THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

220-Celine Dion-My Heart Will Go On.

1998-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.24.’But now you know there was a man named Jack Dawson, and that he saved me…in every way that a person can be saved.’

Celine Marie Claudette Dion who was the youngest of 14 children born to her parents, was born on March 30th, 1968, in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada, she is the best selling Canadian recording artist of all time, and also the best selling French Language artist of all time. In Canada in the 1980’s she was a teen star, releasing eight studio Albums in French, before leaning English, and signing to ‘Epic Records’ in 1990, and then issuing her first English sung Album ‘Unison’ in 1990. Celine Dion first gained international recognition in 1982 when winning the ‘Yamaha World Popular Song Festival’, and further international success was gained when she won the 1988 ‘Eurovision Song Contest’ representing Switzerland, in Dublin, Ireland, with the song ‘Ne partez pas sans moi.’ In total Celine Dion has released 15 French language studio Albums between 1981-2016, and 12 English language studio Albums between 1990-2019. She has released 137 singles between 1981-2019, with 18 French language songs charting on the Canada QC’ chart in the 1980’s. In America on Billboard, 17 of her singles have reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with four of her songs reaching Number 1, while in the UK, 24 of her singles have reached the top 40, with two making the Number 1 spot. With sales of over 200 million records Celine Dion is one of the best selling artists of all time, and during her peak period between 1997-1998 it was reckoned that she was selling a record once every 1.2 seconds of the day.

My Heart Will Go On’ was written for the 1997 American romance and disaster film ‘Titanic,’ it is a fictionalised account of the sinking of the ‘RMS Titanic’ in 1912. The music for ‘My Heart Will Go On,’ and also the films score was written by James Horner, (1953-2015) who by 1997 had already scored for dozens of other films and television programmes including his breakthrough success with ‘The Lady In Red’ in 1979, he would go on to score ‘Avatar’ in 2009, which is the highest grossing film of all time, ahead of ‘Titanic’ in second place. Horner died in 2015 when the aircraft he was piloting crashed in Los Padres National Forrest, California, he was 61 years old.

‘The lyrics to ‘My Heart Will Go On’ were written by Will Jennings, (see also best songs 588) who has worked with, and written for many of the world’s top artists. Other notable songs he has co-written include ‘Up Where We Belong,’ for the 1982 film ‘An Officer and a Gentleman,’ and ‘Didn’t We Nearly Have It All,’ which when recorded by Whitney Houston in 1987 became a Billboard Number 1 single. ‘My Heart Will Go On’ has become Celine Dion’s signature tune, and with sales in excess of 20 million copies it is the best selling single by a solo female artist in history, and is currently the seventh biggest selling single of all time.

‘Every night in my dreams I see you, I feel you, that is how I know you go on. Far across the distance, and spaces between us, you have come to show you go on.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

221-George Benson-Breezin’.

1976-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.19.’Because I’m bad, I’n bad, come on you know, and the whole world has to answer right now. Just to tell you once again, who’s bad.’

George Washington Benson was born on March 22nd, 1943, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. He has released 36 studio Albums to date between 1964-2019, and 72 singles and extended plays, between 1954-2010. In America on Billboard seven of his singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Give Me the Night’ charting the highest at Number 4 in 1980, while in the UK he has charted on 14 occasions, with ‘Give Me the Night,’ and ‘In Your Eyes,’ (1983) both peaking at Number 7. Benson is also a prolific sideman, having currently appeared on 115 Albums for artists as diverse as Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, and Chet Atkins.

George Benson started his musical career very much in the genre of ‘Jazz,’ releasing his first studio Album of ‘Jazz/Soul’ music called ‘The New Boss Guitar of George Benson’ in 1964 at the age of 21. It would be a further 14 Albums of success limited to the Jazz market, until his big commercial breakthrough occurred in 1976 with the release of his 15th studio Album ‘Breezin,” from which this song is the Album’s title track. ‘Breezin’ was originally written in 1970 by the American singer/songwriter Bobby Womack, (1944-2014) (see also best songs 494 and 156) whose biggest success as a songwriter is ‘It’s All Over Now,’ which when recorded by the Rolling Stones in 1964 gave them their first UK Number 1 single. The first recorded version of ‘Breezin’ was by the Hungarian Jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo (1936-1982) for his 1971 Album ‘High Contrast,’ on which Bobby Womack wrote four of the seven tracks, and also played the electric guitar on. Womack also wrote a few lyrics for ‘Breezin,’ which he would perform during his concerts. In 1977 at the ‘Catamaran Hotel’ in San Diego during a performance, Gabor Szabo complained to the audience about Benson’s success with ‘Breezin.’ Szabo indicated that he had recorded the song before Benson, and accused him of having plagiarised his arrangement. He expressed disdain for Benson’s success with his arrangement that he himself had created. Incidentally both the Szabo, and Benson versions had both been produced by Tommy LiPuma, (1936-2017) whose productions for artists such as Barbra Streisand and The Crusaders have sold in excess of 75 million Albums.

‘Breezin’ may have been the turning point for George Benson, but even bigger mainstream and commercial success was just around the corner when he signed with ‘Quest Records’ owned by Quincy Jones (see also best songs 1022-889-812-703-511-357 and 191.) This collaboration saw the release of Benson’s 18th studio Album ‘Give Me the Night,’ issued in 1980, it was produced by Jones, with five of the 10 tracks written by Rod Temperton (1949-2016 (see also best songs 812-703 and 511)

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

222-The Smiths-There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.

1. 1986-The song was not released as a single until 1992, when reaching Number 25.
2. 
   Best Bit-At 1.03. In the British television sitcom Gavin & Stacey, ‘Doris,’ the elderly actress played by the Welsh born Margaret John, (1926-2011) in a memorable scene at a barbecue entertains the gathering with a rendition of this song, making her in my opinion the coolest octogenarian in the world ever.
3. 
   The Smiths (see also best songs 673-167 and 42) were formed in Manchester, England, in 1982, by Steven Morrissey, (vocals) and Johnny Marr, (guitars and keyboards) who had first met in 1978 at a Patti Smith concert at Manchester’s Apollo Theatre, they were joined later on the same year by Andy Rourke, (bass) and Mike Joyce (drums.) The band were active through until 1987, with five other official members coming and going in that time period. It was Morrissey (see also best songs 940 and 72) who chose the bands name, saying,’it was the most ordinary name, and I thought it was time that the ordinary folk of the world showed their faces.’ The Smiths split in 1987 with Morrissey and Marr each taking 40% of The Smiths recording and performance royalties, with Joyce and Rourke each receiving 10%. Joyce and Rourke both thought that they were entitled to 25% each, and took their case to court, with Rourke who was in debt at the time settling for £83,000, and 10% of royalties, while Joyce continued with his action, eventually receiving around £1 million in back royalties, and 25% henceforth.
4. 
   ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’ was co-written by Morrissey (lyrics) and Johnny Marr, (music) with the pair also credited as the tracks producers. The song first appeared on The Smiths third studio Album ‘The Queen is Dead’ from 1986, but wasn’t released as a single until 1992, when it was chosen to promote the release of ‘Best 2,’ a compilation of some of the bands back catalogue, five years after they had parted ways.
5. 
   Once again the unique lyrics, and storytelling of Morrissey shine through, as he lays bare his innermost thoughts. In ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,’ Morrissey is the passenger in a car being driven by the person he loves and greatly admires. As the pair take their journey Morrissey begs the driver not to take him home, since he isn’t welcome at home anymore, which makes him feel depressed. He begs the driver to take him somewhere exciting, as Morrissey is so in love with the driver at that moment. He exclaims that even if a double-decker bus was to crash into them, and kill them, it would be a privilege to die at their side. It has long been speculated that Morrissey is gay, and maybe it was the revealing of this at home, which led to him not being welcome there anymore.
6. 
   Johnny Marr has revealed that he got the idea for the songs intro after hearing The Rolling Stones cover version of the song ‘Hitch Hike’ by Marvin Gaye, The Velvet Underground also pinched the The Stones intro for their 1967 song ‘There She Goes Again.’ Marr has said,’I didn’t realise that ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’ was going to be an anthem, but when we first played it I thought it was the best song I’d ever heard.’ He has also said,’Someone told me that if you listen with the volume really, really up you can hear me shout ‘That was amazing’ right at the end.’
7. 
   ‘And if a double-decker bus crashes into us, to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die. And if a ten ton truck ills the both of us, to die by your side, well, the pleasure, the privilege is mine.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

223-Ralph McTell-Streets of London.

1974-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.36. There are people of a certain age who may know Ralph McTell better for ‘Alphabet Zoo,’ and ‘Tickle on the Tum.’

Ralph McTell was born Ralph May on December 3rd, 1944, in Farnborough, Kent, England, He was named Ralph after the English music composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) as his father Frank May had worked as a gardener for Williams prior to the second World War. The surname McTell was suggested to him by the English Folk music artist Wizz Jones, because of Ralph’s love of the American Blues artists, such as Robert Johnson,(1911-1938) and Blind Willie McTell (1898-1959.) There are at least 60 official Albums of Ralph McTell’s music available, from his first release ‘Eight Frames a Second’ in 1968, through to his latest release ‘Hill of Beans’ in 2019. He has had two top 40 singles in the UK, with ‘Dreams of You’ from December 1975, being the other hit, when reaching Number 36.

Although not a hit until many years later, Ralph McTell had written ‘Streets of London’ in the mid 1960’s while busking and hitchhiking his way throughout Europe. He was especially struck by what he saw in Paris, and for a long time called the song ‘Streets of Paris,’ but eventually chose London, as he realised that was what he was subconsciously writing about, and there was also a famous song called ‘The Poor People of Paris,’ and he didn’t want any confusion.

McTell refused to put the song on his debut Album ‘Eight Frames a Second’ from 1968 as he felt the song was too depressing, but it did first appear on his second release ‘Spiral Staircase’ from 1969 for the first time, after the Album’s producer Gus Dudgeon (1942-2002) (see also best songs 946 and 62) talked him around. The song first became a hit single in the Netherlands in 1972, reaching Number 9 when McTell re-recorded it. It became a hit in the UK in 1974 when re-recorded again, with this time featuring the Folk band ‘Prelude’ on backing vocals. In 2017 McTell officially re-recorded the song for a third time for single release, this time as a duet with Annie Lennox (see also best songs 582) as a charity single for the UK charity ‘Crisis.’

‘Streets of London’ was released in 1974 for the Xmas market, but was kept off the prestigious Xmas Number 1 spot by the band ‘Mud’ (see also best songs 7730 with ‘Lonely This Christmas’ for one week, and then by Status Quo (see also best songs 905 and 108) for one week with their only UK Number 1 ‘Down Down.’ The ‘Streets of London’ contrasts the common problems of everyday people with those of the homeless, elderly, ignored and forgotten members of society, and reminds us that there are others worse off than ourselves. The songs melody has been noted for it’s similarities to ‘Pachelbel’s Canon,’ composed somewhere between 1680-1706 by the German composer Johann Pachelbel (1653- to around 1706.) ‘Pachelbel’s Canon’ has had a big influence in ‘Pop Music,’ with the music producer Peter Waterman (see also best songs 627) describing ‘Canon in D’ as,’Almost the godfather of pop music, because we’ve all used that in our own ways for the past 30 years.’ Other songs which have used ‘Pachelbel’s Canon’s’ chord progression include ‘Basket Case’ by Green Day, and ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ from Oasis (see also best songs 1006.)

‘Have you seen the old man in the closed down market picking up the papers with his worn out shoes. In his eyes you see no pride, and hanging loosely at his side, yesterdays paper, telling yesterdays news.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

224-Dionne Warwick-Walk On By.

1964-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 1.42.’I honestly believe that if I’d sneezed on my next record, then Cilla would have sneezed on hers too.’ These were the words of Dionne Warwick venting her frustration that UK record labels preferred to release her American hits in Britain sung by British singers.

Dionne Warwick was born Marie Dionne Warrick on December 12th, 1940, in Orange, New Jersey, United States, with record sales in excess of 100 million she is one of the best selling solo artists of all time. In the 20th Century on Billboard in America, during the ‘Rock N’ Roll’ era (from 1955) she stands second to only Aretha Franklin (see also best songs 644 and 366) for the most Billboard top 100 singles entries with 69. The change in the spelling of her surname from ‘Warrick’ to ‘Warwick’ was due to a misspelling on her first single release ‘Don’t Make Me Over’ in 1962, and from then on she began using the new spelling.

Many of Dionne Warwick’s family were members of the American Gospel singing group ‘The Drinkard Singers,’ including her sister Dee Dee Warwick, (1942-2008) (see also best songs 1001) her aunt Cissy Houston, (the mother of Whitney Houston) and Judy Clay (1938-2001) who had been unofficially adopted as a child by Dionne Warwick’s parents. After several personnel changes in the early 1960’s, the remaining members of ‘The Drinkard Singers’ became ‘The Sweet Inspirations,'(see also best songs 882.)

It was while performing background vocals on the ‘Drifters’ 1962 song ‘Mexican Divorce’ that Dionne Warwick first came to the attention of the composer Burt Bacharach, (see also best songs 902-832-815-740-644 and 376) who got her to record demo’s for his latest songs, for other artists to potentially use, before he decided to take her on board to record his songs, exclusively. Dionne Warwick went on to work alongside many other artists in the following years, and has of 2022 released 40 studio Albums between 1963-2019, and 95 singles between 1962-2019. She has had two Billboard Number 1 singles with ‘Then Came You,’ with The (Detroit) Spinners in 1974, and with ‘That’s What Friends Are For,’ recorded with Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder, in 1985. Her highest charting song in the UK is ‘Heartbreaker’ from 1982, which was written by the Bee Gees, and has Barry Gibb performing the backing vocals.

‘Walk On By’ was co-written by the legendary songwriting team of Burt Bacharach, (music) and Hal David, (1921-2012) who provided the lyrics. The song is about someone being dumped by their lover, and knowing that there is no chance of reconciliation, wants them to stay well away, as it would break her heart even just to see them again. The song has been recorded dozens of times, and in many different styles over the years. In the UK, aside from Dionne Warwick, the song has reached the top 40 on three other occasions, the Stranglers took their version to Number 21 in 1978, Sybil made Number 6 in 1990, and Gabrielle reached Number 7 in 1997. In America Dionne Warwick took the song to Number 6, while the other hit version in The States was from Isaac Hayes (see also best songs 530-398 and 1) whose 12 minute recording for his 1969 Album ‘Hot Buttered Soul’ was edited down to 4.34, and reached Number 30 on the Billboard chart.

‘If you see me walking down the street, and I start to cry each time we meet walk on by, walk on by. Make believe that you don’t see the tears, just let me grieve in private, ’cause each time I see you I break down and cry.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

225-Jennifer Holliday-And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.

1982-Number 32 single.

Best Bit-At 2.27. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ is one of the songs written by Tom Eyen (1940-1991) who wrote the lyrics, and Henry Krieger, who wrote the music for the 1981 Broadway musical ‘Dreamgirls.’ Tom Eyen was a prolific writer and director of plays, having already produced dozens in the 1960’s, and 1970’s, including his first encounter with Henry Krieger in 1975, for the musical version of ‘The Dirtiest Show in Town,’ called ‘The Dirtiest Musical in Town.’ In 1981 Eyen again joined forces with Krieger, and also the musical director Michael Bennett (1943-1987) to write the book, and the lyrics for ‘Dreamgirls.’

‘Dreamgirls’ tells the story of a fictitious African/American girl group called ‘The Dreamettes,’ and deals with their rise to fame in the early 1960’s, and all of their subsequent struggles along the way. Many critics have pointed out the glaring similarity to that of the real life story of ‘Diana Ross and the Supremes, (see also best songs 1001-900-519-411-365-212-183-148 and 28) but Eyen strongly denies this, probably in order to avoid lawsuits from the Supremes, and the Motown corporation. Instead Eyes states that ‘The Dreamettes’ are based on many girl groups of the era such as the Shirelles, the Chiffons, and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Eyes has also stated that many of the male characters are based on artists such as Stevie Wonder and Little Richard, and others. In 2006 ‘Dreamgirls was made into a film starring Jamie Foxx, Beyonce, (see also best songs 800 and 23) and Eddie Murphy among it’s star cast.

‘And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going’ became the highlight of the Broadway Musical ‘Dreamgirls’ when performed by Jennifer Holliday at the end of Act 1, between 1981-1983. Holliday was portraying the character of Effie White a singer with the girl group who had now had their name shortened to ‘The Dreams.’ The song is about the character Effie White begging her lover Curtis Taylor Jr., who is also the bands manager not to end their professional and romantic relationship, as he will never know a greater love, the song was regularly staged to thunderous applause.

Due to the songs popularity it was released as a single by Jennifer Holliday in 1982, and reached Number 22 in America on Billboard. Holliday who was born Jennifer Yvette Holliday on October 19th, 1960 in Houston, Texas, United States, has since gone on to release seven studio Albums between 1983-2014, and 23 singles, with this song remaining her only chart hit to date. Following the success of the film in 2006, Jennifer Hudson who was making her film debut playing the part of Effie White released her version of ‘And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going’ as her debut single, the song would peak at Number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100. Hudson’s follow up single ‘Spotlight’ gave her, her only chart success to date when reaching Number 24 on Billboard, and Number 11 in the UK in 2008, co-incidentally ‘And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going’ reached a peak position of Number 32 in the UK for both Holliday and Hudson. On June 26th, 2007 at the ‘7th Annual Black Entertainment Television Awards’ Jennifer Holiday, and Jennifer Hudson performed ‘And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going’ a a duet for the first time together.

‘Tear down the mountains, yell, scream and shout, you can say what you want I’m not walkin’ out. Stop all the rivers, push, strike, and kill, I’m not gonna leave you,there’s no way I will.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

226-Nat King Cole-Unforgettable.

1951-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 2.21. In January 1964 Nat King Cole made one of his final television appearances on ‘The Jack Benny Program,’ where he was introduced as ‘The best friend a song ever had.’

Nat King Cole (see also best songs 988-327 and 161) was born Nathaniel Adams Coles on March 17, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama, United States, he died of lung cancer, having been a heavy smoker all of his life at the age of 45, on February 15th, 1965. Shortly before his death Cole had vowed that if he recovered after having an entire lung removed, he would go on television to urge people to stop smoking.

‘Unforgettable’ was written by the American songwriter Irving Gordon, (1915-1996) Gordon had originally written the song with the working title ‘Undeniable,’ but the music publishing company persuaded Gordon to change it to ‘Unforgettable. Other well known songs written by Gordon include the Folk-style song ‘Allentown Jail,’ and the ‘almost novelty’ songs ‘Mister Mississippi,’ a hit for Patti Page, and ‘Delaware,’ made famous by Perry Como. In Gordon’s obituary it was claimed that he wrote the legendary baseball comedy routine performed by Abbott and Costello, ‘Who’s on First?’ The claim was never made by Gordon while he was alive, and there have been others who have also claimed authorship.

‘Unforgettable’ was first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1951, and went on to reach Number 14 on the United States Billboard Best-Selling Pop Singles in 1951. The song was later included in 1952 on Cole’s 10 inch LP, also titled ‘Unforgettable,’ which was the re-issued in 1954 as a 12 inch LP. ‘Unforgettable was produced by Lee Gillette (1912-1981) who had worked with many of the Country Music stars on the ‘Capitol Records’ label, of which Nat King Cole, who he worked with on several occasions was the labels best selling artist. In fact the ‘Capital Records Building’ which is a 13 story tower building on Vine Street, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, is nicknamed ‘The House That Nat Built,’ in recognition of Cole’s success ‘Unforgettable’ is also notable for it’s string arrangement by Nelson Riddle, (1921-1985) (see also best songs 877 and 73) the Nelson Riddle Orchestra also played alongside Nat King Cole on many other songs including Cole’s best seller ‘Mona Lisa’ in 1950.
In 1991 the musical director Joe Guercio (1928-2015) who had been the director and conductor for Elvis Presley’s concerts in the 1970’s, had the idea of editing Nat King Cole’s original 1951 recording of ‘Unforgettable,’ and remixing it with vocals provided by Cole’s daughter Natalie Cole (1950-2015) to create a duet between the two of them. This version reached Number 14 on Billboard in America, and Number 19 in the UK. The song also won three awards at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards in 1992, for ‘Song of the Year’, Record of the Year,’ and ‘Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.’

‘Like a song of love that clings to me, how the thought of you does things to me, never before has someone been more unforgettable in every way.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

227-Rodney Franklin-The Groove.

1980-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 2.02. I remember the very short lived dance craze ‘The Freeze’ which accompanied this song. It was devised by the British Disc Jockey Chris Hill, with the idea being that every time that the music stops those that are on the dance floor have to freeze (the song has 11 breaks.) Needless to say it never caught on, but I hear that there is another very similar game normally played by children called musical statues.

Rodney Franklin was born on September 16th, 1958, in Berkeley, California, United States, he is a Jazz Pianist, and composer. In 1972 at the age of 14 as part of a Funk/Jazz band called ‘In One Piece,’ he made his first three recordings, but it wasn’t until 2003 that one of those tracks was made available. Prior to signing with ‘CBS Records’ in 1978, he had already worked with the American Jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, (1938-2008) and the American Jazz singer Marlena Shaw (see also best songs 98.) Rodney Franklin has released 13 studio Albums between 1978-1998, with the first eight released through ‘CBS,’ and the other five being issued after he signed with ‘BMG Records’ in 1988. He has also released 14 singles between 1978-1988, with this song being his only chart hit in the UK, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100 he has never charted.

‘The Groove’ was released as a single in 1980, being taken from Rodney Franklin’s second studio Album ‘You’ll Never Know,’ which was released earlier on in the same year. ‘The Groove’ was written by Rodney Franklin, and produced by Paul Buckmaster, (1946-2017) who had worked with many of the worlds top artists as an orchestral arranger, including David Bowie (1947-2016) (see also best songs 807-440-334-302-209-186-118-47-31 and 5) on his 1969 Album ‘David Bowie,’ which has become more commonly known as ‘Space Oddity.’

‘The Groove’ can be filed under the genre of ‘Jazz Funk,’ which is a sub-genre of Jazz music reliant on a strong beat with electronic instruments. In the late 1970’s, and early 1980’s Jazz Funk was mainly associated with American bands, but the genre was also growing in Britain where the music papers dubbed it ‘Brit Funk,’ and it was DJ’s such as the aforementioned Chris Hill who would heavily promote it in his role at the influential ‘Ensign Records’ label. Among the ‘Brit Funk’ bands signed to ‘Ensign Records’ to taste chart success in the UK were ‘Beggar and Co,’ who reached Number 15 with (‘Somebody) Help Me Out’ in 1981, and ‘Light of the World,’ whose biggest hit was ‘I’m So Happy’ in 1980, which reached Number 35. Incidentally Chris Hill is the same Chris Hill who had two novelty Christmas hits, with ‘Renta Santa,’ in 1975 (UK Number 10) and ‘Bionic Santa’ in 1976 (also UK Number 10.)

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

228-Chaka Khan-I’m Every Woman.

1978-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 2.52.’Chaka, Chaka, Chaka, Chaka Khan, let me rock you Chaka Khan, that’s all I wanna do. Chaka Khan let me rock you, let me feel for you.’

Chaka Khan (see also best songs 703 and 85) was born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23rd, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, at the age of 13 she was given the name ‘Chaka Adunne Aduffe Hodarhi Karifi by a leader of the ‘Yoruba’ people of West Africa. She took the name ‘Khan’ in 1970, when marrying Hassan Khan at the age of 17. Chaka Khan first found success as a member of the American Funk band ‘Rufus,’ which she joined in 1972. The group came to the attention of Ike Turner, (1931-2007) (see also best songs 752-485 and 192) with whom Rufus made their first recordings, Turner wanted Chaka Khan to become an ‘Ikette,’ but she refused, stating that she was ‘Really happy to stay with Rufus, but Ike’s attention was certainly a boost.’

Although still officially a member of Rufus, Chaka Khan launched her solo career in 1978 with the release of her debut studio Album ‘Chaka,’ from where her debut solo single ‘I’m Every Woman’ was taken. The song was written by the husband and wife songwriting team of Nickolas Ashford (1941-2011) and Valerie Simpson, (see also best songs 703-359 and 28) who had their greatest success as staff writers at Motown Records in the mid 1960’s, and early 1970’s. They have also had a long career as recording artists themselves, releasing 13 studio Albums between 1973-1996, and 47 singles between 1964-2001, with their best known hit single being ‘Solid’ from 1984, which reached Number 3 in the UK, and Number 12 in America, Valerie Simpson has also recorded three solo Albums in 1971-1972 and 2012.

In 1989 ‘I’m Every Woman’ was remixed for Chaka Khan’s remix Album ‘Life Is a Dance; The Remix Project,’ and when released as a single it made Number 8 in the UK. In 1992 Whitney Houston (1963-2012) (see also best songs 704) recorded ‘I’m Every Woman’ for the soundtrack Album for the film ‘The Bodyguard,’ it made Number 4 in America, and Number 4 also in the UK, as a tribute to Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston sings Chaka Khan’s name towards the end of the song. On the original recording of ‘I’m Every Woman’ back in 1978, Whitney’s mother Cissy Houston had sang backing vocals.

‘I’m Every Woman’ is a song about a confident strong woman who knows how to take care of her man, supporting him,and making him a better person, the lyrics were written by Nickolas Ashford. In 2021 Chaka Khan re-recorded the song as a duet with the American actress and singer Idina Menzel in honour of ‘International Women’s Day, Menzel has said of the song,’I think it’s about sisterhood. Often society tries to get us to compete and tear each other down. It’s about holding each other up, and giving each other an opportunity to be heard and to be seen.”

‘I can cast a spell, of secrets you can’t tell. Mix a special brew, put fire inside of you. Anytime you feel danger or fear, then instantly I will appear.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

229-Noel Harrison-The Windmills of Your Mind.

1969-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 1.08. Don’t worry if you can’t make head or tail of these beautiful lyrics, they are meant to be just a series of random thoughts.

‘The Windmills of Your Mind’ was written for the 1968 American heist film ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ starring Steve McQueen, (1930-1980) and Faye Dunaway. In the film the song is heard, sung by Noel Harrison during the opening credits, and also during the film, in a scene where the character Thomas Crown flies his glider over New Hampshire, England. The songs lyrics are meant to be the thoughts of Thomas Crown, played by Steve McQueen, who while flying his glider, is planning the perfect crime.
The films producer/director Norman Jewison had originally contemplated using the Beatles ‘Strawberry Fields Forever,’ (see also best songs 51) but instead decided on commissioning a brand new song. Jewison approached the French composer Michel Legrand (1932-2019) (see also best songs 942) who then approached the husband and wife writing team of Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman, (1928-2022) (see also best songs 214 and 145) who came up with these dreamy lyrics.

‘The Windmills of Your Mind’ was first offered to Andy Williams (1927-2012) (see also best songs 914 and 112) who turned it down, so it was then offered to Noel Harrison. Noel John Christoper Harrison was born on January 29th, 1934, in Exeter, Devon, England, he died on October 19th, 2013 after suffering a heart attack, at the age of 79, he was the son of the actor Rex Harrison (1908-1990.) Noel Harrison had a varied career having been a member of the British Olympic skiing team in the 1950’s. Harrison was also an actor, and spent many years touring in America, performing in productions, he also appeared as an actor in eight films between 1961-1999, and there are 13 official Albums of his music currently available, recorded between 1960-2010. In America Harrison is best remembered for co-starring in the 1960’s television spy series ‘The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.’ alongside Stephanie Powers.

‘The Windmills of Your Mind’ went on to win the Oscar for ‘Best Song From a Film’ in 1969, which proved to be a complete surprise to Noel Harrison who once said,’It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time. I went to the studio one afternoon, sang it and pretty much forgot about it. I didn’t realise until later what a timeless, beautiful piece Michel Legrand and the Bergman’s had written. It turned out to be my most notable piece of work.’

In 1999 in the remake of ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ the song was re-recorded, and performed by Sting (see also best song 1020 and 727.) Another notable version is by Dusty Springfield, (1939-1999) (see also best songs 882 and 171) who recorded the song for her debut ‘Atlantic Records’ Album ‘Dusty in Memphis,’ which when released as a single made Number 31 on Billboard, becoming the most successful version of the song in America, as the Noel Harrison recording had failed to chart there.

‘Like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel, never ending or beginning on an ever spinning reel, as the images unwind, like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.’