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.’