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Posted by: In: Other 22 Dec 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

460-Lotte Lenya-Alabama-Song.

1930-Has never charted in the UK, there was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 2.09. It is to be hoped that the whisky is of a certain vintage, like the little boy, at least 16 years old.

The lyrics for ‘Alabama-Song’ were written in 1925 by Bertoit Brecht (1898-1956) and translated from the original German in to English by his close collaborator Elisabeth Hauptmann, (1897-1973) then in 1927 the lyrics were set to music by Kurt Weill (1900-1950) for the play ‘Little Mahagonny.’ In 1930 Alabama-Song was reused as one of the 11 songs all composed by Brecht and Weill for the opera ‘Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.

‘Lotte Lenya was born Karoline Wilhelmine Charlotte Blamauer on October 18, 1898 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, she died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 83. Lenya re-recorded and performed ‘Alabama-Song’ on many occasions during her life time, she first performed the song in the role of ‘Jessie’ at the 1927 Baden-Baden Festival performance of Little Mahagonny. In 1930 she recorded her first vinyl version of the song, and in 1955 a re-recorded take appears on her ‘Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weill Album, Lenya had been married to Weill until his death in 1950.Brecht and Weill were also the composers of ‘Mack the Knife’ and in the 1959 hit version by Bobby Darin he name checks Lotte Lenya in the songs lyrics (see also best songs 43.) As an actress Lenya is probably best remembered for her role as Rosa Klebb in the 1963 James Bond film ‘From Russia With Love.’

‘Alabama-Song’ has been recorded by many other artists down the years, most notably by the ‘Doors’ (see also best songs 235 and 133) for their self titled debut Album in 1967. The bands lead singer Jim Morrison changed the songs lyrics in the second verse from ‘Show us the way to the next pretty boy’ to, ‘Show me the way to the next little girl,’ and also for the third and final verse as well, ‘Show me the way to the next little dollar’ is omitted completely. Another notable recording was made by David Bowie (see also best songs 807-440-334-302-209-186-118-47 and 5) in 1980, who had always been a fan of Brecht, his version reached Number 23 in the UK.’

‘Alabama-Song’ has three themes, materialism, despair, and illicit pleasures.

‘Oh moon of Alabama it’s time to say goodbye, we’ve lost our good old mama and must have whiskey or you know why.’

Posted by: In: Other 22 Dec 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

461-Azealia Banks featuring Lazy Jay-212.

2012-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 2.17. Warning! Do not listen to this song if you are easily offended. Also, do not listen, even if you only get slightly offended.

Azealia Amanda Banks was born on May 31st, 1991, in New York City, United States, she made her first recordings online in 2008 using the stage name ‘Miss Banks$.’ She sent the two songs to the record producer ‘Diplo,’ (see also best songs 915 and 210) which led to her first recording contract with ‘XL Recordings,’ but due to musical differences she only remained with the label for a short period.

After leaving ‘XL Recordings’ she dropped the ‘Miss Banks$’ moniker in favour of her birth name Azealia Banks. To date she has released one studio Album called ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ in 2014, there have also been three Mixtapes, and two EP’s. She has released 13 singles between 2011-2021, and has yet to reach the Billboard Hot 100, while in the UK this song is her only top 40 single.

‘212’ was the debut single from Azealia Banks, and heavily samples the House Music track ‘Float My Boat’ by the Belgium producer Jef Martins, who along with Banks who wrote the songs lyrics, receives co-songwriting credit, he is also the songs producer, and is credited as featured artist using the name ‘Lazy Jay.’ Using another moniker, this time ‘Basto,’ he also found success when producing the 2012 UK Number 1 ‘Scream & Shout,’ recorded by Will.i.am and Britney Spears.’212′ is named after the area code 212 which covers the area of Harlem a neighbourhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City where Banks grew up. Banks has said,’It’s about the journey to fame and stardom, hey I can be the answer, she’s real ambitious, I can do this.’ The track was recorded at a time when Banks was struggling financially, which probably explains why the songs video cost just $30 to make, and was shot entirely in black and white, to date it has received over 200 million views.

‘Hey I can be the answer, I’m ready to dance when the vamp up, and when I hit that dip get your camera, you could see I been that bitch since the pamper.’

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

462-Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions-Boogie Wonderland.

1979-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 1.38. What do all these titles have in common?’Oogie Oogie,’ ‘Reggae Woman,’ ‘Get Up and,’ ‘Jungle,’ ‘I Love To,’ ‘Blame It On the,’ ‘Yes Sir I Can,’- Yes, of course, you can ‘Boogie’ to them all.

Earth, Wind & Fire (see also best songs 916) were formed in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in 1969 by Maurice White (1941-2016) (see also best songs 525.) They remain active with 10 current members, in total 30 musicians have been band members since their incarnation. With record sales in excess of 90 million they are one of the worlds best selling artists, recording 22 Studio Albums between 1971-2014. In America on Billboard they have achieved 16 top 40 singles, including the 1975 Number 1 song ‘Shining Star.’

‘Boogie Wonderland’ was released from Earth, Wind & Fire’s ninth studio Album ‘I Am’ from 1979, and was co-written by Ailee Willis (1947-2019) and John Lind. Other notable works by Willis include winning two Grammy Awards for the soundtracks to the films ‘Beverley Hills Cops,’ and ‘The Color Purple.’ John Lind is a successful songwriter who has co-written two Billboard Number 1 singles, the 1985 chart topper by Madonna ‘Crazy For You,’ and the 1989 Number 1 song ‘Save the Best For Last,’ performed by Vanessa Williams.

For ‘Boogie Wonderland’ Earth, Wind & Fire teamed up with fellow ‘Columbia ‘ records label mates the Emotions. Maurice White had already worked with the all girl group, writing for, and producing their four Albums on Columbia between 1976-1979, White was also the co-writer and co-producer of the Emotions 1977 Billboard Number 1 single ‘Best of My Love.’

‘Boogie Wonderland’ was inspired after Ailee Willis had watched the 1977 film ‘Looking for Mr Goobar,’ which stars Diane Keaton as a lost soul who goes to clubs every night to dance away her misery. Willis explained,’When I saw Mr Goodbar I got kind of fascinated with people who did go to clubs every night, whose life was kind of falling apart, but they lived for the night life, though it didn’t seem to be advancing them as humans in the end. So if you really look at the lyrics of Boogie Wonderland, unlike ‘September’ (a song she also co-wrote) it’s not a happy song at all. It’s really about someone on the brink of self destruction who goes to clubs to try and find more.’

‘Sounds fly through the night, I change my vinyl dreams to boogie wonderland, I find romance when I start to dance in boogie wonderland.’

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

463-Guns N’ Roses-Sweet Child o’ Mine.

1989-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. Axl Rose wrote the romantic lyrics about his future wife Erin Everly, the daughter of Don Everly (see also best songs 799.) The groups guitarist Slash was not impressed, as according to him a Rock band don’t make songs with soppy lyrics.

‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ was the third single released from Guns N’ Roses debut studio Album ‘Appetite for Destruction,’ from 1987. The song became their only Billboard Number 1 single with sales in excess of 2,500,000 copies, the Album is one of the best selling of all time, with sales of around 30 million units. All five group members W. Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan and Steven Adler share the song writing credits, as they also all do on the Album’s other 11 tracks (see also best songs 8.)

It was Slash who came up with the critically acclaimed and memorable guitar riff, but apart from his input he isn’t a big fan of the song, he has said,’You know Guns N’ Roses was always a real hardcore, sort of, AC/DC kind of hard rock band with a lot of attitude. If we did any kinds of ballads, it was bluesy. This was an uptempo ballad, that’s one of the gayest things you can write. It’s a great song, I’m not knocking it, but at the time, it just did not fit in with the rest of our sort of schtick, and of course it would be the biggest hit we ever had.’

In 2015 an article by the Australian writer Nathan Jolly noted the similarities between ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ and a 1981 song by the Australian band ‘Australian Crawl,’ with their song ‘Unpublished Critics.’ Duff McKagan the bass player with Guns N’ Roses found the similarities between the two songs ‘stunning,’ but said that he had not previously heard ‘Unpublished Critics.’

‘She’s got a smile it seems to me, reminds me of childhood memories, where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky. Now and then when I see her face, she takes me away to that special place.’

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

464-Kaiser Chiefs-I Predict a Riot.

2005-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 2.17. The best song in the world ever to include Yorkshire Dialect since ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at.’

It pains me to say it, as being born and bred myself in Leeds, but when it comes to producing the successfully elite musicians, and the very best songs, we as a city sadly lack a long way behind the likes of Liverpool and Manchester, and the question is, why?

The Kaiser Chiefs were formed in Leeds, England, in 2000 by Ricky Wilson (vocals) Andrew White (guitar) Simon Rix (bass) Nick Baines (keyboards) and Nick Hodgson, (drums) Hodgson left the band in 2012 and was replaced by Vijay Mistry (drums.) On formation they were known as ‘Parva,’ releasing their debut Album ’22’ in 2003, but after it’s commercial failure they decided to start afresh using the new stage name ‘Kaiser Chiefs,’ in honour of the former Leeds United footballer Lucas Radebe, who had played previously for the ‘Kaiser Chiefs Football Club’ in South Africa.The Kaiser Chiefs remain active at the time of writing having released a further seven studio Albums between 2005-2019, they have also achieved nine UK top 40 singles, including the 2007 UK Number 1 ‘Ruby’

‘I Predict a Riot’ was the second single released from the Kaiser Chiefs debut studio Album ‘Employment’ from 2005, with all five band members receiving song writing credits. The lyrics tell of the perils of being on the streets of Leeds at ‘chucking out time’ at night, from the pubs and clubs, although it could apply to any big city. Nick Hodgson had the original idea for the song,’I used to DJ with my friend Nick at the ‘Cockpit’ in Leeds. We’d drive home past a big nightclub and there was always lots of police, and people fighting. I went home and wrote the riff on the piano and started singing some words. It says,’A friend of a friend he got beaten,’ that was a friend of Nick the DJ.’Ricky Wilson who also contributed lyrics mentions ‘John Smeaton’ (1724-1792) who was a very successful civil engineer, and a son of Leeds. Wilson also makes reference to an ‘Old Leodensian,’ which is a former pupil of ‘Leeds Grammar School, which Smeaton, and Wilson both had been.The song thrives on it’s Yorkshire heritage, with the use of pronouns such as ‘thee’ and ‘thou,’ words that are still in use to some extent in areas of Yorkshire to this day.

‘Watching the people get lairy, is not very pretty I tell thee. Walking through town is quite scary and not very sensible either’.

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

465-The Mock Turtles-Can You Dig It?

1991-Number 18 single.

It was also remixed and reissued in 2003, reaching Number 19.

Best Bit-At 2.42. In 2002 Vodafone wanted to use the track in a £25 million advertising campaign and needed the songs writer Martin Coogan’s permission, he said, ‘Where do I sign.’

The Mock Turtles were formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England, in 1985 by Martin Coogan (vocals, guitar and percussion) Martin Glyn Murray (guitar) Steve Cowen (drums) Steve Green (bass) and Krzysztof Korab (keyboards.) The band have never officially split, although there have been changes in personal over the years, Martin Coogan is the eldest brother of the comedian Steve Coogan, and also the television presenter Brendan Coogan.

The Mock Turtles have released one studio Album to date and three compilations between 1990-2003, there have also been 10 singles, with only the follow up to this song ‘And Then She Smiles’ (UK Number 44) and this songs remix seeing any chart action. The band took their name from the fictional character devised by Lewis Carroll in his 1865 book ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.’ Because of the bands name some people thought that The Mock Turtles were a spoof band, and were just imitating the ‘Madchester’ sound of the early 1990’s.

‘Can You Dig It?’ is taken from The Mock Turtles debut Album ‘Turtle Soup’ from 1990, it was originally released as the ‘B’ side to their fourth single ‘Lay Me Down,’ but after new guitar parts were added it was deemed worthy of an ‘A’ side release. Martin Coogan had been watching the 1979 American thriller film ‘The Warrior’ which features the rallying call ‘Can You Dig It? and thought it would make a good title for a song.

In 2002 Vodafone used the song in UK television advertisements, on the strength of that Martin Coogan commissioned a remix of the track by Fatboy Slim (see also best songs 760-387 and 95) and Simon Thornton, which saw the new version re-enter the UK top 40, and reach Number 19 in 2003, Vodafone continued their advertising campaign using the remix instead of the original.

‘Can You Dig It?’ tells the story of someone coming out of a relationship where he has been mistreated. His ex partner thinks they only have to snap their fingers and he will come running back, but they are wrong because now he is stronger.

‘Can you understand me now, I’ll get through somehow. You won’t ever get me down, won’t see me hanging around.’

Posted by: In: Other 15 Dec 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

466-The Moments & The Whatnauts-Girls.

1975-Number 3 single.Best Bit-At 2.03. Anything with a pulse.

The Moments, and The Whatnauts are two separate male vocal groups who were both signed to the same record label, who joined forces for this one off single.

The Whatnauts are an American Soul group who formed in Baltimore, Maryland, United States in 1969, consisting of five founding members. They released five singles between 1970-1974, and a final one in 1982, they also released three studio Albums between 1970-1972.The original line up of The Moments formed in 1965 in Washington D.C. United States. In 1978 the then line up of Harry Ray (1946-1992) Al Goodman (1943-2010) and Billy Brown who was now the only remaining founding member left the record label they had been with since 1969 to sign with Polydor records, but due to a contractual dispute they could no longer use the stage name ‘The Moments,’ and became known as ‘Ray, Goodman & Brown.’As The Moments there were 10 studio Albums released between 1969-1978, and 34 singles. As Ray, Goodman & Brown, there were a further seven studio Albums between 1979-1988, and another 15 singles, including the Billboard Number 5 hit ‘Special Lady,’ in 1979.

The Moments and The Whatnauts had both been signed to the ‘Stang’ record label, which was a subsidiary of ‘All Platinum’ records (see also best songs 597) which had been set up in 1967 by the husband and wife team of Sylvia Robinson (1935-2011) and her husband Joe Robinson, who passed away in 2000. In 1979 the Robinson’s set up a new subsidiary label, called ‘Sugar Hill Records’, but that’s another story (see also best songs (523-290 and 17.)

‘I’d like to be on an island, with five or six of them fine ones. Even one that ain’t good lookin,’ they’re the ones that do the best cookin.’

Posted by: In: Other 15 Dec 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

467-Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin-Je t’aime… moi non plus.

1969-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 4.04. When the song reaches it’s ‘climax.’

Serge Gainsbourg was born Lucien Ginsburg on April 2nd, 1928, in Paris, French Third Republic, France, he died of a heart attack on March 2nd, 1991, at the age of 62. He had a first heart attack in 1973, but had refused to cut down on smoking, and drinking. During his lifetime he was considered to be the most important artist in French Pop music, and since his death he has reached legendary stature in France.Gainsbourg released a total of 17 studio Albums between 1958-1987 experimenting in Jazz, Rock, Funk, Reggae, and Electronica. He was also an actor appearing in nearly 50 film, and television roles, and was the composer of the soundtracks for nearly 60 films, and television programs. He wrote and directed four feature films, including the 1976 film ‘Je t’aime moi non plus,’ starring Jane Birkin.Serge Gainsbourg wrote ‘Je t’aime moi non plus’ in 1967 at the suggestion of the actress Brigitte Bardot. Gainsbourg and Bardot were having an affair, and Bardot asked Gainsbourg to write the most beautiful love song he could imagine. The pair recorded their version, but when Bardot’s husband Gunter Sachs (1932-2011) found out about the affair, Bardot pleaded with Gainsbourg not to release the song.

In 1968 Gainbourg and the English actress Jane Birkin began a relationship when they met on the set of the film ‘Slogan.’ After filming the pair recorded ‘Je t’aime moi non plus,’ Birkin who knew of the Bardot version said,’I only sang it because I didn’t want anybody else to sing it.’ When the singer Marianne Faithfull was questioned whether she had been approached by Gainsbourg she said,’Hah. He asked everybody’.

‘Je t’aime moi non plus’ (French for ‘I love you, me neither’) was inspired by a Salvador Dali comment,’Picasso is Spanish, me too, Picasso is a genius, me too, Picasso is a communist, me neither.’ Because of the explicit nature of the lyrics, and the suggestive moans and groans, the song received a media ban in many countries. It is claimed that the Vatican even expressed their disapproval, with Gainsbourg calling the Pope ‘Our greatest PR man.’ When the song reached Number 1 in the UK, it became the first banned song to reach the top spot, it was also the first foreign language song to make Number 1 in the UK.

‘Je vais je vais et je viens entre tes reins.’

Posted by: In: Other 13 Dec 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

468-Peggy Lee-Fever.

1958-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 2.28. Peggy Lee was the inspiration for the Muppet character ‘Miss Piggy.’ Originally called ‘Miss Piggy Lee,’ the name was shortened to Miss Piggy when the Muppet’s became well known.

‘Fever’ was co-written by Eddie Cooley, (1933-2020) and Otis Blackwell (1931-2002,) who used the pseudonym John Davenport due to contractual commitments, John Davenport was the name of Blackwell’s stepfather. Blackwell was a influential figure in the development of ‘Rock N’ Roll,’ and an early inspiration to a young Elvis Presley. Songs written, or co-written by Blackwell include,’Don’t Be Cruel,’ ‘All Shook Up,’ and ‘Return to Sender,’ all hits for Presley, he was also the writer of ‘Great Balls of Fire’ made famous by Jerry Lee Lewis (see also best songs 99.)

The first version of ‘Fever’ was recorded by the American R&B singer Little Willie John (1937-1968) in 1956. His version reached Number 24 on Billboard, but made Number 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. Little Willie John’s sister is Mabel John who has recorded for Tamla Motown, and Stax Records, she was also a member of The Raelettes, who were Ray Charles backing group. Other notable recordings of the song include the 1993 version by Madonna, which made Number 6 in the UK, and the 1960 recording by Elvis Presley, from his Album ‘Elvis Is Back!’, whose arrangement is based on the Peggy Lee arrangement.Peggy Lee was born Norma Deloris Egstrom on May 26th, 1920, in Jamestown, North Dakota, United States, she died on January 21st, 2002 from complications from diabetes, and a heart attack. As well as being a singer, recording 58 studio Albums between 1948-1993, she was also a songwriter, writing, or co-writing over 270 songs, including all the original songs for the 1955 Disney film ‘Lady and the Tramp. She was also an actress starring in the 1952 re-make of the film ‘The Jazz Singer’.

In 1958 Peggy Lee recorded her cover version of ‘Fever,’ with rewritten lyrics she composed herself, these include the verses beginning with ‘Romeo Loved Juliet,’ and ‘Captain Smith and Pocahontas. Lee also significantly rearranged the song from the original by slowing the tempo, and using minimal instrumentation. The bass was played by Joe Mondragon (1920-1987) and the very limited drum set was by Shelly Manne. (1920-1984) As to who provided the famous ‘finger snaps’ it is unsure,with Lee, Manne, the guitarist Howard Roberts, and the songs producer Dave Cavanaugh all sited as possibles.

‘Now you’ve listened to my story, here’s the point that I have made. Chicks were born to give you fever, be it fahrenheit or centigrade, they give you fever.’

Posted by: In: Other 13 Dec 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

469-Frank Sinatra-Theme from New York, New York.

1980-Number 59 single. When reissued in 1986 it reached Number 4.

Best Bit-At 2.21. At the end of every New York Yankees baseball match, if the team had won they played Sinatra’s version, but if they had lost the original by Liza Minnelli was played. Needless to say Minnelli was not best pleased, and after she complained only the Sinatra version is now heard, win or lose.

‘Theme from New York, New York’ was written by Fred Ebb (1928-2004) who provided the lyrics, and John Kander (see also best songs 441 and 182) who wrote the music, for the 1977 Martin Scorsese film ‘New York, New York,’ starring Liza Minnelli,(see also best songs 182) and Robert De Niro. In the film Minnelli sings the original version of the song, Minelli had previously worked with Ebb, and Kander on many occasions since the writers first pared up in 1962, some of their most celebrated work includes the stage musicals ‘Cabaret,’ and ‘Chicago.’

Frank Sinatra first introduced the song into his repertoire during performances at the ‘Radio City Music Hall’ in October 1978. It was one of the songs he chose to record for his 1980 comeback Album ‘Trilogy: Past Present Future,’ his first new Album in six years. ‘Theme from New York, New York’ would be the last new single release to chart in America for Frank Sinatra when reaching Number 32 in 1980, his first had been alongside the Harry James Orchestra in 1939 when ‘It’s Funny to Everyone but Me’ made Number 21.Sinatra and Minnelli have performed the song together in concert on a few occasions, and in 1993 Sinatra rerecorded the song with Tony Bennett for his Album ‘Duets.’

Frank Sinatra (see also best songs 877-567-120 and 73) was born Francis Albert Sinatra on December 12th, 1915, in Hoboken, New Jersey, United States, he died on May 14th, 1998 after a heart attack at the age of 82. Although recorded at the twilight of his career ‘Theme from New York, New York’ soon became one of Frank Sinatra’s best loved songs, and one of his signature tunes.

‘I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps, and find I’m a number one, top of the list, king of the hill, a number one.’