THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

180-Beach Boys-Good Vibrations.

1966-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.26. When writing the lyrics Mike Love said that he actually didn’t know if there was such a word in the dictionary as ‘excitation’s,’, but there is.

‘Good Vibrations’ was co-written by Brian Wilson, (see also best songs 930-811 and 74) and his cousin Mike Love, who provided the majority of the lyrics. ‘Good Vibrations’ is considered by many music critics to be one of the most important songs in the development of Rock Music. It is said that the overall production expenses for making the record was something between $50,000, to $75,000, which in 2022 is equivalent to between $420,000 to $630,000, which made it the most expensive song ever recorded at that time. The song was recorded between February to September 1966 in several different studios, using members of the ‘Wrecking Crew,’ (see also best songs 192) and the Beach Boys themselves.

During the recording of the Beach Boys Album ‘Pet Sounds,’ in 1966, Brian Wilson began changing his writing process, he has said,’I had a lot of unfinished ideas, fragments of music I called ‘feels.’ Each feel represented a mood or an emotion I’d felt, and I planned to fit them together like a mosaic. I was an energetic 23 year-old, I said, this is going to be better than “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ (see also best songs 782.) The engineer Chuck Britz (1927-2000) who worked on the song said that Wilson considered the song to be ‘His whole life performance in one track.’

Brian Wilson has said that ‘Good Vibrations’ was inspired by his mother,’She used to tell me about vibrations. I didn’t really understand too much of what it meant when I was just a boy. It scared me, the word ‘vibrations.’ She told me about dogs that would bark at people and then not bark at others, that a dog would pick up vibrations from these people, that you can’t see, but you can feel.”

Wilson has admitted writing the music for ‘Good Vibrations while taking Marijuana, and he states that he has made his best music while under the influence of drugs. Some of the unique sounds on the track are made by Wilson experimenting with an electronic musical instrument called the ‘Theremin,’ which was invented in 1920 by Leon Theremin (1896-1993.) The sound of the instrument is often associated with eerie situations, and has often been heard in horror movies. After it’s use in ‘Good Vibrations’ the ‘Theremin’ was used more and more by the ‘Progressive Rock’ acts of the day such as Led Zeppelin (‘Whole Lotta Love,’) (see also best songs 135) and the Rolling Stones on their 1967 Albums ‘Between the Buttons,’ and ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request.’

Mike Love who wrote the majority of the songs lyrics has described them as ‘Basically a flowery poem.’ He has gone on to say,’The song seems to describe a really good acid trip. and while there is nothing specifically in the lyrics about drugs, it was this flowery power type of thing. Scott McKenzie wrote “If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair,” and there were love-ins, and all that kind of thing starting to go on.’

The reason why ‘Good Vibrations’ is considered to be one of the most important recordings in Pop Music history is the immediate influence it had on the Beach Boys contemporaries, such as the Beatles who took on board the ideas of Brian Wilson and developed their own Progressive Rock’ songs.

‘I-I love the colourful clothes she wears, and the way the sunlight plays upon her hair. I hear the sound of a gentle word, on the wind that lifts her perfume through the air.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

181-Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson-The Bottle.

1974-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.08.’I’ll send an SOS to the world. I hope someone gets my Message in a Bottle.’

Gilbert Scott-Heron was born on April 1st, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, he died on May 27th, 2011, having been HIV-positive for several years, he was 62 years old. Gil Scott-Heron was a poet, author, and musician primarily known for his spoken word performances in the 1970’s and 1980’s. His 1970 poem ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,’ which he set to music over a ‘Jazz/Funk’ beat is considered to be a major influence on the development of ‘Rap’ music, and ‘Hip-Hop’ music, influencing politically motivated artists such as Public Enemy (see also best songs 578 and 37) and N.W.A (see also best songs 564 and 128.) Due to this Heron is now fondly remembered as the ‘Godfather of Rap,’ but not all Rap artists, and Rap music were to Heron’s liking. In a 2010 interview Heron said,’I don’t know if I can take the blame for Rap Music. It’s something that’s aimed at the kids, I have kids, so I listen to it, but I would not say it’s aimed at me, I listen to the Jazz station.’ Heron preferred to call himself a ‘Bluesologist,’ which was his own made up term for ‘A scientist who is concerned with the origins of the Blues.’

Gil Scott-Heron’s mother Bobby Scott, was an Opera singer who performed with the ‘Oratorio Society of New York, while his father Gil Heron, who was nicknamed ‘The Black Arrow,’ was a Jamaican football player who in 1951 became the first black player to play for Glasgow Celtic Football Club in Scotland. The discography of Gil Scott Heron consists of 19 studio Albums, seven live Albums, six compilation Albums, and one film score, (‘The Baron,’ 1977) released between 1970-2020. Heron is also the author of six books published between 1970-2012.

‘The Bottle’ was written by Gil Scott-Heron and first appeared on his fifth studio Album ‘Winter in America,’ released in 1974. The Album is a collaboration with the keyboardist and flautist Brian Jackson who was born on October 11th, 1952, in Brooklyn, New York, United States. Jackson and Heron had first met while the two were attending ‘Lincoln University,’ in Pennsylvania, in 1970, and over the course of the next 10 years they worked together on nine Albums. Jackson has also since 1981 worked with artists of the calibre of Kool & The Gang, and Gwen Guthrie, on Albums of their’s. In 2022 he released his second solo studio Album ‘This is Brian Jackson,’ 22 years after his first solo release.

‘The Bottle’ was the only single released from the critically acclaimed ‘Winter in America,’ and is a social commentary on alcohol abuse. Heron got the idea for the song after seeing men line up every day in front of a liquor store called the Log Cabin, the men were bringing back their empty bottles to get a discount on their next purchase. Scott-Heron said of his inspiration for the song, ‘I discovered one of them was an ex-physician, who’d been busted for abortions on young girls. There was an air traffic controller in the military, one day he sent two jets crashing into a mountain, he left work that day and never went back.’

‘See that black boy over there, runnin’ scared, his ol’ man’s in the bottle.He done quit his nine to five to drink full time, so now he’s livin’ in the bottle.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

182-Liza Minnelli-Cabaret.

1972-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 2.57. Give them that ‘Ole Razzle Dazzle.’

Liza May Minnelli was born on March 12th, 1946, in Los Angeles, California, United States, she is the daughter of Judy Garland, (1922-1969) (see also best songs 68) and the film director Vincente Minnelli (1903-1986.) Alongside a very successful career as an actress in film, theatre, and television, Liza Minnelli has also recorded songs from the musicals she has appeared in, as well as concurrently having a mainstream ‘Pop’ recording career. The discography of Liza Minnelli consists of 11 studio Albums released between 1964-2010, 10 live Albums, eight soundtrack Albums, and five cast recordings, she has also issued 33 singles between 1963-2013.

Lisa Minnelli’s first attempt at making it as a ‘Pop,’ star was in the 1960’s, but none of her singles managed to make the charts. Success finally came in ‘Pop’ when she teamed up with the Pet Shop Boys, (see also best songs 871 and 378) who wrote eight of the 13 songs for her ninth studio Album ‘Results’ in 1986. Four singles were issued, and although they all failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in America, the first single release ‘Losing My Mind’ did reach Number 6 in the UK, and is to date her only charting song. Liza Minnelli also appears in this countdown as a backing singer on the Alice Cooper hit ‘Teenage Lament ’74” (see also best songs 427.)

‘Cabaret’ is the title song from the 1966 musical of the same name, and in the production it is sung by the character Sally Bowles. The score was written by John Kander, who wrote the music, and Fred Ebb, (1928-2004) (see also best songs 469 and 441) who provided the lyrics. In 1972 ‘Cabaret’ was made in to a film starring Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles. The story is set in 1931 Berlin under the presence of the growing Nazi Party, the film is loosely based on the 1966 musical, which in turn was adapted from the 1939 novel ‘The Berlin Stories/Goodbye To Berlin,’ by the author Christopher Isherwood (1904-1986.)

‘Cabaret’ is probably Liza Minnelli’s career highlight, and the performance she will be remembered for the most. She sings, or co-sings on four of the 12 songs on the films soundtrack Album, and won the ‘Academy Award’ that year for ‘Best Actress.’

‘What good is sitting alone in your room, come hear the music play. Life is a cabaret, old chum, come to the cabaret.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

183-Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye-You Are Everything.

1974-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 1.05. These days duets in Pop Music are commonplace, but back in 1973 it was still quite rare. The current thinking being, if two fan-bases are brought together, then they will sell twice as many records.

‘You Are Everything is the opening track of 10 released on the Diana Ross, and Marvin Gaye duets Album ‘Diana & Marvin’ recorded between 1971-1973, and released in October 1973. In total five of the tracks were issued as singles in different territories worldwide, but ‘You Are Everything’ was never released as a single in America, probably as the original version from ‘The Stylistics’ had reached Number 9 on Billboard only two years earlier. In the UK the song at that time was relatively unknown as it had not been a hit when issued by The Stylistics.

Initially Marvin Gaye (1939-1984) (see also best songs 723 and 114) didn’t want anything to do with the project. He had made himself a promise that he would never again record a duet with a female artist, because he felt that they were cursed by him recording with them. Mary Wells (1943-1992) career had never recovered after she left Motown, Kim Weston had also left the label abruptly, and Tammi Terrell (1945-1970) had developed a brain tumour, which later resulted in her death. Gaye did change his mind when it was pointed out to him that it would increase his popularity, he even, after much quibbling agreed to Diana Ross’ (see also best songs 1001-900-519-411-365-212-148 and 28) name in front of his on the billing, which was something that had never happened with his three previous partners.

‘You Are Everything’ was co-written by Thom Bell, and Linda Creed, (1948-1986) (see also best songs 765) and was produced by Hal Davis (1933-1998.) In 1971 both Bell and Creed had teamed up with The Stylistics, and worked on their first three studio Albums. In 1972 Bell agreed to produce the ex Motown group ‘The Spinners,’ (see also best songs 834) and stayed with them on the ‘Atlantic Records’ label for the next seven years, producing eight Albums with the band, including the Billboard Number 1 single ‘Then Came You,’ which featured the vocals of Dionne Warwick. Tom Bell was also responsible for producing the song ‘Are You Ready For Love’ in 1977 for Elton John, which when remixed in 2003 gave Elton his second UK Number 1 solo chart topper.

‘Today I saw somebody who looked just like you, she walked like you do, I thought it was you. As she turned the corner I called out your name, I felt so ashamed when it wasn’t you, wasn’t you, oh, oh.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

184-The Trammps-Disco Inferno.

1977-Number 16 single.

Best Bit-At 2.18. It is said that there are some people who love ‘Disco Music’ so much, that at their funeral they want this song playing when they are cremated.

The Trammps were formed in 1972, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, the group came together after two local bands,’The Volcanoes,’ and ‘The Exceptions’ merged. They took their name ‘The Trammps’ in honour of Charlie Chaplin, (1889-1977) (see also best songs 327) who was known as ‘The Little Tramp,’ but they added an extra ‘M’ to imply that they were ‘superior tramps.’ In total there were 22 different members come and go during their recording era, and later members have joined, as two competing groups both currently tour, and both calling themselves The Trammps. Many members of The Trammps were also members of the ‘Philadelphia International’ record labels in house band ‘MFSB,’ who played on many of the labels major hits (see also best songs 648.) Some of the ‘MFSB’ members left ‘Philadelphia Records’ in 1975 in a dispute over pay, moving to New York, and forming the ‘Salsoul Orchestra.

The Trammps discography consists of nine studio Albums which were released between 1975-1984, and 43 singles issued between 1972-2004. In America on Billboard, three of of their singles have reached the Hot 100 top 40, with this song peaking at Number 11 when re-released in 1978, while in the UK they have achieved five top 40 singles, with ‘Hold Back the Night’ charting the highest, when reaching Number 5 in 1975.

‘Disco Inferno’ was co-written by Ron ‘Have Mercy’ Kersey, (1949-2005) and Leroy Green, and also serves as the title track from The Trammps fourth studio Album from 1976. The single ‘Disco Inferno’ was first released in America in 1977, but only reached Number 53 on Billboard, it wasn’t until it was chosen as one of the tracks (side 4, track 2) for the soundtrack for the 1977 film ‘Saturday Night Fever’ (see also best songs 211 and 35) that it became a Number 11 hit in 1978. It is said that Leroy Green got the idea for the songs lyrics after watching the 1974 American disaster film ‘The Towering Inferno.’ The raging fire in the song is a metaphor for the musical heat that is generated on the dance floor, while the refrain ‘burn baby burn’ was a phrase chanted at the ‘Watts Riots’ in 1965, as fires raged throughout Los Angeles. There are cover versions of the song, which include a 1977 instrumental by ‘The Players Association,’ and a live recording by Cyndi Lauper from 1998. The song also became a hit again when recorded by Tina Turner in 1993, when she took the song to Number 12 in the UK.

‘To my surprise, one hundred stories high, people getting loose y’all, getting down on the roof. Folks are screaming, out of control, it was so entertaining when the boogie started to explode. I heard somebody say burn baby burn disco inferno, burn baby burn, burn that mother down.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

185-Ray Charles-Georgia On My Mind.

1960-Number 24 single.

Best Bit-At 2.45. It has always been open to question as to what the song was really written about, was it about a girl, or was it about a State?

‘Georgia On My Mind’ was written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael, (1899-1981) (see also best songs 288) and Stuart Gorrell, (1901-1963) who wrote the majority of the lyrics. The first recording of the song was in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael and his Orchestra, with vocals by Carmichael. Gorrell had first met Carmichael at Indiana University when they were both students, and became friends. It was after hearing Carmichael’s melody that Gorrell got the inspiration to write the lyrics for ‘Georgia On My Mind,’ this is the only song that Gorrell is known to have written. On the original song credits only Carmichael was credited, but he did make sure that Gorrell received his royalties.

On reading the songs lyrics several times, Gorrell was asked by his mother,’What is Georgia, a girl or a State,’ to which Gorrell replied,’What do you think?’ In Hoagy Carmichael’s autobiography he wrote that the saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer (1901-1956) had told him that he should write a song about the State of Georgia, to which Carmichael jokingly volunteered the first two words ‘Georgia, Georgia.’ It is also worth noting that Carmichael did have a younger sister called Georgia, but he does go on to say in his autobiography that the song was in fact written about the State of Georgia.

The most famous version of ‘Georgia On My Mind’ was recorded by Ray Charles, (1930-2004) (see also best songs 475) who was a native of Georgia, having been born in Albany. Charles recorded the song for his 1960 Album ‘The Genius Hits the Road,’ and when it was released a single it gave him the first of his three Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 singles. In 1979 Charles performed the song in the aftermath of years of activism and national legislation resulting from the Civil Rights Movement. Charles was invited to perform the song before the Georgia General Assembly, which led to the song being adopted as the new State song of Georgia on April 24th, 1979.

In the UK this version by Ray Charles remains the only hit version of the song to date, although there are many other famous recordings, including ones by Ella Fitzgerald and Willie Nelson. In America the only other top 40 hit version of the song is the recording by Michael Bolton, which reached Number 36 on Billboard in 1990. Willie Nelson (see also best songs 337) who had recorded the song for his 1978 Album ‘Stardust,’ sang the song at Ray Charles’ funeral in 2004.

‘Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through. Just an old sweet song Keeps Georgia on my mind (Georgia on my mind.) I said Georgia, Georgia, a song of you comes as sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

186-David Bowie-Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide.

1972-The song wasn’t released as a single until 1974 when reaching Number 22.

Best Bit-At 2.13. On the rear cover of the original vinyl LP sleeve, the words ‘TO BE PLAYED AT MAXIMUM VOLUME’ were written, this instruction was omitted from all future re-releases on all formats.

‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’ was the fifth studio Album from David Bowie, (1947-2016) and with sales in excess of 7.5 million copies is his second best seller behind 1982’s ‘Let’s Dance,’ which has sold in excess of 10 million copies. There are many Bowie fans who consider ‘Ziggy’ to be his greatest work, and some music critics have cited the Album’s opening two tracks ‘Five Years,’ (see also best songs 31) and ‘Soul Love,’ (see also best songs 440) to be the greatest opening of any Album ever. I would personally like to put forward this song as a major contender as the best Album closing song ever.

‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’ is in the main a concept Album, with Bowie (see also best songs 807-440-334-302-209-118-47-31 and 5) taking on the role of the alien Rock singer Ziggy Stardust who comes to earth just before an impending apocalyptic disaster, (Five Years) he wins the hearts of fans, but suffers a fall from grace after succumbing to his own ego. Bowie probably based the character of Ziggy Stardust on many musicians, including his good friend Iggy Pop, (see also best songs 701 and 219) and the English Rock ‘N’ Roll singer Vince Taylor (1939-1991.)
‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide was written by David Bowie, and produced by Bowie and Ken Scott. Scott who was born in South London, England, in 1947, had already a long exalted career as an engineer working on seven of the Beatles Albums between 1964-1968, he had also worked on three previous Bowie Albums, and would go on to also produce and engineer the Aladdin Sane Album in 1973. Impatient while waiting for new material Bowie’s record label ‘RCA Records’ decided to release ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide’ as a single in 1974, and as it had been available on the Ziggy Album for around two years, it only reached Number 22 on the UK chart, with the music press coining it a ‘Dosh catching exercise’ by the record label.

David Bowie toured as the character Ziggy Stardust around the world for about 18 months, and became worried that the public were beginning to see him as one dimensional, so he decided to retire the character at his final Ziggy Stardust concert at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, on July 3rd, 1973. Before singing the finale ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide,’ Bowie announced,’It’s the last show we’ll ever do.’ The audience thought Bowie was retiring, but it was Ziggy he was killing off. That Hammersmith Odeon recording was later used in the film ‘Ziggy Stardust – The Motion Picture,’ which was released in 1983. Bowie also recorded a ‘blue eyed soul’ version of the song, which appears on his 1974 Album ‘David Live,’ and in 1990 on his ‘Sound +Vision Tour’ he performed the song live for the very last time.

‘Time takes a cigarette, puts it in your mouth, you pull on your finger, then another finger, then your cigarette. The wall-to-wall is calling, it lingers, then you forget, Oh, how how how, you’re a Rock ‘N’ Roll suicide.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

187-Del Shannon-Runaway

1961-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.10.’It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down. I had the radio on, I was drivin’, the trees went by, me and Del were singin’ little runaway.’

Del Shannon was born Charles Weedon Westover on December 30th, 1934, in Coopersville, Michigan, United States, he committed suicide by shooting himself with a 22 calibre rifle at his home in Santa Clarita, California, on February 8th, 1990, at the age of 55. Shannon had been suffering from depression for several years leading up to his death. Del Shannon first met this songs co-writer Max Crook (1936-2020) in 1959 when Crook joined Shannon in his then band the ‘Big Little Show Band’. At that time Shannon was performing using the stage name ‘Charlie Johnson,’ but when the pair signed with ‘Bigtop Records,’ Westover was re-named Del Shannon, combining Mark Shannon, a wrestling pseudonym used by a regular at the Hi-Lo Club, where Westover played, with Del, derived from the Cadillac Coupe de Ville, his favourite car. In total there are 18 official Albums recorded by Del Shannon available, he also issued 43 singles between 1961-1989, of which nine reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles chart, while in the UK, he has achieved 14 top 40 hits.

‘Runaway’ was co-written by Del Shannon, and Max Crook, and appears on Del Shannon’s debut studio Album ‘Runaway with Del Shannon’ from 1961, ‘Runaway’ is often cited as one of the songs that bridges the gap between Rock ‘N Roll,’ and the start of the 1960’s. The unusual sound that forms the songs bridge at 1 minute and 10 seconds in to track was written by Max Crook on an instrument that he invented which he called the ‘Musitron,’ which is an adapted version of the 1947 ‘Clavioline,’ an electronic keyboard that gave space-age sound effects to ‘Pop Music,’ decades before the arrival of the synthesizer.

‘Runaway’ would become Del Shannon’s signature tune, topping the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as in Australia. The song is about a girl who leaves the songs narrator, and he is left to contemplate what went wrong. Del Shannon said that he wrote the lyrics to ‘Runaway’ about himself because he was forever running away from relationships. Shannon has also said the this songs original ‘B’ side which is called ‘Jody,’ was his favourite ever recording. In 1986 Shannon re-recorded ‘Runaway’ as the theme for the ‘NBC’ television series ‘Crime Story,’ which was written with slightly altered lyrics, in order to better reflect the show’s subject matter.

‘As I walk alone I wonder what went wrong with our love, a love that was so strong. And as I still walk on I think of the things we’ve done together while our hearts were young.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

188-Topol-If I Were a Rich Man.

1967-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 4.22.’Money, money, money, must be funny, in the rich man’s world.’

‘If I Were a Rich Man’ is one of the songs featured in the 1964 Broadway Musical ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’ which became the first musical production to surpass 3,000 performances. The song, and the musical were co-written by Jerry Brock, (1928-2010) (music) and Sheldon Harnick, (lyrics) who based the musical on the book ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ written by Joseph Stein (1912-2010.) In turn Stein’s book is based on ‘Tevye and his Daughters,’ which was one of a series of short stories by Sholem Aleichem (1859-1916) written between 1894-1914 about Jewish life in a village in the ‘Pale of Settlement’ of Imperial Russia, at the turn of the 20th Century.

‘If I Were a Rich Man’ is performed by the musicals lead character ‘Tevye,’ who is a poor Jewish dairyman who is trying to make ends meet, while at the same time attempting to find husbands for his five daughters, and also keep his wife ‘Golde’ on side. ‘If I Were a Rich Man’ may be a cry for help, but it is performed in a humorous manner. Tevye dreams of the material comforts that wealth would bring him, describing the enormous house he would purchase, and the poultry he would buy to fill his yard. He also speaks of the luxuries he would shower upon his wife Golde,’Looking like a rich man’s wife, with a proper double chin.’

It was the American actor, comedian, and singer Zero Mostel (1915-1977) who originated the role of Tevye, and first introduced the song ‘If I Were a Rich Man,’ on Broadway in 1964, but the role of Tevye which has been portrayed by 13 different actors is probably best known for the performances of Chaim Topol, who has performed the part over 3,500 times in shows and revivals from the late 1960’s through until 2009. Topol was born on September 9th, 1935, in Tel Aviv, Mandatory, Palestine, he has been described as Israel’s only internationally recognised entertainer from the 1960’s, through to the 1980’s. Topol first played the part of Tevye in the 1966 Israeli production of ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’ and this led to him being the number one choice for the 1971 film version. Topol was 36 years old at the time, but was made to look 20 years older, and 30lb’s heavier with makeup and costuming.

‘I see my wife, my Golde looking like a rich man’s wife, with a proper double-chin, supervising meals to her heart’s delight. I see her putting on airs and strutting like a peacock, Oy, what a happy mood she’s in, screaming at the servants, day and night.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

189-50 Cent-In da Club.

2003-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 2.24. 50 Cent has called the song ‘A celebration of life. Everyday it’s relevant all over,’cause everyday is someone’s birthday.’

50 Cent was born Curtis James Jackson on July 6th, 1975, in the South Jamaican neighbourhood of Queens, New York City, United States. Jackson chose the name ’50 Cent’ after being inspired by the life of Kelvin Martin, (1964-1987) who was a Brooklyn robber known as ’50 Cent.’ Jackson chose it ‘Because it says everything I want it to say. I’m the same kind of person as 50 Cent was, I provide for myself by any means.

Prior to getting in to Rapping in 1996, Jackson had been dealing in narcotics since the age of 12. On June 29th, 1994, he was arrested for selling cocaine to an undercover police officer, for which he served six months in a ‘boot camp,’ and while there earned his ‘GED.’ Initially a friend introduced Jackson to Jam Master Jay of Run DMC, (see also best songs 305 and 113) who signed him to his ‘Jay Records’ label, Jackson credits Jam Master Jay highly for his early grounding. In 1999 he signed with ‘Columbia Records,’ and issued his first single ‘How to Rob’ from his unreleased 2000 Album ‘Power of the Dollar.’ Plans for the Album’s release were cancelled when Jackson was struck by nine bullets in a shooting that took place two months before the album was set for release, at the time of writing Columbia have no plans to release the Album, which has been heavily bootlegged over the years. In 2002, 50 Cent released the ‘mixtape’ ‘Guess Who’s Back,’ which was recommended to Eminem, (see also best songs 936) who in turn brought it to the attention of Dr Dre, (see also best songs 564-544-482-128 and 48) and this led to 50 Cent being signed to a $1 million record deal.

‘In da Club’ was the first of five singles released from 50 Cent’s (see also best songs 665) debut studio Album release ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’ from 2003, and was co-written by 50 Cent, Dr Dre, and Mike Elizondo, a long term collaborator with Dr Dre. The Album went on to sell in excess of 8 million copies in America, and over 10 million worldwide, and includes two Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 singles, ‘In da Club,’ and ’21 Questions.’ In total 50 Cent has released five studio Albums between 2003-2014, and 91 singles between 1999-2021, four of which have topped the Billboard singles chart. While in the UK he has reached Number 2 in the chart twice, with ‘Ayo Technology’ in 2007, and ‘My Life’ in 2012.

In 2022, 50 Cent was one of the performers at the halftime Super Bowl show alongside Dr Dre, and Eminem, and others. 50 Cent began his performance with ‘In da Club,’ hanging upside down like a bat, mirroring what he also did in the original 2003 video of the song.

‘Go, go, go, go go, go, go, shawty, it’s your birthday. We gon’ party like it’s yo birthday, we gon’ sip Bacardi like it’s your birthday, and you know we don’t give a f… it’s not your birthday!’