THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

910-Peter Sarstedt-Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?

1969-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.31. First of all lets get the important bit out of the way. The ‘Topless Swimsuit,’ consisting of only a brief, close fitting bottom, and two thin straps, was conceived by the Austrian fashion designer Rudi Gernreich, (1922-1985) in 1964.

Peter Eardley Sarstedt was born on December 10th, 1941, in New Delhi, British India, in 2015 he was found to have progressive supranuclear palsy, (PSP) which was originally misdiagnosed as dementia in 2013, he died on January 8th, 2017, at the age of 75. Peter Sarstedt was the brother of the teen idol Eden Kane, (see also best songs 997) who had a UK Number 1 single in 1961, with ‘Well I Ask You.’ Another brother Robin Sarstedt (1944-2022) also charted in the UK with a cover version of the Hoagy Carmichael (1899-1981) (see also best songs 288 and 185) song ‘My Resistance Is Low,’ which reached Number 3 in 1976. This makes the brothers the only three siblings to have had solo hits in UK chart history.

Both of Peter Sarstedt’s parents had trained as Classical musicians, and following the death of his father, the family moved to Britain, just prior to the onset of the ‘Rock N’ Roll’ era, where Peter and his two brothers started out performing ‘Skiffle,’ in a group called the ‘Fabulous Five,’ The discography of Peter Sarsdedt includes 15 Albums released between 1969-2013, which includes two Albums recorded with his brother Clive Robin Sarsdedt, and another credited to ‘The Sarstedt Brothers.’ Peter also released 20 singles between 1967-1987, with ‘Chinese Restaurant’ from 1973, credited to ‘The Sarstedt Brothers.’ In the UK, Peter Sarsdedt has charted twice on the top 40, with this songs follow up ‘Frozen Orange Juice’ reaching Number 10 in 1969, and therefore stopping Sarstedt from becoming a ‘one hit wonder.’ In America on the Billboard Hot 100, his only chart entry was with this song, that peaked at Number 70 in 1969.

‘Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?’ was written by Peter Sarstedt, and produced by his long term collaborator Ray Singer, and appeared on Sarstedt’s debut Album, which was also called ‘Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?’ Ray Singer released a single in 1964 called ‘Tell Me Now,’ but he then turned his hand to songwriting and producing. Aside from producing for Peter Sarstedt, Singer also found great success producing the first two studio Albums for the British ‘New Wave’ group ‘Japan,’ in 1978. Singer also has production credits for his work with Joan Armatrading, (see also best songs 732) and the British Boy Band ‘Child.’

‘Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?’ is a song about a fictional girl called ‘Marie-Claire,’ who grew up in the poverty stricken back streets of Naples, who becomes a member of the ‘Jet Set,’ and goes to live in Paris. Peter Sarstedt has said that the song is not about one particular person, but was inspired by his future wife, Anita Atke. Starstedt has said,’I wanted to write a long, extended piece because I was working in Folk clubs and universities, and Al Stewart had something that was half an hour long, and Bob Dylan’s ‘Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands’ took a whole side of an Album. Where Do You Go To My Lovely was my first attempt at writing something longer than my normal three minutes. It was amazingly easy to write, but I knew what I wanted to say. I wanted to say something about this particular person, although it wasn’t about anyone specific.’ Initially Sarstedt’s record label were not interested in issuing the song as a single, Sarstedt commented,’They said it has no drums, it is too long, and there are only three instruments.’

‘Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?’ contains several name checks. The girl ‘Marie-Claire,’ who the song is about, is named after the French monthly magazine, that was first issued in 1937. Other famous names mentioned include the German/American actress Marlene Dietrich, (1901-1992) the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, (1881-1973) and the British Rock group The Rolling Stones (see also best songs 933-662-452-160 and 77.) In 1997 Peter Sarstedt wrote a sequel to the song called ‘Last of the Breed,’ this song can be found on his Album ‘England’s Lane.’ There were plans for a third and final instalment, but because of ill health, Sarstedt never got around to completing it.

‘Your name is heard in high places, you know the Aga Khan. He sent you a racehorse for Christmas, and you keep it just for fun, for a laugh ha-ha.’