THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

735-Teena Marie-Behind the Groove.

1980-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 1.09.Many artists, including Olivia Newton John, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Rush, and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, have sang of the delights of ‘Xanadu,’ but only Teena Marie made it ‘Funky.’

Teena Marie was born Mary Brockert on March 5, 1956, in Santa Monica, California, United States, she died on December 26, 2010. In 2004, while sleeping in a hotel room, a large picture frame fell, and struck her on the head, the blow caused a serious concussion that caused momentary seizures for the rest of her life, a month before her death, she had suffered a ‘generalized tonic-clonic seizure,’which probably led to her death.

Teena Marie first found success when signing with the ‘Gordy’ record label, a subsidiary of Motown Records. Her first Album for the label,’Wild and Peaceful’ in 1979 was produced by Rick James (see also best songs 418,) and because her picture didn’t appear on the cover, many people believed she was an African/American. It wasn’t until appearing on ‘Soul Train’ in 1979, becoming the show’s first white female performer, that the myth was finally disproved.Marie would appear on Soul Train a total of nine times,more than any other white act.

‘Behind the Groove’ is taken from Teena Marie’s second studio Album ‘Lady T,’ from 1980, and with Rick James (1948-2004) not being available she turned to Richard Rudolph, who co-wrote this song with Marie, and also produced the Album. Rudolph was the husband of Minnie Ripperton (1947-1979,) and had co-written, and produced ‘Lovin’ You,'(see also best songs 503,) her 1975 Billboard Number 1 single.As a writer, producer, and music supervisor, Rudolph has contributed to worldwide sales in excess of 30 million Albums.

‘Got to move, get behind the groove, why don’t you let your spirit play. Another me and another you, if we make it through to Xanadu.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

736-Lenny Kravitz-Are You Gonna Go My Way.

1993-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 2.55. Jimi Hendrix for the 1990’s generation.

Leonard Albert Kravitz was born on May 26th, 1964, in Manhattan, New York City, United States, he was named in honour of his uncle, Leonard M. Kravitz who was killed in action in the Korean War at the age of 19, while defending against a Chinese attack, saving most of his platoon in the process. Kravitz’ mother was the actress Roxie Roker (1929-1995,)who portrayed Helen Willis on the CBS sitcom ‘The Jeffersons’ between 1975-1985, as half of the first interracial couple to be shown on prime time American television. Kravitz has released 11 studio Albums to date, the latest being ‘Raise Vibration’ in 2018.He has written, produced, and played with several other artists, including, co-writing, and producing Madonna’s 1990 Billboard Number 1 single,’Justify my Love.’

‘Are You Gonna Go My Way’ is taken from Kravitz third studio Album of the same name, and was co-written with long time collaborator Craig Ross. Lenny Kravitz has said that the song is about Jesus Christ, whom Kravitz referred to as ‘The ultimate Rock star.”It’s about how God gives choice to man about where to turn.’

I would urge you to have a listen to the 1990 song ‘Carry On’ by ‘Christian Rock’ artist Philip Keaggy, it is possible that Kravitz got inspiration from it.

‘I was born long ago, I am the chosen, I’m the one.I have come to save the day, and I won’t leave until I’m done.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

737-George Harrison-My Sweet Lord.

1971-Number 1 single.When re-released in 2002, it was Number 1 again.

Best Bit-At 2.38.George Harrison was the first of the Beatles to have a solo Number 1 single-Ringo is still waiting for his.

George Harrison wrote ‘My Sweet Lord’ in praise of the Hindu God Krishna,while at the same time intending the lyrics to serve as a call to abandon religious sectarianism through his deliberate blending of the Hebrew word ‘Hallelujah,’with chants of Hare Krishna, and Vedic prayer.

‘My Sweet Lord’ was the best selling single in the UK in 1971, and after Harrison’s death in 2001, was re-released, and became a UK Number 1 single for the second time in January 2002. Artists who are rumoured to have played on the song include,Eric Clapton (acoustic guitar,) Peter Frampton (acoustic guitar,) Billy Preston (piano,) and Ringo Starr (drums.)The song was co-produced by Harrison, and Phil Spector, using his ‘Wall of Sound’ production (see also best songs 192 and 782.)

The song was also the subject of a long drawn out court case involving ‘Bright Tunes,’who owned the rights to ‘He’s So Fine,’ a song written by Ronnie Mack (1940-1963,) the song had been a Billboard Number 1 in 1963 for The Chiffons. Bright Tunes claimed that Harrison had deliberately plagiarised Mack’s song, which Harrison denied. The initial action was filed on February 10th, 1971, and in September 1976 the court found that Harrison had subconsciously copied ‘He’s So Fine,’but not deliberately, Harrison had to pay $587,000, with the majority going to Mack’s immediate family, incidentally the Holland Dozier Holland song ‘Jimmy Mac’ was inspired by the death of Ronnie Mack.Commenting about the court case in 1977 Harrison (see also best songs 726) said,’Look I’d be willing, every time I write a song, if somebody will have a computer, and I can just play any new song into it, and the computer will say,’Sorry,’ or ‘OK,’ The last thing I want to do is keep spending mu life in court,’

‘I really wanna know you (Hallelujah,) my my my Lord (Hare Krishna.)

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

738-Scissor Sisters-Filthy/Gorgeous.

2005-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 4.16.It’s the best song in the world ever to be written about tranvestite prostitutes, unless you know a better one.

The Scissor Sisters were formed in 2001, in New York City, New York, United States, by Jake Shears (male lead singer,) Ana Matronic (female lead vocal,) Scott ‘Babydddy’ Hoffman (multi-instrumentalist,) Del Marquis (lead guitar and bass,) and Paddy Bloom (drums,) Bloom left the band in 2008, and was replaced by Randy Real.They have released four studio Albums, the last in 2012, although they haven’t split, the official line is that they are on ‘indefinite hiatus.’

‘Filfthy/Gorgeous’ was the fifth and final single taken from the Scissor Sisters self titled debut Album,which became a great success, becoming the best selling Album in the UK in 2004, with sales in excess of 2,700,000 copies,it is one of the top 30 best selling Album’s of the 21st Century, in the UK.

The groups female lead singer Ana Matronic has said that some of the subject matter on the Album was going to shock people,she said,’We wanted it to be honest, the song (Filthy Gorgeous) is about trannie hookers on acid, so what the f… do you want?’

‘Ain’t no sum bitch gonna treat me like a ho, I’m a classy honey kissy huggy lovey dovey ghetto princess.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

739-The Four Seasons-December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night.)

1976-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.15.Who says men can’t multitask, that drummer sings at the same time as well.

After a failed audition at ‘The Four Seasons’ bowling alley in New Jersey, in 1959, they pinched the name anyway.

The only two constants since 1960 are Frankie Valli (see also best songs 83) and Bob Gaudio,who each own 50% of the act, and virtually all of the recording catalogue.

By 1975 The Four Seasons (see also best songs 284) hadn’t had a major hit in around 10 years, and with the exception of Valli, and Crewe, the other members who performed on the 1960’s hits had all gone, being replaced by Don Ciccone (1946-2016,) Geri Polci, Lee Shapiro, John Paiva, and Joe Long.On the 1960’s hits Valli was the prominent vocalist, but on this song, and it’s parent Album,’Who Loves You,’ he shared vocal duties with Ciccone, and drummer Gerri Polci.’December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night’) was co-written by Bob Gaudio, and his future wife Judy Parker, Gaudio (see also best songs 1007-914-863-499-393-284-164-112 and 83) originally wrote the song about the end of prohibition, with the title,’December 5th, 1933′, but realising the song had great potential, both Valli and Parker urged Gaudio to change the songs subject, which became a nostalgic remembrance of a young man’s first affair, being loosely based on the early relationship between Gaudio, and Parker.

‘I felt a rush like a rollin’ ball of thunder, spinnin’ my head around,’n’ takin’ my body under.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

740-Bobby Gentry-I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.

1969-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.02.The words of advice from the good Doctor Hal David,’Don’t kiss a guy, because you’ll get enough germs to catch pneumonia, and after you do, he’ll never phone ya.’

‘I’ll Never Fall in Love Again’ was written by Burt Bacharach, who wrote the music, and Hal David (1921-2012,) who provided the lyrics, pacifically for the 1968 Broadway Musical ‘Promises, Promises,’which is based on the 1960 film ‘The Apartment,’ in total Bacharach and David wrote five songs for the musical.

At the time when Bacharach and David (see also best songs 902-832-815-644 and 224) were commissioned to write this song, Bacharach was hospitalised with pneumonia, and it was that which gave Hal David the idea for those ‘strange’ lyrics.The song was first performed as a duet on December 1st, 1968, at the Broadway premiere of ‘Promises, Promises’ by the characters played by the actors Jill O’Hara, and Jerry Orbach. Other significant versions of the song are by longtime Bacharach and David collaborator Dionne Warwick (see also best songs 224,) who took her version to Number 1 on Billboard in 1970. In the UK it was Bobby Gentry’s (see also best songs 18) version that triumphed, reaching Number 1 1969, and in 1990 Scottish band Deacon Blue (see also best songs 1032) took their version to Number 2 in the UK, and Ireland.

‘What do you get when you kiss a guy? You get enough germs to catch pneumonia, after you do, he’ll never phone ya.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

741-Genesis-Mama.

1983-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 2.14 on the video, where you can watch Phil Collins doing an impression of a scary monster.

‘Mama’ is taken from Genesis’ self titled 12th studio Album, and was co-written by the three band members at that time Tony Banks, Phil Collins, and Mike Rutherford. Phil Collins got the idea for the song after reading the memoir ‘The Moons a Balloon,’ first published in 1971 by British actor David Niven (1910-1983.) Hugh Padgham who produced the song has said that the inspiration for Collins’ sinister laugh came after hearing the Grandmaster Flash song ‘The Message,'(see also best songs 290.) Phil Collins has said that the song is about a young teenager that has a mother fixation with a prostitute, he develops feelings for her, but they are not reciprocated.

The original members of Genesis first met at boarding school in Surrey, England, in 1967, the line up included Peter Gabriel (see also best songs 254,) Anthony Philips, Chris Stewart, Banks, and Rutherford, Phil Collins was recruited in August 1970, and Steve Hackett was a member between 1971-1977. The music entrepreneur Jonathan King who had also boarded at the same school as the original Genesis line up, produced their first Album,’From Genesis to Revelation,’ in 1967, he is also credited with the naming of the band. Their original sound was Folk Rock, but they moved in to Progressive Rock in the 1970’s, before moving on to a more commercial ‘Pop’ sound towards the end of that decade.

‘I can’t see you mama, but I can hardly wait, ooh to touch, and to feel you mama, oh I just can’t keep away.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

742-Fat Larry’s Band-Zoom.

1982-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.56.But what is ‘Zoom’ really about. Could it be about video communications, or maybe it’s about a brand of ice cream on a stick, from the 1960’s, but my inclination is that it is a romantic song, about love at first sight.

Fat Larry’s Band were a R&B, and Funk band formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States in 1976, they were active until 1987, releasing nine studio Albums. As well as ‘Zoom’ they also charted in the UK with ‘Center City’ which reached Number 31 in 1976.The band was originally put together by ‘Fat’ Larry James (1949-1987,) who co-wrote, and produced many of the bands songs, he was also the drummer, and provided vocals, he died of a heart attack at the age of 38. Another band member between 1982-1983, was Bryan ‘The Wiz’ Loren, who in 2020 transitioned from male to female, becoming Bryanna Loren Hudson, among her many musical credits is being the writer of the 1990 UK Number 1 single,’Do the Bartman,’ which featured the vocals of Michael Jackson.

‘Zoom’ was co-written by Len Barry, and Bobby Eli, and produced by Larry James. Len Barry is best remembered for the song ‘1-2-3,’ which reached Number 3 in the UK , and Number 2 on Billboard in 1965. Barry and Eli also co-wrote ‘Love Town,’ which peaked at Number 6 in the UK for Booker Newberry, in 1983.

‘Smack, just one kiss and I was outta whack, all at once there was no turnin’ back.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

743-Cosmic Gate v Aquagen-Fire Wire v Party Alarm.(Remix.)

2001-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 3.09.’Vorsprung Durch Tecchnik.’The ultimate in German Techno-logy.

‘Fire Wire.’ and ‘Party Alarm’ are two separate songs, ‘Fire Wire’ was originally released in 2001 by the German Dance Music producers Claus Terhoeven, and Stefan Bossems, on their debut Album ‘Rhythm & Drums.’In it’s original form the song reached Number nine in the UK, it was the follow up to the duo’s only other UK top 40 hit,’Exploration of Space,’ which had peaked at Number 29,also in 2001.Cosmic Gate were formed in 1999, in Krefeld, Germany,and are still active, having released nine studio Albums, the latest being 2019’s ’20 Years (Forward Ever Backward Never.’)

Aquagen are also a German Dance Music duo originating from Krefeld, consisting of Gino Montesano, and Olaf Dieckmann, who have worked together since 1999. ‘Party Alarm’ is taken from their debut Album ‘Abgehfaktor, from 2000. As Aquagen they have charted twice in the UK, with ‘Phat Bass’ reaching Number nine in 2000, and a cover of the Chicago song,’Hard to Say I’m Sorry,’ reaching Number 33 in 2002.

‘Fire-Wire,”Seid ihr bereit fur. Die nachste Stufe im Aquagen-Zyklus’?

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

744-Carpenters-Yesterday Once More.

1973-Number 2 single.

Best Bit- At 0.50.’Yesterday Once More’ was written about someone feeling nostalgic when they heard a certain song,and ironically when people hear the song now, it makes them feel nostalgic.

‘Yesterday Once More’ is the Carpenters best selling song worldwide, with Richard Carpenter stating that it is the favourite song he has written.The track is taken from the Carpenters fifth studio Album ‘Now & Then,’ from 1973, it is the first song on ‘side 2’ of the Album, and segues into a near 15 minutes medley of 1960’s covers, before reprising this song at the end.

‘Yesterday Once More’ was co-written by Richard Carpenter, and longtime associate John Bettis, both Carpenter, and Bettis, along with Karen Carpenter, had all originally played together in a band called ‘Spectrum’ in 1966. Bettis is credited with writing over 800 songs, some made famous by the Carpenters, but others include ‘One Moment in Time,’ made famous by Whitney Houston,’Human Nature,’ for Michael Jackson,’and ‘Crazy for You,’ made famous by Madonna.Karen Anne Carpenter was born on March 2nd, 1950, in New Haven, Connecticut, United States, and died on February 4th, 1983, from complications due to anorexia nervosa, her older brother Richard was also born in New Haven, on October 15th, 1946. Karen didn’t start her musical career as a singer, in fact she was a critically acclaimed drummer, she always considered herself a ‘drummer who sang.’Her drumming has been praised by fellow musicians Hal Blaine, and Buddy Rich, with Elton John calling her ‘One of the greatest voices of our lifetime,’while Paul McCartney has said,’The best female voice in the world, melodic, tuneful, and distinctive.’

‘All my best memories come back clearly to me, some can even make me cry, just like before, it’s yesterday once more.’