THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

865-Blake Shelton-Austin.

2001-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 3.13.If your accusing me of being a big sentimental slush, for including this most cheesy of love songs, then I’m guilty your honour.

Blake Shelton was born on June 18th, 1976, in Ada, Oklahoma, United States.He is one of Country Music’s most successful artists, releasing 11 studio Albums to date, and achieving 26 Number 1 singles on the ‘Billboard Hot Country Songs’ chart.

‘Austin’ was his first single release, from his self titled debut Album, released in 2001.The Album was produced by Bobby Braddock, a successful songwriter of Country songs, who is credited with discovering Blake Shelton. In the UK, Braddock’s best known song is ‘D-I-V-O-R-C-E,’ a 1976 Number 12 hit for Tammy Wynette.’Austin’ was written by David Kent, and Kirsti Manna, and first offered to fellow Country Music artist Clay Walker, but he turned it down.It is also said that both Shelton, and Braddock were not too keen at first, but it grew on them.

The song tells of a woman who breaks up with her boyfriend and moves to Austin, Texas, thinking she would have a better life there, but within a year she realises that she was wrong, and wants him back. She calls him, and is always greeted by his answerphone, which always ends with the phrase,’And P.S. if this is Austin, I still love you.’

‘And by the way boy,this is no machine your talkin’ to, can’t you tell this is Austin, and I still love you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

866-Kate Bush-Wuthering Heights,

1978-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.47.While most teenage girls were reading ‘Jackie,’ Catherine Bush was reading Emily Bronte’s novel.

Kate Bush was born Catherine Bush, 30th July, 1958, in Bexleyheath, Kent, England.She became the first ever female artist to top the UK singles chart with a self written composition, when ‘Wuthering Heights’ topped the chart for four weeks in 1978.Kate Bush was inspired to write the song after watching the 1967 BBC adaption of the 1847 novel Wuthering Heights, she then read the book, and after learning she shared the same birthday of July 30th with the author Emily Bronte (1818-1848,) she felt an even closer affiliation.

Wuthering Heights is sung from the perspective of the books character Catherine Earnshaw, who is pleading at Heathcliff’s window to be allowed in, Catherine is actually a ghost. The songs lyrics include dialogue from the novel such as,’Let me in , I’m cold,’ and ‘Bad dreams in the night.’

The song was arranged and produced by Andrew Powell (see also best songs 866-130-81 and 2.) Other artists who played on the track include ex Cockney Rebel members Duncan Mackay (Hammond organ,) and Stuart Elliott (drums,) (see also best songs 2 and 410.)

‘Out on the wiley, windy moors, we’d roll and fall in green, you had a temper like my jealousy.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

867-Big Audio Dynamite-E=MC2.

1986-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 3.37.You don’t have to be a Albert Einstein to work out how good this song is.

Big Audio Dynamite were formed in London, England, in 1984 by Mick Jones after his dismissal from The Clash (see also best songs 294 and 638,) where he had been the lead guitarist.Jones is the bands one constant, they were active between 1984-1997, but did reform to tour in 2011.

‘E=MC2’ was co-written by Jones, and original ‘BAD’ band member Don Letts, who provided the majority of the lyrics.The song is a tribute to the film director Nicholas Roeg (1928-2018,) the lyrics refer to several of his films, including ‘Performance,”Walkabout,”The Man Who Fell To Earth,’ and ‘Bad Timing.’ The samples of dialogue are taken from the 1970 film ‘Performance,’ which starred Mick Jagger, and James Fox.The song is named after Albert Einstein’s formula that made nuclear power possible (E=MC2,) Einstein is one of the four characters portrayed in the 1985 film ‘Insignificance,’ along with Marilyn Monroe, Joseph McCarthy, and Joe DiMaggio, three other iconic figures from history.

‘Space guy fell from the sky, scratched my head, and wondered why.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

868-Tony Bennett-I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

1962-Number 25 single.

Best Bit-At 0.45.The very last of the ‘Classic Crooners.’

‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ was originally written in 1953 by,at that time,the amateur song writing duo of Douglas Cross (lyrics,) and George Cory (music,) (1920-1978.) The song was first performed by the American Opera singer Claramae Turner (1920-2013,) as an encore, but she never got around to doing a studio recording.The song eventually came to the attention of Jazz Pianist, and arranger Ralph Sharon (1923-2015,) who had worked with Tony Bennett since 1958, He and Bennett were on tour, and Bennett first introduced the song when performing at the ‘San Francisco Fairmont Hotel,’ in December 1961.On May 15,1984, the song was adopted by the City, and County of San Francisco,’ as one of it’s two official anthems, the other being the ‘Theme from San Francisco,’ from the 1936 film ‘San Francisco.’

Tony Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926, in Long Island, New York, U.S. In order to honour Bennett on the occasion of his 90th birthday in 2016, the Fairmont Hotel where he first performed the song unveiled a statue of Bennett, and the songs history with San Francisco.

‘When I come home to you San Francisco, your golden sun will shine for me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

869-Hank C. Burnette-Spinning Rock Boogie.

1976-Number 21 single.

Best Bit-At 2.17.If you could make a Rockabilly/Rock ‘N’ Roll noise on a kitchen sink, I’m sure it would have been added.

Hank C. Burnette was born on December 12th, 1944, in the little northern town of Sveg, in Sweden, he was christened Sven-Ake Kenneth Hogberg.

One of his early inspirations came about from seeing Elvis Presley perform on television, and he named his first band formed in the 1950’s, ‘Teddy & The Teddy Bears,’ after the Elvis song.His stage name came about in the early 1960’s, when Sven, and his then manager Larry Stevens chose ‘Hank,’ in tribute to Country singer Hank Williams, the ‘C’ is in honour of Chet Atkins, and ‘Burnette,’ is in acknowledgement of Rockabilly performer Johnny Burnette.

‘Spinning Rock Boogie’ was originally written in 1971, but didn’t become a hit until 1976, when shortened from it’s original four minutes plus, to just under three, and promoted by the ‘Sonet’ record label in Europe.Hank C. Burnette has recorded several Albums throughout his career, but this song remains as his only one to chart, to date.

‘Can’t stop, a keep Rockin’ kid.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

870-Kelly Clarkson-Since U Been Gone.

2005-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 0.47.Ever wondered why so many songs sound the same? It’s the fault of Max Martin.

Karl Martin Sandberg was born in Sweden in 1971, he has written or co-written 23 Billboard Number 1 singles to date, writing for artists such as The Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift.

‘Since U Been Gone’ was co-written by Martin, and the almost as prolific hit maker, Lukasz Gottwald, who is better known by his working name of Dr. Luke (see also best songs 824.)By 2004 Martin had already written, and produced many ‘Pop’ hits,and was wanting to produce something with more of a ‘Rock’ influence. Martin, and Dr. Luke had been listening to,and admiring ‘Alternative Rock,’ and ‘Indie Music,’ and were inspired by the group, the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s.’ and particularly their song,’Maps.’They realised that by writing a song in that style, but adding a big chorus, would give them a hit.

The song was first offered to Pink, who turned it down,then given to Hilary Duff, but she rejected it because she couldn’t reach it’s higher notes, so finally on the recommendation of the music veteran Clive Davis it was offered to Kelly Clarkson, who was the first ever winner of ‘American Idol’ in 2002. Clarkson was looking to give her music more of a Rock, than Pop edge, for her second Album,’Breakaway,’ and she agreed to record the song, as long as more drums, and guitars were added to the mix.

‘Here’s the thing, we started out friends, it was cool, but it was all pretend, yeah, yeah.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

871-Pet Shop Boys- A Red Letter Day.

1997-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 3.47.A Red letter day, is a day of special significance, it dates back to Roman times (509-27 BC,) when important days were indicated in red, in their calendar.

‘A Red Letter Day’ is taken from the Pet Shop Boys sixth studio Album ‘Bilingual’ from 1996.At the time, the song held the unenviable record of the biggest weekly fall in UK chart history, having entered the top 40 at Number nine, and a week later dropping to Number 42.As with all Pet Shop Boys (see also best songs 378) singles there are many commissioned remixes, and Neil Tennant was so impressed with the Motiv8 remix, that he incorporated the synth line in to the official single, the original version of the song is on the Album. Motiv8 is the working name of Steve Rodway, who was a go to re mixer, particularly in the 1990’s.His biggest success was co-writing, and producing,’Ooh Aah, Just A Little Bit,’ a 1996 Number 1 for Gina G.

‘A Red Letter Day’ tells us that being loved is far more important than material things,and also being accepted for the person you are, is something you should strive to achieve.

‘But for all of those who don’t fit in, who follow their instincts, and are told they sin. This is a prayer, for a different way.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

872-Small Faces-Itchycoo Park.

1967-Number 3 single. When re-released in 1975, it reached Number 13.

Best Bit-At 2.23. When she played the song, I always remember the first female Radio 1 DJ, Annie Nightingale saying, ‘Drummers of the world unite.’

‘Itchycoo Park’ was written by Steve Marriott (1947-1991,) and Ronnie Lane (1946-1997,) and features on the Small Faces 1967 Album,’There Are But Four Small Faces'(see also best songs 1048.)

‘Itchycoo Park’ is the nickname of ‘Little Ilford Park’ in London. An ‘Itchtcoo’ is slang for a flower found in the park, called a ‘stinging nettle,’which can burn your skin, if touched.

The song is about skipping school, to spend the day in the park, but with controversial lyrics such as,’What did you do there? I got high,’ it was banned by all the radio stations, until the Small Faces put out a statement saying that Itchycoo Park was a piece of waste ground in the East End, that the band had played on as kids. Ronnie Lane said that the meaning of getting high, was the buzz of playing truant from school, they put the statement out at 10.0.am, and by lunchtime the ban had been lifted.

‘I feel inclined to blow my mind,get hung up,feed the ducks with a bun.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

873-Bachman-Turner Overdrive-Roll On down the Highway.

1975-Number 22 single.

Best Bit-At 2.35.’Ah, breaker one-nine, this here’s the Rubber Duck. You gotta copy on me, Pig Pen, c’mon?’

‘BTO’ were formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1973, the original line up was Randy Bachman (lead guitar,) Fred Turner (leads vocals, and bass guitar,) and Robbie Bachman (drums.) Blair Thornton (guitar) joined the group in 1974, replacing Tim Bachman, who had been fired after the release of the bands second Album,’Bachman-Turner Overdrive 2.’

‘Roll On down the Highway’ is taken from the bands third studio Album,’Not Fragile’ released in 1974, it was their most successful, and included the Billboard Number 1 song ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’ (see also best songs 1005.)

The Ford Motor Company had contacted the band to write a song for the automotive company’s commercials, but decided against using any of their compositions.Robbie Bachman developed one of Fred Turner’s ideas to form this song.Randy Bachman has said,’It’s like getting an assignment.Write a new commercial for Ford, and you’ll get paid $100,000. Well, I’d sit down, and I’d write a commercial for Ford,’let it roll down the highway,’Ford never picks it up,and I have a song called ‘Roll On down the Highway.”

‘The time’s real short,you know the distance is long, I’d like to have a jet, but it’s not in the song.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

874-Eels-Susan’s House.

1997-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 2.47.Just think if Bon Jovi hadn’t have got there first, they could have called their Album’ Slippery When Wet.’

Before forming Eels, Mark Everett had released music under the name ‘E,’ so when forming Eels with drummer Jonathan ‘Butch’ Norton, and bassist Tommy Walter, he chose the bands name so that their records would be close to ‘E’ solo recordings, in alphabetical ordering.Mark Everett was born in Virginia, United States, in 1963, and formed Eels in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, U.S.,in 1995, they are still active, with Everett being the one constant. Everett’s father was the famous physicist, Hugh Everett, and his maternal grandfather was Harold ‘Kid’ Gore, a legendary football, and basketball coach.’Susan’s House’ is taken from the bands 1996 critically acclaimed debut Album,’Beautiful Freak,’ the piano part is sampled from the 1974 song,’Love Finds It’s Own Way,’ a song written by Jim Weatherly,for Gladys Knight & the Pips, Weatherly does receive co-writers credit, along with Everett.

The song tells the tale of Everett walking from his house, to Susan’s house, and the horrors he encounters along the way, but he is comforted in the knowledge that when he arrives, he will be safe.

‘And I’m thinking,that must be her sister,that must be her sister,right?’