THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

574-Placebo-Nancy Boy.

1997-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 1.47. One of the songs co-writer’s Brian Molko has called the lyrics ‘Obscene,’ so we had better read on.

Placebo were formed in London, England, in 1994 by Brian Molko (vocals, and guitar,) and Stefan Olsdal (bass.) Years before, as students they had both attended the ‘American International School of Luxembourg, in Luxembourg, but had never mixed socially. The two met by chance at the ‘South Kensington tube station’, in London in 1994, and realised that musically they had a lot in common.The duo were soon joined by drummer Robert Schultzberg who was an acquaintance of Olsdal, he would remain until 1996, then Steve Hewitt took over drumming duties until leaving in 2007. The bands final drummer to date was Steve Forrest who remained until 2015, Molko and Olsdal remain active as a duo.When first forming they called themselves ‘Ashtray Heart,’ but later chose ‘Placebo,’ due to it’s Latin meaning,’I shall please.’ They have released seven studio Albums between 1996-2013, and achieved 15 UK top 40 singles to date.

‘Nancy Boy’ is credited as being co-written by all three band members at that time, and was taken from their self titled debut Album from 1996, it became their breakthrough hit. The lyrics refer to a man who is very feminine in appearance, putting on makeup, and perfume in his room. Molko was angered by Brett Anderson, the lead singer of ‘Suede,'(see also best songs 695 and 244) who claimed that he was bi-sexual, but had never experimented. Molko said,’I’m questioning people’s reasons for sleeping with someone of the same sex. In the same way that Heroin is very hip today, being bi-sexual seems to be very chic.’ Molko has also said about the song,’It’s an exploration into somebody’s misogyny, yet heartfelt. It’s angry, nasty, and completely politically incorrect.’

‘And it all breaks down, at the role reversal. Got the muse in my head, she’s universal.’