THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

20-John Lennon-Imagine.

1971-It was not released as a single in the UK until 1975 when it reached Number 6. After Lennon’s assassination the song was re-issued and peaked at Number 1 in 1981. In 1999 the song was once again re-released, and this time it made Number 3, and in 2012 it re-entered the chart on downloads reaching Number 18.

Best Bit-At 0.39. John Lennon composed ‘Imagine’ on two ‘Steinway’ pianos. In 2000 George Michael (1963-2016) (see also best songs 991-342 and 142) paid over $2 million for the one which was used in the songs promotional film, and placed it in the Beatles museum in Liverpool.

John Winston Ono Lennon was born on October 9th, 1940, in Liverpool, England, he has more entries on this ‘1000 best songs list’ than any other artist, as a solo performer (see also best songs 927-473-456 and 168) and as a member of the Beatles (see also best songs 599-319-238-218-157-141-41-10 and 5). At approximately 5:00. p.m, on December 8th, 1980, Lennon autographed a copy of his current Album ‘Double Fantasy’ for Mark David Chapman before leaving ‘The Dakota’ apartments (see also best songs 38) with Yoko Ono for a recording session at the Record Plant in New York City. After the session, Lennon and Ono returned to the Dakota in a limousine at around 10:50 p.m, (Eastern Time Zone). They left the vehicle and walked through the archway of the building, Chapman then shot Lennon twice in the back and twice in the shoulder at close range. Lennon was rushed in a police vehicle to the emergency room of the ‘Roosevelt Hospital,’ where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 11:15 p.m.

The discography of John Lennon away from the Beatles includes 11 studio Albums released between 1968-1984, and 23 singles issued between 1969-1985, of which 16 reached the UK top 40 with three of those songs making Number 1, all after his death. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, he has had 13 top 40 hits, with two of those singles reaching the top spot. For the discography of the Beatles see best songs 5.

‘Imagine’ is also the title of John Lennon’s second solo studio Album, and his sixth away from the Beatles, and was first issued in September 1971, although not initially released as single in the UK, it was issued in America where it peaked at Number 3 on Billboard. ‘Imagine’ was written by John Lennon, with the production credited to Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Phil Spector (1939-2021) (see also best songs (820-782-737-262-192-127 and 91). In 2017 Yoko Ono’s name was finally added to the song writing credits. Two days before his death in 1980 in a radio interview Lennon had said that, ‘Imagine should be credited as a Lennon/Ono song, because a lot of the lyric and the concept came from Yoko, but those day, I was a bit more selfish, a bit more macho, and I sort of omitted to mention her contribution, but it was right out of ‘Grapefruit,’ (published in 1964) her book.’ Some of the text in Ono’s book ‘Grapefruit’ included the lines,’Imagine the clouds dripping,’ and ‘Imagine myself crying and using my tears to make myself stronger.’

‘Imagine’ is John Lennon’s best selling solo single worldwide, with sales in excess of 3 million in America, and over 1.7 million in the UK. Lennon provided the vocals and piano, with the long time Beatles contributor Klaus Voormann playing bass guitar. Alan White (1949-2022) who would become a long term member of the Progressive Rock band ‘Yes,’ and had previously been a member of the ‘Plastic Ono Band,’ was the drummer, while the strings on the track were provided by ‘The Flux Fiddlers,’ who were members of the ‘New York Philarmonic Orchestra,’ who performed for Lennon as session musicians.

‘Imagine’ is John Lennon’s wish for everyone to live in peace and harmony together. Lennon asks us to try to break free from the religious superstitions that control our thought process, and holds us back. He tells us to live for today, and not to prepare for a ‘heaven’ that you may be rewarded with tomorrow, for which there is no proof even exists. He also tells us to not hoard possessions, instead we should share things so everyone has enough. Some critics have called the songs message over simplistic, or not well thought out. From a personal point of view, human beings will always find something to fight about, if everyone was the same, then the person wearing the red shoes would start an argument with the person wearing the blue shoes.

‘You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will live as one.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

21-Blur-Song 2.

1997-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.14. This is the 2nd track on the ‘Blur’ Album, it is also the 2nd track on their greatest hits collection. It got to Number 2 in the UK singles chart, and it plays for 2 minutes, spooky or what?….No, not really.

Blur (see also best songs 256) were formed in London, England, in 1988 by Damon Albarn, (vocals) Graham Coxon, (guitar) Alex James, (bass) and Dave Rountree (drums.) On forming they took the name ‘Seymour,’ from the 1959 book ”Seymour:’ An Introduction,’ by the American author J. D. Salinger, (1919-2010) but when signing for ‘Food Records’ in 1990, the label had insisted on a name change. ‘Food’ drew up a list of alternatives, from which the band chose ‘Blur.’ The group remained active until going on hiatus between 2004-2008, they have also been on hiatus since 2016, and remain so at the time of writing.

The discography of Blur includes eight studio Albums released between 1991-2015, of which the most recent six have made the Number 1 spot in the UK. They have also issued 34 singles between 1990-2015, with 26 of those songs reaching the UK top 40, and two of those tracks making Number 1, ‘Country House,’ (1995) and ‘Beetlebum’ (1997.) In America on the Billboard Hot 100, two of their singles have made the lower reaches of the chart, but they have never broken in to the top 40, although they have had five hits on the ‘U.S. Alternative Rock’ top 30 chart. Blur maybe one of the most successful bands to have come out of the UK, but in the States they remain obscure, but they do have a cult following through ‘Song 2’ receiving lots of play on ‘Alternative Rock,’ and ‘College Radio stations, where ‘Song 2’ is often referred to as the ‘Whoo-Hoo’ song.

‘Song 2’ was the second of four singles released from Blur’s self titled fifth studio Album issued in February 1997. All four band members share the writing credits, with the production also by Blur, and their long time collaborator Stephen Street (see also best songs 940-595-464 and 256) The Album was a major change in musical style for Blur, as they distanced themselves from ‘Britpop,’ to an experimental mix of ‘Indie Rock, ‘Lo-Fi,’ and ‘Alternative Rock,’ ‘Song 2’ came about after the band were messing about with new ideas in the studio. The groups lead guitarist Graham Coxon at that time was a big fan of American Alternative Rock bands such as ‘Pavement,’ and ‘Sonic Youth,’ (see also best songs 641) and it was he who came up with the songs intro. The bands lead singer Damon Albarn was not as big a fan, and made up any old lyrics as a guide for the song. In a way the song had a satisfactory ending for both Coxon and Albarn, as Coxon got his wish to record a classic American sounding Rock song, and Albarn could poke fun at the genre with nonsensical lyrics.

Alex James who played the bass on ‘Song 2’ has said how the group approached the recording,’We didn’t think about it at all. Graham (Coxon) set up two kits, Dave (Rowntree) and Graham started playing drums at the same time, this real ‘aggro’ beat. Then the chorus is two distorted basses and Damon’s guide vocal. It was kind of a throwback. We’d always done brainless rocking out, though maybe it’s not what we’re known for.’ Stephen Street has said,’Damon’s guide vocal was pure babbling, but it worked so well I suggested we went with it. He just needed reassurance that what he’d done was good.’

Because ‘Song 2′ only lasts for 1.59 seconds, the band were thinking very seriously about leaving the track off the Album, and they made many attempts to add further production to fill it out and extend it, but eventually they learnt a lesson from that experience. Alex James has said,’We realised you don’t have to polish everything, sometimes the thing you do first of all is when you mean it.’

‘I got my head checked by a jumbo jet, it wasn’t easy
But nothing is no. (Woo-hoo) when I feel heavy metal, (Woo-hoo) and I’m pins and I’m needles.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

22-Meatloaf-Bat Out of Hell.

1977-It wasn’t released as a single until 1979 when reaching Number 15. The song was re-released in 1993, and peaked at Number 8.

Best Bit-At 6.52. The songs writer Jim Steinman was a big fan of the early 1960’s ‘Death Discs’ also known as ‘Teenage Tragedy Songs,’ such as ‘Leader of the Pack’ by the Shangri-Las, (see also best songs 331) and ‘Tell Laura I Love Her,’ from Ray Peterson. Steinman wanted to write the ‘most extreme ‘crash song of all time.’

‘Meat Loaf’ (see also best songs 90) was born Marvin Lee Aday on September 27th, 1947, in Dallas, Texas, United States. In 2003 he was diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, a condition marked by an extra electrical pathway in the heart which causes symptoms like a rapid heartbeat, he also suffered with asthma, and in 2011 he fainted on stage while performing, due to a asthma attack. Meat Loaf died on January 20th, 2022, at the age of 74, no official cause of death was released, but he had been ill with COVID-19 earlier that month. Meat Loaf has said that when he was born, he was ‘bright red and stayed that way for days,’ and that his father said he looked like ‘nine pounds of ground chuck,’ and convinced hospital staff to put the name ‘Meat’ on his crib. Another story as to where his nickname originated is that when he was at school his classmates referred to him by his initials ‘M.L.’ in reference to his name, but after he stepped on a football coach’s foot the coach yelled, ‘Get off my foot, you hunk of meatloaf.’

In 1971 Meat Loaf issued two singles on the Motown subsidiary label ‘Rare Earth,’ as part of the duo ‘Stoney & Meatloaf,’ ‘Stoney’ is the American female singer Shawn Murphy, their first single ‘What You See Is What You Get’ reached Number 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. As a solo artist Meat Loaf released 12 studio Albums between 1977-2016, and 37 singles in the same time period. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, seven of those songs reached the top 40, with ‘I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)’ making Number 1 in 1993. In the UK, 18 of his singles have reached the top 40, with ‘I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)’ also giving him his only chart topper.

‘Bat Out of Hell’ is the opening track on the debut solo studio Album of the same name from Meat Loaf, it was written by Jim Steinman, (1947-2021) and produced by Todd Rundgren. At the time of writing the Album is currently the 12th best selling Album of all time, with sales in excess of 34 million copies worldwide. ‘Bat Out of Hell,’ along with ‘Heaven Can Wait,’ and ‘All Revved Up with No Place To Go’ originally featured in Steinman’s 1977 ‘Peter Pan’ inspired musical ‘Neverland,’ which at that time was still a work in progress. Steinman and Meat Loaf who were touring with the ‘National Lampoon’ entertainment show felt that they had three exceptional songs and wanted to develop them, with potentially four more in to an Album.

Todd Rundgren who produced all of the tracks on The Bat Out of Hell’ Album, has also been highly praised for his guitar work on ‘Bat Out of Hell.’ Rather than use a recording of a real motorcycle, Rundgren himself played the section on guitar, leading straight into the solo without a break, in his autobiography Meat Loaf wrote,’In fifteen minutes he played the lead solo, and then played the harmony guitars at the beginning. I guarantee the whole thing didn’t take him more than forty-five minutes, and the song itself is ten minutes long. The most astounding thing I have ever seen in my life.’

‘Bat Out of Hell’ tells the story of someone who feels that his life is going nowhere, and he only feels alive when riding his motorbike at highly dangerous speeds. He knows the dangers of what he is doing but the thrill is too great to resist. Jim Steinman has said,’There is something so thrilling to me about that operatic narrative that involves a cataclysmic event, especially one so perfectly in tune with a teenager’s world, and Rock and Roll, as a car or motorcycle crash.’ Steinman achieved his ambition of writing the greatest ‘crash song’ when the motorbike and rider are ‘down in the bottom of a pit in the blazing sun.’

‘Oh, baby you’re the only thing in this whole world that’s pure and good and right, and wherever you are and wherever you go, there’s always gonna be some light.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

23-Beyonce featuring Jay-Z-Crazy in Love.

2003-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. When Beyonce was first offered the song she said, ‘No one uses horn riffs in the 21st Century.’

Beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter (see also best songs 800) was born on September 4th, 1981, in Houston, Texas, United States, her success has led her to be fondly known as ‘Queen Bey.’ With record sales in excess of 200 million records she is one of the best selling artists of all time, and is the highest earning black musician ever, when taking into account her other business ventures, tours and endorsements. Away from her singing career Beyonce has also starred in 10 films between 2001-2019, and she has also directed four other films between 2014-2020.

Prior to launching her solo career in 2003, Beyonce had been a member of the American R&B girl group ‘Destiny’s Child’ from 1990, through until 2006, releasing five studio Albums between 1998-2004, and 23 singles between 1997-2005. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Destiny’s Child she achieved 13 top 40 hits, with four of those songs reaching Number 1. While in the UK, Destiny’s Child have charted on 16 occasions, and reached the Number 1 spot twice, for the solo discography of Beyonce, see best songs 800.

‘Crazy in Love’ is the debut solo single from Beyonce, and was the first of five singles released from her debut solo studio Album ‘Dangerously in Love,’ from June 2003. The songwriting credits for ‘Crazy in Love’ are shared by Rich Harrison, Beyonce, Eugene Record, and Shawn Carter, (Jay-Z) with Harrison and Beyonce being the songs co-producers.

The aforementioned ‘horn riff’ in question was a sample from the 1970 song ‘Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So’) by the American R&B/Soul group ‘The Chi-Lites, (Billboard Hot 100 Number 72) that song was written by Eugene Record (1940-2005) who was a member of that band, and therefore he receives songwriting credit on ‘Crazy on Love’ for the sample. The brains behind developing the ‘horn riff’ sample into ‘Crazy in Love’ was the work of the songwriter and music producer Rich Harrison, who also wrote many of the songs lyrics, and played all of the instrumentation on the track. The songs ‘bridge’ was written by Beyonce, who it is said was inspired by looking at herself in the mirror, as she was not wearing matching clothes and her hair was untidy, she kept saying, ‘I look so crazy right now.’ The songs ‘Rap’ which was provided by Beyonce’s then boyfriend Jay-Z (see also best songs 636-477 and 267) was an afterthought, and not added until the track was complete, it is said that Jay-Z improvised his verse in around 10 minutes.

The success of ‘Crazy in Love’ put to bed the worry that Beyonce’s solo career wouldn’t be able to match the success that she had enjoyed with her previous group Destiny’s Child. The song went to Number 1 on Billboard and also in the UK, with the American ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine in 2021 declaring it the 16th greatest song of all time on their ‘500 Greatest Songs List,’ earlier in 2018 the same publication had named it the best song of the 21st Century so far.

Beyonce has spoken about ‘Crazy in Love,’The song talks about how, when you’re falling in love, you do things that are out of character and you don’t really care because you’re just open. The song came from me actually looking crazy one day in the studio. I said, ‘I’m lookin’ crazy right now,’ and Rich Harrison, the producer, was like, ‘That’s the song!”

‘I look and stare so deep in your eyes, I touch on you more and more every time. When you leave, I’m begging you not to go, call your name two, three times in a row. Such a funny thing for me to try to explain, how I’m feeling and my pride is the one to blame.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

24-Tears for Fears-Sowing the Seeds of Love.

1989-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 3.08. Many songs have a strong Beatles influence, this ones the best.

Tears for Fears (see also best songs 640) were formed in Bath, Somerset, England, in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. The pair split in 1991, but got back together in 2000, and at the time of writing they remain active. In total there have been four members of Tears for Fears come and go, with Roland Orzabel being the bands one constant. Prior to forming Tears for Fears, both Orzabal and Smith had both been members of the English New Wave quintet ‘Graduate,’ who released one studio Album ‘Acting My Age’ in 1980. Orzabal has also issued one solo studio Album under his own name called ‘Tomcats Screaming Outside,’ in 2001. Away from Tears for Fears Curt Smith has released four solo studio Albums between 1993-2013, and another Album in 1998 called ‘Mayfield,’ which was a short lived project Smith became involved in with three others.

‘Sowing the Seeds of Love’ was co-written by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, with the pair producing, along with Dave Bascombe. The song was the first of four singles released from the bands third studio Album ‘The Seeds of Love,’ from September 1989, and was a major hit worldwide, including reaching Number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in America.

‘Sowing the Seeds of Love’ was mainly written by Roland Orzabal in June 1987 during the week of the UK General Election, in which Margaret Thatcher, (1925-2013) and the ‘Conservative Party’ won a third consecutive term in office. This event prompted Orzabal to take a keen interest in politics, especially in ‘socialism.’ The line ‘Politician granny with your high ideals, have you no idea how the majority feels?’ is a direct reference to Thatcher being re-elected.

The songs title was inspired by a radio programme that Orzabal had heard around that time about Cecil Sharp (1859-1924) who was an English born collector of Folk songs. One of these songs was called ‘The Seeds of Love,’ (first documented in 1689) which Sharp had learned about from a gardener called Mr. England. Evidently Sharp had heard John England singing the song, and that inspired him to find out more about other traditional English Folk songs. Orzabal acknowledges their chance meeting in the lyrics with the line,’Mr. England sowing the seeds of love.’

For me though the best lyrics in the song are ‘Kick out the Style, bring back the Jam,’ this cheekily references that when the English singer/songwriter Paul Weller was in his Rock band ‘The Jam,’ (see also best songs 670-94 and 59) many of the songs he wrote with them were highly politicised, but after leaving them to form his next group ‘The Style Council,’ he had mellowed, and was now writing about love and romance.

Musically ‘Sowing the Seeds of Love’ has been (and correctly so) compared to the later 1960’s work of the Beatles, (see also best songs 599-319-238-218-157-141-80-51-10 and 5) for example the brief trumpet line is very similar to the one that can be heard in ‘Penny Lane'(1967.) Curt Smith who must have been in a ‘bullish’ mood at the time has said,’With ‘Sowing The Seeds Of Love’ we felt it was sufficiently different for us to release as a single. People can say it sounds like ‘I Am The Walrus,’ or whatever, but in sound quality alone it’s miles ahead of anything like that.’

‘Sowing the Seeds of Love’ is a political protest song. It is telling us that if we don’t agree with those who make the rules then we should not remain quiet. We should make our voices heard, as it will lead to a change for the better, if enough of us make the effort.

‘High time, we made a stand, and shook up the views of the common man. The love train rides from coast to coast, DJ’s the man we love the most.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

25-Electric Light Orchestra-Mr. Blue Sky.

1978-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 3.46. At the very end of the song there are four spoken words. A lot of people (including me for many years) thought that what is said is ‘Mister Blue Sky,’ but in recent years Jeff Lynne has confirmed that what actually is spoken is ‘please turn me over.’

In October 1977 the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) (see also best songs 970) released their seventh studio Album, the double Album ‘Out of the Blue,’ which has gone on to be their best seller with around 10 million copies sold worldwide. A double Album was two 12 inch vinyl discs with music on all sides, initial copies were issued on blue vinyl. Side 3 of the Album is subtitled ‘Concerto for a Rainy Day,’ which is a four-track musical suite based on the weather and how it affects mood change, ending with the eventual sunshine and happiness of “Mr. Blue Sky,’ with the request at the end of the song to flip the disc over and listen to side 4.

Mr. Blue Sky’ was written and produced by Jeff Lynne who has explained how he came about writing the song after locking himself away in a chalet in Switzerland in an attempt to get inspiration.’It was dark and misty for two weeks, and I didn’t come up with a thing. Suddenly the sun shone and it was, ‘Wow, look at those beautiful Alps.’ I wrote ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ and 13 other songs in the next two weeks.’ Lynne has also gone on to say,’It captured what my vision of ELO was all about. All the bits that come in and out, the backing vocals, the cellos sliding, all the little naughty bits, the sound effects, everything is exactly what I imagined ELO to be.’ The arrangement on ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ has been called ‘Beatlesque,’ with Jeff Lynne readily admitting the debt he owes the Beatles, a group he was heavily influenced by in the late 1960’s. The songs piano and drum intro is borrowed from the Kinks’ 1968 song “Do You Remember Walter,’ written by Ray Davies.

Jeffrey Lynne (see also best songs 970 and 769) was born on December 30th, 1947, in Birmingham, England, he began his music career in 1963 as a member of the local Birmingham band the ‘Andicaps,’ then joining the ‘Chads, before forming and writing for ‘The Idle Race’ between 1966-1970. He next accepted an offer from Roy Wood (see also best songs 821 and 239) to join the already very successful British Rock band the ‘Move’ (see also best songs 575) in 1969, before both left to form the ‘Electric Light Orchestra’ in 1970 Following Roy Wood’s departure in 1972 Jeff Lynne assumed sole leadership of the band and wrote, arranged, and produced virtually all of its subsequent records.

After the ‘ELO’ split in 1986, Jeff Lynn went on to co-found the ‘supergroup’ the ‘Traveling Wilburys’ in 1988 under the pseudonyms of ‘Otis Wilbury,’ and Clayton Wilbury,’ along with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, (1943-2001) Roy Orbison, (1936-1998) and Tom Petty (1950-2017.) In 1994 Jeff Lynne was asked by the three surviving Beatles to work with them on their anthology Album series, Lynne was asked to assist with unreleased studio material originally recorded by the late John Lennon (1940-1980.) Jeff Lynne has an impressive list of production work away from the ‘ELO,’ including for Paul McCartney, (Flaming Pie 1997) George Harrison, (Cloud Nine 1987) and Tom Petty, (Full Moon Fever 1989) amongst many others. Lynne has also released two solo studio Albums in 1990, and 2012, and three singles were issued from those Albums.

The discography of the Electric Light Orchestra includes 15 studio Albums released between 1971-2019, and 50 singles issued between 1972-2019. In the UK, 26 of those singles have made the top 40 with ‘Xanadu’ from 1980 featuring Olivia Newton John (1948-2022) making the Number 1 spot. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, 20 of their songs have made the top 40 with ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’ charting the highest at Number 4 in 1979. No act has had more top 40 hits on Billboard than the ‘ELO,’ without having had a Number 1 single in that charts history.

‘Hey you with the pretty face welcome to the human race. A celebration, Mr. Blue Sky’s up there waitin,’ and today is the day we’ve waited for.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

26-Funkadelic-One Nation Under a Groove.

1978-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 1.04. Funkadelic had just finished playing a gig in Washington DC when two young girls approached George Clinton’s car and told him it was the best concert that they had ever seen, they said ‘It was like one nation under a groove.’ The girls in question were called LaTanya and Darlene, their names appear in the credits on Funkadelic’s critically acclaimed Album ‘One Nation Under a Groove.’

‘One Nation Under a Groove’ is also the title track of the 10th studio Album released by the American Funk/Rock band Funkadelic (see also best songs 340) in September 1978. The song was co-written by the bands members George Clinton, Walter Morrison, (1954-2017) and Garry Shider, (1953-2010) with the production credited to Clinton. George Clinton was born on July 22nd, 1941, in Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States, he is a pioneering figure in the genre of Funk Music. He will be best remembered for forming two bands concurrently, the Funk band ‘Parliament,’ (see also best songs 612 and 143) and the Funk/Rock band Funkadelic. The songs other two writers were Walter ‘Junie’ Morrison, who was born on June 28th, 1954, in Dayton, Ohio, United States, he died on January 21st, 2017, at the age of 62, his death was reported the following month, but the details remained private. Prior to joining ‘Parliament-Funkadelic’ in 1977, he had been a member of the ‘Ohio Players,’ (see also best songs 506) and after leaving them in 1974 he released the first three of his seven solo studio Albums. In total Morrison issued seven solo studio Albums between 1975-2004. Garry Marshall Shider was born on July 24th, 1953, in Plainfield, New Jersey, United States, he died from cancer of the brain and lungs on June 16th, 2010, at the age of 56. Shider who had known Clinton since his teenage years became an official member of the ‘Parliament-Funkadelic’ collective in 1971. In 1997 Morrison and Shider, and 15 other members of the group were inducted into ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.’

The discography of Funkadelic includes 13 studio Albums released between 1980-2014, and 25 singles issued between 1969-1981. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart,’One Nation Under a Groove’ was their only top 40 hit, when reaching Number 28, while in the UK, the song also remains their only charting single. In the guise as ‘Parliament’ many of the same musicians also played on the 10 studio Albums released under that name between 1970-2018, there were also 20 singles issued between 1971-2018. On Billboard two of those singles reached the top 20, while they never charted in the UK.

Having decided that ‘One Nation Under a Groove’ would make a great title for a song, George Clinton has explained how he came up with some of the songs other wonderful catchphrases.’So high you can’t get over it, so low you can’t get under it” was used by the Temptations in ‘Psychedelic Shack,’ but it actually goes back much earlier, to Gospel. I also took a catchphrase used by the Mantan Moreland chauffeur character in the Charlie Chan movies, when he was ready to run from the ghost: ‘Feet, don’t fail me now!’ And the line ‘Dance your way out of your constrictions,’ is about people’s hangups, you can deal with them by being grumpy, or with a smile.’

‘Here’s a chance to dance our way out of our constrictions. Gonna be groovin’ up and down hang up alley way, the groove our only guide, we shall all be moved, Feet don’t fail me now.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

27-Sex Pistols-Pretty Vacant.

1977-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 0.26. Arguably the best ‘Boy Band’ in the world ever, and as an added bonus, they were pretty….vacant.

The Sex Pistols (see also best songs 576 and 92) were formed in London, England, in 1975 by Johnny Rotten, (John Lydon) (vocals) (see also best songs 967 and 323) Steve Jones, (guitar) Paul Cook, (drums) and Glen Matlock, (bass) Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious, (John Simon Ritchie) (1957-1979) (bass) in February 1977. The Sex Pistols remained active until 1978, but have since reformed to tour without Matlock in 1996, and then again between 2002-2003, and 2007-2008. The Sex Pistols got their name from their manager Malcolm McLaren (1946-2010) (see also best songs 751) who was trying to promote his clothing store ‘Sex.’ McLaren has said that he chose the name to invoke ‘Sexy young assassins,’ and has said that the word ‘Pistol’ was a double entendre.

‘Pretty Vacant’ was the third of four singles released from the Sex Pistols only studio Album ‘Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s the Sex Pistols,’ from October 1977. The Album was originally going to be called ‘God Save Sex Pistols,’ but the title was changed based on a phrase suggested by Steve Jones. Jones has said that he picked up the phrase ‘Never mind the bollocks’ from two fans who would always say it to one another. Johnny Rotten has explained its meaning as a working-class expression to ‘stop talking rubbish.’ The Album has been described as a ‘game changer,’ with the Sex Pistols considered to be amongst the most influential groups in the development of Popular Music since the mid 1970’s. Artists who have stated a debt to the band include Morrissey, Nirvana, and Guns N’ Roses, with Noel Gallagher (see also best songs 1006-758 and 15) in 2013 saying about ‘Pretty Vacant,”One of the first things you learn when you pick up the electric guitar is that riff.’ He then further commented, ‘I made 10 Albums, and in my mind they don’t match up to that, and I’m an arrogant bastard. I’d give them all up to have written that, I truly would.’

The writing of ‘Pretty Vacant’ is credited to Cook, Jones, Lydon, and Matlock, but the likelihood is that the song is the work of Glen Matlock, with some of the lyrics improvised by Lydon, ‘Pretty Vacant’ has three producer credits, they being Chris Thomas, Bill Price, (1944-2016) and Dave Goodman, (1951-2005) as no records were kept of who was sat in on each recording, the three agreed to share credit for all 11 tracks on the Album.

Speaking in 2022 Glen Matlock said that he drew inspiration to write ‘Pretty Vacant’ from the 1976 ‘Punk Rock’ song ‘Blank Generation,’ by Richard Hell and the Voidoids.’ Matlock said,’Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren brought back it back from the United States and told Sex Pistols to write a song like ‘Blank Generation.’ Matlock has said that the phrase ‘Blank Generation’ got him thinking about the desperation and hopelessness many in London felt. He reworked it into ‘Pretty Vacant,’ and wrote the single about the concept with John Lydon. He went on to say, ‘I kind of misunderstood what his song was all about, you gotta put the songs in the context of what was going on for a bloke like me in mid ’70’s London, with the three-day week, and the IRA bombings and power cuts, against the fact I was a young man who met some interesting people who was trying to form a ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll’ band. Pretty Vacant is a primal scream kind of thing, we don’t know what we’re gonna do, but we’re gonna do it anyway. Malcolm had been saying to us all the time, you must write a manifesto. I’m proud of the fact that when people were coming up with a song about a girl or dancing or something, I wrote ‘Pretty Vacant’ before John (Lydon) wrote ‘Anarchy in the U.K.’ It’s not a competition, but that’s just the way it evolved.’

In my opinion ‘Pretty Vacant’ oozes sarcasm, with Johnny Rotten saying what is the point of trying to tell you what we think because you ain’t gonna listen, you don’t think we have a brain capable of understanding. But the telling line when the sarcasm stops is,’So stop you’re cheap comment,’cos we know what we feel.’

‘There’s no point in asking, you’ll get no reply. Oh just remember a don’t decide. I got no reason it’s all too much, you’ll always find us out to lunch.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

28-Diana Ross-Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

1970-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 4.36. Eat your heart out ‘Lhotse,’ ‘Kangchenjunga,’K2,’ and ‘Everest,’ because when it comes to hitting the heights, this song towers above them all.

Diana Ross (see also best songs 900-519-365 and 183) was born on March 26th, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, her mother named her Diane, but the birth certificate was mistakenly filled out with the name Diana, her family and friends have called her Diane all of her life. It wasn’t until 1965 that she began using the name ‘Diana’ professionally, from the mistake on her birth certificate, surprising her fellow ‘Supremes’ (see also best songs 1001-411-212 and 148) group members, Florence Ballard, (1943-1976) and Mary Wilson, (1944-2021) who had only ever known her as Diane.

Since leaving the Supremes at the request of Motown supremo Berry Gordy in 1970, Diana Ross has released 25 solo studio Albums between 1970-2021, and 91 singles between 1970-2022. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles top 40 chart, away from the Supremes she has achieved 27 hits, with six of those songs reaching Number 1. In total on Billboard she has had 18 Number 1 singles, as she also had 12 as a member of the Supremes. In the UK Diana Ross has had 47 top 40 hit singles away from the Supremes, with ‘I’m Still Waiting,’ (1971) and ‘Chain Reaction,’ (1985) both reaching Number 1. For the discography of the Supremes see best songs 148.

‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ was originally written in 1966 by Nikolas Ashford, (1941-2011) and Valerie Simpson, (see also best songs 1001-703-359 and 228 ) the pair would eventually marry in 1974. As well as writing for others they have also recorded as a duo, and also as solo artists, they are probably best remembered for their 1984 hit ‘Solid,’ which reached Number 12 on Billboard, and Number 3 in the UK.

The British Soul singer Dusty Springfield (1939-1999) (see also best songs 882 and 171) had heard ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,’ and wanted to record it for herself, but Ashford and Simpson who wanted to work for Motown records, and knowing that they had a good song on their hands, turned down Springfield’s request, and waited for Motown to come calling. They didn’t have to wait too long, as in 1967 the Motown duo of Marvin Gaye, (1939-1984) (see also best songs 723-183 and 114) and Tammy Terrell, (1945-1970) recorded the song, and took it to Number 19 on Billboard. Ashford and Simpson would go on to write further hits for the duo including ‘Your Precious Love,’ (Billboard Number 5) and ‘You’re All I Need to Get By’ (Billboard Number 7, and UK Number 19.)

In 1968 Diana Ross & the Supremes recorded a version of ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ as a duet with fellow Motown group The Temptations for their collaborative Album ‘Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations,’ (see also best songs 1031-1001-777 and 569) the song appears as track 3 on side 1 of the Album, with the lead vocals being shared by Diana Ross, and Dennis Edwards (1943-2018.) In 1970 Diana Ross was in need of a big hit in order to kick start her solo career, and Ashford and Simpson talked her into recording a radical re-make of ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,’ with new lyrics written by Nikolas Ashford, and featuring a style similar to Gospel, with elements of Classical Music strings, and horns, with spoken word passages from Diana Ross. The backing singers on the track included Ashford and Simpson, and Motown’s female session singers ‘The Andantes,’ (see also best songs 1001-823-650-411 and 114) with the songs instrumentation being provided by Motown’s in house band the ‘Funk Brothers’ (see also best songs 948-650-569-414-382-212 and 148.)

‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ was the second of two singles released from Diana Ross’ self titled debut solo studio Album from 1970, and was produced by Ashford and Simpson. The song was the follow up to her debut solo single ‘Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand’) which was also written by Ashford and Simpson. Whereas ‘Reach Out and Touch’ stalled at Number 19 on Billboard, ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ did indeed prove the breakthrough, by making the Number 1 spot, and proving that Diana Ross could be every bit as successful as a solo artist as she had been with the Supremes.

‘And if you should miss my lovin’ one of these old days. If you should ever miss the arms that used to hold you so close, or the lips that used to touch yours so tenderly. Just remember what I told you, the day I set you free.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

29-William Orbit-Adagio for Strings-(Ferry Corston Remix.)

1999-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 3.57. The songs composer was born in 1910, and wrote this piece of music in 1936, had he lived long enough I wonder if he would have loved or hated this rendition?

‘Adagio for Strings’ was written as a Classical piece of music by Samuel Barber as part of his larger work ‘String Quartet, Op. 11.’ between 1935-1936, the piece was written to be performed by only a ‘String Orchestra. ‘Adagio for Strings’ was performed for the first time on November 5, 1938, by the Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini, (1867-1957) conducting the ‘NBC Symphony Orchestra’ in a radio broadcast from the ‘NBC Studio 8H’ in New York City. ‘Adagio for Strings’ has been performed at many historical occasions, including being broadcast over radio at the announcement of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death in 1945. It was also played at the funeral’s of Albert Einstein in 1955, and performed in a national radio broadcast following the funeral of assassinated President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

Samuel Osmond Barber was born on March 9th, 1910, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States, he died of cancer on January 23rd, 1981, at the age of 70. Barber is remembered as one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th Century. The American music critic Donal Henahan (1921-2012) said,’Probably no other American composer has ever enjoyed such early, such persistent, and such long lasting acclaim.’

William Orbit was born William Mark Wainwright on December 15th, 1956, in Palmers Green, Enfield, London, England. One of his first major breakthroughs in music came in 1990 when working under the name ‘Bassomatic,’ he scored his first chart hit in the UK with ‘Fascinating Rhythm,’ which reached Number 9. William Orbit has an extensive list of production work for others including four Albums by Madonna, and also Albums by the likes of U2, Blur, and Robbie Williams, he has also released 12 solo studio Albums between 1987-2022. In 1995 Orbit released his sixth solo studio Album ‘Pieces in a Modern Style,’ the Album was withdrawn from sale almost immediately because certain tracks hadn’t received the correct clearance, these tracks were replaced with others when the Album was re-issued in 2000. ‘Pieces in a Modern Style’ is William Orbit’s interpretation of ‘Classical Music,’ as well as Barber, Orbit also covers the work of other composers including Ludvig van Beethoven, (1770-1827) and Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759.)

William Orbit’s version of ‘Adagio for Strings’ is very true to Barber’s original, and it goes without saying that both versions would comfortably get a place in this countdown, but it is the truly outstanding Ferry Corsten ‘Dance Remix’ that I have chosen. Ferry Corsten was born on December 4th, 1973, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, he is one of the leading pioneers in the genres of ‘Trance,’ and ‘Progressive House Music.’ Corsten has issued six studio Albums between 2003-2017, and remixed hundreds of tracks, he has also had hit singles in Europe using the names ‘System F,’ and ‘Gouryella.’

‘Adagio for Strings’ started out life as a very sombre, but emotionally gripping piece of music, but then 63 years later it was transformed into an uplifting dance anthem. I wonder what Samuel Barber would have made of seeing thousands of young people under one roof, with their hands in the air, dancing in a trans like state to his ‘Adagio for Strings.’ Starting out life in 1936, and having every generation since listen in awe, this song has gone from ‘Classical Music,’ to classic ‘Dance Music.’