THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

472-The Libertines-Can’t Stand Me Now.

2004-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 1.43. The bands two main protagonists Carl Barat, and Pete Doherty had a turbulent relationship, they rarely saw eye to eye, and were often at loggerheads,… and they weren’t even married.

The Libertines were formed in London, England in 1997 by Carl Barat, and Pete Doherty, they are both guitarists in the band, and also share the vocals, as well as being a songwriting partnership. They remained active until 2004, before reforming in 2014, in 2010 for a brief period they reformed to play the Reading and Leeds Festivals. To date they have released three studio Albums ‘Up the Bracket’ (2002) ‘The Libertines’ (2004) and ‘Anthems for Doomed Youth (2015.) In 1998 Barat, and Doherty were joined by Johnny Borrell (bass) who was a member until 1999, and Paul Dufour was the bands drummer during 2000. The current line up consists of Barat, Doherty, Johny Hassall (bass) who joined in 1999, and Gary Powell (drums) who joined in 2001.

‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ was the first single released from The Libertines self titled second studio Album from 2004, and was co-written by Barat, Doherty, and Mark Keds, (1970-2021) this single and the parent Album were produced by Mick Jones, formally of The Clash, and Big Audio Dynamite (see also best songs 867-638 and 294,) Jones had also produced The Libertines debut Album ‘Up the Bracket.’

On ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ both Barat and Doherty share the lead vocals, taking turns singing to each other about how much they are drifting apart, even so they both still care very much for each other they know the parting of the ways is imminent. For many years, including at the time of the recording of this song Doherty had a highly publicised, and long lasting drug addiction, which was a major problem in the relationship between the pair.

The Libertines breakthrough in 2002 occurred at the same time as ‘Garage Rock’ was making a revival through the success of bands such as ‘The Strokes,’ (see also best songs 450,) and the ‘White Stripes’ (see also best songs 324.) Of The Libertines sound Pete Doherty has said,’Oasis is the sound of a council estate singing it’s heart out, and The Libertines is the sound of someone just put in the rubbish chute at the back of the estate, trying to work out what day it was.’

‘An ending fitting for the start, you twist and tore our love apart. Your light fingers threw the dark, shattered the lamp, and into darkness it cast us.’