THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

818-Tulisa-Young.

2012-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.16. Every generation needs their own music, so that they have something to identify themselves with, and separate themselves from previous generations, so ‘Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy.’

Tulisa was born Tula Paulinea Contostavlos, which in Greek is, Τούλα Παυλίνα ‘Τουλίσα’ Κοντόσταυλου, on July 13th, 1988, in London, England, her mother is Irish, and her father, Plato Contostavlos is Greek Cypriot, who at one time was the keyboardist with the British Rock band ‘Mungo Jerry.’ Tulisa’s uncle Byron Contostavlos, was also the bass player with ‘Mungo Jerry’ at one time, and would later go on to be the manager of the English ‘Hip-Hop’ trio ‘N-Dubz.’

Tulisa began performing at an early age as part of the trio ‘Lickle Rinsers Crew,’ along with her cousin Costadinos Contostavlos, who is better known by his stage name ‘Dappy,’ and Dappy’s friend, Richard Rawson, (Fazer) who had known Dappy from their early school days. After dropping the name ‘Lickle Rinsers Crew,’ they became ‘NW1,’ after the area they hail from, before eventually finding success as ‘N-Dubz.’ With ‘N’Dubz,’ Tulisa has released four studio Albums between 2008-2023, and 23 singles, as either the lead, or the featured artist between 2006-2023. In the UK, 13 of those singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Number 1’ by Tinchy Stryder, featuring N-Dubz, making Number 1 in 2009. In November 2011, N-Dubz went on hiatus, so that the three members could pursue solo careers, and they have since reformed in 2022.

As a solo artist, Tulisa has released one studio Album called ‘The Female Boss,’ in 2012, and five singles as the lead artist, and a further three as the featured artist, between 2012-2017. In the UK, three of her singles as the lead artist have made the top 40, with ‘Young’ reaching the Number 1 spot. As a featured artist she has appeared on two UK top 40 charity hit singles,’Teardrop,’ by ‘The Collective,’ (2011-Number 24) and ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water,’ as part of ‘Artists for Grefell’ (2017-Number 1.) Tulisa has also appeared in two films, in 2011, in ‘Demons Never Die,’ playing the part of ‘Amber,’and in the same year, in, ‘Big Fat Gypsy Gangster,’ where she played ‘Shaniqua.’ On television, Tulisa was an ‘X-Factor’ judge between 2011-2014, where in her first year on the show, she mentored ‘Little Mix,’ who went on to become the most successful girl group in ‘X Factor’ history. Tulisa is also credited as one of the songwriters on the 2012 UK Number 1 single, ‘Scream & Shout,’ by Will.i.am, and Britney Spears.

‘Young’ was the debut solo single from Tulisa, and was the first of three singles released from her debut studio Album ‘The Female Boss,’ from December 2012. ‘Young’ was co-written by Richard Rawson, Ali Tennant, and Pete Ibsen, with both Ibsen, and Rawson credited as the songs producers. Ali Tennant, who was born Lorne Alistair Tennant, in London, England, is a singer/songwriter, vocal producer, and vocal coach, who has worked on high profile music shows, including ‘The X-Factor,’ and ‘The Voice UK.’ Tennant has written for many artists, including writing two top 10 hit singles in the UK for the English boy band ‘JLS.’ ‘Young’ was originally going to be titled ‘We Are Young,’ but to avoid confusion with the hit single ‘We Are Young,’ (2012-Billboard & UK Number 1) by the American Pop band ‘Fun,’ the song simply became just ‘Young.’

The story goes, that while Tulisa was in the studio with Richard Rawson, she overheard ‘Young’ being developed for another singer, and realising it’s hit potential, she was determined to record it herself. Tulisa has said,’They didn’t even get a chance to pitch it to the other singer. They were preparing it, it wasn’t even finished, and I was like, ‘I’m having that song, give it to me.’ One of the songs writers, Richard ‘Fazer’ Rawson, has explained the meaning of the song,’It is about mistakes made during youth. The dance tune has, a great message behind it, ‘Forgive us for what we have done, ’cause we are young.’ That’s it. Simple!”

‘We live on the edge of life, we don’t even compromise. We rush because we’re out of time. Forgive us for what we have done, ’cause we’re young.’