THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER

903-Duran Duran-Planet Earth.

1981-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 2.52.What I think they are saying is, listen up world, we have something new, and original, and exciting, that we want to show you.

The ‘New Romantic’ scene had sprung up at the back end of the 1970’s, mainly in London,and Birmingham, and in 1981 bands such as Spandau Ballet, and Duran Duran, were just about to commercialise it, with their fashion, and ‘Radio Friendly’, Pop songs.

The ‘New Romantic’ movement was influenced by artists such as David Bowie, and Bryan Ferry, with the clothes they wore, and also by the ‘Romantic’ period of the late 18th Century, and early 19th Century, from where the movement took it’s name.

Duran Duran were formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978, and although other members have come and gone, the most recognisable are, Simon Le Bon (vocals,) Nick Rhodes (keyboards,) John Taylor (bass,) Roger Taylor (drummer,) and Andy Taylor (guitarist,) none of the Taylor’s are related.In the UK they have achieved two Number 1 singles, and one UK Number 1 Album. Their latest release to date, was the 2015 ‘Paper Gods’ Album, which was their 14th studio Album.

‘Like some New Romantic looking for the TV sound, you’ll see I’m right some other time.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

904-Feeder-Buck Rogers.

2001-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 0.28. For the youngsters, a C.D. player was something that you could listen to music on, it was introduced many years after the Gramophone, but well before the computer.

Feeder are a Welsh Rock band, formed in Newport, in 1994 by Grant Nicholas, Jon Lee (1968-2002,) and Taka Hirose, the band are named after Nicholas’ pet goldfish.

‘Buck Rogers’ was written by Grant Nicholas, with the aim of having the American Rock Band ‘SR-71’ record it, as he thought it didn’t suit the style of music Feeder were trying to achieve, but their producer Gil Norton saw the potential, and convinced them to record it themselves.The song tells the story of a relationship ending,in which the girlfriend of the narrator leaves him for a character called Buck Rogers. The songs writer has said, ‘I was going through a break up, and it was inspired by that.’ The songs title was inspired by the television series ‘Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,’ Nicholas had been experimenting on a keyboard, and told his engineer, Matt Sime, that he thought what he was playing sounded futuristic, they both agreed a good title would be Buck Rogers.

Nicholas has stated that the lyrics are meant to be stupid and funny,he has said that people always ask him about the lyric ‘Drink Cider from a lemon,’ he has said that as a teenager he and his friends would go out drinking cider, but because of it’s taste, they would add lemonade.

‘He’s got a brand new car, looks like a Jaguar, it’s got leather seats, it’s got a CD player.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

905-Status Quo-Forty Five Hundred Times.

1973-Has never been released as a single.

Best Bit-At 4.42.’You say tomato, I say tomahto.’

Status Quo were formed in 1962 by Francis Rossi, and Alan Lancaster, and originally called The Spectres, Rick Parfitt joined in 1967.They have achieved 60 top 40 singles in the UK, which is more than any other Rock Band, and have sold more than 115 million Albums, and singles.Status Quo (see also best songs 108) had been touring America, and had picked up a few local colloquialisms. In the States they say 45 hundred times, in the UK, we say four thousand, five hundred times.The reason that particular number was chosen, was because it fit the song musically.

The song is about pleading with a girl to stay in a relationship, and was co-written by Francis Rossi, and Rick Parfitt (1948-2016.) They have both said it is one of their favourite songs by the band, and it was also voted the Number 1 song of all time, by the bands fans.The song is the closing track on their 1973 Album ‘Hello,’ but there are live versions of the song available, some stretching to in excess of 30 minutes.

‘Problems halved, are the problems that we can share, white lies in our eyes, together not really there.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

906-Booker T. & the M.G.’s-Green Onions.

1962-It did not chart in the UK until 1980, when reaching Number 7.

Best Bit-At 1.52.I would be pleased to have this as part of my five a day, at anytime.

Booker T. & the M. G.’s were formed as the house band at Stax Records, their equivalent at Tamla Motown were the ‘Funk Brothers.’ The musicians who played on this song were Booker T. Jones (organ, and piano,) Steve Cropper (guitar,) Lewie Steinberg (bass,) (1933-2016,) and Al Jackson Jr. (drums) (1935-1975.) In 1965 Steinberg was replaced by Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn who remained with the band until his death in 2012. Apart from releasing their own music,they have also played on hundreds of other artists songs, some of which appear in this countdown, including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Isaac Hayes.’Green Onions’ developed in the recording studio from an original idea from Booker T. Jones, which was developed upon by the other group members, resulting in all four receiving song writing credits.The song was a major hit on Billboard in 1962 when it reached Number three, but it didn’t chart in the UK until featured in the 1979 film Quadrophenia, gaining the song new fans.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

907-Puddle of Mudd-She Hates Me.

1993-It was not released until 2003 when reaching Number 14.

Best Bit-At 1.36.I don’t think this guy is under any illusion as to what she thinks of him.

Puddle of Mudd were formed in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.,in 1993 by Wes Scantlin (vocals,) Jimmy Allen (lead guitar,) Sean Salmmon (bass,) and Kenny Birkitt (drums,) they used to practice next to the ‘Missouri River Levee,’ which inspired the bands name, Scantlin is the groups one constant. It would be a further eight years before Scantlin would get his big break, after Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit heard a demo tape, and helped him put together a new band.

‘She Hates Me’ had been written back in 1993 by Scantlin, and the bands original lead guitarist Jimmy Allen, who had left the group in 1997.Allen was inspired to write the lyrics after splitting with his girlfriend, who parted from him, on not very good terms.The song is filed under the ‘Post Grunge’ genre, and is very much in the style of ‘Nirvana.’ There have been accusations made that the song is a rip off of the 1993 song from the band ‘Suicidal Tendencies” track ‘I Saw Your Mommy.’ The chords and the medley of the song are also very similar to ‘Summer Nights,’ from the film ‘Grease,’ and sometimes at gigs the band perform the two songs as a medley.

‘Met a girl, thought she was grand, fell in love, found out first hand.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

908-Guy Marks-Loving You Has Made Me Bananas.

1978-Number 25 single.

Best Bit-At 0.58.The greatest compliment I can pay to this song, is to say it is just as good as the ‘Big Band’ songs from the 1930’s, and 1940’s, that it is ‘taking the mickey’ out of.

If you didn’t know that this song was a ‘spoof,’ and was actually written in 1968, then you could be forgiven for thinking it was a ’78’ vinyl pressing, from some 40 years earlier.

Guy Marks was born Mario Scarpa, 31st October, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.,he died, 28th November, 1987.

During his career he was a very successful impersonator, comedian,actor,and singer, appearing alongside all the big American stars of the day, including many appearances on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’, and ‘The Joey Bishop Show’, where he was a regular.As part of his night club act, Marks would do a routine where he would mimic a local radio broadcaster from the 1930’s era, and then go in to a routine where he would parody the singer of a big band. In 1968 Marks released an Album called ‘Loving You Has Made Me Bananas,’ from where this song, when re-issued in 1978 in the UK became a hit.To promote the song, Guy Marks appeared on ‘Top Of The Pops,’ providing a refreshing change of someone actually singing live, and not miming.

‘Oh, your red scarf matches your eyes, you closed your cover before striking, father had the shipfitter blues, and loving you has made me bananas.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

909-David Guetta and Chris Willis featuring Fergie and LMFAO-Gettin’ Over You.

2010-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.13. Turn up that Guetta Blaster!

‘Gettin’ Over You’ in it’s original form was called ‘Gettin’ Over,’ and featured on David Guetta’s forth studio Album ‘One Love, from 2009, the original version just featured the vocals of Chris Willis.

David Guetta (see also best songs 260) had produced the Black Eyed Peas 2009 Number 1 song ‘I Got A Feeling’ (see also best songs 899 and 234,) and Will.i am wanted to include this song on their Album ‘The E.N.D.,’ but Guetta wanted to use it himself. Fergie was also very keen on the song, and a compromise was reached, where the song would be re-recorded for Guetta’s deluxe edition of ‘One Love,’ to be called ‘One More Love,’ released in 2010, with vocals provided by Fergie, Chris Willis, and Red Foo, and Sky Blu, of LMFAO (see also best songs 63.)

Chris Willis has said,’It was really, really incredible. I was really intimidated because I was familiar with the Black Eyed Peas. There was Fergie right there, in all of her glory, singing and being a diva.’ LMFAO’s Redfoo also commented,’ The concept is, you’re in love with a girl, and then you guys separate, she’s probably with Lil Jon, or somebody, so I’m gonna party till you come get me.’

‘People in the place, if you’ve ever felt love, then you know, yeah you know, what I’m talking about.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

910-Peter Sarstedt-Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?

1969-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.31.First of all lets get the important bit out of the way,The ‘Topless Swimsuit,’ consisting of only a brief, close fitting bottom, and two thin straps, was conceived by the Austrian fashion designer Rudi Gernreich, in 1964.

Peter Sarstedt was born 10th December, 1941, in Delhi, British India, but moved to the UK with his family in 1954, he died of a degenerative brain disease in 2017.

Sarstedt was the brother of teen idol, Eden Kane (see also best songs 997,) who had a UK Number 1 in 1961, with ‘Well I Ask You,’ Another brother, Robin Sarstedt also charted in the UK with his cover of the Hoagy Carmichael song,’My Resistance Is Low,’ which reached Number three in 1976. This makes the brothers the only three siblings to have had solo hits in UK chart history.

‘Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?’ is a song about a fictional girl called Marie-Claire who grew up in the poverty stricken back streets of Naples, who becomes a member of the ‘Jet Set,’ and goes to live in Paris. Sarstedt has said that the song is not about one particular person, but was inspired by his future wife, Anita Atke.

In 1997 Sarstedt wrote a sequel to the song called, ‘Last of the Breed,’ this song can be found on his Album ‘England’s Lane.’There were plans for a third and final instalment, but because of ill health, Starstedt never got around to completing it.

‘He sent you a racehorse for Christmas, and you keep it just for fun, for a laugh, ha ha.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

911-Stargard-”Theme Song from ‘Which Way Is Up.”

1977-Number 19 single.

Best Bit-At 5.22.On the Richter scale of Funky music, this one has a seismographic oscillation of 8.9.,and I’m not exaggerating.

Stargard were an American R&B, Funk, and Soul girl group, originally consisting of Rochelle Runnells, Debra Anderson, and Janice Williams, they were similar in appearance to the Disco group ‘Labelle,’ and could possibly be described as a more raunchy ‘Pointer Sisters.’They were active between 1977-1982,recording five studio Albums, and releasing 10 singles. In the UK their 1978 song,’What You Waitin’ For,’ gave them a second hit when reaching Number 39.

‘Theme Song from ‘Which Way Is Up,”’ was written by the legendary Norman Whitfield (1940-2008,) for the 1977 movie,’Which Way Is Up?’ starring Richard Pryor, the song would also appear on the girls self titled debut Album, on which Whitfield also wrote the song ‘The Force.’

When the band became a duo in 1980, after Debra Anderson had left the group, they released their forth studio Album, ‘Back 2 Back’, which was also produced by Norman Whitfield (see also best songs 777-569-533-480-346 and 233.)

‘I had a little trouble in the home town, things got Funky so I had to leave.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

912-Weezer-Buddy Holly.

1994-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 2.21.Happy Days was set in the 1950’s, it was a very popular show in the 1970’s.

Weezer recorded this song in the 1990’s, and you are listening to it in the 2020’s.Weezer were formed in 1992 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. by Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Brian Bell, and Scott Shriner, they took their name from what Rivers Cuomo’s father called him as a child, in jest.The songs video is one of the most popular to ever air on MTV, set in the 1950’s, in the diner used in the ‘Happy Days’ television sit-com, and using some very clever editing, to make it look like the band are playing to the original cast.

‘Buddy Holly’ was written by Rivers Cuomo, and is loosely based on his real life experiences. Cuomo had a girlfriend (possibly only platonic,) that his friends teased him about, because she was Asian. In the song Cuomo is saying he will always stand by her, he is Buddy Holly, and she is Mary Tyler Moore.

Why were these two iconic names chosen to represent this songs subject? Buddy Holly(1936-1959,) had married Maria Santiago, and there were some who disapproved of the marriage, and Mary Tyler Moore (1936-2017,) has been described as having an ‘Outwardly bubbly personality, and trademark broad toothy smile, that disguised an inner fragility.

‘The song ‘Buddy Holly’ was originally released on September 7th, 1994, on what would have been Buddy Holly’s 58th birthday.

‘What’s with these homies dissin’ my girl, why do they gotta front?’