THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

610-Beastie Boys-(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party.)

1987-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 0.07.Back of the net!!

The classic line up of the Beastie Boys was Michael ‘Mike D’ Diamond (vocals and drums,) Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch (1964-2012) (vocals and bass,) and Adam ‘Ad Rock’ Horovitz (vocals and guitar.)Diamond had been part of an experimental Hardcore Punk band called the ‘Young Aborigines’ from 1978, and when one of the members dropped out, they were replaced by Adam Yauch in 1981, which was when the band changed their name to ‘Beastie Boys,’ chosen by the then guitarist John Berry (1963-2016.) Shortly after Berry would leave the band and be replaced by Adam Horovitz.This was the time that the Beastie Boys transitioned from ‘Punk’ to Rap/Rock, releasing their first ‘Hip-Hop’ single ‘Cooky Puss’ in March 1983.It was also the final recording to feature their long term drummer Kate Schellenbach, as the band moved in a different direction. The Beastie Boys have sold in excess of 20 million records in America, making them the best selling Rap group since Billboard began recording sales in 1991.

(‘You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party’) is taken from the Beastie Boys debut studio Album ‘Licenced to Ill,’ from 1986, and became the first ever Rap Album to top the Billboard ‘Top 200 Album’ chart.The song was co-written by the Beastie Boys, and long term collaborator with the band, Tom Cushman, the songs producer Rick Rubin also receives songwriting credit. Rubin was a big influence on the song, interjecting a ‘Rock’ sound in to it, Rubin had previously brought together the ‘Hip-Hop’ group Run DMC, and the ‘Rock’ group Aerosmith to achieve the first Rap/Rock hit ‘Walk This Way,’ in 1986 (see also best songs 305.)

(‘You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party,’) lyrically, actually started out life as a joke, a ‘mickey’ take on what Adam Yauch called ‘dumb rock songs.’ It is ironic that the song which made the Beastie Boys superstars, was thanks to the new ‘fanbase’ they had set out to parody.

‘Your pop caught you smoking, and he said ‘no way.’ That hypocrite smokes two packs a day.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

611-David Essex-Hold Me Close.

1975-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.10. David Essex wasn’t just a pretty face, as far as teen idols go, he was probably the most talented.

David Essex was born David Albert Cook on July 23rd, 1947, in Plaistow, Essex, England, which probably provides the clue as to where he took his stage name from. Success didn’t come instantly, as prior to his first self penned hit ‘Rock On,’ in 1973, he had released 11 none charting hits between 1965-1971.Before becoming a Pop star Essex became a film star, starring in the movie ‘That’ll Be the Day,’ alongside Ringo Starr, and Keith Moon, and others.He would also achieve even greater success in 1974 with that films sequel ‘Stardust.’

David Essex has released 28 studio Albums to date, between 1973-2013, and achieved 19 UK top 40 singles, two of which got to Number 1,’Hold Me Close,’ and ‘Gonna Make You A Star,’ both of which he wrote. In America, his only hit was ‘Rock On,’ which reached Number 5 on Billboard in 1973, but a 1989 cover version by Michael Damian reached Number 1 on Billboard.

‘Hold Me Close’ was taken from his third Album,’All the Fun of the Fair,’ and like many of his early successes it was produced by Jeff Wayne, who in 1978 released ‘Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds,’ his musical adaption of the H. G. Wells science fiction novel ‘The War of the Worlds’. The Album has gone on to sell in excess of 15 million copies worldwide, making it one of the top 50 best ever selling Albums. David Essex appears on the Album, providing spoken passages.

‘With your love light shining, every clouds got a silver lining, so hold me close, don’t let me go.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

612-Parliament-Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker.)

1976-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 3.57. If you ever attend a George Clinton concert, you will always hear the phrase ‘Give Up the Funk’ chanted, sometimes hundreds of times, starting with the audience imploring the band to take to the stage.

George Edward Clinton was born on July 22nd, 1941, in Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States, alongside James Brown, and Sly Stone, he is cited as one of the foremost innovators of ‘Funk’ music. Clinton’s first foray in to music was when forming a ‘Doo-Wop’ group in 1955 called ‘The Parliaments,’ inspired by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers. The Parliaments are best remembered for their 1967 Billboard Number 20 hit (‘I Wanna) Testify,’ co-written by Clinton.

In order to capitalise on the success of (‘I Wanna) Testify,’ Clinton put together a group of touring musicians, but due to a contractual dispute he lost the rights to the name ‘The Parliaments,’ so reformed, using the name ‘Funkadelic'(see also best songs 340 and 26.) As the amount of newly recruited musicians grew, Clinton decided to form a second group to run concurrently alongside ‘Funkadelic,’ and this was the formation of ‘Parliament'(see also best songs 143.)

‘Tear the Roof off the Sucker’ is taken from Parliament’s fourth studio Album ‘Mothership Connection’ from 1975, and was co-written by Clinton, his long time associate Jerome Brailey, and Bootsy Collins (see also best songs 850 and 88,) who had recently joined the band, after a stint playing with James Brown. ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine called the Album,’A parody of modern funk, unlike the Ohio Players, or Commodores, the group refuse to play it straight, instead Clinton spews his jive, conceived from some cosmic funk vision.’ George Clinton has said,’I was a big fan of ‘Star Trek,’so we did a thing with a pimp sitting in a spaceship shaped like a Cadillac, and we did all these James Brown type grooves, but with street talk, and ghetto slang.’

‘You’ve got a real type of thing going down, gettin’ down, there’s a whole lot of rhythm going round.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

613-Basshunter and DJ Mental Theo’s Bazzheadz-Now You’re Gone.

2008-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.12. In 2010 Basshunter was a contestant in the seventh series of Celebrity Big Brother.One of the tasks he had to undertake was being locked in a room, and as a form of torture, he had to listen to this song all night, being played on a loop.

Basshunter is the stage name of Jonas Erik Altberg, who was born December 22nd, 1984, in Halmstad, Sweden, he is a singer/songwriter, music producer, and DJ. To date he has released six studio Albums, the first in 2004, and the latest in 2013. In the UK he has achieved seven top 40 singles, while in his home country of Sweden, he has had eight. He took his stage name in tribute to the type of music he records.

In 2006 Basshunter recorded the song ‘Boten Anna’ for his second studio Album ‘LOL.’ the Swedish lyrics tell the story of a female ‘Internet Relay Chat’ user, who the vocalist believes is a ‘bot,’ and later finds out she is a beautiful woman, although she will always remain a bot in his eyes. The song met with great success reaching Number 1 in Sweden, and also becoming the first Swedish language song to top the chart in Holland. In 2007 the Dutch Disc Jockey, DJ Mental Theo re-wrote the lyrics in English, completely changing the songs subject, to a story about a young couple breaking up. In the music video it is suggested that the couple reconcile, but there is no mention of this in the songs lyrics. On the original version ‘Boten Anna,’ the vocals are provided by Basshunter, but on ‘Now You’re Gone,’ the vocals are those of Sebastian Westwood, who is unaccredited on this track.

‘There’s an empty place in my heart, without my Anna it will break apart. It won’t heal,it never fades away, I’ll be thinking ’bout you everyday.’

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.’

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.’

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.’

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.’

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.’

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.’