THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

381-Bo Diddley-Bo Diddley.

1955-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.01. If the songs in this countdown were evaluated on their influence on future generations, then this would be in the top 20.

Bo Diddley was born Ellas Otha Bates on December 30th, 1928, in McComb, Mississippi, United States. He was adopted and raised by his mother’s cousin Gussie McDaniel, taking her surname. Diddley had a history of hypertension, and diabetes, and in May 2007 he suffered a stroke, the stroke was later followed by a heart attack, and he died on June 2nd, 2008, at the age of 79.

Bo Diddley is considered to be one of the most important artists in the transition of the ‘Blues,’ to ‘Rock ‘N Roll,’ and was an influence on some of the all time greats including the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Buddy Holly. Mick Jagger (see also best songs 933-662-452-160 and 77) has said,’He was a wonderful, original musician who was an enormous force in music, and was a big influence on The Rolling Stones. He was very generous to us in our early years, and we learnt a lot from him.’ Jagger also added,’We will never see his like again.’ Bo Diddley released 24 studio Albums between 1958-1996, there are also 24 compilation Albums, and six live Albums available. His only charting single in America on Billboard was ‘Say Man’ in 1959, which reached Number 20, while in the UK he has had two top 40 hits, ‘Pretty Thing,’ originally recorded in 1956, made Number 34 in 1963, and ‘Hey Good Lookin” reached Number 39 in 1965.

Perhaps the biggest compliment you can pay to the song ‘Bo Diddley’ is that nothing else in 1955, or before that sounded anything like that track. The songs lyrics are based on the traditional Southern American Folk song ‘Hush Little Baby’, another well known Pop hit to borrow from ‘Hush Little Bay’ is the 1963 song ‘Mockingbird’ by Charlie and Inez Foxx. Bo Diddley originally wanted to call the song ‘Uncle John’ but the owners of ‘Chess Records’ rejected the idea, and also the songs original lyrics, saying they were too dirty for the white American record buying public. In response Diddley re-wrote the lyrics, and named the song after himself.

The song ‘Bo Diddley’ was the first recording by Bo Diddley, and introduced African rhythms in to Rock ‘N Roll. The song is rhythmically similar to the ‘Juba dance,’ or ‘Hambone,’ originally known as ‘Pattin’ Juba,’ which is an African/American style of dancing that involves stomping, as well as slapping, and patting the arms, legs, chest, and cheeks. The Juba dance was originally brought by Kongo slaves to Charleston, South Carolina, in the early 19th Century. This ‘new’ sound introduced by Bo Diddley was so influential that it became known as the ‘Bo Diddley Beat.’ Many songs recorded through the subsequent decades have incorporated the ‘Bo Diddley Beat,’ including ‘Willie and the Hand Jive’ by Johnny Otis, from 1958, ‘Panic in Detroit’ by David Bowie,’ from 1973, ‘Faith’ by George Michael, from 1987, and countless others.

‘Bo Diddley bought his babe a diamond ring. If that diamond ring don’t shine, he gonna take it to a private eye. If that private eye can’t see, he’d better not take the ring from me.’