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Posted by: In: Other 21 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

614-Soundgarden-Black Hole Sun.

1994-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 2.28. Any amateur astronomers reading this, don’t panic, you haven’t got it wrong.There is a black hole, and there is a sun, but there is no black hole sun.

‘Black Hole Sun’ was something that the songs writer Chris Cornell had misheard. He was watching the news on television, and thought he heard the newsreader say ‘black hole sun,’ but he was really saying something else. Cornell so liked the phrase, and thought it would make a good title for a song.Cornell has said,’I wrote it in my head, driving home from Bear Creek Studio in Woodinville, a 35-40 minute drive from Seattle. The songs lyrics are a mixture of Cornell’s thoughts at that time,written in an experimental manner, with more than one potential meaning.Personally I see the song as Cornell telling us that life is tough, but if we are strong, we can work our way through.

Soundgarden were formed in 1984 in Seattle, Washington, United States by Chris Cornell (1964-2017,) (vocals and guitar,) Kim Thayil (lead guitar,) and Hiro Yamamoto (bass,) the bands drummer Matt Cameron joined full time in 1986. They were active until 1997, but did reform in 2010, until retiring the band in 2019. They named themselves after a wind-channelling pipe sculpture titled ‘A Sound Garden,’ which is to be found in the ‘National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration property, next to Magnuson Park, in Seattle.

Soundgarden were one of the originators of the musical genre ‘Grunge,’ which came out of Washington in the early 1990’s, along with their contemporaries Nirvana (see also best songs 788 and 9,) and Pearl Jam (see also best songs 458.)The bands co-founder, lead singer, and writer of this song, Chris Cornell was said to have struggled with depression for most of his life.He was found dead on May 18th, 2017, in a Detroit hotel room, shortly after performing a concert with Soundgarden at the Fox Theatre, his death was ruled a suicide by hanging.

‘In my eyes, indisposed, in disguises no one knows.Hides the face, lies the snake, the sun in my disgrace.’

Posted by: In: Other 19 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

615-Queen-Seven Seas of Rhye.

1974-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 1.36. At the very end of the track Queen sample a song from 1907. That is what you call a proper ‘Golden Oldie.’

Freddie Mercury let his imagination run wild on this one.He wrote the lyrics basing them on a fantasy world he called ‘Rhye,’ that he had created with his sister, Kashmira. Mercury and his sister had been brought up on the African island of Zanzibar, and educated in the ‘Zoroastrianism’ religion which was founded in Iran, and this fuelled Mercury’s flights of fancy.The fantasy land of Rhye was a theme running through other early recordings by Queen, including, ‘Lily of the Valley,’ ‘My Fairy King,’ and ‘The March of the Black Queen.’

‘Seven Seas of Rhye’ first appeared in instrumental form, at just 1.25 seconds, as the final track on the bands debut Album ‘Queen’ from 1973, and when Mercury added lyrics it was once again the closing track, this time on the bands second Album ‘Queen 2’ from 1974. At the very end of the song the group break in to the music hall song ‘I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside,’ which was written in 1907 by John Glover-Kind, and first recorded by Mark Sheridan (1864-1918) in 1909. At the start of the opening track,’Brighton Rock,’ from Queens third Album ‘Sheer Heart Attack.’ someone can be heard whistling,’I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside,’ over the opening bars of that song.’I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside’ was probably used tongue in cheek by the band, as ‘Rye’ is a small town in East Sussex, England, with a beach near by.

‘Seven Seas of Rhye’ was Queen’s breakthrough hit, and the song which confirmed Mercury’s future with the band (see also best songs 918-208-126-47 and 3.) Although Mercury is the only person given songwriting credit, Brian May did write the guitar parts.

‘Oh I do like to be beside the seaside, oh I do like to be beside the sea.’

Posted by: In: Other 19 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER

616-Lloyd Cole and the Commotions-Perfect Skin.

1984-Number 26 single.

Best Bit-At 2.05.’Nivea’ missed a wonderful advertising opportunity, and Lloyd Cole missed out on loads of potential royalties.

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions were formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1982, by Lloyd Cole (vocals,) Blair Cowan (keyboards,) Lawrence Donegan (bass,) Neil Clark (guitar,) and Stephen Irvine (drums.) They were active until 1989, releasing three studio Albums, and achieving six UK top 40 singles, with ‘Lost Weekend in 1985 being their most successful, when reaching Number 17.

Lloyd Cole was born on January 31st, 1961, in Buxton, Derbyshire, England, as a youngster he moved with his family to Glasgow, and later attended the University of Glasgow.He was 23 years old when he wrote all of the lyrics, and the majority of the music for the bands critically acclaimed debut Album ‘Rattlesnakes,’ in 1984. He wrote the Album in the basement of Glasgow Golf Club where his parents lived, and worked, and he has said that the impact of studying ‘English,’ and ‘Philosophy,’ at University were influences on his lyrics. Musically Cole was inspired by Bob Dylan, and Booker T & the MGs, he has said,’If I hadn’t listened to ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues'(see also best songs 792) I could never have written ‘Perfect Skin.’I was totally drunk on Dylan at the time I wrote that song, and all the imagery is deliberately Dylanesque. I thought,’why not be blatant,? The only difference is, Dylan would have written a song like ‘Perfect Skin’ in an hour, it took me a week!’

‘Strikes me the moral of this song must be there never has been one.’

Posted by: In: Other 17 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

617-Fats Domino-The Fat Man.

1949-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At-1.07.There are many songs in this countdown which can claim to be the first ever ‘proper’ Rock N’ Roll record, but this one may have the best claim, as it is from 1949, even so the term ‘Rock N’ Roll’ hadn’t even been invented then.

‘The Fat Man’ was originally recorded as the ‘B’ side for Fats Domino’s debut single ‘Detroit City Blues,’ the first of over 60 singles Domino would release on the ‘Imperial Records’ label, through until 1964. ‘The Fat Man’ was co-written by Fats Domino, and his long time collaborator Dave Bartholomew, and went on to sell in excess of 1 million copies.The melody is a variation on the traditional New Orleans tune ‘Junker Blues,’ which also provided the melody for the Lloyd Price song ‘Lawdy Miss Clawdy,’ from 1952, which was produced by Bartholomew, and had Fats Domino playing the piano on it. ‘The Fat Man’ finds Domino standing on the corner of Rampart and Canal street in New Orleans, watching the Creole girls go by, but he decides to leave because ‘Women and a bad life’ are ‘Carrying this soul away.’Fats Domino (see also best songs 272) was born Antoine Dominique Domino Jr. on February 26th, 1928, in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, he died of natural causes on October 24th, 2017.Although Domino never had a Billboard Number 1 single, five of his songs sold in excess of 1 million copies, in total he achieved 35 top 40 Billboard hits between 1955-1963. It has been said that his humility and shyness is the reason why his contribution to Rock N’ Roll has been to a point overlooked.

Dave Bartholomew was born on December 24th, 1918, in Edgard, Louisiana, he was 100 years old when he died on June 23rd, 2019.As well as co-writing ‘the first ever’ Rock N’ Roll song, and many of the hits of Fats Domino, he is also responsible for the 1955 Billboard Number 1 single ‘Ain’t That a Shame,’ recorded by Pat Boone, and also for three UK Number 1’s. In 1970 Dave Edmunds covered ‘I Hear You Knocking,’ In 1972 Chuck Berry covered ‘My Ding-a-Ling, and in 1958 Elvis Presley recorded ‘One Night,’ which in 2005, when re-released became a UK Number 1 for a second time, and also the 1000 UK Number 1 song, since the charts inception in November 1952.

‘They call, they call me the fat man,’cause I weigh two hundred pounds, all the girls they love me,’cause I know my way around.’

Posted by: In: Other 17 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

618-Bob Marley & The Wailers-Exodus.

1977-Number 14 single.

Best Bit-At 5.01. In no other musical genre is one single artist so well known. When you think of Reggae, the first name that springs to mind is Bob Marley.

Bob Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6th, 1945, in Nine Mile, Saint Parish, Colony of Jamaica, he died from skin cancer on My 11th, 1981. The earliest incarnation of ‘The Wailers’ was formed in 1963 by Marley, Bunny Wailer (1947-2021,) Peter Tosh (1944-1987,) Junior Braithwaite (1949-1999,) Cherry Smith (1943-2008,) and Beverley Kelso. They originally called themselves the ‘Teenagers,’ before becoming the ‘Wailing Wailers,’ and eventually ‘The Wailers.’ By 1974 all the original Wailers had gone their own way, and Marley formed a new incarnation of the band including his wife Rita, supplying backing vocals.In 1976 Marley, his wife, and some of the other band members survived an assassination attempt, forcing Marley to move to England.

‘Exodus’ may have been partly inspired by that event, as the song ties in with the Biblical story of Moses leading the Isrealites out of Egypt, in the hope that one day the Rastafarians will also be led to freedom. Although the song is probably not about any certain race or religion, as that would contradict the message Marley is sending us, the song is probably about man’s struggle with trying to find God.

‘Exodus’ is the title track from Bob Marley and The Wailers third studio Album, and Marley’s ninth overall, and is his most critically acclaimed (see also best songs 56.) Five of the Album’s songs appear on ‘Legend,’ the 1984 posthumously released Album, which is the best selling Reggae Album of all time, with sales in excess of 25 million copies.

‘We know where we’re going, we know where we’re from.We’re leaving Babylon, y’all, we’re going to our fathers land.’

Posted by: In: Other 17 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER

619-Joy Division-Love Will Tear Us Apart.

1980-Number 13 single.It was re-released in 1983, and reached Number 19, and again in 1995, it once again made Number 19.

Best Bit-At 0.07.Ian Curtis knew of the song ‘Love Will Keep Us Together’ by the Captain & Tennille, and with that in mind, wrote about his own experiences of love.

Joy Division were formed in Salford, England, in 1976, with the classic line up being Ian Curtis (1956-1980,) (vocals,) Bernard Sumner (guitar,) Peter Hook (bass,) and Stephen Morris (drums.) They initially called the band ‘Warsaw,’ named after the David Bowie song ‘Warszawa,’ from his 1977 Album ‘Low,’ but renamed themselves Joy Division in early 1978, taking the name from the ‘sexual slavery’ wing of a Nazi concentration camp,as mentioned in the 1955 novel ‘House of Dolls,’ by the author ‘Ka-tzethik 135633’.When first forming they were heavily influenced by early Punk Music, but over time developed their own sound. After Curtis committed suicide in 1980, the three remaining members dropped the name Joy Division, and reformed as New Order (see also best songs 885.)

The writing of ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ is credited to all four band members, but the lyrics were written by Ian Curtis, based on his own personnel experiences. Curtis had recently ended his marriage, and had been diagnosed with epilepsy, causing him to have fits when performing on stage. The stress of holding down a day job, and being on the verge of Pop stardom, tipped him over the edge, and he committed suicide by hanging on May 18th, 1980.

‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ was posthumously released in June 1980, and followed the following month by the bands second and final Album ‘Closer.’ A further 12 compilations, and four live Albums have been released in subsequent years.

‘When routine bites hard, and ambitions are low, and resentment rides high, but emotions won’t grow, and we’re changing our ways, taking different roads.’

Posted by: In: Other 17 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER

620-The Vaccines-If You Wanna.

2012-Number 35 single.

Best Bit-At 0.47.When they originally chose their name, they could not possibly have known it would become one of the most important words in the English language.

The Vaccines are an Indie Rock band formed in West London, England, in 2010 by Justin Hayward-Young (lead vocals, and guitar,) Freddie Cowan (lead guitar, and vocals,) Arni Amason (bass, and vocals,) and Pete Robertson (drums, and vocals.) In 2016 Robertson left the band, and the touring musicians Timothy Lanham (keyboards,) and Yoann Intonti (drums,) both became full time members.To date they have released four studio Albums, including their second release ‘Come of Age’ in 2012,’ which went to Number 1 in the UK, they have sold in excess of 2 million records worldwide to date.

The Vaccines, especially on their earlier Albums, have a retro sound, dating back to the ‘Punk’ era of the mid to late 1970’s, and this song, particularly to my ear sounds like something The Ramones (see also best songs 707 and 102) would have been proud of, perhaps The Vaccines would have been even more successful had they been born 40 years earlier.

‘If You Wanna’ is the third single taken from The Vaccines debut Album ‘What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?’ from 2010, with songwriting credits given to all of the band members. The song is about a break up, with the narrator trying to come to terms with the fact that his girlfriend doesn’t want to be with him anymore. Justin Haywood-Young has said,’The lyrics are pretty defeatist, maybe even slightly pathetic, but we’ve all been there. I wanted us to have a song with really downbeat lyrics, juxtaposed with a poppy, and upbeat melody. Hayward-Young has also said that the song had a different chorus before he came up with a new one,’I thought it was like super cheesy, and I kind of got shivers down my spine like,’Eww, I feel dirty,’ and everyone in the room was like,’No’, that was really cool, that’s a much better chorus.’ I think that was a real turning point for the band, because I think it was like me accepting that I write really cheesy pop songs, and so I should embrace that as a writer.’

‘Well I don’t want to wake up in the morning, but I’ve got to face the day, that’s what all the friends I do not like as much as you say.’

Posted by: In: Other 17 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

621-The Byrds-All I Really Want to Do.

1965-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 0.20. Using the lyrics of Bob Dylan, and heavily influenced by the harmonies of the Beach Boys, and arranged in a ‘Beatlesque’ manner, ‘Folk Rock’ had just been invented.

The Byrds were formed in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1964, they were active until 1973, but reformed again in 1989-1991, and again in 2000, for the final time, after which the band name was retired. The groups only constant was Roger McGuinn (lead guitar and vocals,) who was known as Jim McGuinn until mid 1967.The other four original members were Gene Clark (1944-1991,) (rhythm guitar, and vocals,) David Crosby (see also best songs 417) (rhythm guitar, and vocals,) Michael Clarke (1946-1993,) (drums,) and Chris Hillman (bass guitar, and vocals.) There have been a further five subsequent members between 1968-1973, including Gram Parsons (1946-1973.)

‘All I Really Want to Do’ was written by Bob Dylan (see also best songs 792-358-103-36 and 7) for his forth studio Album ‘Another Side of Bob Dylan’ from 1964. The lyrical content was a departure for Dylan from his normal topical songwriting, to a more personal one. The song was inspired by Dylan’s recent separation from his girlfriend of three years, Suze Rotolo (1943-2011,) although some have speculated that the song is a message from Dylan to his fans, that regardless of any change in musical style, he will always be there for them.

This was The Byrds second Dylan cover, as in January 1965 they had recorded ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’which went to Number 1 on Billboard, and also in the UK. The Byrds had not wanted to do another Dylan cover, but Columbia Records had insisted, thinking a follow up hit was a certainty, but the singer Cher (see also best songs 672) also released her version of ‘All I Want to Do’ at the same time, as her debut solo single, and a chart battle ensued. In the UK, The Byrds were the winners, with there version reaching Number 4, and Cher making Number 9, but in America Cher was the winner reaching Number 15, while The Byrds could only get to Number 40.

‘I don’t want to meet your kin, make you spin, or do you in, or select you, or dissect you, or inspect you, or reject you.’

Posted by: In: Other 12 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER

622-Fleetwood Mac-Everywhere.

1988-Number 4 single.It also re-entered the chart on downloads in 2013, this time reaching Number 4.

Best Bit-At 0.01. I don’t mean to be rude, but if you would rather ‘Jack’ than listen to Fleetwood Mac, then I feel sorry for you.

Fleetwood Mac have a long, and turbulent history. They were formed in London, England, in 1967 by Peter Green (1946-2020,) (guitar,) Mick Fleetwood (drums,) and Jeremy Spencer (guitar.) Before the release of their self titled debut Album in 1968 they were joined by John McVie (bass,) also Danny Kirwan (1950-2018.) joined as a third guitarist in the same year, and the first classic lineup was completed in 1970 with the addition of Christine McVie (keyboards.) This first edition of Fleetwood Mac was very different musically to the incarnation of the mid 1970’s onward, with this sextet playing a mixture of Blues Rock, and Folk Rock. The band chose their name from the surnames of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, and have released a total of 17 studio Albums, the first in 1968, and the latest in 2003.

Their musical style changed radically in 1975 with the arrival of Lindsey Buckingham (guitar,) and Stevie Nicks (vocals,) and together with Fleetwood, and John, and Christine McVie would record ‘Rumours in 1977, the eighth biggest selling Album of all time, with sales in excess of 40 million.

‘Everywhere’ was taken from ‘Tango in the Night,’ which is the bands 14th studio Album recorded during 1985-1986. The song was written and sung by Christine McVie, who probably wrote the lyrics about her husband Eddy Quintela, whom she had married in 1986. Christine McVie was born Christine Anne Perfect on July 12th, 1943, in Bouth, Lancashire, England. Before joining Fleetwood Mac she had been a member of the Blues band Chicken Shack, and had sang lead vocals on their 1969 Number 14 hit ‘I’d Rather Go Blind.’

‘Can you hear me calling out your name? You know that I’m falling, and I don’t know what to say.’

Posted by: In: Other 12 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

623-Hole-Celebrity Skin.

1998-Number 19 single.

Best Bit-At 0.59. Ignore all that 1990’s media fake news you were force fed by the tabloid trash. The real ‘Girl Power’ wasn’t all that spice hype, it was ladies like this.

Courtney Michelle Love was born on July 9th, 1964, in San Francisco, California, United States. Love formed the Alternative Rock band ‘Hole’ in 1989 with Eric Erlandson, who had answered an advertisement placed in ‘Recycler’ magazine in the summer of 1989. Hole were active until 2002, but reformed in 2009, and disbanded in 2012. In total there have been 15 different band members, and Hole have recorded four studio Albums, the first three all being critically acclaimed.

‘Celebrity Skin’ was the title track, and the first single release from the Album in 1998. It represented a departure from the bands first two Albums, which were more aggressive in melody, and less lyrically restrained. The song was co-written by Love, and Erlandson, and Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins (see also best songs 374.) It is said that Love was in need of inspiration at the time, and brought in Corgan, who wrote the songs main guitar riff, as well as co-writing another four tracks on the Album. The lyrics were written by Love, as were all the lyrics on the Album.The song tells of the futility of celebrity, and fame, and is anti Hollywood.The lyrics contain literary references, the line ‘Oh look at my face/ my name is might have been,’ is directly lifted from the opening verse of Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s poem ‘A Superscription’, and the phrase ‘Pound of flesh,’ originates from William Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice.’A line from the song ‘Beautiful garbage,’ inspired the Rock group Garbage to call their third studio Album in 2001, ‘Beautiful Garbage.’

‘When I wake up in my makeup, it’s too early for that dress.Wilted and faded somewhere in Hollywood.’