THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

793-The Wannadies-You and Me Song.

1994-Number 119 single. When it was re-released in 1996, it peaked at Number 18.

Best Bit-At 0.49. If you’re a a fan of ‘Easy Listening’ music, then the first 49 seconds will be right up your street. If you love ‘Rock N’ Roll,’ then you can pogo around the room for the next 1.59 seconds.

The Wannadies are an ‘Alternative Rock’ band who were formed in Skellefteå, Sweden, in 1988 by Pär Wiksten, (vocals, and guitars) Christina Bergmark, (keyboards, and vocals) Stefan Schönfeldt, (guitars) his younger brother Fredrik Schönfeldt, (bass) Gunnar Karlsson, (drums) and Björn Malmquist (violin.) The Wannadies were active until 2009, then in 2016 they reunited for one festival appearance, and as of 2020, they have reformed to release new music, and go on tour. Erik Dahlgren is currently a member of the five musicians in the band, as two of the original six, Gunnar Karlsson, and Björn Malmquist, did not rejoin in 2020.

The Wannadies have only ever had hit singles, and success with their Album releases in their native Sweden, and the UK. The discography of The Wannadies includes six studio Albums released between 1990-2002, and 18 singles issued between 1990-2020, there are also three official compilation Albums, and three extended plays available. In their native Sweden on the ‘Sverigetopplistan,’ which is the Swedish national record chart, The Wannadies have reached the top 40 with all six of their studio Albums, while their only charting single to date is ‘Love in June,’ which reached Number 38 in 1994. In the UK, The Wannadies only charting Album was their fourth release ‘Bagsy Me,’ in 1997, which peaked at Number 37. They have achieved three top 40 hit singles, with the re-issue of ‘You and Me Song,’ reaching Number 18 in 1996, the follow up ‘Someone Somewhere,’ also in 1996, making Number 38, and ‘Hit,’ from 1997, peaking at Number 20.

‘You and Me Song’ was co-written by the five members of The Wannadies at that time, with the production being by Nille Perned, who also produced 10 of the 11 tracks from it’s parent Album, ‘Be A Girl,’ from November 1994. The Album was the third studio Album by The Wannadies, and ‘You and Me Song’ was the second of four singles issued, also in November 1994, in Sweden. The Album, and ‘You and Me Song,’ didn’t receive an official release in the UK until August 1995, when it failed to chart.

The Wannadies got their big international break when the Australian film director Baz Luhrmann chose ‘You and Me Song’ as one of the songs for the soundtrack of the 1996 romantic crime film ‘William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet.’ The Wannadies record label re-issued the song in April 1996, and this time it found chart success in the UK. Incidentally the first release of the song was as ‘You and Me Song,’ but it was re-issued as ‘You & Me Song,’ having acquired an ampersand. The groups record label also added ‘You and Me Song’ to The Wannadies fourth studio Album ‘Bagsy Me,’ in 1997.

‘You and Me Song’ is also remembered for it’s use in the British soap opera ‘Coronation Street’ in 2003, when the serial killer Richard Hillman drove his car in to a canal, while holding the Platt family hostage in the vehicle. In 2007 ‘Coronation Street’ once again used the song, when this time David Platt, drives his car into that same canal as a suicide attempt, only to survive, ruining his sister Sarah’s wedding day.

‘You and Me Song’ is a love song, where the narrator is committed to making the relationship with his significant other work, as he wants them to be together, not for a short while, but for as long as can be.

‘Always when we fight, I try to make you laugh until everything’s forgotten. I know you hate that, ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba. I love you Sunday sun, the week’s not yet begun, and everything is quiet. And it’s always you and me, always, and forever.’