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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

Posted by: In: Other 16 Jan 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

435-The Undertones-Teenage Kicks.

1978-Number 31 single.

Best Bit-At 0.30. The late great DJ John Peel’s favourite ever song, enough said.

The Undertones were formed in Derry, Northern Island, in 1974, by John O’Neill (rhythm guitar) Feargal Sharkey (vocals) Michael Bradley (bass) Billy Doherty (drums) and Vincent O’Neill (guitar,) Vincent left the group in 1976 and was replaced by his younger brother Damian O’Neill (lead guitar.) They were active between 1974-1983 releasing four studio Albums, and 13 singles, of which seven reached the UK top 40.By 1983 the hits had dried up, with lead singer Feagal Sharkey unhappy about the musical direction the band had taken, he left the group to pursue a solo career. In 1999 The Undertones reformed without Sharkey who declined their invitation, so fellow Derry born Paul McLoon was drafted in as the new lead singer. Two further Albums were recorded in 2003, and 2007, with tours in Europe and North America undertaken, they remain active.

‘Teenage Kicks’ was the debut single by The Undertones, and appears on the band’s self titled debut Album from 1979, the song was written by John O’Neill. The song is famous for being the all time favourite of the influential BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel (1939-2004,) it is said that on first hearing the song in September 1978 Peel burst in to tears. In a 2001 interview Peel stated that apart from his name, the only words he wished to be engraved on his gravestone were the opening lyrics to Teenage Kicks (‘Teenage dreams so hard to beat.’) Peel’s wife Sheila said,’We have put the words on the stone that he world have wanted, I wouldn’t dare do anything else.

‘The songs writer John O’Neill has said of the song,’In 1978 we didn’t think Teenage Kicks was the best song, True Confessions was the one we thought people would go for, and we only named the EP after it because we were teenagers, and it seemed appropriate. When John Peel played it twice on his show we were in shock. I came up with the title, I was a MC5 (see also best songs 155) fan and they had a song called Teenage Lust and we used to cover Route 66, so with the licks in the chorus I just made the connection.

‘I’m gonna call her on the telephone, have her over ’cause I’m all alone. I need excitement, oh I need it bad and it’s the best I’ve ever had.’