THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

698-Sak Noel-Loca People.

2011-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.39. ‘Livin’ la Vida Loca’ for a younger generation.

Sak Noel is the stage name of Isaac Mahmood Noell, who was born on April 12th, 1983, in La Cellera de Ter, Girona, Catalonia, Spain, he is a music producer, songwriter, and a music video director. When his debut single ‘Loca People’ went to Number 1, he became the first ever Catalonian artist to top the chart in the UK. Sak Noel has since gone on to release a further 12 singles between 2012-2022, as well as issuing several remixes of other artists songs, including Maroon 5, (‘Cold’) and Static & Ben El featuring Pitbull with (‘Further Up (Na, Na, Na, Na, Na.’) Apart from ‘Loca People’ the only other Sak Noel single to chart in any territory is his 2016 track ‘Trumpets,’ with Salvi, featuring Sean Paul, which reached Number 12 in the Netherlands, and Number 40 in Belgium. ‘Loca People’ went to Number 1 in five European countries including the UK, and the Netherlands, and with this track being his only chart topper it makes him a ‘one hit wonder’ in three countries (the UK, Austria, and Denmark.) A ‘one hit wonder’ (in my opinion) is an act who have had a number 1 single, but have never had another top 40 chart entry. The other ‘one hit wonders’ in this ‘1000 Best Songs’ list are (see also best songs 990-496-467-177-116 and 101.)

‘Loca People’ which is also called ‘Loca People (La Gente Está Muy Loca’) or “Loca People (What the F..k!’) was written and produced by Sak Noel, who records in the genres of ‘House Music,’ ‘Trap,’ ‘Latin,’ Hip-Hop,’ and ‘Electronic Dance Music.’ The song was first released in Denmark in May 2011, and then in other European countries, and America, over the course of the next three months. It was not issued in the UK until the September, and because it had built up a following by then, the song was very well known, and therefore on it’s release it went straight in at Number 1, although with total sales being under 200,000, it actually finished the year as only the UK’s 83rd best selling single.

The female vocals on ‘Loca People’ are provided by the Dutch singer Esthera Sarita, Sak Noel has said,’She did the vocals one year ago in my studio, (2010) and the story was very funny because I didn’t know her, and one day she came to my studio, and I asked her ‘Do you mind singing some words in front of the mic?’ so she did it. After that we didn’t meet again for the reasons of life, and she was working as a waitress in a club. After that, and after making the song, and having it on YouTube, and everything, we met through Facebook. And now we’re working together and travelling around the world.’

‘Loca People’ can be filed under the genre of ‘Electro House’ music, it is a genre of ‘Electronic Dance Music’ characterised by heavy bass, and a tempo around 125–135 beats per minute. Other artists in this countdown who have been influential in the development of the genre include Benny Benassi, (see also best songs 1025 and 785) Skrillex, (see also best songs 753) and Steve Aoki (see also best songs 883 and 483.) ‘Electro House’ was at it’s peak in the first decade of the 21st Century, with music critics having pointed out the influence of Daft Punk, (see also best songs 140) with their Album ‘Discovery.’ (2001) The genre was actually kick started in the mid to late 1990’s, with tracks such as ‘Dark Invader,’ by Arrivers, (1996) ‘Raw S..t,’ by Bassment Jaxx, (1997) and ‘Flat Beat,’ from Mr Oizo,’ (see also best songs 496) all being influential in the development of the genre.

The music video for ‘Loca People’ was filmed by Roger Martin Solé, and directed by Sak Noel. It was shot in Barcelona, Spain, with Sak Noel, and the songs unaccredited female vocalist Esthera Sarita, both making an appearance in the video. The songs lyrics have met with ridicule in many quarters, with some of the lyrics being in Spanish, and some being in English, but basically the song is about a young girl making her first visit to Girona, and she is amazed at how hard people party, having never seen anything like that before.

‘Viva la fiesta, viva la noche, viva los DJ’s. I couldn’t believe what I was living, so I called my friend Johnny, and I said to him, Johnny,
La gente esta muy loca, what the f*ck. Johnny, la gente esta muy loca,’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

699-Barbra Streisand-Memory,

1982-Number 34 single.

Best Bit-At 2.55. Although Andrew Lloyd Webber had intentionally composed the music for ‘Memory’ in the style of the Classical composer Giacomo Puccini, (1858-1924) he was worried that he had subconsciously copied Puccini’s work. He asked his father William Lloyd Webber, (1914-1982) who was an expert on Puccini, for his opinion on whether it sounded like one of the composers works, according to Lloyd Webber, his father responded,’It sounds like a million dollars.’

Andrew Lloyd Webber was born on March 22nd, 1948, in Kensington, London, England, he is the richest musician in the UK, having overtaken Paul McCartney in 2019, with an estimated fortune of £820 million ($1.074 billion.) He was appointed ‘Knight Bachelor’ in the Queen’s 1992 Birthday Honours for services to the arts, and he was created Baron Lloyd-Webber, of Sydmonton, in the County of Hampshire, in 1997. Andrew Lloyd Webber is the composer of 21 musicals between 1965-2021, of which several, including ‘Evita,’ (1976) ‘Cats,’ (1981) ‘Starlight Express,’ (1984) and ‘The Phantom of the Opera,’ (1986) have run for more than a decade, both in the West End and on Broadway. Some of his most successful songs, for which he wrote the music, include, ‘All I Ask of You,’ (1986) from The Phantom of the Opera, (1986) ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him,’ (1970) from Jesus Christ Superstar, (1971) ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,’ (1976) from Evita, (1976) and ‘Any Dream Will Do,’ (1968) from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ (1972.)

‘Memory’ is the best known song from the 1981 musical ‘Cats,’ and is one of 21 tracks to appear on the Album ‘Cats: Complete Original Broadway Cast Recording,’ which was first issued in 1983. All of the songs from the musical ‘Cats’ have lyrics that were adapted from the poems of the American poet T.S. Eliot, (1888-1965) therefore on ‘Memory,’ Eliot receives writing credits, along with the English theatre director Sir Trevor Robert Nunn, who adapted T.S. Eliot’s words from his 1939 book of poems ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,’ with ‘Memory’ being adapted from the poems ‘Rhapsody on a Windy Night,’ and ‘Preludes.’ The music for ‘Memory’ was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, who originally composed the tune for a proposed Giacomo Puccini project that he later abandoned.

It was the English singer and actress Elaine Paige who first performed ‘Memory’ live, when she originated the role of Grizabella in the West End production of Cats in May 1981. The first recorded commercial release of ‘Memory’ was an instrumental single performed by the Irish guitarist Gary Moore, (1952-2011) (see also best songs 932) it was released in early 1981 by ‘MCA Records’ to promote Cats while the musical was still in it’s development. Elaine Paige released a version of ‘Memory’ in July 1981, which went on to reach Number 6 in the UK, over the years the song has become known as her signature tune. In America the highest charting version of the song on Billboard is the 1982 recording by Barry Manilow, (see also best songs 750) which peaked at Number 39 in January 1983.

The version of ‘Memory’ I have chosen, is the recording by the American singer and actress Barbra Streisand, (see also best songs 145) who recorded her version for her compilation Album of the same name from November 1981, the Album was made up of seven previously recorded songs, and three new tracks, with the production being by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The Streisand recording which was issued as a double ‘A’ sided single with ‘Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born’) reached Number 52 in America on Billboard, and Number 34 in the UK, but did go all the way to Number 1 in Finland.

‘Memory’ is sung at the climax of the musical ‘Cats.’ The singer thinks of a time when her life was better and she was happier. She remembers a time when she knew what happiness was, and every streetlight that she sees, reminds her that happiness is fleeting, but always disappears. She begs someone to touch her, so that they can also understand what it is like to be happy. The dawning of the new day represents hope, which offers the possibility of being happy again.

‘Midnight, not a sound from the pavement, has the moon lost her memory, she is smiling alone. In the lamplight, the withered leaves collect at my feet, and the wind begins to moan.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

700-Erasure-Stop!

1988-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.07. The best way to start the top 700, is with ‘Stop.’

Erasure who were formed in London, England, in 1985, are the ‘Synth-Pop’ duo of Vince Clarke, who was born Vincent John Martin, on July 3rd, 1960, in South Woodford, Essex, England, and Andy Bell, who was born Andrew Ivan Bell, on April 24th, 1964, in Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, England, and at the time of writing they remain active. Prior to forming Erasure, Vince Clarke had already proved himself as a talented songwriter, having written nine of the 11 tracks on ‘Speak & Spell,’ the debut studio Album by Depeche Mode (see also best songs 968-261 and 134) from 1981. Clarke then left Depeche Mode, and formed ‘Yazoo,’ (known as ‘Yaz’ in the United States) (see also best songs 451) in 1981, with the English vocalist Alison Moyet. The partnership disbanded in 1983, having produced two studio Albums. Vince Clarke then teamed up with the English recording engineer, and music producer Eric Radcliffe as ‘The Assembly,’ in 1983, with the idea being to collaborate with different artists on each single release. The short lived project yielded one single issued, the track ‘Never Never,’ with vocals by Feargal Sharkey, (see also best songs 435) which made Number 4 in the UK in 1983. In early 1985 Vince Clarke placed an advertisement in the British weekly music magazine ‘Melody Maker,’ looking for a singer to work alongside. Andy Bell who has said that Clarke was his ‘hero,’ was the successful applicant, and the duo went on to form Erasure. Other work from Vince Clarke includes his 2011 collaboration with Martin Gore of Depeche Mode as ‘VCMG,’ on their Album ‘SSss.’ Vince Clarke has also released three solo Albums between 1993-2023.

The discography of Erasure includes 19 studio Albums released between 1986-2022, and 62 singles released between 1985-2021, there are also nine official compilation Albums, six live Albums, and 13 extended plays available. Erasure who have sold in excess of 28 million records worldwide, reached their commercial peak between 1988-1994, with four of their studio Albums consecutively reaching Number 1 in the UK. Also in the UK, 32 of their singles have reached the top 40, with their ‘Abba-esque,’ EP from 1992 making Number 1. In America on the Billboard 200 Album chart, their highest charting Album remains ‘I Say I Say I Say,’ which peaked at Number 18 in 1994, while three of their singles have have reached the Billboard Hot 100 singles top 40, with ‘Chains of Love,’ from 1988, peaking the highest at Number 12.

‘Stop!’ is one of the four tracks that appeared on the ‘Crackers International’ extended play (EP) from November 1988, all four tracks were co-written by Vince Clarke, and Andy Bell, with both also credited as the producers. The other three tracks o the EP are ‘The Hardest Part,’ ‘Knocking on Your Door,’ and ‘She Won’t Be Home.’ The ‘Crackers International’ EP was released when ‘EP’s’ were still eligible for the UK singles chart, and was issued between the Albums ‘The Innocents,’ (1988) and ‘Wild,’ (1989) in order to cash in on the Christmas market, even so none of the songs had anything to do with the festive season. Due to the EP’s success ‘Mute Records’ released a limited edition ‘Crackers International’ Part 2, which included Erasure’s take on the traditional Christmas carol ‘God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen,’ as well as extended remixes by Mark Saunders (see also best songs 839) of ‘Stop!’ and ‘Knocking on Your Door.’ In America on Billboard, the ‘Crackers International’ EP which was released with two further remixes of those songs, reached Number 73 o the Album chart, while ‘Stop!’ which was also issued as a stand alone single, stalled at Number 97.

‘We’ll be together again, I’ve been waiting for a long time. We’re gonna be, we’re gonna be together again, I’ve been connected to the right line. We’ll be together, nobody ain’t never gonna disconnect us, or ever separate us, or say to us, you’ve got to stop.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

701-Iggy Pop-Lust for Life.

1977-It did not chart in the UK until it was re-released in 1996, when it reached Number 26.

Best Bit-At 1.12. The song reached Number 3 in Holland in 1977, in part due to Iggy Pop’s performance on the Dutch television music programme ‘Top-Pop.’ A bare chested Iggy Pop wrecked part of the stage set, which consisted of a couple of potted plants, and some cardboard scenery. That’s ‘Rock ‘N Roll.’

Iggy Pop (see also best songs 219) who was born James Newell Osterberg Jr. first began collaborating with David Bowie (1948-2015) (see also best songs 807-440-334-302-209-186-118-47-31 and 5) (see also his production work 131 and 58) while still a member of the ‘Stooges’ in 1971. Bowie would go on to co-write and co-produce both of the the first two Iggy Pop solo Albums ‘The Idiot,’ (1977) and ‘Lust for Life’ (1977.) It was a very busy period for Bowie, as in-between the making of those two Albums, he also released his own 11th studio Album ‘Low’ (1977.) After 1977, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie would not work together again until the early 1980’s.

‘Lust for Life’ is one of two singles released from Iggy Pop’s second studio Album of the same name from September 1977, the other single release was ‘Success,’ which failed to chart in any territory. Another track from the Album ‘The Passenger,’ became a UK hit in 1998, after being used in a ‘Toyota Avensis’ television commercial, reaching Number 22. ‘Lust for Life’ was co-written by Iggy Pop, (lyrics) and David Bowie, (medley) with the production being by Bowie, and Colin Thurston, (1947-2007) who co-engineered the single and Album with Iggy Pop and David Bowie, where the trio are credited as the ‘Bewlay Bros’ taking the pseudonym from a track from Bowie’s 1971 Album ‘Hunky Dory.’ Colin Thurston would also go on to work with Bowie in a similar capacity on his 1977 Album ‘Heroes.’ Other notable work by Thurston includes producing both of the debut studio Albums from the Human League, ‘Reproduction,’ from 1979, and Duran Duran (see also best songs 903.)

‘Lust for Life’ was composed by David Bowie on a ukulele, when he and Iggy Pop were sharing a flat while recording what would become the ‘Lust for Life’ Album in Berlin, Germany. At the time both Iggy Pop and David Bowie were also trying to get clean from their respective drug addictions. Iggy Pop has explained how Bowie got the idea for the medley to Lust for Life,’Once a week the Armed Forces Network would play Starsky & Hutch, and that was our little ritual. AFN would broadcast an ID when they came on the air, a representation of a radio tower, and it made a signal sound, ‘beep-beep-beep, beep-beep-ba-beep.’ And we went, ‘Aha we’ll take that!’. David grabbed his ukulele, worked out the chords, and away we went.’

‘Lust for Life’ is a song about Iggy Pop’s drug addiction. The songs title ‘Lust for Life’ is taken from the 1956 film of the same name, which itself is an adaptation of Irving Stone’s (1903-1989) 1934 biographical novel about the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. In a 1995 interview Ray Manzarek (1939-2013) of the American Rock group the ‘Doors,’ (see also best songs 235 and 133) and their manager Danny Sugerman, (1954-2005) stated that the opening lyrics,’Here comes Johnny Yen again,’ were about their deceased Heroin dealer, nicknamed ‘Gypsy Johnny.’ The songs iconic drumbeat intro was played by the long term David Bowie collaborator Hunter Sales, who would go on to form ‘Tin Machine’ with Bowie in 1988. Like very nearly everything in ‘Pop Music,’ the rhythm was not totally original, as it was itself derived from ‘You Can’t Hurry Love,’ (see also best songs 148) released in July 1966 by the ‘Supremes,’ and ‘I’m Ready for Love,’ released in October 1966 by ‘Martha and the Vandellas,’ both of which are ‘Motown’ songs.

‘Lust for Life’ became a UK hit in 1996, after featuring on the soundtrack to the British black comedy drama film ‘Trainspotting,’ (see also best songs 989) whose central theme is drug abuse. After the song finally received commercial success, Iggy Pop said,’When I made Lust for Life, I really thought America was gonna rock to this mother….er. And it took 20 f…in’ years, which is a really long time to wait. I guess what happened is that there was this system that wasn’t gonna f…in’ give me a break, and I outlived the system. The movies and advertisers have subverted the stranglehold of radio in America, and there are now other ways for people to hear music. All of a sudden, a few years ago when Trainspotting came out, I was walkin’ down the street and I’d heard ‘Raw Power’ (1973 Album by The Stooges) comin’ out of the bars.’

‘Here comes Johnny Yen again, with the liquor and drugs, and a flesh machine. He’s gonna do another striptease, hey man, where’d you get that lotion?’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

702-The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald-Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall.

1944-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 1.11. There is an old Arabic proverb, ‘Sunshine is pleasant, but sunshine everyday only makes a desert.’

The Ink Spots (see also best songs 266) were formed in New York City, New York, United States in 1934, by the quartet of Jerry Daniels, (1915-1995) (tenor) Deek Watson, (1909-1969) (tenor) Charlie Fuqua, (1910-1971) (baritone) and Hoppy Jones, (1905-1994) (bass) Bill Kenny (1914-1978) (lead tenor) joined in 1936, and they were active until 1954, with various lineup changes. Between 1939-1952 they achieved 48 hit singles on the American chart, with six of those tracks making the Number 1 spot. Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) (see also best songs 944-286-231 and 100) who guested on this song, also featured for The Ink Spots on ‘Cow Cow Boogie (Cuma-Ti-Yi-Yi-Ay’) from 1944, (Billboard Number 10) ‘I’m Making Believe,’ from 1944 (Billboard Number 1) and ‘I’m Beginning to See the Light,’ from 1945 (Billboard Number 5.)

The Ink Spots performed in the genres of ‘Pop,’ Easy Listening,’ and ‘Swing,’ and had their greatest commercial success in the 1930’s, and 1940’s. They were a groundbreaking act in that their musical style predated ‘Rhythm and Blues,’ and the ‘Rock and Roll’ musical genres, and also the sub-genre ‘Doo-Wop.’ Prior to becoming ‘The Ink Spots’ they had started out life as ‘King, Jack, and Jester,’ before becoming ‘The 4 Ink Spots,’ and finally ‘The Ink Spots.’ The above five named members are recognised as the classic line up, but a further 11 members also came and went through until they split in 1954. Following the split, it is said that from then to the present, more than 100 groups have used the name ‘The Ink Spots.’ In 1967 the US federal judge Emmet C. Choate ruled that since so many groups had been using the name ‘Ink Spots,’ it had become ‘public domain,’ and was free for anyone to use.

‘Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall’ was co-written by Doris Fisher, (1915-2003) (melody) and Allan Roberts, (1905-1966) (lyrics) The Ink Spots recorded their version of the song with Ella Fitzgerald on August 30th, 1944 for the ‘Decca Records’ label. Ella Fitzgerald would record the song again in 1963 for the Album ‘Ella and Basie!’ ‘Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall’ gave The Ink Spots there fourth of six Billboard Number 1 singles, and their fourth of five Billboard R&B Number 1 hits. For Ella Fitzgerald the song gave her, her fourth and final Billboard Number 1 song.

‘Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall’ which was co-written by Doris Fisher, and Allen Roberts, originated from a quotation by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) from his poem ‘Rainy Day.’ Doris Fisher was born on May 2nd, 1915, in New York City, New York, United States, she died on January 15th, 2003, at the age of 87. Doris Fisher was the daughter of the noted German songwriter Fred Fisher, (1875-1942) and her brothers Dan Fisher, (1920-2001) and Marvin Fisher (1916-1993) were also songwriters. Among Doris Fisher’s best known compositions are the 1940 song ‘Whispering Grass,’ which she co-wrote with her father, and was recorded by The Ink Spots in 1940, but would find it’s greatest success when recorded by the British actors Windsor Davies, (1930-2019) and Don Estelle, (1933-2003) and spending three weeks at Number 1 in the UK in 1975. Other notable songs co-written by Doris Fisher include ‘You Always Hurt the One You Love,’ (see also best songs 535) with Allan Roberts, and ‘That Ole Devil Called Love,’ also with Roberts, which having originally being recorded by Billie Holiday (1915-1959) in 1945, found great success when covered by Alison Moyet in 1985, with her version reaching Number 2 in the UK, and Number 1 in New Zealand. Doris Fisher retired from the music business in 1947, in order to raise her two children. On her death her friend the American singer and pianist Michael Feinstein praised her tenacity and talent, in what at the time was a man’s world. On her working relationship with Allen Roberts, Fisher once said,’Allan is the tear-jerker of the team, and I specialise in light stuff.

‘Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall’ tells us that inevitably life will always have it’s ups and downs.The rain symbolises the challenges and difficulties, metaphorically representing the setbacks and struggles that we all face along our journey. Just like the rain, these obstacles can sometimes be overwhelming and cause us to falter. However, the song reminds us that rain is a necessary part of life, and it is through these challenges that we grow and become stronger individuals.

Into each and every life some rain has got to fall, but too much of that stuff is fallin’ into mine. And into each heart some tears gotta fall, and I know that someday that sun is bound to shine.’