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Posted by: In: Other 10 Apr 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

350-Journey-Don’t Stop Believin’.

1981-Number 62 single. Through digital downloads it peaked at Number 6 in 2010.

Best Bit-At 0.58. The songs title came from something the bands keyboardist Jonathan Cain’s father frequently told him when he was a struggling musician,’Don’t stop believing or you’re done, dude.’

The first line up of Journey who formed in 1973 and originally called ‘Golden Gate Rhythm Section’ were Neal Schon, (lead guitar) Charles ‘Prairie’ Prince, (drums) Greg Rolie, (keyboards, and lead vocals) Ross Valory, (bass) and George Tickner (guitar.) In total there have been 17 members come and go with Schon being the bands one constant. At the time of writing they remain active with seven current members recording and touring.

Journey’s musical style has also changed drastically over the years, initially they started out playing progressive rock, and jazz-rock, but with pressure from their record label to get them radio play, it meant them leaning more towards ‘Soft Rock,’which brought them their most commercial success between 1978-1987. To date Journey have released 14 studio Albums between 1975-2011. On Billboard they have achieved 18 top 40 singles, with their highest charting being ‘Open Arms,’ which made Number 2 in 1982, while in the UK ‘Don’t Stop Believin” remains their only charting single. With sales in excess of 80 million, Journey are one of the best selling bands of all time.

‘Don’t Stop Believin” was released as the second single from Journey’s seventh studio Album ‘Escape’ from 1981, the song was co-written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain, and Neal Schon, who were all members of the band at that time. Perry who sang lead vocals had joined Journey in 1977, and remained with them until 1987, he then returned after the bands hiatus, to take up duties again between 1995-1998. Jonathan Cain who had joined the band in 1980 played guitar, and keyboards, he is also a member of the current line up. The other two musicians who played on the song, and were members of Journey at that time were Ross Valory,who left in 2020, and drummer Steve Smith who had joined in 1978, and also left in 2020.

‘Don’t Stop Believin” can be considered to be a contender for the ultimate slow burner. Although when initially released in the UK in 1982 it only reached Number 62, it has since gone on to sell over one million copies in that country, and worldwide it is currently the best selling digital track for a song that was first released in the 20th Century, with sales in excess of 8 million.

The first resurgence of the song happened in 2003 when it was used in the American movie ‘Monster,’ Although the film was not the greatest success, the Hollywood community saw the emotion the song generated, and from then on it became a regular in several films, and television programmes. In 2009 the song was covered by the cast of the American musical comedy show ‘Glee,’ which when released as a single sold over 1.4 million copies in America, and climbed to Number 5 in the UK, which led to the renewed interest in the original version.

‘Don’t Stop Believin” is a song of hope. In a lonely world where it can be hard to find that right someone, the hope that you can is what makes things bearable. The song also addresses escaping from your past, whatever that maybe, and looking forward to a better tomorrow.

‘Just a small town girl, livin’ in a lonely world, she took the midnight train goin’ anywhere. Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit, he took the midnight train goin’ anywhere.

Posted by: In: Other 09 Apr 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

351-OutKast-Ms. Jackson.

2000-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 3.55. It’s the best song in the world ever about groveling to ‘The Mother-In-Law.’

OutKast were formed in 1992, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, by Andre ‘3000’ Benjamin, and Antwan ‘Big Boi’ Patton, they remained active as a duo until 2007, and collaborated again to tour for over 40 musical festivals in 2014. The duo chose their name based on finding ‘outcast’ as a synonym for ‘misfit’ in a dictionary, since 2007 they have both pursued solo careers.

OutKast are one of Hip-Hop’s’ most critically acclaimed acts, having been praised for their experimentation with diverse genres including Funk, Psychedelia, Jazz, and Techno, as well as their lyrical content. As OutKast they released six studio Albums between 1994-2006, and 32 singles, of which 10 reached the Billboard top 40, with three making the Number 1 spot. In the UK six of their songs have made the top 40, with this track being the highest charting, when peaking at Number 2.Andre ‘3000’ was born on May 27th, 1975, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and Antwan ‘Big Boi’ Patton was born on February 1st, 1975, in Savannah, Georgia, United States. The pair first met in 1992 when they were both 16 years old, where they attended the Tri-Cities High School, they initially both participated in ‘Rap Battles,’ that would take place in the school cafeteria. They were soon signed to the label that would later become ‘LaFace Records,’ becoming the labels first Hip-Hop act, OutKast have gone on to sell in excess of 25 million records worldwide.

‘Ms. Jackson’ was the second single released from OutKast’s fourth studio Album ‘Stankonia’ from 2000, the Album was far more experimental than previous releases, as they added Techno, and Psychedelic Funk to their sound. ‘Ms. Jackson’s’ lyrics are a message from Andre 3000 to the mother of the singer Eryka Badu (see also best songs 408) with whom he had a child with, Andre and Badu had been in a relationship from 1996-1999, but had since split. He wanted Badu’s mother to hear his side of the story, as he felt he was being portrayed as a bad father. Ms. Jackson is a name OutKast made up, Badu’s mother is really named Kolleen Wright. It was reported that Kolleen Wright really liked the song being written about her and said,’Where’s my publishing cheque.’

‘Ms. Jackson has six writers credited, along with Benjamin, and Patton of OutKast, also credited is their long term collaborator David Sheats, and also Stan Watts. Due to the songs sampling the German composer Richard Wagner’s (1813-1883) name is added, along with Shuggie Otis who wrote ‘Strawberry Letter 23’ (see also best songs 1022.) ‘Ms. Jackson samples The Brothers Johnson’s version of ‘Strawberry Letter 23’ by adding various audio effects, prominently reversed.

‘Me and yo’ daughter got’s this thing going on. You say it’s puppy love, we say it’s full grown.Hope that we feel this, feel this way forever, you can plan a pretty picnic, but you can’t predict the weather.’

Posted by: In: Other 09 Apr 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

352-Jacques Brel-Amsterdam.

1964-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 2.30. Thank heavens for English subtitles, or I wouldn’t have a clue what it’s all about.

Jacques Romain Georges Brel was born on April 8th, 1929, in Schaerbeek,Brussels, Belgium, he died on October 9th, 1978, from a pulmonary embolism, at the age of 49. Brel was a singer, songwriter, actor, and director, he appeared in 10 films between 1956-1973, two of which.’Franz,’ from 1971, and ‘Le Far West,’ from 1973, he was also the director. Brel released 14 studio Albums between 1954-1977, and two live Albums, with sales in excess of 25 million copies, Brel is the third best selling artist of all time to be born in Belgium, behind Salvatore Adamo (100 million plus sales) and Frederic Francois (40 million sales.) Incidentally the other Belgium act to feature in this countdown is Technotronic, (see also best songs 424) who with sales in excess of 14 million are currently the eighth best selling act in Belgium. Such is the esteem Brel is held in, there are currently two statues erected as tributes, one is in Brussels, Belgium, and the other is in Vesoul, France.Brel’s songs have been covered countless times, many by some of the world’s greatest artists, and translated into several different languages. It has been said that many of his songs have lost their true meaning in translation, a very good example of this would be ‘Le Moribond,’ which when re-written by the American singer/poet Rod McKuen (1933-2015) became ‘Seasons in the Sun,’ which went on to sell over 10 million copies worldwide in 1974 when recorded by Terry Jacks. The song was brought to the attention of a whole new generation when the Irish boy band Westlife also took the song to Number 1 (the Christmas Number 1) of 1999 in the UK. The three British artists who are best remembered for being inspired by Brel, and also for recording his songs are Scott Walker,(1943-2019) (see also best songs 164) David Bowie, (1947-2016) and Marc Almond,(see also best songs 848) both Walker, and Almond have each recorded several songs on their Albums dedicated to Brel’s music.

‘Amsterdam’ was written by Jacques Brel, musically the songs melody is based on the traditional English Folk song ‘Greensleeves.’ Brel never recorded the song for any of his studio Albums, and the only version released can be found on his live Album ‘Enregistrement Public a l’Olympia 1964.’ In 1968 ‘Amsterdam’ was one of the songs translated into English by the American singer/songwriter Mort Shuman (1938-1991) for the musical ‘Jacques Brel is Alive and Living in Paris,’ which in 1975 was also made in to a film, being released in America, Canada, and France.

After hearing Scott Walker’s recording of ‘Amsterdam’ David Bowie (see also best songs 807-440-334-302-209-186-118-47-31 and 5) recorded a version in the early 1970’s, which was first released in 1973 as the ‘B’ side to his UK Number 3 single ‘Sorrow.’ In France the sides were flipped with ‘Amsterdam’ released as the ‘A’ side, where it made Number 7 on their chart. On a visit to Paris, Bowie wanted to meet Brel, but Brel refused, saying he did not wish to meet a ‘pede’ (faggot) but nevertheless still admired him.

‘Amsterdam’ is about the port of Amsterdam, not Amsterdam itself. The lyrics tell of the sailors during their shore leave, and not in a complimentary manner. It tells of the squalor that they appear to be happy to live in, the unhealthy lifestyle they lead, and the prostitutes they engage with.

‘In Amsterdam’s port there are sailors dying, full of beers and dramas, since the very first gleams. But in Amsterdam port there are sailors getting to life in the thick heat of the ocean’s tiredness

Posted by: In: Other 07 Apr 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

353-Janis Ian-At Seventeen.

1975-Number 54 single.

Best Bit-At 0.47. In the wonderful world of Pop music it is amazing how often the Number 17 occurs, for instance the Beatles saw her standing there, while Joan Jett saw him standing there by the record machine. For Frank Sinatra it was a very good year, and Bobby Goldsbro (see also best songs 942) became a man, but the most famous 17 of them all of course is ‘The Dancing Queen’ (see also best songs 44.)

Janis Ian was born Janis Eddy Fink on April 7th, 1951, in Farmingdale, New Jersey, United States, in 1964 she legally changed her surname to Ian, taking her brother Eric’s middle name. As well as being a singer/songwriter Janis Ian is also an author of Science Fiction, and has had books published. At the age of 13 she wrote the song ‘Society’s Child (Baby I’ve Been Thinking’) which would eventually become her first hit when reaching Number 14 on Billboard in America in 1967. The song is considered to be ground breaking as it’s subject matter concerned the relationship between an interracial couple, and the effect it had on their family and friends. Even so many radio stations refused to play the song it still managed to eventually become a hit. In 1973 a song with similar subject matter ‘Brother Louie’ by the ‘Stories’ reached Number 1 on Billboard (see also best songs (see also best songs 864.) The discography of Janis Ian consists of 24 studio Albums released between 1967-2022, and 29 singles released between 1967-2010. She has never had a top 40 hit in the UK, but in the States both ‘At Seventeen,’ (Number 3) and ‘Society’s Child (Baby I’ve Been Thinking’) (Number 14) remain her two charting singles to date.

‘At Seventeen’ was taken from Janis Ian’s seventh studio Album ‘Between the Lines’ from 1975, the song was written by Janis Ian, and produced by Brooks Arthur who had also worked as an engineer previously on ‘Society’s Child,’ Janis Ian first got the idea for the song after reading an article in the ‘New York Times’ about an 18 year old woman who believed her life would improve after attending a debutante ball, but it didn’t. This led to Ian thinking back on her own similar personal experiences as a young teenager, she chose the age of 17 as it fit well into the song.

‘At Seventeen’ is a song about the illusion of popularity, society’s beauty standards, and adolescent cruelty as told from the point of view of a woman who was an ‘Ugly Duckling’ as a girl in high school, while the popular girls got all the attention. Janis Ian has said of the song,’To me it’s not a depressing song, it says ‘Ugly Duckling girls like me,’ and to me the Ugly Duckling always turns into a swan. It offers hope that there is a world out there of people who understand.’

‘And those of us with ravaged faces, lacking in the social graces, desperately remained at home, inventing lovers on the phone.’

Posted by: In: Other 07 Apr 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

354-Frankie Laine-That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day.)

1949-Has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 2.25. Eat your heart out Adams, eat your heart out Whitney, eat your heart out Drake, this guy still holds the record of 18 weeks at Number 1.

Frankie Laine was born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio on March 30th, 1913, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, he died from heart failure on February 6th, 2007, at the age of 93. Frankie Laine was a singer, songwriter, and actor, he was definitely not an overnight sensation, having performed in public from his early teens, it would be 1945 before he recorded his first song for a major label, eventually achieving his first hit with ‘That’s My Desire’ in 1946, when it reached Number 4 in America. In total Laine recorded 30 studio Albums between 1954-2007, and 164 singles between 1945-1999. In the UK Frankie Laine achieved four Number 1 singles, all of which were in the 1950’s. In 1953 his recording of ‘I Believe’ spent 18 non consecutive weeks at Number 1 which remains a record to this day. Laine also holds the record in the UK of spending 27 weeks at Number 1 in a calendar year, in 1953. Although not acknowledged by all music critics, Laine is considered by many as helping to pave the way for vocalists, helping to bridge the gap between the ‘crooners’ of the pre Rock era, and those that came after, such as Elvis Presley, James Brown, and Ray Charles.

‘That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day’) was written in 1949 by the songwriting team of Beasley Smith, (1901-1968) (music) and Haven Gillespie (1888-1975) (lyrics.) Other notable lyrics written by Gillespie include the song ‘You Go to My Head,’ and the Christmas classic,’Santa Claus is Coming to Town.’

As with many songs from that period, there could be several versions competing against each other at the same time. In 1949 Frankie Laine’s recording was the most successful when reaching Number 1 in America. A recording by Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra made Number 9, a version by Louis Armstrong reached Number 24, and Frank Sinatra took his rendition to Number 16.

‘That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day’) has been likened in it’s subject matter to the 1927 song ‘Ol’ Man River,’ (see also best songs 82) which has lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein (see also best songs 842.) The song tells of the very hard labour performed, and the intense hardship suffered by the songs narrator while the natural world around him just goes about it’s everyday business. The narrator prays to his God to either take him immediately to heaven, or free him from his tortuous work.

‘Send down the cloud with a silver lining, lift me to paradise. Show me that river, take me across, wash all my troubles away. Like that lucky old sun, give me nothing to do but roll around heaven all day.’

Posted by: In: Other 07 Apr 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

355-George Ezra-Paradise.

2018-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.49. Paradise, and not a dashboard light in sight.

George Ezra Barnett was born on June 7th, 1993, in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England., he cites his youthful obsession with the music of Bob Dylan (see also best songs 792-621-358-103-36 and 7) as a major influence. Dylan himself, of course was influenced by the American Folk, and Blues artists of the early to mid 20th Century, such as Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie, and Howlin’ Wolf, and this led to Ezra checking out their music. Ezra bought a Lead Belly (see also best songs 431) compilation, and on the sleeve it said that Lead Belly’s voice was so big, you have to turn your record player down. Ezra has said,’I liked the idea of singing with a big voice, so I tried, and I could.’At the time of writing George Ezra has released two studio Albums to date, ‘Wanted on Voyage’ in 2014, and ‘Staying at Tamara’s’ in 2018, both Albums have reached the Number 1 spot in the UK. He has also released 10 singles to date between 2013-2021, with seven of them making the UK top 40, including his 2018 Number 1 ‘Shotgun,’ while in America his only charting single to date is ‘Budapest,’ which reached Number 32 on Billboard in 2013.

‘Paradise’ was released as the second single from George Ezra’s second studio Album ‘Staying at Tamara’s’ from 2018, the song was co-written by Ezra, and Shane Marriott, and produced by Cam Blackwood. After Ezra finished touring his debut Album in 2014, he set about writing for the follow up. He went to Barcelona for a month, but instead of booking into a hotel, he looked on the internet, and found a stranger called Tamara who was renting her spare room, and this was where the Album’s title came from. Ezra has said,’I thought if she’s a bit crazy, if she’s a bit unhinged, I can just leave. Her friends were all musicians, artists and designers, and her apartment really felt like HQ. It helped slow me down. There was a point about halfway through the trip where I was like, this trip has proved to be really important, and the Album’s name came to me like that, I love it.’

‘Paradise’ is a love song, Ezra wrote the song while dating Florrie Arnold, who was the drummer on this song, as well as providing background vocals, the song was written with her in mind. Ezra has said the song was aiming to capture ‘A feeling that takes over when you’ve fallen in love.’ He has said that the lyrics were ‘Not looking at a particular love story, but more the effect that love has on your psyche. You become a mess, but it’s good. It doesn’t matter what’s going on around you, you’re in your own little world.’ Ezra described ‘Paradise’ as the ‘Perfect love song version’ of ‘Staying at Tamara’s’ themes of ‘Escaping and dreaming, and taking yourself away a little bit.’

‘I know you heard it from those other boys, but this time it’s real. It’s something that I feel and I know you heard it from those other boys, but this time it’s real, it’s something that I feel.’

Posted by: In: Other 07 Apr 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

356-The Hues Corporation-Rock the Boat.

1974-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 2.17. Due to it’s popularity in the nightclubs the radio finally began to play it, leading to what many people cite as the first ‘Disco’ record to become a Billboard Number 1 single.

The Hues Corporation were formed in 1969 in Santa Monica, California, United States by Wally Holmes, (1928-2021) and Bernard St. Clair Lee, (1944-2011) they were soon joined by Hubert Ann Kelley, and Karl Russell. The group initially wanted to call themselves ‘The Children of Howard Hughes,’ but their record label wouldn’t allow it, so they settled on ‘The Hughes Corporation,’ naming themselves after the business magnate Howard Hughes, (1905-1976) which was a pun on the ‘Howard Hughes Corporation.’

Their first big break occurred in 1972 when asked to appear in, and provide three songs for the ‘blaxploitation’ film ‘Blacula,’ after which Karl Russell was replaced in the band by Fleming Williams (1943-1998.) This new lineup were signed to ‘RCA Records,’ and recorded their debut studio Album ‘Freedom for the Stallion’ in 1973, which included the original version of this song. The Hues Corporation were active until around 1980, but were reformed in the 1990’s by St. Clair Lee, with new members, in order to tour. In total The Hues Corporation released six studio Albums between 1973-1980, and 17 singles between 1970-1982. In the UK, and on Billboard their only other top 40 hit was ‘Rockin’ Soul,’ also in 1974, which reached Number 24 in the UK, and Number 18 on Billboard.

‘Rock the Boat’ was written by band member Wally Holmes, and produced by John Florez. It was Florez who remixed the song, which led to it’s popularity in the nightclubs, the new remix was one of the tracks to feature on the bands second studio Album ‘Rockin’ Soul’ released in 1974. Some very famous musicians were brought in for the original recording of the song, including Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, and Larry Carlton of the ‘Jazz Crusaders,’ (see also best songs 588) and the drummer Jim Gordon. Fleming Williams who provided the songs lead vocal would leave shortly after the song was recorded.

Richard Finch of KC and the Sunshine Band has said that hearing ‘Rock the Boat’ being played, while he watched people dancing to it enthusiastically was an inspiration for his co-write of ‘Rock Your Baby’ with Harry Wayne Casey (see also best songs 64.) In 1982 the American singer Forrest Thomas (1953-2013) took his version of ‘Rock the Boat’ to Number 4 in the UK.

‘Ever since our voyage of love began, your touch has thrilled me like the rush of the wind, and your arms have held me safe from a rolling sea. There’s always been a quiet place to harbour you and me.’

Posted by: In: Other 03 Apr 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

357-James Ingram and Michael McDonald- Yah Mo B There.

1985-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 4.12. In the 2005 American romantic film comedy ‘The 40 Year Old Virgin,’ the main character works in an electronic store, in which a Michael McDonald DVD has constantly been playing for two years. A salesman (played by Paul Rudd) has developed an intense hatred of the DVD and tells the manager,’Nothing against Michael McDonald but if I hear Ya Mo B There one more time, I’m gonna Yah Mo burn this place to the ground!’

The original version of ‘Yah Mo B There’ was a duet between James Ingram and Michael McDonald, and released as a single from James Ingram’s debut solo Album ‘It’s Your Night.’ The song reached Number 19 on Billboard in America, while in the UK it stalled at Number 44. In 1985 the song was remixed by John ‘Jellybean’ Benitez, and this time went to Number 12 in the UK.

James Edward Ingram was born on February 16th, 1952, in Los Angeles, California, United States, he did of brain cancer on January 29th, 2019, at the age of 66. In the UK all of his three top 40 hits were duets, his other two were ‘Baby Come to Me,’ with Patti Austin (Number 11) in 1982, and ‘Somewhere Out There,’ with Linda Ronstadt (Number

😎

in 1986. On Billboard, eight of his singles have reached the top 40, including the 1990 Number 1 ‘I Don’t Have the Heart.’

Michael McDonald was born on February 12th, 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. In 1974 he spent a year as a member of the Steely Dan touring band, and has continued to work with them in the studio, and on the road intermittently down the years. But McDonald will always be best known as a member of The Doobie Brothers from 1975-1982, staying with them for five studio Albums, and nine Billboard top 40 singles, including his co-write of their Number 1 song ‘What a Fool Believes’ in 1979. McDonald has also had a very successful solo career since 1982, and has to date released 11 solo studio Albums.

‘Yah Mo B There’ was co-written by James Ingram, Michael McDonald, Rod Temperton, (1949-2016) (see also best songs 889 and 511) and the legendary Quincy Jones,(see also best songs 1022-889-812-703 and 191) the song was produced by Jones, and was released on his record label ‘Qwest,’ which was partly owned by Warner Brothers. The song is in reference to God, and the power faith can have over difficult times, ‘Yah’ being the shortened ‘Yahweh,’ the Hebrew name for God.

‘Heavenly Father watchin’ us fall, we take from each other, and give nothing at all. Well it’s a doggone shame, but never too late for change.’

Posted by: In: Other 03 Apr 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

358-Bob Dylan-The Times They Are a-Changin.’

1965-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 2.36. It appears that the lyrics are as relevant now as they were when Dylan originally wrote them in 1963, and they probably always will be.

Bob Dylan wrote the songs lyrics between September and October 1963 as a deliberate attempt to create an anthem for change. He has said,’This was definitely a song with a purpose. It was influenced of course by the Irish and Scottish ballads,’Come All Ye Bold Highway Men,’ ‘Come All Ye Tender Hearted Maidens.’ I wanted to write a big song, with short concise verses that piled up on each other in an hypnotic way. The Civil Rights Movement and the Folk music movement were pretty close for a while and allied together at that time.’

‘The Times They Are a-Changin’ is also the title of Bob Dylan’s third studio Album released in January 1964, his first Album to consist of only original material. Dylan’s friend, the musician, and author Tony Glover (1939-2019) recalled visiting Dylan’s apartment in September 1963, where he saw a number of song manuscripts, and poems lying on the table. Glover reportedly asked Dylan,’What is this sh.t man?’ to which Dylan responded,’ Well, you know, it seems to be what the people like to hear.’ This track and it’s parent Album were produced by Tom Wilson (1931-1978) who is considered one of the most important and innovative producers of all time. He is credited with helping Bob Dylan create a more ‘Rock ‘N Roll’ sound, and worked also as producer for other all time greats including The Velvet Underground,(see also best songs 401 and 165) and Simon & Garfunkel (see also best songs (529-200-96 and 71.)

Shortly after Dylan (see also best songs 792-621-103-36 and 7) had recorded ‘The Times They Are a-Changin’ President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. The next night Dylan opened a concert with the song, he told his biographer Anthony Scaduto (1932-2017) ‘I thought wow, how can I open with that song? I’ll get rocks thrown at me, but I had to sing it, my whole concert took off from there. I know I had no understanding of anything. Something had just gone haywire in the country, and they were applauding the song, and I couldn’t understand why they were clapping, or why I wrote the song. I couldn’t understand anything. For me it was just insane.’

In 2010 handwritten lyrics to the first four verses of ‘The Times They Are a-Changin’ jotted on a scrap of paper by Dylan were sold for $422,500 at a ‘Sotherbys’ sale in New York, the lucky bidder was the contemporary art collector Adam Sender.

‘The line is drawn, the curse is cast, the slow one now will later be fast, as the present now, will later be past. The order is rapidly fadin,’ and the first one now will later be last, for the times they are a changin.’

Posted by: In: Other 01 Apr 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

359-Method Man featuring Mary J. Blige-I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By.

1995-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 0.36. This song is often cited as the hybrid of what is now known as ‘Thug Loved’ duets.

Mary J. Blige was born Mary Jane Blige on January 11th, 1971, in New York City, United States. To date she has released 13 studio Albums between 1992-2017, and collaborated on 83 singles. In America she has achieved 21 Billboard top 40 singles, with the most successful being her 2001 Number 1 hit ‘Family Affair,’ while in the UK she has had 33 top 40 hits, with her 2006 collaboration with U2 on the song ‘One’ being her highest charting, when reaching Number 2.It can be argued that Mary J. Bidge has been an innovator, not once but twice. He debut Album ‘What’s the 411?’ released in 1992 is an early example of a Soul singer combining Soul music with Hip-Hop music, leading to Blige being named the ‘Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.’ She is also credited through this song with matching female vocals alongside a Rap artist. This matching of the genres would go on to dominate the music charts around the world, and still plays a big part today.

Method Man was born Clifford Smith Jr. on March 2nd, 1971, in Hempstead, New York, United States, he took his stage name from the 1979 martial arts film called ‘Method Man.’ He is best known as a founding member of the Hip-Hop group the ‘Wu-Tang Clan’ who are one of the most influential Hip-Hop acts of all time (see also best songs 166.) Method Man was the first band member to release a solo Album, which was produced by fellow band member ‘RZA.’ The Album was called ‘Tical,’ and features the original recording of this song, titled ‘All I Need.’ When Mary J. Blige added her vocal the song received two remixes, the Album version which was added as a bonus track to ‘Tical,’ and the video version were produced by ‘RZA,’ and the radio version was produced by Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs,(see also best songs 955) and the Trackmasters. As a solo artist Method Man has released six studio Albums between 1994-2018, and five collaborative Albums between 1999-2021.

‘I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By’ samples the Ashford & Simpson written song ‘You’re All I Need to Get By,’ originally recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell in 1968, and reached Number 7 on Billboard, and Number 19 in the UK. Ashford & Simpson (see also best songs 703-359-228 and 28) both receive songwriting credits along with Method Man, and RZA.

‘I got a love Jones for your body, and your skin tone. Five minutes alone, I’m already got the bone. Plus I love the fact you got a mind of your own, no need to shop around, you got the good stuff at home.’