THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

448-Cola Boy-7 Ways to Love.

1991-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 4.13. Just so you don’t get confused, this song is not an abbreviated version of the Karma Sutra.

Cola Boy was the brainchild and side project of Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs who in 1990 had formed the Alternative Dance act Saint Etienne. Stanley and Wiggs who had known each other since childhood had been listening to the Dance Music of the day and realised that they could do it just as well, or maybe even better. As Saint Etienne were a serous project, the pair invented the name Cola Boy, as they felt that a ‘Euro Pop’ sounding song might compromise their standing in the music community.

‘7 Ways to Love’ was initially recorded as a white label and sent to record stores that dealt in Dance Music, once it began to take off Arista Records signed Stanley and Wiggs in order to release the song nationwide. Sarah Cracknell who was the third member and lead singer of Saint Etienne could not sing on the track as she was bound by another contract, so Janey Lee Grace who had previously been a backing singer for Wham on their world tours for three years was recommended. Also brought in to form a face for the band was Andrew Midgeley (not to be confused with Andrew Ridgeley of Wham) A follow up single called ‘He Is Cola’ was issued, but after it flopped Cola Boy were disbanded. Janey Lee Grace went on to become a radio presenter on BBB Radio 2, and she is also an author, having released four books. In 1993 Stanley and Wiggs produced a new remix of the song for the Japanese singer Nokko for her Album ‘I Will Catch You,’ in which she added new lyrics, sung in both Japanese and English.

Saint Etienne were formed in Croyden, London, England, in 1990 and remain active, they took their name from the French football club ‘A.S. Saint Etienne.’ They have released a total of 10 studio Albums between 1991-2021, and 38 singles of which 17, including collaborations have made the UK top 40. Ironically ‘7 Ways to Love’ the song they didn’t want St Etienne to be associated with remains the bands only top 10 single.

‘7 ways to love.’