THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

348-Everything but the Girl-Missing (Todd Terry Remix.)

1995-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 0.55. ‘Could you be dead, you always were two steps ahead.’ Which is probably taking trendsetting a little bit too far.

Everything but the Girl were formed in 1982, in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, by Tracey Thorn (vocals, and guitar) and Ben Watt (guitar, keyboards, and vocals.) The pair first met when both were attending the University of Hull, they were both also signed to the independent record company ‘Cherry Red Records’ as solo artists at that time. Both Thorn and Watt who had already had material previously released by the label decided to form a duo, and took their name ‘Everything but the Girl’ from the advertising slogan used by the Hull shop ‘Turner’s Furniture,’ situated on Beverley Road. The couple were also romantically involved, which was something they have always tried to keep quiet, they eventually married in 2009.

As ‘Everything but the Girl’ Thorn and Watt have released 11 studio Albums between 1984-1999, and 31 singles, 11 of which have reached the UK top 40, while in America ‘Missing’ is their only charting song when reaching Number 2 on Billboard in 1995. Thorn and Watt mutually agreed to retire ‘Everything but the Girl’ in 1999, Thorn has stated that she no longer wants to tour, and dislikes playing live. Both artists have continued to record solo material since 1999, with Thorn having released four solo studio Albums between 2007-2018, and Watt releasing three between 2014-2020.

‘Missing’ in it’s original form was written by Tracey Thorn and Ben Watts, and was released on Everything but the Girl’s eighth studio Album ‘Amplified Heart’ from 1994, the original production was done by John Coxon. Thorn and Watt had originally written ‘Missing’ as a dance oriented track, but it was after asking the Dance Music producer Todd Terry (see also best songs 805) to remix it, that it really took off. The remix of the song took Everything but the Girl to a whole new level of popularity, with the song becoming the first single to spend 55 consecutive weeks on the Billboard top 100, as well as topping the charts in six countries including Germany, Canada, and Italy.

‘Missing’ is a song that tells of great sadness, where the narrator although having not seen the person they are longing for, for possibly many years, still makes the long journey by train to where they once lived. The narrator has no idea where this person is, and for all they know they could be dead. Whether this person was a former lover, family member, of friend is not explained.

‘Back on the train, I ask why did I come again? Can I confess, I’ve been hanging round your old address, and years have proved to offer nothing since you’ve moved. You’re long gone, but I can’t move on.’