THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

745-Adam Faith-What Do You Want?

1959-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.43.Blink and you’ll miss it.At 1.33, this is the shortest UK Number 1 song ever.

Adam Faith was born Terence Nelhams-Wright on 23rd June 1940, in Acton, Middlesex, England, he died on 8th March 2003, from a heart attack, he was the first UK artist to reach the top 5 with each of his first seven hit singles.In total he had 23 top 40 entry’s including two Number 1’s, with ‘Poor Me’ being the other.As well as being a ‘Teen Idol’ Faith was also an actor in films, and television, starring in ‘Budgie’ between 1971-1972, and appearing in eight films including ‘Beat Girl’ in 1960, and ‘Stardust,’ in 1974. In the 1970’s he went into music management, managing Leo Sayer, among others,he also co-produced Roger Daltrey’s first solo Album, which included the hit ‘Giving It All Away.’

‘What Do You Want?’ was the breakthrough hit for Adam Faith, it was written by Les Vandyke (see also best songs 997,) produced by John Burgess (1932-2014,) and arranged by John Barry (1933-2011.) Vandyke has written 25 top 40 UK hits, including ‘Poor Me,”Gonna Make You an Offer You Can’t Refuse'(Jimmy Helms,) and ‘Jack in the Box’ (Clodagh Rodgers.)

‘One of these days when you need my kissing, one of these days when you want me too.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

746-B. T. Express-Express.

1974-Number 34 single.

Best Bit-At 0.22. Pop has ‘9 to 5,’Swing has ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo,’Skiffle has ‘The Rock Island Line,’Dance has ‘The Last Train to Trancentral,’Soul has the ‘Love Train,’Folk has the ‘Marrakesh Express,’ but Funk has this.

B. T. Express were formed in Brooklyn, New York, United States, in 1974, they were active until 1987, releasing seven studio Albums, and achieving two top 10 singles on Billboard,’Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied’) reached Number 2 in 1974, and this song peaked at Number 4 in the same year. They are recognised as major players in the development of, and laying down the foundations for the ‘Disco’ era.

‘Express’ was taken from the bands debut Album ‘Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied’,) with all the band members sharing song writing credits.This included Billy Nichols, who prior to joining B. T. Express had worked for Tamla Motown, playing live with Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, before becoming musical director for Marvin Gaye. Another notable member was Michael Jones (1956-2016,) who changed his name to Kasif Saleem, in the 1980’s he wrote, produced, and played with artists such as Whitney Houston, and George Benson.

‘Here comes the express, express, chug, chug, chug. uh!’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

747-Franz Ferdinand-Take Me Out.

2004-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 0.55.The bit which hits you like a Glasgow kiss.

Franz Ferdinand were formed in Glasgow in 2002 by Alex Kapranos (lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards,) Nick McCarthy (rhythm guitar,) Bob Hardy (bass,) and Paul Thomson (drums,) McCarthy left in 2016, with Julian Corrie (keyboards,) and Dino Bardot (rhythm guitar,) both joining in 2017.

After seeing the racehorse ‘Archduke Ferdinand’ in action on television, it got the band members discussing it’s namesake,the ‘Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria,’ whose assassination in 1914 was one of the main events leading up to the outbreak of World War 1. Their thinking was that his death had left a significant mark in history, and the bands goal was to leave a significant mark in music’s history.

‘Take Me Out’ is taken from Franz Ferdinand’s self titled debut Album from 2004, it won the ‘Mercury Music Prize’ for that year. Since it’s release it has sold in excess of 3.6 million copies worldwide, including over 1.27 million copies in the UK. ‘Take Me Out’ appears to continue the theme of assassination, comparing lovers to snipers aiming at each other.Alex Kapranos told the ‘New Musical Express,’It’s about how you’d rather be shot, than continue the tension.’

‘I say don’t you know, you say you don’t know, I say take me out.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

748-Martha and the Muffins-Echo Beach.

1980-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 1.23.There are blueberry muffins, apple muffins, cornmeal muffins, chocolate chip muffins,and if you venture in to the ‘Urban Dictionary,’ the meaning of muffin may make you blush.

Martha and the Muffins are a Canadian Rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario, in 1977, since 1983 they have also been known as ‘M+M.’ The band were formed by fellow students David Millar, and Mark Gane, lead singer and keyboardist Martha Johnson was soon asked to join, and the lineup was completed by Mark Gane’s brother Tim on drums, and bass player Carl Finkle. They chose their name to distance themselves from the aggressive names adopted by many Punk bands of that era.’Echo Beach’ is the bands only international hit, but in their home country of Canada, they had a further four top 40 singles in the 1980’s. The band is still active, as the now husband and wife Martha Johnson, and Mark Gane, work under that name, although there has been no new Album since 2010.

‘Echo Beach’ was written by Mark Gane, and as is mentioned in the lyrics (‘far away in time,’) there is no such place, it is somewhere the narrator would sometimes rather be, his ‘Happy Place.’The song was written when Gane’s was working in a dull job, part of his work was to check wallpaper for printing faults.

‘From nine till five I have to spend my time at work, the job is very boring I’m an office clerk.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

749-Chubby Checker-The Twist.

1960-Number 44 single. When reissued in 1962 it reached Number 14, and when reissued as a double ‘A’ side with ‘Let’s Twist Again’ in 1975, it peaked at Number 5.

Best Bit-At 1.26. Check out the video for the possible visual explanation as to why Catherine Lodders, a Dutch 21 model, and Miss World in 1962 agreed to be his wife.

Chubby Checker was born Earnest Evans on October 3rd, 1941, in Spring Gully, South Carolina, United States. As a youngster he acquired the nickname ‘Chubby’ because of his weight, and the ‘Checker’ was added as his stage name, as a nod to the then current star Fats Domino. Chubby Checker would go on to have a further 19 top 40 singles on Billboard, through until 1965, many with the theme of dance moves, such as ‘The Hucklebuck,”The Fly,’ and ‘Pony Time.’ In 1988 Checker reached Number 16 on Billboard, and Number 2 in the UK, with a new version of ‘The Twist,’ recorded with the Hip-Hop trio The Fat Boys.

‘The Twist’ was written by Hank Ballard (1927-2003) of Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, they were an American R&B group who had 10 top 40 hits on Billboard in the 1950’s, and 1960’s. Cal Green of the Midnighters, and Ballard already had a song written called ‘Is Your Love For Real,’ which was based on The Drifters 1955 song ‘What’cha Gonna Do,’ and what they did was change the words to a song about doing the ‘twist’ dance. Ballard got the idea for the song when watching the ‘Midnighters,’To Hank the group often moved like they were ‘trying to put a cigarette out, in a sense they were twisting.’thus, the title of the song.

The Twist is the only song to reach Number 1 on Billboard twice by the same artist, in the summer of 1960, and again when re-released in the winter of 1961.

My daddy is sleepin’ and mama ain’t around, we’re gonna twisty twisty twisty till we tear the house down.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

750-Barry Manilow-Copacabana (At the Copa.)

1978-Number 42 single.

Best Bit-At 3.23.The story line to the song is so depressing, it would make for a good episode of the soap Eastenders.

The song is about a showgirl (Lola,) and her bartender boyfriend (Tony.) A gangster called Rico takes a fancy to Lola, but he over steps the mark, Tony comes to her aid, but in the ensuing brawl, Tony is shot, and killed. In the final verse we find Lola, sat in the same club, which is now a disco, drunk, and still grieving for Tony, while dressed in her glamorous showgirl attire she wore from 30 years earlier.According to the songs narrator,’Lola lost her youth, and she lost her Tony, and now she’s lost her mind.’

‘Copacabana (At the Copa,’) was co-written by Jack Feldman, and Bruce Sussman, providing the lyrics, and Barry Manilow providing the music. The song was inspired by a conversation between Manilow, and Sussman at the Copacabana Hotel, in Rio de Janeiro, where they discussed if a song had ever been written about the Copacabana Hotel, Manilow had been a regular visitor to the Copacabana Nightclub in New York City, in the 1960’s.

In 1985 Manilow, Sussman, and Feldman expanded the song in to a full length, made for television musical called ‘Copacabana,’writing many additional songs, and expanding the plot. In 1994 the television version was further expanded by the three writers, and made in to a full length, two act stage musical again titled ‘Copacabana,’which ran initially in London’s West End, an American production was later developed, that toured the United States.

‘Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl, with yellow feathers in her hair, and a dress cut down to there.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

751-Malcolm McLaren and the World’s Famous Supreme Team-Buffalo Gals.

1982-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 2.09.’Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam,and I’ll show you a filthy house.’

Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was born January 22nd, 1946 in Stoke Newington, London, England, he died April 8th, 2010, from the cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma. He is best known as the promoter, and manager for the bands the Sex Pistols (see also best songs 576-92 and 27,) and the New York Dolls, and was one of the leading players in the rise of Punk Music in the mid to late 1970’s. On a trip to New York City in the early 1980’s McLaren got the idea for ‘Buffalo Gals’ while at a Afrika Bambaataa concert (see also best songs 716,) this was where he was exposed to Hip-Hop for the first time, and he discovered the technique of ‘scratching’ which can be heard on this song.

‘Buffalo Gals’ is a traditional song that dates back to the mid 1800’s, where it was often performed at minstrel shows, McLaren changed the lyrics from ‘Buffalo Gals, won’t you come out tonight,’ to ‘Buffalo Gals, around the outside,’ on the track McLaren calls the lyrics in a Square Dance style.

‘Buffalo Gals’ is also credited to the ‘World’s Famous Supreme Team,’who were DJ’s from New York City, they were among the first to use ‘scratching’ in their music. The song was co-written by McLaren, Anne Dudley, and Trevor Horn (see also best songs 676 and 19,) McLaren, and Horn also produced the song.

‘All this scratching is making me itch.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER

752-Ike & Tina Turner-Proud Mary.

1969-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit- At 2.19.A song of two halves.Tina warns us,’were gonna start it off nice and easy,’ but also says,’we never do anything nice and easy,’and tells us they would finish it ‘nice and rough.’

‘Proud Mary’ was written by John Fogerty, and originally recorded by his band Creedence Clearwater Revival, it reached Number 2 on Billboard in 1969, one of five ‘CCR’ singles to peak in that position.’Proud Mary’ has been covered by many artists over the years, including two further hit versions in 1969 on Billboard from Solomon Burke (Number 45,) and Checkmates Ltd featuring Sonny Charles (Number 69,) this cover version by Ike & Tina Turner (see also best songs 485 and 192) reached Number 4 on Billboard in 1971.Solomon Burke (1936? or 1940-2010) has said that it was he who first brought the song to the attention of Ike Turner (1931-2007,) but it is the version by Checkmates Ltd which his arrangement is based on. Alongside Ike Turner, it was the American Rhythm & Blues drummer Soko Richardson (1939-2004) who also played live with the ‘Ike & Tina Turner Revue,’ who is credited with the radical rearrangement of the song.

The narrator of Proud Mary is a low wage earner, who leaves what they consider to be a ‘good job’ to embark on a new life, starting out by hitching a ride on a riverboat queen, bidding farewell to the city. As the boat pulls away the narrator sees the ‘good side of the city,’ from a distance, far removed from the experiences of their own life.Down the river the narrator is pleased to find that the people are generous and friendly, even so they have very little money themselves.

‘If you come down to the river, bet you gonna find some people who live. You don’t have to worry ’cause you have no money, people on the river are happy to give.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

753-Skrillex featuring Sirah-Bangarang.

2012-Number 24 single.

Best Bit-At 1.19. Skrillex, is he an Electronic Dance Music wizard, or just a noisy bugger? You make up your own mind.

Skrillex is the stage name of Sonny Moore, who was born on January 15th, 1988, in Los Angeles, California, United States. His first venture as a professional musician was as the lead singer of the ‘post punk’ rock band ‘From First To Last,’ he was a member between 2004-2007, which saw the band release two studio Albums. As a solo artist Skrillex has released one studio Album,’Recess,’ in 2014. In 2013 Skrillex teamed up with fellow music producer Diplo (see also best songs 915 and 210,) and in 2015 they collaborated on the Album ‘Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U.’

The vocals on ‘Bangarang’ are provided by the Rapper/singer Sara Mitchell, who is better known by her stage name ‘Sirah,’ she has also provided the vocals on other Skrillex tracks including the singles ‘Weekends, and ‘Kyoto.’

The songs title, and video both pay homage to the 1991 movie ‘Hook,’ the battle cry of the ‘Lost Boys’ is ‘Bangarang.’ The Peter Pan, and Captain Hook theme continue in the official video, with the ice-cream truck driver’s style of moustache, his right hand having a tattoo of a crocodile, and after losing his hand earlier in the video, it is seen as replaced by a hook.

‘Shout to all my lost boys, sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-shouts to all my lost boys, we rowdy.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

754-Coldcut featuring Yazz and the Plastic Population-Doctorin’ the House.

1988-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 0.45.’Ooh’ Matron.

Coldcut were formed in 1986 by the duo of Matt Black, and Jonathan More, they are credited as pioneers of ‘Pop Sampling’ in the 1980’s, for their innovative use of mixing Hip-Hop, Soul, and Funk, etc, with spoken word from film, and television. The duo’s first release ‘Say Kids What Time Is It?’ released in January 1987 mixed the ‘Jungle Books’ ‘King of the Swingers,’ with the break from James Brown’s ‘Funky Drummer,’ and is considered to be the first UK record built entirely on samples.Artists such as The Chemical Brothers, and Fatboy Slim, have cited Coldcut as inspiration in the development of the ‘Big Beat’ genre.In October 1987 Coldcut were asked to remix Eric B & Rakim’s ‘Paid in Full,’it is said to have ‘laid the groundwork for Hip-Hop’s entry in to the UK mainstream'(see also best songs 856.)

‘Doctorin’ the House’ features the vocals of Yazz, who was born Yasmin Evans on May 19th, 1960, in Shepherd’s Bush, England, she is credited as one of the songs writers. In July 1988 the Coldcut produced ‘The Only Way is Up,’ performed by Yazz, spent five weeks at Number 1 in the UK, becoming the second best selling song of that year. Coldcut are also responsible for providing Lisa Stansfield with her first chart hit, when ‘People Hold On,’ reached Number 11 in 1989.

‘Say kids what time is it? It’s time for house’.