THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
232-Gary Numan-Cars.
1979-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 2.22.In Britain 33.3million people hold a driving licence,but there are only 30,000 active pilots,one of which is Gary Numan.
Numan has stated the song’s lyrics were inspired by an incident of road rage.’I was in traffic in London and had a problem with some people in front.They tried to beat me up and get me out of the car.I locked the doors and eventually drove up on the pavement and got away from them.It explains how you can feel safe inside a car in the modern world,it’s like your own little personal empire with four wheels on it.’
The song gave Gary Numan(see also best songs 772) his only hit single in America reaching Number 9 on Billboard.In the UK it was his second Number 1 single after the success of ‘Are Friends Electric.’
‘Cars’ was back in the chart again in 1987 this time reaching Number 16 thanks to the ‘E Reg Model’ mix and once again in 1996 this time peaking at Number 17 due to it’s use in an advertisement for ‘Carling Premium’ beer.
‘Here in my car I feel safest of all,I can lock all my doors,it’s the only way to live in cars.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
233-Rose Royce-Wishing On A Star.
1978-Number 3 single.
Best Bit-At 1.47.The ancient Greeks believed that Greek deities would look down upon the earth and as they did stars would sometimes slip down to the earth.Wishing at that moment would mean that these deities were watching and therefore they would hear your requests.
It was Edwin Starr who introduced the band that were to be re-named Rose Royce(see also best songs 533) to Norman Whitfield,their lead singer Gwen Dickey joined soon after and they started work on the ‘Carwash’ film soundtrack.
This songs writer,Billie Calvin had been a member of the Motown group Undisputed Truth in the early 1970’s a band assembled by Norman Whitfield(see also best songs 911-777-569-533-480 and 346.) Calvin sang backing vocals on Motown hits including the Diana Ross classic ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.’
Wishing On A Star was not a hit in America for Rose Royce,but The Cover Girls took their version to Number 9 in 1992.In the UK the Fresh 4 took their re-make to Number 10 in 1989,a version by Rapper Jay-Z made Number 13 in 1998 and ‘The X Factor UK 2011 Finalists’ which also included One Direction and JLS took their version to Number 1 with all profits going to the children’s charity ‘Together For Short Lives.’
‘I feel it’s time we should make up baby.I feel it’s time for us to get back together.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
234-The Black Eyed Peas-I Gotta Feeling.
2009-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 3.45.Will.i.am appears to have acquired two Saturday’s,he might have taken one from The Diary Of Horace Wimp,because he hasn’t got any.
‘I Gotta Feeling’ was the second single released from The Black Eyed Peas fifth Album ‘The E.N.D,’all of the bands members are credited as songwriters along with the songs producer David Guetta(see also best songs 909 and 260.)
On release it entered the Billboard chart at Number 2 behind the bands previous release ‘Boom Boom Pow'(see best songs 899) making the Black Eyed Peas only the eleventh act to have the top two songs on the chart simultaneously.’Boom Boom Pow’ would spend twelve weeks at Number 1 before ‘I Gotta Feeling’ would take over for a further fourteen.
‘I Gotta Feeling’ is the biggest selling song worldwide in the first decade of the 21st Century.In the UK it is the 45th biggest selling song of all time.
There is a bit Yiddish in the song as Will.i.am sings ‘Fill up my cup…Mazel Tov,’ when he repeats it a second time Fergie replies ‘L’chaim.’ ‘Mazel Tov’ is a Hebrew expression of good cheer often used as a kind of toast to congratulate someone.’L’chaim is more esoteric,meaning ‘to life,’ it is also a traditional Hebrew toast.
‘Tonight’s the night let’s live it up,I got my money let’s spend it up.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
235-The Doors-Light My Fire.
1969 Number 49 single.When re-issued in 1991 it reached Number 7.
Best Bit-At 3.18.The song that has become The Doors signature tune was the very last song performed live by Jim Morrison,as within six months he was dead at 27.
Most of ‘Light My Fire’ was written by The Doors band member Robby Krieger,(see also best songs 460) on writing the song he said,’I asked Jim(Morrison) what I should write about? He said,’Something universal,which won’t disappear two years from now.Something that people can interpret themselves.’I said to myself I’d write about the four elements,earth,air,fire and water,I picked fire as I loved the Stones song ‘Play With Fire,'(side B of the Rolling Stones 1965 UK Number 1 ‘The Last Time.’) Krieger came up with the melody and wrote most of the lyrics,the second verse was written by Jim Morrison.The song is about leaving inhibitions behind in flames of passion.
Other successful versions of the song include the 1968 Billboard Number 3 hit for Jose Feliciano,the UK Number 1 version from Will Young in 2002 and the 1979 UK Number 5 Disco hit version from Ami Stewart.
‘The time to hesitate is through no time to wallow in the mire.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
236-New Edition-Hit Me Off.
1996-Number 20 single.
Best Bit-At 1.17.New Edition were modelled on The Jackson 5 and were forerunners of the Boy Band craze of the 1980’s and 1990’s.
They were discovered by music producer Maurice Starr at the Hollywood Talent Night contest in Boston in 1981,they finished second in the contest but Starr was impressed enough to give them a record deal.
The original line-up was Ricky Bell,Michael Bivins,Bobby Brown(see also best songs 694,) Ronnie DeVoe and Ralph Tresvant whose high tenor brought back memories of a young Michael Jackson especially on their debut hit and UK Number 1,Candy Girl in 1983.
By 1996 the band had been through many changes including the addition of Johnny Gill who became a member in 1987.This song and it’s parent Album,’Home Again’marked all six members playing together for the first time in eight years.
‘Hit Me Off” samples heavily from the song ‘Storm King’ by the Jazz musician Bob James,the sleeve notes also say the song samples ‘One Nation Under A Groove’ by Funkadelic,but I can’t hear it.
‘I’m down to take it slow ’cause you know that she’s a winner.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
237-Elton John-Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
1973-Number 6 single.
Best Bit-At 0.40.’I shall take the heart,for brains do not make one happy and happiness is the best thing in the world.’
According to ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ the Yellow Brick Road is the road that is supposed to lead to life’s fantasies and life’s answers,it is only when you have walked it you realise that what you had was what you were looking for all along.
As with the majority of Elton John songs(see also best songs 946 and 481) the lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin,who first met Elton John after both had answered an advertisement in the UK music paper ‘New Musical Express’ in 1967.
Away from providing the lyrics to dozens of Elton John songs Taupin is also the co-writer of ‘We Built This City,’the 1985 song from Starship,later covered by LadBaby and becoming the Xmas Number 1 of 2018.’
‘Oh,I’ve finally decided my future lies beyond the yellow brick road.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
238-Siouxsie and the Banshees-Dear Prudence.
1983-Number 3 single.
Best Bit-At 1.28.I have chosen a cover version of a Beatles song,some may say I am committing musical blasphemy.
Dear Prudence was written by John Lennon((see also best songs 456-473-599 and 927) for The Beatles 1968 Album ‘The Beatles,’also known as ‘the White Album.’
The subject of the song is Prudence Farrow,the sister of actress Mia Farrow,who were both present when The Beatles(see also best songs 599 and 319) went to India to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.On observing Prudence,Lennon felt she was taking her meditation too far and cutting herself off from the rest of the world,that was his inspiration for the songs lyrics.
In 1983 Siouxsie and the Banshees(see also best songs 668) took their version of the song to Number 3 in the UK,it was meant to fill a gap between Albums while the band were touring but because of it’s success it was added to their next Album,’Hyaena.’This wasn’t the first Beatles cover from Siouxsie and the Banshees as in 1978 they had recorded ‘Helter Skelter’ for their Album ‘The Scream.’
‘The sun is up,the sky is blue it’s beautiful and so are you.Dear Prudence won’t you come out to play?’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
239-Wizzard-See My Baby Jive.
1973-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 1.46.The song which inspired no lesser band than ABBA.
Roy Wood was born on the 8th November 1946 in Kitts Green,Birmingham,England.His first taste of success came as co-founder of The Move,their ten hit singles included the UK Number 1,Blackberry Way,(see best songs 575.)
Wood went on to form The Electric Light Orchestra(see also best songs 970) with Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan in 1970,but left after one Album because of musical differences and formed the ‘Glam Rock’ band Wizzard(see also best songs 821.)
See My Baby Jive is heavily influenced by the 1960’s recording technique of Phil Spector’s ‘Wall Of Sound'(see also best songs 262.) Roy Wood said,’With two cellists,two drummers,two saxophone players,plus guitar,bass and keyboards what else can you do but create a Phil Spector sound.
Swedish group ABBA have cited the song as an influence on their Eurovision classic Waterloo as they were looking for that ‘Wall Of Sound,’vibe.
‘She said my bed get’s into your hair so give me back my comb.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
240-Wild Cherry-Play That Funky Music.
1976-Number 7 single.
Best Bit-At 0.01.Wild Cherry started out life as a Rock band,one night when they were playing a black audience member shouted ‘Play some Funky music white boy.’
The bands founding member and writer of this song Rob Parissi immediately wrote down the phrase on a bar order pad.On completion of the song the other band members were concerned about the lyrics but Parissi insisted onkeeping them.
Wild Cherry were formed as a Rock band from Mingo Junction,Ohio,U.S in 1970,by 1975 Rob Parissi was the only original member left,he recruited new personnel and they recorded four studio Albums until the parting of ways in 1979.
Parissi got the idea for the bands name from a box of cough drops he saw when he was in hospital.
‘Play That Funky Music’ was inspired by the Ohio Players 1974 song ‘Fire,'(see also best songs 506) especially the bassline and vocal stylings.
‘They were dancin’ and singin’ and movin’ to the groovin’ and just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

COMING NEXT THE BEST 240.

Ain’t you heard of the starving millions
Ain’t you heard of contraception
Do you really a program of sterilisation
Take control of the population boom
It’s in your living room
Keep a generation gap
Try wearing a cap.