. Available digitally only, the low-budget recording has Brown singing new lyrics over a previously released karaoke version of the original song. As such, the prerecorded backing vocals sing original lyrics that don't match the new lyrics.
Julie Brown
Julie Ann Brown is an American actress, comedienne, screen/television writer, singer-songwriter, television director. Brown is perhaps best known for her work in the 1980s, where she often played a quintessential valley girl character...
parodying 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
"teen tragedy" songs.
The song and music video—both released more than a decade before school shootings became real-life events— revolve around a teenaged Valley girl
Valley girl
Valley Girl is a stereotype leveled at a socio-economic and ethnic class of American women who can be described as colloquial English-speaking and materialistic...
's oblivious recounting of how her best friend, Debi, who upon being crowned homecoming queen unexpectedly pulled out a weapon and began indiscriminately killing classmates and teachers at the parade. In the end, Debi is shot by police and confesses before she dies that she murdered for a mysterious person named "Johnny", leaving her friend to ponder whether she means a nerdy classmate that always had food stuck in his braces; the queen's bouquet in the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
has the words 'Debi, I love you, Johnny' written on a label. The narrator compares the unrevealed identity of "Johnny" to "Rosebud" in Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film, directed by and starring Orson Welles. Many critics consider it the greatest American film of all time, especially for its innovative cinematography, music and narrative structure. Citizen Kane was Welles' first feature film...
, observing, "It's like that movie Citizen Kane, you know, where you later find out that 'Rosebud' is his sled? / But we'll never know who Johnny was, 'cause, like, she's dead!"
The song appeared as a B-side to Brown's single "I Like 'em Big and Stupid
I Like 'em Big and Stupid
"I Like 'em Big and Stupid" was the debut single by comedian and singer Julie Brown. It was released in an independent pressing in 1984 in both 12-inch and 7-inch vinyl record formats. The song is a very 1980s-style pop song with comedic lyrics about the protagonist's desire for a handsome, hunky...
", and took off after being played frequently on the Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
Show. As a result, "The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun" is remembered better than the A-side of that single, turning into what music critic Jonathan Taylor called "one of the most delightfully silly singles and videos of the past few years." A re-recorded dance version appeared as a B-side to Brown's 2005 single "I Want to Be Gay
I Want to Be Gay
"I Want to Be Gay" is the fourth single released by singer and comedian Julie Brown. It was released 18 years after her last single. The single was originally released on Compact Disc only in a cardboard sleeve and made available exclusively through her website, or through eBay...
", 21 years after the original was released.
The song was ranked No. 324 in the KROQ
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
Flashback 500 of 1996, and No. 488 in the KROQ Flashback 500 of 1988. It was part of a special by the Australian national radio station Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
on school songs in 2001. "The Homecoming Queen's Got A Gun" also appears on the Rhino Records compilation album Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection
Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection
This is a release by radio disc jockey Dr. Demento to celebrate 20 years since the beginning of his radio career.It covers many of the novelty and comedy songs from the 1950s such as Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavor by Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group to the then recent release of Eat It...
as well as in a 1985 compilation called Teenage Tragedy that included non-comic songs of the genre Brown was satirizing. At least one reviewer cited the song as evidence of a sea change in novelty songs, observing: "The songs got sicker and more nihilistic. In 1960, a pretty girl wore an 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
"Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" is a novelty song telling the story of a shy girl wearing a revealing polka dot bikini at the beach, who in the first verse is too afraid to leave the locker where she has changed into her bikini; in the second, she has made it to the beach but sits...
'; in 1985, a pretty girl in Julie Brown's cult classic "The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun" grabs a machine gun and does a Rambo
John Rambo
John Rambo is an iconic fictional character and the basis of the Rambo saga. He first appeared in the 1972 novel First Blood by David Morrell, but later became more famous in the film series, played by Sylvester Stallone...
on most of the senior class."
Brown admitted in a July 2000 interview that for months after the Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
she no longer felt comfortable performing "Homecoming Queen", even though the circumstances of the song were quite different from the real-life case and it had been comic at the time of its debut. "I can be very sensitive about whether I am doing something that will hurt people," Brown said. "So you are always drawing the comedy line of what you will or won't do."
In October 2008, Brown released a re-written version of the song entitled "The Ex-Beauty Queen's Got a Gun" which parodies Sarah Palin and the McCain–Palin bid for election in 2008. Available digitally only, the low-budget recording has Brown singing new lyrics over a previously released karaoke version of the original song. As such, the prerecorded backing vocals sing original lyrics that don't match the new lyrics.