THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

814-Black Sabbath-Paranoid.

1970-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. In his book ‘Iron Man: My Journey through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath,’ Tony Iommi said that he and Ozzy Osbourne probably had no idea what the word ‘paranoid’ even meant at that time. They left the lyrics to bassist Geezer Butler, they considered him the intelligent one.

Black Sabbath were formed in Birmingham, England, in 1968, by Tony Iommi, (guitar) Bill Ward, (drums) Terence ‘Geezer’ Butler, (bass) and John ‘Ozzy’ Osbourne (vocals.) When first forming they chose the stage name ‘The Polka Tulk Blues Band,’ the name being taken either from a brand of talcum powder, or an Indian, or Pakistani clothing shop, the exact origin is not fully known. At that time Jimmy Phillips, (guitar) and Alan ‘Aker’ Clarke, (saxophone) were also members, but they were soon dismissed by the other four. As a quartet, they changed their stage name to ‘Earth,’ but on realising that there was already another group using that name, they finally decided on ‘Black Sabbath,’ taking the name from the 1963 horror film ‘Black Sabbath.’ It was Geezer Butler who thought that if people were willing to spend their money on watching scary movies, then they would also be willing to spend their money on horror themed songs as well.

Black Sabbath remained active until the group were retired in 2017, (they were on hiatus in 1985, and also between 1996-1997, and again between 2006-2011) but during that time there were several different line ups, with Tony Iommi being the bands one constant. In total there have been 23 different members, which have included such high profile names as Ronnie James Dio, (1942-2010) (see also best songs 976) Ian Gillan, and Cozy Powell (1947-1998.) Black Sabbath are considered one of the most influential Heavy Metal bands of all time, with the American ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine writing that they ‘changed music forever,’ and they have also called the band ‘the Beatles of Heavy Metal.’

Black Sabbath are one of the best selling Heavy Metal acts of all time, with sales in excess of 70 million records sold worldwide. Their discography includes 19 studio Albums released between 1970-2013, and 37 singles issued between 1970-2014, there are also 13 official compilation Albums, and eight live Albums available. In the UK, six of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Paranoid’ giving them their only top 20 hit, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, they have never charted within the top 40, with ‘Paranoid’ stalling at Number 61.

John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne was born on December 3rd, 1948, in Marston Green, Warwickshire, England, as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, he became known by the nickname ‘Prince of Darkness.’ Ozzy Osbourne was a founding member of Black Sabbath in 1968, and remained with the band until being fired in 1979, due to alcohol and drug problems. He did reunite with his fellow band members on several occasions later, including providing vocals on Black Sabbath’s final studio Album in 2013, and touring with the group on their last tour in 2017, including the bands final ever performance in their hometown of Birmingham. Since 1979 as a solo artist, Ozzy Osbourne has sold in excess of 30 million records worldwide, which includes 13 studio Albums released between 1980-2022, and 65 singles as either the lead, or featured artist between 1980-2023. In the UK, 10 of those singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Changes,’ featuring his daughter Kelly Osbourne making Number 1 in 2003. In 2002 Ozzy Osbourne became known to a much wider audience when he became a reality television star, appearing as himself in the ‘MTV’ reality show ‘The Osbournes,’ alongside his wife and manager Sharon, and two of their three children, Kelly and Jack. The show ran for 52 episodes, over four seasons, through until 2005.

‘Paranoid’ was the first of two singles released from Black Sabbath’s second studio Album of the same name from September 1970, it was written by all four members of Black Sabbath at that time, with the production being by Rodger Bain, who was the producer of all the first three Black Sabbath studio Albums, as well as producing for other Heavy Metal acts, notably Judas Priest, and Budgie. Tony Iommi has explained how ‘Paranoid’ came about,’The song was written as a filler for the album, it was never intended on being anything else. But it became a single because it was a short song, and because it became what it did, most people knew us because of ‘Paranoid’ in them days.’ Geezer Butler who wrote the lyrics for ‘Paranoid’ has said,’Basically, it’s just about depression, because I didn’t really know the difference between depression and paranoia. It’s a drug thing, when you’re smoking a joint you get totally paranoid about people, you can’t relate to people. There’s that crossover between the paranoia you get when you’re smoking dope, and the depression afterwards.’

‘Make a joke and I will sigh, and you will laugh and I will cry. Happiness, I cannot feel, and love to me is so unreal. And so as you hear these words telling you now of my state, I tell you to enjoy life, I wish I could but it’s too late.’