THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

163-Sigue Sigue Sputnik-Love Missile F1-11.

1986-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 0.29. Is that a Love Missile F1-11 in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me.

Sigue Sigue Sputnik were formed in 1982, in London, England, by Tony James, (bass) and Neal X, (guitar) they would be soon joined by Martin Degville, (vocals) and Chris Kavanagh (drums.) The band with differing members remained active until 1990, but did re-unite in 1995 for a short time, before reforming again in 1998 to the present day. In total there have been 10 different members come and go, with Tony James, and Neal X being the only two constants. It was Fachna O’Kelly who has managed artists such as U2, and The Boomtown Rats who gave the band their name, it is a reference to a Filipino street gang, and meaning, in rough translation, ‘go, go satellite,’ ‘sigue’ coming from Tagalog, and from the original Spanish meaning “go on”, and Sputnik referencing the first man-made satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. Prior to forming Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Tony James had been a member of the 1970’s Punk Rock group ‘Generation X,’ (see also best songs 945) and between 1990-1991 he was also a member of ‘The Sisters of Mercy'(see also best songs 593.) With their various line ups Sigue Sigue Sputnik have issued six studio Albums between 1986-2003, and 15 singles between 1986-2011, in the UK three of their singles have made the top 40, with this song being the most successful.

‘Love Missile F1-11 was the debut single release from Sigue Sigue Sputnik, and was one of six singles issued from their 1986 debut studio Album ‘Flaunt It.’ James, Degville, and Whitmore, are credited as the songs writers, while the track, and the Album, were produced by the legendary music producer Giorgio Moroder (see also best songs 78 and 11.)

‘Love Missile F1-11’ features a pulsating Electronic beat, over which many futuristic sound effects, and samples are played, including film dialogue, as Tony James was a big fan of the movies. The sampling on the record includes dialogue from the films ‘Scarface,’ and ‘The Terminator, and it’s use is considered a forerunner, and inspiration for groups such as ‘The KLF,’ (see also best songs 329) and ‘Pop Will Eat Itself,’ as well as in the genre of ‘Hip-Hop’ music.

The lyrics to ‘Love Missile F1-11’ probably tell of the perils of living in a nuclear war threatened world in the mid 1980’s, and in order to escape the terrors of what might be, the narrator turns to sex and drugs for his escapism, well at least that is the way I see it. Incidentally an ‘F-111’ was a supersonic, medium range, multi-role combat aircraft, whose roles included ground attack, and strategic bombing, and was in use between 1964-1998.

‘The US bombs cruising overhead, but there goes my love rocket red, shoot it up, oh, shoot it up. Blaster bomb bomb bomb ahead,multi millions still unfed.’