THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

785-Chris Brown featuring Benny Benassi -Beautiful People.

2011-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 3.13.This uplifting song makes you realise that everyone is beautiful, even the ugly people.

Christopher Maurice Brown was born May 5th, 1989, in Tappahannock, Virginia, United States, he has sold over 140 million records worldwide, making him one of the world’s best selling music artists.He has also collaborated on 101 Billboard Hot 100 singles at the time of writing, placing him seventh in the all time most charted songs category.

‘Beautiful People’ was co-written by Brown, and Benny Benassi, and Alle Benassi, with the latter two also producing.Benny, and Alle are cousins, and both come from Reggio Emillia, in Northern Italy,they have worked together since the 1980’s,calling themselves the Benassi Bros. Alle, and Benny had their greatest success to date in 2002, when ‘Satisfaction’ reached Number 2 in the UK, and also became a worldwide hit (see also best songs 1025.)

‘Beautiful People’ is taken from Chris Brown’s forth studio Album ‘F.A.M.E.,’ and can also be found on Benny Benassi’s third Studio Album ‘Electroman,’ from 2011. The song sends out a positive message, Chris Brown (see also best songs 210) has said,’It wasn’t a selfish record,it wasn’t me bragging, or boasting, or talking about cars, or money, or girls.It was me being able to inspire people with dance music.We have a lot of tragic things going on, and the world needs to come together as a whole, and stop the negativity.’

‘Live your life, live your life, let the love inside, It’s your life,it’s your life, got to live it right.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

786-Anthony Newley-Why.

1960-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.09.Anthony Newley was an early influence on the singing style of a young David Bowie, which can clearly be heard on Bowie’s mid 1960’s songs,so now you know who is to blame for ‘The Laughing Gnome.’

Anthony Newley was born in London, England, on September 24th, 1931, and died from renal cancer on April 14th, 1999, during his long and successful career he was a singer, and songwriter, and a stage, and screen actor.As a recording artist Newley achieved 12 UK top 40 singles, including two Number 1 records, this song being one of them, and the other also from 1960, was ‘Do You Mind.’Newley had even greater success as a songwriter, with his writing partner Leslie Bricusse he wrote ‘Feeling Good’ for the musical ‘The Roar of the Greasepaint-The Smell of the Crowd,’a song made famous originally by Nina Simone, and later by Michael Buble, and Muse.He also co-wrote the theme song of the 1964 James Bond film ‘Goldfinger,’ with John Barry, and with Leslie Bricusse received an Academy Award nomination for the film score to the film ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ in 1971.

‘Why’ is a cover version of a 1959 Billboard Number 1 single, originally recorded by Frankie Avalon, in the UK his version had stalled at Number 20. The song was co-written by Peter De Angelis, and Bob Marcucci, who had signed Avalon to his ‘Chancellor’ record label, his other notable signing was Fabian.

In 1972 the song became a hit again, when Donny Osmond took his version to Number 3 in the UK.

‘No broken hearts for us,’cause we love each other, and with our faith and trust, there could be no other.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

787-Nomad-(I Wanna Give You) Devotion.

1991-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.49.As well as conveying a message of love, there are also a couple of political comments relevant to the era, about Poll Tax, and ex Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Nomad were the duo of Steve McCutcheon, and Damon Rochefort, Nomad is Damon spelt backwards.They had a further UK top 40 single, when ‘Just a Groove’ reached Number 16, also in 1991.

(‘I Wanna Give You) Devotion’ was co-written by McCutcheon, Rochefort, and Bristol born DJ/Rapper, MC Mikee Freedom, who provided the male vocals on the track.

The song is noteworthy for being the first hit for Steve McCutcheon, known professionally as Steve Mac, he is one of the most successful songwriter/producers in modern British music. To date he has contributed to 30 UK Number 1 singles, working with numerous artists including, Westlife, Little Mix, Calvin Harris, and Susan Boyle.

Damon Rochefort wrote and produced hits for Kim Wilde, and Michelle Gayle among others, in the 1990’s, before switching career’s to become a script-writer.He initially started out writing several episodes of the sit-com ‘Birds of a Feather’, and since 2004 he has written over 200 episodes of Coronation Street, including Deidre Barlow’s funeral, and the 50th anniversary live tram crash.

The female vocals on the track are provided by Sharon D.Clarke MBE, she was also the vocalist on the F.P.I.Project’s 1989 song ‘Rich in Paradise/Going Back to My Roots’,(see also best songs 414) which was a top 40 UK hit. Clarke has gone on to a very successful career as an actress, with one of her main roles playing Lola Griffin in the medical drama Holby City.She has also played leading roles in many West End musicals, including being the original ‘Killer Queen’ in We Will Rock You.

‘Poll tax came, and up went the rise, open your eyes, and realise, I’m a true disguise.Like Hawk the Slayer, he came and quartered,Maggie came but now she’s slaughtered.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

788-Nirvana-Lithium.

1992-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 1.58.Nirvana biographer Michael Azerrad described the song’s title as a reference to Karl Marx’s statement that religion is ‘The Opium of the people.’In other words religion can bring comfort to a person, in the same way that a drug such as Lithium can also help.

‘Lithium’ was written by Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) who said,’the song is about a man who, after the death of his girlfriend, turns to religion, as a last resort to keep himself alive, to keep him from suicide.’Cobain has said that while the narrative of the song ‘Lithium’ was fictional,’I did infuse some of my personal experiences, like breaking up with girlfriends, and having bad relationships.’Cobain has acknowledged that the song was possibly inspired by the time he spent living with his friend Jesse Reed, and his ‘Born-again Christian’ parents.

The drug Lithium is a psychiatric medication, used primarily to treat bipolar disorder, and treat major depressive disorder, that does not improve following the use of antidepressants, it helps reduce the risk of suicide.Kurt Cobain (see also best songs 9) was born February 20th, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington, United States, and died on April 5th, 1994, by committing suicide by a gunshot to his head.During his later years, Cobain had struggled with Heroin addiction, and depression.

‘I’m so happy ’cause today I’ve found my friends, they’re in my head.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

789-Junior Murvin-Police and Thieves.

1976-It didn’t chart in the UK until 1980, when reaching Number 23.

Best Bit-At 3.45. The songs producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry was known for his eccentric, and superstitious behaviour. Before an artist played, he would often ‘bless’ his recording equipment with mystical invocations, he would blow ganja smoke on to his tapes while recording, and surround himself with burning candles, and incense.It is said he would also spray tapes with urine, blood, and whiskey, to enhance their spiritual properties.

Junior Murvin was born Murvin Junior Smith around 1946 in Saint James,Jamaica, he died on December 2nd, 2013, from diabetes.In 1976 he auditioned his own song ‘Police and Thieves’ for the legendary Reggae music producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, (born in 1946, in Kendal, Jamaica) who added his own ideas to the song, and recorded several alternative versions for release.

‘Police and Thieves’is a song about gang war, and police brutality, and although not a hit in the UK in 1976, became an anthem, as the Notting Hill Carnival erupted in to a riot.Joe Strummer, and Paul Simonon who had just formed the Clash were caught up in the rioting (see also best songs 867-638 and 294,) which inspired them to cover the song on their self titled debut Album in 1977, in a style that they called ‘Punk Reggae,’ not ‘White Reggae.’On first hearing the Clash version, Junior Murvin said,’They have destroyed Jah work.’

Murvin’s version finally became a hit in the UK in 1980 when featured in the film ‘Rockers. It was also brought to the attention of a new generation when used again in the 1998 movie,’Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

‘All the crimes committed day by day,no one try to stop it in any way.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

790-T. Rex-Hot Love.

1971-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.58.A lot of time is spent by people discussing great intro’s to songs, but very little is spoken about the best ‘outro’, I would like to put this one forward as a strong contender.

Marc Bolan (see also best songs 386 and 67) was born Mark Feld on September 30th, 1947,in Stoke Newington. London, England, he died in a car crash on September 16th, 1977, at the age of 29. Bolan never learned to drive, it is said that he had a fear of premature death. Despite the fear, cars or automotive components are at least mentioned, or are the subject of many of his songs. He appeared twice on the BBC music show ‘Top Of The Pops’ in March 1971 to promote this song, dressed for the first time in shiny satin stage-wear, and glittery makeup, music historians see this as a crucial trigger in what was to become known as Glam Rock.

‘Hot Love’ was produced by the legendary Toni Visconti, who had previously produced (and would again later in the decade produce) David Bowie, the other artist significantly cited with the development of the genre.’Glam Rock.’

The only surviving member of the classic line-up of T.Rex is drummer Bill Legend, as percussionist Mickey Finn died of liver complications in 2003, and bass guitarist Steve Currie, like Bolan also died in a car crash, in 1981.

‘Well she ain’t no witch, and I love the way she twitch-a ha, ha.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

791-Terror Squad-Lean Back.

2004-Number 24 single.

Best Bit-At 1.31.The dance they are doing is called ‘The Rockaway,’ I would imagine it is one of the easier dance routines to choreograph.

‘Lean Back’ is one of the most successful Hip-Hop songs of all time,it spent three weeks at Number 1 on Billboard in August, and September 2004, on the best selling songs on Billboard since 1958, it is the 337th highest seller.The Terror Squad were formed in 1998, in The Bronx, New York, United States, by Joseph Cartagena who goes by the name of Fat Joe.He had earlier started a record label also called ‘Terror Squad’, and signed Rap artists to release solo material on the label, as well as working under the Terror Squad band banner.One of the original members of the Terror Squad was the critically acclaimed rapper Big Punisher who died of a heart attack in 2000, this forced Fat Joe in to recruiting new members Remy Ma, and Tony Sunshine, who both appear on this song.

Fat Joe was born on August 19th, 1970, in The Bronx, New York, like Big Punisher (1971-2000) he has suffered with weight problems all his life, and by 1996 weighed over 21 stone. In 2011 Fat Joe unveiled his latest weight loss efforts in the video for his song ‘Drop a Body,’ after shedding 88lb of his previous weight of 350lb.

One of the songs co-writers is Remy Ma who performs the second verse, she is one of only six female rappers to have performed on a Billboard Number 1 single.

‘Said my n….. don’t dance, we just pull up our pants, and do the Rockaway,now lean back, lean back, lean back.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

792-Bob Dylan-Subterranean Homesick Blues.

1965-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 0.10.It appears Dylan was doing Rap, well over a decade before anyone else.

‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ reflects certain elements of American society in the mid 1960’s. Using several slang terms the song references the drug culture, and politics of the time, the turmoil surrounding Vietnam, and the American Civil Rights Movement.Dylan (see also best songs 358-103-36 and 7) has said that inspiration for the song came from the writing technique of the ‘Beat Poets’ of the 1950’s,such as Jack Kerouac, and Allen Ginsberg.He also cited ‘Scat’ songs of the 1940’s, and the Chuck Berry song ‘Too Much Monkey Business,’from 1956 as a further influence.As for the songs title,the ‘Subterranean’ is probably a nod towards Jack Kerouac’s 1958 novel,’The Subterranean’s,’and ‘Homesick Blues,’ is Dylan telling us that even so he has made it big, he misses his past life.In one of John Lennon’s last interviews before he died in 1980, he said that on hearing the song, he was so captivated by it, that he was worried he would never be able to write anything that could compete with it.

In addition to the songs influence on future artists, it can also boast one of the most memorable, and ground breaking promotional film clips, the forerunner to what would become the music video.The clip was shot in an alley close to the Savoy Hotel, in London, with Dylan holding up cue cards with selected words and phrases from the songs lyrics. There are intentional misspellings, and puns throughout the clip,which features brief cameo’s from Allen Ginsberg, and the American Folk singer/songwriter Bob Neuwirth.

‘Johnny’s in the basement, mixing up the medicine, I’m on the pavement, thinking about the government’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

793-The Wannadies-You and Me Song.

1996-Number 18 single.

Best Bit-At 0.49.If your a fan of Easy Listening music, then the first 49 seconds will be right up your street. If you love Rock N’ Roll, then you can pogo around the room for the next 1.59 seconds.

The Wannadies were an Alternative Rock band formed in 1988 in Skelleftea, Northern Sweden, their Albums, and singles have only ever charted in their home country of Sweden, and also in the UK, where they have had three top 40 hits, the other two being ‘Hit,’ which reached Number 20 in 1997, and ‘Someone Somewhere,’ which peaked at Number 38 in 1996. They were active until 2009, but did reform for a reunion concert in 2016.

‘You and Me Song’ was originally released in 1994 from the Wannidies third studio Album ‘Be My Girl,’ but had little impact, only reaching Number 119 in the UK, but after the film producer Baz Luhrmann chose the song for the soundtrack to the 1996 movie ‘Romeo +Juliet,’ the bands record label re-released the song.

The song is also famous for being used in the British soap opera Coronation Street, in one of their most memorable scenes, when serial killer Richard Hillman drove his car in to a canal, while holding the Platt family hostage in the vehicle.

‘Always when we fight, I try to make you laugh, until everything’s forgotten, I know you hate that.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

794-Guy Mitchell-Singing the Blues.

1956-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.41.Not to be confused with the kind of Blues that Lead Belly, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Bessie Smith, or B.B.King were known for singing.

‘Singing the Blues’ is by far the best known song, of over 400 written by Melvin Endsley (1934-2004.) Endsley was born in Drasco, Arkansas, United States, at the age of three he contracted polio,requiring him to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

The first recording of the song was by Country singer Marty Robbins (1925-1982,) who took the song to Number 17 on Billboard in 1956, but it was the recording by Guy Mitchell which was the most successful.Guy Mitchell was born Albert Cernik on February 22nd, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, he died on July 1st, 1999, as well as having a singing career he was also an actor, and had his own television show,’The Guy Mitchell Show,’which ran between 1957-1958 on the ‘ABC,’ network. It was Mitch Miller (1911-2010) who was in charge of talent at Columbia Records who gave him his stage name,’My name is Mitchell, and you seem like a nice guy.’In total, including this song, Mitchell recorded six, one million selling singles.

In the 1950’s it was not unusual for more than one version of a song to be in the chart at the same time.In 1956 Guy Mitchell spent 10 non-consecutive weeks at Number 1, the sequence was broken by Tommy Steele’s version, which spent a week at the top.The song has also charted on three more occasions in the UK, in 1980 for Dave Edmunds (Number 28,) in 1994 for Daniel O’Donnell (number 23,) and in 2009 for Cliff Richard & the Shadows (Number 40.)

‘Oh the moon and stars no longer shine, the dream is gone I thought was mine.’