THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
965-Rod Stewart-Farewell.
1974-Number 7 single.
Best Bit-At 3.42.The Album ‘Smiler’ from where this song is taken was Rod Stewart’s fifth solo, and the first to be critically panned. If those same critics had to endure all five volumes of ‘The Great American Songbook,’ they would have been calling ‘Smiler’ a classic.
‘Farewell’ was co-written by Stewart (see also best songs 565-206-179-70 and 34) and Martin Quittenton (1945-2015.) Quittenton also co-wrote ‘Maggie May,’ and ‘You Wear It Well,’ Stewart had invited Quittenton to join The Faces, but declined stating that he didn’t like their wild off stage antics. He left the music business in the mid 1970’s, suffering from mental health problems.
The distinctive Mandolin was played by Ray Jackson who also played on ‘Maggie May,’ he was a member of the Folk/Rock group Lindisfarne at that time. Rick Grech (1946-1990) who played the violin on the track was another notable name, he is best remembered as the bass player in ‘Bind Faith,’ and ‘Traffic.’
The song is about someone feeling they have to move away from home to search for the fame and fortune they think they can achieve.He tells his family, and girlfriend to try not to worry, but he also tells them that things might not work out as he hopes.
‘If you don’t get no mail, you know I’m in jail.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
966-Panjabi MC.-Mundian To Bach Ke.
1997-This original version has never charted in the UK. The 2003 remix featuring Jay-Z, reached Number 5.
Best Bit-At 0.36.It conjures up thoughts of the exotic, tinged in mystery, until you find out the producer is from Coventry, and the song was recorded in Birmingham.
The Panjabi MC is the working name of music producer Rajinder Singh Rai, who was born in Coventry, England, in 1973. He adopted his stage name from the Punjabi language, one of the key things he does is fuse Bhangra music with Hip-Hop music, with this song, his most successful to date, being a prime example.
‘Mundian To Bach Ke’ was originally written and performed by the Indian Bhangra vocalist Labh Janjua (1957-2015,) the Panjabi MC kept the original vocals, but added a sample of the bassline from Busta Rhymes 1998 song ‘Turn it Up (remix) Fire it Up’ (see also best songs 675,) which in turn had sampled the theme music to the 1980’s TV series ‘Knight Rider,’ which is acknowledged, by that songs writer Stu Philips being given a song writing credit, alongside the Panjabi MC. and Labh Janjua.
The song warns a very attractive young girl to not have her head turned by all the boys who will chase after her, she is reminded that she has only one life, so don’t mess things up.
In 2002 the song was re released as ‘Beware of the Boys (Mundian To Bach Ke,’) with this time American Rapper Jay-Z providing the vocals (see also best songs 636-477 and 23,) it went on to great success worldwide, also becoming the first Bhangra song ever to break in to the top 10 singles chart, in the UK.
‘Nimya tu kuch der pa ke rakh le, pale vitch mukhra luiska ke rai.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
967-Public Image Ltd-Rise.
1986-Number 11 single.
Best Bit-At 5.27.’May the road rise with you,’ is a traditional Irish blessing, both of John Lydon’s parents were Irish.
When Lydon (see also best songs 576-323-92 and 27) left the Sex Pistols in January 1978, he formed the experimental rock group Public Image Ltd, with Keith Levine (guitar,) Jah Wobble (bass,) and Jim Walker (drums.) By 1984, and after the release of three studio Albums Lydon was the only surviving member.
For the release of Public Image Ltd’s fifth studio Album,(called ‘Album’) Lydon brought together an impressive collection of musicians, including Steve Vai (guitar,) Tony Williams (1945-1997,drums,) Bill Laswell (bass,) and L.Shanker,(violin.)
Before it’s release ‘Rise’ was titled ‘South African Song,’ it was written by Lydon about the oppression of blacks in South Africa during the apartheid era. Lydon has said,’I read this manual on South African interrogation techniques, and ‘Rise’ is quotes from some of the victims.I related it to my own background, I’ve got Protestant, and Catholic relatives in the North of Ireland, why were they killing each other.’
‘Anger is an energy, anger is an energy, anger is an energy.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
968-Depeche Mode-Useless.
1997-Number 28 single.
Best Bit-At 2.46. I do not condone the use of recreational drugs at all, but there is no doubt that all the way throughout Pop Music history the use of drugs has aided some of the greatest songs to be written. This song is called ‘Useless,’ but it could so easily have been called ‘Use Less.’
‘Useless’ is a song of self loathing, with both the songs writer, Martin Gore, and singer David Gahan, both having suffered personal addictions, throughout most of their adult lives.
Depeche Mode were formed in Basildon, Essex. England in 1980. Vince Clarke (see also best songs 700 and 451) who went on to great success with Yazoo, and Erasure was an original member, leaving after their debut Album,’ Speak & Spell.’ He was replaced by Alan Wilder in 1982, Wilder stayed with the band until 1995. The bands other mainstay is Andy Fletcher, who has always been a part of the band since it’s incarnation.
Depeche Mode’s (see also best songs 261 and 134) longevity is very unusual in the ever changing fads of Pop Music, to survive this long you obviously need natural talent, but you also have to have the ability to not be a one trick pony, The Depeche Mode of 1980 sounds very different to the sound of Depeche Mode in 2017, when we last heard from them.
‘All your stupid ideals, got your head in the clouds, you should see how it feels, with your feet on the ground.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
969-R. Dean Taylor-There’s a Ghost in My House.
1967- Did not chart in the UK until 1974, when reaching Number 3.
Best Bit-At 1.30.The term ‘Northern Soul’ was invented by the record store owner, and musical journalist Dave Godin (1936-2004,) who had noticed Northern football fans who were in London to follow their team, coming into his store to buy records, but they weren’t interested in the latest Soul music, it was the obscure Soul of the mid 1960’s they were after. Godin said,’I devised the name as a shorthand term,it was just to say,if you’ve got customers from the North, don’t waste time playing them records currently in the U.S. black chart, just play them what they like,-‘Northern Soul.”
Richard Dean Taylor was born on May 11th, 1939, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he is one of a select few White artists to have had a hit single on Tamla Motown records. Taylor was originally hired by Motown records subsidiary label ‘V.I.P.’ in 1964 as a songwriter, alongside this song, his other biggest successes for the label were co-writing ‘Love Child,’ and I’m Living in Shame’ (see also best songs 411,) both top 10 hits on Billboard for Diana Ross & the Supremes.
‘There’s a Ghost in My House’ was co-written by Taylor, with the legendary Motown writing team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland (see also best songs 823-650-553-411-212 and 148.) In 1987 a cover version by the Alternative Rock band The Fall, gave them their highest UK chart placing when reaching Number 30.
‘Lookin’ down in my coffee cup, I think I see your face lookin’ up.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
970-Electric Light Orchestra-Ma-Ma-Ma-Belle.
1974-Number 22 single.
Best Bit-At 2.27.In the UK they are affectionately known as the ‘ELO,’ in the States they are called ‘The English guys with the big fiddles.’
Roy Wood of The Move (see also best songs 575) wanted to create a band incorporating violins, cellos. string basses, horns and woodwind to give his music a ‘classical sound,’ taking Rock music in the direction to ‘Pick up where the Beatles left off.’ Together with Bev Bevan, and Jeff Lynne who was now a member of The Move they created the Electric Light Orchestra. In 1972 after the release of their self titled debut Album Wood left the group to form Wizzard (see also best songs 821 and 239.) Since then Jeff Lynne has been the driving force behind the ELO, writing and producing nearly all of their output (see also best songs 25.)
‘Ma-Ma-Ma- Belle’s’ lyrics are not easy to decipher, but it is probably just a simple love song, with the narrator stating he will do anything to make her his. The song is noteworthy for Marc Bolan playing guitar on the track.
‘There’s one thing that’s on my mind, and that’s getting hold of you before I serve my time.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
971-Echo & the Bunnymen-Bring on the Dancing Horse.
1985-Number 21 single.
Best Bit-At 3.36.They had a mate who kept suggesting names, they could have been ‘The Daz Men,’ or ‘Glisseroi and the Fan Extractors,’ but they saw sense, and chose the much more sensible ‘Echo & the Bunnymen.’
Echo & the Bunnymen were formed in Liverpool, England in 1978 by Ian McCulloch, Will Sergeant, and Les Pattinson, their drummer Pete de Fretas (1961-1989) joined in 1979, replacing a drum machine, affectionately known as ‘Echo,’ they were active until 1993. They reformed in 1996, the groups only ever present is Will Sergeant.
Ian McCulloch, one of the songs writers explained it’s meaning.’The dancing horses are statues, It’s about the way people would sooner look at statues than themselves. We revere things that tell us about ourselves. It’s that thing of how we think art is very important. A life without art, who knows what that would be like? We think the Mona Lisa is this thing that’s valuable, when something else isn’t.’
Reading between the lines I personally think the narrator is telling us to make up our own minds, and don’t just take for granted the things you have been told.
‘First I’m gonna make it, then I’m gonna break it, till it falls apart.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
972-Fountains of Wayne-Stacy’s Mom.
2003-Number 11 single.
Best Bit-At 1.41.Have you noticed, Stacy’s Mom is the spitting image of Rod Stewart’s ex missus.
The Fountains of Wayne were formed in 1995 in New York City, U.S., by Chris Collingwood, and Adam Schlesinger, they were soon joined by Jody Porter, and Brian Young, they were active until 2013, recording five studio Albums. The band took their name from a lawn ornament store in Wayne, New Jersey, that is no longer in business.
Stacy’s Mom tells the tale of an adolescent boy who has developed a huge crush on his friend’s very attractive mother. One of the songs co-writers Adam Schlesinger has said that he was inspired to write the song after a friend of his was curiously attracted to his grandmother,’ Well one of my best friends told me my grandmother was really hot. That’s a true story, and my grandmother was pretty hot.’
The song is also a tribute to the American Rock group ‘The Cars,’ with the songs intro being almost note for note identical to The Cars song ‘Just What I Needed.’ The Cars frontman Ric Ocasek (1944-2019) thought that the intro had been taken directly from that track, but Schlesinger says they performed it in the studio, and just, ‘Got it right.’
‘I know it might be wrong, but I’m in love with Stacey’s mom.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
973-Danny & the Juniors-Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay.
1958-Has never charted in the U.K.
Best Bit-At 0.20. They must have been psychic.
In 1958 the ‘new fad’ of Rock and Roll was already in danger of disappearing just as quickly as it had arrived. Elvis Presley was in the army, and Little Richard, and Chuck Berry were causing plenty of controversy. This song was a rallying cry that Rock and Roll was now a part of everyday life.
Danny & the Juniors started out life as a ‘Doo-Wop’ group, formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.,in 1955, their frontman Danny Rapp committed suicide at the age of 41, in 1983. Group member David White (1939-2019) had already co-written the bands breakthrough million selling hit ‘At The Hop,’ and this was the follow up, White along with his long term writing partner John Madara, who had discovered Danny & the Juniors, were also responsible for the ‘Feminist Anthem,’ ‘You Don’t Own Me,’ a hit for Lesley Gore, and also Len Barry’s 1965 U.K. Number 1 single ‘1-2-3.’
‘Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay’ is one of the songs featured in the movie ‘Grease’ from 1978, where it was performed by the American group Sha Na Na. The song is also alluded to by Neil Young in his 1979 song ‘My My, Hey Hey,(Out of the Blue,’) where he sings ‘Rock and Roll is here to stay’ in a mocking manner, as he expresses his disillusionment with fame.
‘If you don’t like Rock ‘N’ Roll, think what you’ve been missing.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
974-Luther Vandross-Never Too Much.
1983- Number 44 single. When remixed, and re-released in 1989, it peaked at Number 13.
Best Bit-At 0.01.’A thousand kisses from you,’ is just not realistic, as you will surely end up with chapped lips.
Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. was born in New York City,U.S. on April 20th, 1951, he died of a heart attack on July 1st, 2005. Vandross was interested in music from the age of three, having been given a phonograph, he taught himself to play the piano by ear. While at high school he founded the first Patti LaBelle Fan Club, of which he was president, in later years he would know her personally.
In the 1970’s Vandross made his living as a backing vocalist, and occasional songwriter, he also wrote, and sang commercial jingles for companies, including, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Burger King. The list of artists Vandross sang backing for is far too substantial to write about here, but significant ones include Roberta Flack, and Donny Hathaway (see also best songs 541,) and David Bowie on his Young Americans Album (see also best songs 209.)
His career breakthrough occurred when singing lead vocal on ‘The Glow of Love,’ and ‘Searching,’ for the studio band ‘Change.’ This led to Epic Records offering him a recording contract, and the release of his debut solo Album ‘Never Too Much,’ on which he wrote six of the seven tracks, arranging and producing it as well.
‘A million days in your arms, is never too much.’
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