THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

747-Franz Ferdinand-Take Me Out.

2004-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 0.55. The bit which hits you like a Glasgow kiss.

Franz Ferdinand were formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2002, by Alex Kapranos, (lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards), Nick McCarthy, (rhythm guitar, keyboards, vocals), Bob Hardy, (bass guitar, percussion) and Paul Thomson (drums, percussion, and backing vocals.) Julian Corrie, (keyboards, lead guitar, backing vocals) and Dino Bardot, (rhythm guitar, backing vocals) joined the band in 2017, after Nick McCarthy left in 2016. Another founding member Paul Thompson left the group in 2021, and was replaced by Audrey Tait (drums, percussion.) In total there have been seven different members of Franz Ferdinand come and go, and at the time of writing they remain active. All of the bands original lineup had played in other various bands during the 1990’s, and when coming together they chose the stage name ‘Franz Ferdinand,’ after seeing a racehorse with that name in action on television. It got the band members discussing the horses namesake, the ‘Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, (1863-1914) whose assassination in 1914 was one of the main events leading up to the outbreak of ‘World War I.’ Their thinking was that his death had left a significant mark in history, and the bands goal was also to leave a significant mark in music’s history. The groups percussionist Paul Thomson has said,’I like the idea that, if we become popular, maybe the words Franz Ferdinand will make people think of the band instead of the historical figure.’

The discography of Franz Ferdinand includes five studio Albums released between 2004-2018, and 27 singles issued between 2003-2022, there are also two official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In the UK, nine of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Take Me Out,’ peaking the highest at Number 3. In America, they have made the Billboard Hot 100 on two occasions, with ‘Take Me Out’ charting the highest at Number 66. In 2015 Franz Ferdinand got together with the American Rock band ‘Sparks,’ (see also best songs 840) to form the ‘supergroup’ ‘FFS.’ together they released the critically acclaimed Album ‘FFS,’ which peaked at Number 15 in the UK, and there were also three singles released from the Album.

‘Take Me Out’ was co-written by Franz Ferdinand band members Alex Kapranos, and Nick McCarthy, with the production being by Tore Johansson. The song was the second of five singles issued from the groups self titled debut Album, from February 2004. The Album received universal critical acclaim, winning the 2004 British ‘ Mercury Music Prize,’ In the UK the Album has sold in excess of 1.2 million copies, and worldwide it has sold in excess of 3.6 million, with at least one million copies sold in America. Tore Johansson who produced ‘Take Me Out,’ and co-produced the Album with Franz Ferdinand, was born on November 6th, 1959, in Sweden. Prior to working with Franz Ferdinand, Johansson had been the producer for the Swedish Rock band ‘The Cardigans,’ having produced five of their six studio Albums between 1994-2005.

Alex Kapranos got the idea for ‘Take Me Out’ after watching the 2001 war film ‘Enemy At The Gates.’ The film is set during the Second World War, around the siege of Stalingrad. One of the themes of the film is this stand off between two snipers. Alex Kapranos has said,’Jude Law is the Soviet sniper, and Ed Harris is the evil Nazi. They’re both kind of tucked away, hidden from each other, waiting for the other to make a move and expose themselves. ‘Cause as soon as the other makes a move, the other will know where they are and will take them out. This image of the two snipers left quite an impact on me, it felt like a very good metaphor for the kind of romantic situations that we sometimes find ourselves in, you know, where you both know you’re into the other but no one wants to kind of, like, expose their vulnerability and make a move, and let the other know how they feel. And so I could write the song so you can’t really tell what I’m talking about. Am I talking about snipers or am I talking about some kind of romantic situation?’

‘Take Me Out’ appears to continue the theme of assassination, comparing lovers to snipers aiming at each other. Alex Kapranos told the ‘New Musical Express,’ It’s about how you’d rather be shot, than continue the tension.’

‘So if you’re lonely, you know I’m here waiting for you. I’m just a crosshair, I’m just a shot away from you. And if you leave here, you leave me broken, shattered, I lie. I’m just a crosshair, I’m just a shot, then we can die.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

748-Martha and the Muffins-Echo Beach.

1980-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 1,58. There are blueberry muffins, apple muffins, cornmeal muffins, chocolate chip muffins, and if you venture in to the ‘Urban Dictionary,’ the meaning of ‘muffin’ may make you blush.

Martha and the Muffins are a Canadian Rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1977, by Mark Gane, (synthesizer, and guitar) and his fellow art student at that time David Millar (vocals.) They were soon joined by Martha Johnson, (keyboards, and vocals) with the initial lineup being completed by Mark Gane’s brother Tim, (drums) and Carl Finkle (bass.) Millar left the group before the recording of ‘Echo Beach,’ with both Martha Lady, (keyboards, and vocals) and Andy Haas, (saxophone) joining the group. In total there have been nine different members come and go, with Mark Gane, and Martha Johnson who are married, being the only two remaining members. The name ‘Martha and the Muffins’ was chosen to distance themselves from the aggressive sounding names adopted by many ‘Punk’ bands of that era. In 1983 when the group were a quartet they decided to change their name to ‘”M + M,’ but it never really caught on, with Martha Johnson saying,’The name change just never stuck, because our legacy was ‘Martha and the Muffins.’

The discography of Martha and the Muffins includes eight studio Albums released between 1980-2019, and 18 singles issued between 1978-2010, there are also two official compilation Albums available. In their native Canada, five of their singles have reached the Canadian top 40 singles chart, with ‘Echo Beach’ peaking the highest at Number 5, while in the UK, only ‘Echo Beach’ has charted, when reaching Number 10, and in America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, their only entry to date remains ‘Black Stations/White Stations,’ which peaked at Number 63 in 1984. Martha Johnson has also released two solo Albums, in 1995, and 2013.

‘Echo Beach’ was the first of three singles released from ‘Metro Music,’ the debut Album by Martha and the Muffins, from February 1980, it was written by Mark Gane, and produced by Mike Howlett. Echo Beach is the groups only international hit to date, finding success in the UK. and also Australia, where it reached Number 6. The songs producer Mike Howlett was born Michael John Gilmour Howlett, on April 27th, 1950, in Sydney, Australia. Howlett settled in England in the early 1970’s, and joined the ‘Progressive Rock’ group ‘Gong,’ with whom he remained a member until 1977, when he then formed the short lived ‘Pop/Rock’ group ‘Strontium 90,’ with Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers, who would later go on to form ‘The Police’ (see also best songs 1020 and 727.) In the early 1980’s Mike Howlett became an in-demand music producer, with a string of hit singles and Albums, including ‘Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, ‘Enola Gay.’ (see also best songs 720 ) and ‘A Flock of Seagulls,’ ‘Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You’) (see also best songs 996.)

‘Echo Beach’ was written by Mark Gane when he was a student at the ‘Ontario College of Art. He had a very dull part time job, where he had to check wallpaper for printing faults, and his mind would wander to a ‘happier place.’ Gane has said that ‘Echo Beach’ is a place that he made up, but it is based on ‘Sunnyside Beach,’ on the shoreline of ‘Lake Ontario,’ in Toronto, where he had spent time. Mark Gane has also said,’The lake and beach could have been in the middle of nowhere, while the city behind became a surrealistic sight.’ ‘Echo Beach’ is probably influenced by the lyrics to song ‘Hiroshima Mon Amour,’ by the British band ‘Ultravox,’ whose lyrics include,’Riding inter-city trains, dressed in European grey. Riding out to echo beach, a million memories in the trees and sands.’ Basically ‘Echo Beach’ is a place to escape to, when you let you’re imagination run wild.

‘From nine to five, I have to spend my time at work, my job is very boring, I’m an office clerk. The only thing that helps me pass the time away, is knowing I’ll be back at Echo Beach someday.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

749-Chubby Checker-The Twist.

1960-Number 44 single. When it was re-issued in 1962 it reached Number 14, and then when re-issued as a double ‘A’ side with ‘Let’s Twist Again’ in 1975, it peaked at Number 5.

Best Bit-At 0.06. Only two songs have reached the Number 1 spot on Billboard, with the same singer, with the same song, in the ‘Rock ‘N Roll’ era. Chubby Checker with ‘The Twist,’ in 1960, and 1962, and Mariah Carey with ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You,’ (see also best songs 822 ) in 2019-2020-2021, and 2022.

Chubby Checker was born Ernest Evans on October 3rd, 1941, in Spring Gully, South Carolina, United States. A a child he entertained his school classmates by performing vocal impressions of popular entertainers of the day, such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and Fats Domino. This eventually led to him being signed by ‘Cameo-Parkway Records,’ who released his first single ‘The Class,’ in 1959, which was a novelty song of Chubby Checker doing impressions of various musicians, the song reached Number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was as a youngster that he acquired the nickname ‘Chubby,’ because of his weight, and the ‘Checker’ was added as his stage name, as a nod to the then current ‘Rock ‘N Roll’ star Fats Domino (see also best songs 617 and 272.)

Chubby Checker has had many hit singles whose subject has been about performing dance moves, these include ‘The Hucklebuck,’ (1960) ‘Pony Time.’ (1961) ‘The Fly,’ (1961) and ‘Limbo Rock’ (1963.) The discography of Chubby Checker includes 16 studio Albums released between 1960-2001, and 51 singles issued between 1959-2013, there are also three official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 he has had 23 top 40 hits, (including re-issues) with two of those songs reaching Number 1, the other being ‘Pony Time,’ in 1961. In the UK Chubby Checker has had 10 top 40 hits, with two of his tracks peaking at Number 2, ‘Let’s Twist Again,’ in 1961, and also his final chart entry to date ‘The Twist’ (“Yo, Twist!” version) with the ‘Fat Boys’ in 1988.

The original version of ‘The Twist’ was written by Hank Ballard, and first recorded by ‘Hank Ballard and the Midnighters,’ as the ‘B’ side to their 1958 single ‘Teardrops on Your Letter,’ which stalled at Number 87 on Billboard. When it was re-issued as the ‘A’ side in 1960 on the back of the success of the Chubby Checker version, it made Number 28 on Billboard. Hank Ballard was born John Henry Kendricks, on November 18th, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, he died of throat cancer on March 2nd, 2003, at the age of 75. Hank Ballard is remembered as playing a leading role in the development of ‘Rock ‘N Roll,’ with songs such as ‘Work With Me, Annie,’ (1954) and it’s answer song Annie Had a Baby’ (1954.) Hank Ballard who was the cousin of Florence Ballard (1943-1976) of the ‘Supremes,’ had nine top 40 hit singles on Billboard, with ”Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go,’ charting the highest at Number 6 in 1960.

Hank Ballard got the idea for ‘The Twist’ when watching his group the ‘Midnighters’ perform, Ballard has said,’The group often moved onstage like they were trying to put a cigarette out. In a sense, they were twisting. Thus, the title of the song.’ ‘The Twist’ developed from a previous song written by Hank Ballard, and his fellow band member Cal Green (1937-2004) called ‘Is Your Love for Real.’ which was based on Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters 1955 song ‘What’cha Gonna Do.’ Ballard wrote new lyrics, and ‘Is Your Love for Real,’ became ‘The Twist.’

‘Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, performed ‘The Twist’ on a Baltimore television dance show hosted by local DJ Buddy Deane (1924-2003.) Deane then recommended the song to Dick Clark, (1929-2012) host of the national ‘American Bandstand’ television show. Clark attempted to book Ballard to perform, but he was unavailable, which led to Clark searching for someone else. He settled on Chubby Checker whose voice was very similar to Hank Ballard’s, and after Checker’s appearance on ‘American Bandstand,’ ‘The Twist’ became a national hit.

When Hank Ballard first heard Chubby Checker’s version of ‘The Twist’ on the radio he thought it was himself, saying,’They cloned it.’ Hank Ballard was not bitter towards Chubby Checker, or Dick Clark, as he earned massive royalties from the song. Chubby Checker has explained how to dance ‘The Twist,’ ‘It’s like putting out a cigarette with both feet, and coming out of a shower and wiping your bottom with a towel to the beat.’

When the song first got to Number 1 in 1960, it was the youth who bought the song, but after the dance moves became more and more popular, and with celebrities also latching on to the fad, the older generation also grew to love it, leading to it’s re-release, and it once again made Number 1 in 1962. ‘The Twist’ was a dance where the participants didn’t touch each other, which was unusual at the time, becoming a new trend, peaking with ‘Disco Dancing’ over a decade later.

‘Yeah, you should see my little sis, you should see my, my little sis. She really knows how to rock, she knows how to twist. Come on and twist, yeah, baby twist, ooh yeah, just like this. Come on, little miss, and do the twist.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

750-Barry Manilow-Copacabana (At the Copa.)

1978-Number 42 single.

Best Bit-At 3.23. The story line to the song is so depressing, that it would make for a good episode of the soap Eastenders.

Barry Manilow was born Barry Alan Pincus, on June 17th, 1943, in New York City, United States, shortly before his 13th birthday, his grandfather had his name changed to ‘Manilow,’ the maiden name of his mother, his parents had been divorced when he was a baby. Barry Manilow got his grounding in the music industry during the 1960’s, writing, singing, and recording hit jingles for business corporations which included ‘Kentucky Fried Chicken, ‘Pepsi,’ and ‘McDonalds.’ In 1969 Manilow signed with ‘Columbia/CBS Music’ vice-president and recording artist, Tony Orlando, (see also best songs 886) and Orlando worked with Manilow on some of his early recordings.

With record sales in excess of 85 million, Barry Manilow is one of the best selling artists of all time. He has released 31 studio Albums between 1973-2020, and 57 singles between 1973-2022, there are also 17 official compilation Albums, six live Albums, and four soundtrack Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, he has had 25 top 40 hits, with three of those tracks ‘Mandy,’ (1974) ‘I Write the Songs,’ (1975) and ‘Looks Like We Made It,’ (1977) all making the Number 1 spot, with ‘Copacabana (At the Copa’) reaching Number 8. In the UK he has charted within the top 40 on 13 occasions, with ‘I Wanna Do It With You,’ being his only top 10 hit, when peaking at Number 8 in 1982.

‘Copacabana (At the Copa’) was the third of four singles released from ‘Even Now,’ the fifth studio Album from Barry Manilow, from February 1978. ‘Copacabana (At the Copa’) was co-written by Barry Manilow (music) and Jack Feldman, and Bruce Sussman, who both wrote the lyrics, the song was produced by Manilow, and Ron Dante. ‘Copacabana (At the Copa’) was inspired by a conversation between Barry Manilow, and Bruce Sussman, at the ‘Copacabana Hotel,’ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when they discussed whether there had ever been a song written about the ‘Copacabana.’ Barry Manilow had been a regular visitor to the ‘Copacabana’ nightclub in New York City (named after the hotel) in the 1960’s. Bruce Sussman who co-wrote the songs lyrics has said,’We thought we were writing the ‘novelty’ cut for Barry’s ‘Even Now’ Album. ‘Copacabana’ surprised everyone, certainly us, and especially ‘Arista Records,’ for they were faced with the first of Barry’s hits that was forced off an Album. This put Barry in the unique position of having three hit records in the Top 40 at once. It earned for him his first, and believe it or not, only ‘Grammy’ award, his first gold single for a song he composed, his first international hit record, and the first song to inspire projects in other media. So much for novelty cuts.’

In 1985 Barry Manilow, along with Bruce Sussman, and Jack Feldman, expanded ‘Copacabana (At the Copa’) into a full length, made for television musical, also called ‘Copacabana,’ writing many additional songs, and expanding the plot. In 1994 the television version was further expanded by the three writers, and made in to a full length, two act musical, again titled ‘Copacabana,’ which ran initially in London’s West End, an American production was later developed, that toured the United States. Over 200 productions of the show have since been staged worldwide.

‘Copacabana (At the Copa’) tells the story of a showgirl (Lola) and her bartender boyfriend (Tony.) A gangster called Rico takes a fancy to Lola, but he oversteps the mark, Tony comes to her aid, but in the ensuing brawl, Tony is shot, and killed. In the final verse we find Lola, sat in the same club, which is now a disco, drunk, and still grieving for Tony, while dressed in her glamorous showgirl attire she wore from 30 years earlier. According to the songs narrator,’Lola lost her youth, and she lost her Tony, and now she’s lost her mind.

‘Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl, with yellow feathers in her hair, and a dress cut down to there. She would Merengue and do the Cha-Cha, and while she tried to be a star Tony always tended bar. Across the crowded floor, they worked from eight til four, they were young and they had each other, who could ask for more.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

751- Malcolm McLaren and the World’s Famous Supreme Team-Buffalo Gals.

1982-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 2.09.’Oh, give me a home where the Buffalo roam, and I’ll show you a filthy house.’

Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was born on January 22nd, 1946, in Stoke Newington, London, England, he died on April 10th, 2010, from the cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, at the age of 64. Malcolm McLaren is best remembered as the manager of the English Punk Rock group the ‘Sex Pistols,’ (see also best songs 576-92 and 27) he was also the manager of the Post Punk groups ‘Adam and the Ants,’ and ‘Bow Wow Wow,’ as well as playing a prominent part in the development of the American Rock band ‘New York Dolls. Between 1974-1976 McLaren, with his then girlfriend Vivienne Westwood (1941-2022) operated the boutique ‘SEX,’ in Chelsea, London, which helped shape early ‘Punk’ fashion, and became an early hub for the subculture in the capital. The discography of Malcolm McLaren includes eight studio Albums released between 1983-2005, and 20 singles issued between 1982-2004, there is also one official compilation Album available. In the UK, Malcolm McLaren has reached the top 40 singles chart on six occasions, with ‘Double Dutch’ featuring ‘The Ebonettes,’ from 1983, peaking the highest at Number 3, while in America he has never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, but on the Billboard ‘Dance Club Songs’ chart, four of his tracks have reached the top 40, with ‘Deep in Vogue,’ with ‘The Bootzilla Orchestra,’ making the Number 1 spot in 1989.

‘Buffalo Gals’ was co-written by Malcolm McLaren, Trevor Horn, (see also best songs 676-455 and 19) and Anne Dudley, with the production credited to McLaren, and Horn. ‘Buffalo Gals’ was the first of four singles released from ‘Duck Rock,’ the debut studio Album from Malcolm McLaren, from May 1983. McLaren had got the idea for ‘Buffalo Gals’ while looking for a support act for ‘ Bow Wow Wow, in New York City, in the early 1980’s, He had gone to an outdoor concert, which was known as a ‘Block Party,’ where he saw the American ‘Hip-Hop’ artist ‘Afrika Bambaataa and Universal Zulu Nation’ (see also best songs 716) perform. This was McLaren’s first exposure to ‘Hip-Hop,’ and it was where he discovered the ‘scratching’ technique he would use on ‘Buffalo Gals,’ that would be developed by Trevor Horn. In the liner notes for the ‘Duck Rock’ Album Malcolm McLaren wrote that ‘Buffalo Gals’ was ‘recorded with the ‘World’s Famous Supreme Team,’ and Zulu singers backing them up, with the words ‘She’s looking like a hobo.’ The performance by the ‘Supreme Team’ may require some explaining, but suffice to say they are DJ’s from New York City who have developed a technique using record players like instruments, replacing the power chord of the guitar with the needle of a gramophone, moving it manually backwards and forwards across the surface of a record. We call it scratching.’

‘The World’s Famous Supreme Team’ were the American ‘Hip-Hop’ duo of ‘Sedivine the Mastermind,’ (Larry Price) and ‘Just Allah the Superstar,’ (Ronald Larkins Jr.) who broadcast a radio show beginning in 1979 in Newark, New Jersey, the duo were active together until 1991. Samples of their radio shows were featured on the ‘Duck Rock’ Album, and McLaren would further work with the duo again in 1984, on the Album ‘Would Ya Like More Scratchin,’ and then again in 1990 on the duo’s third and final Album ‘Round the Outside! Round the Outside!.’ ‘The World’s Famous Supreme Team’ also issued five singles between 1982-1991, three of which were in collaboration with Malcolm McLaren.

‘Buffalo Gals’ is a traditional American song, written and published as ‘Lubly Fan’ in 1844 by the American ‘Blackface Minstrel’ performer John Hodges (1821-1891.) The song was popular throughout the United States where Minstrels often altered the lyrics to suit local audiences, performing it as ‘New York Gals,’ in New York City, ‘Boston Gals,’ in Boston, or “Alabama Girls,’ in Alabama. The traditional songs chorus is ‘Buffalo gals, won’t you come out tonight, come out tonight, come out tonight? Buffalo gals, won’t you come out tonight, and dance by the light of the moon.’ Malcolm McLaren altered the songs lyrics, and on his version he calls the lyrics in a ‘Square Dance’ style.

‘Buffalo Gals’ is a groundbreaking song because it helped introduce ‘Hip-Hop’ culture to an English audience. The songs video showed ‘break-dancing’ by the the American ‘Hip-Hop’ group ‘Rock Steady Crew,’ as well as introducing ‘Rapping,’ Scratching,’ and ‘Graffiti.’

‘First buffalo gal go around the outside, round the outside, round the outside. Two buffalo gals go around the outside, ’round the outside, ’round the outside. Three buffalo gals go around the outside. Four buffalo gals go around the outside, ’round the outside ’round the outside.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

752-Ike & Tina Turner-Proud Mary.

1970-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 2.19. A song of two halves. Tina warns us, ‘We’re gonna start it off nice and easy,’ and then she goes on to say,’We never do anything nice and easy, and then she tells us that they will finish it ‘Nice and rough.’

The original version of ‘Proud Mary’ was written by the American singer/songwriter John Fogerty, and recorded by his band Creedence Clearwater Revival (see also best songs 502) in 1968, the ‘CCR’ version reached Number 2 on Billboard, and Number 8 in the UK in 1969, and was one of five singles by that band that stalled at Number 2, they never had a Number 1 single in America. John Fogerty has said that he wrote ‘Proud Mary’ in just two days after being discharged from the National Guard. Fogerty has said that in the beginning ‘Proud Mary’ had nothing to do with a riverboat, envisioning it as the story of a woman who works as a maid for rich people. ‘She gets off the bus every morning and goes to work, and holds their lives together, then she has to go home.’ It was Stuart Cook, the bass player at that time with ‘CCR,’ who came up with the idea of a riverboat, after watching the American Western television programme ‘Maverick.’ Fogerty felt that a riverboat would fit in well with the song, and ‘Proud Mary’ went from being a ‘cleanup lady,’ to a boat.

Ike & Tina Turner (see also best songs 485 and 192) recorded ‘Proud Mary’ for their 14th joint studio Album ‘Workin’ Together,’ from November 1970, it was the second of four singles released from the Album, with the production being by Ike Turner, (1931-2007) and went on to reach Number 4 on Billboard in 1971. It was the American Soul singer Soloman Burke (1940-2010) who released the first charting cover of ‘Proud Mary,’ ( Billboard Number 45- 1969) and it was he who introduced the song to Ike Turner,’The greatest thing I ever did was tell Ike Turner, “Hey man, you should get on this record … I think you and Tina could tear this thing up.” Ike Turner was not over keen on the song until he heard another cover version by ‘Checkmates, Ltd. Featuring Sonny Charles,’ (Billboard Number 69 & UK Number 30-1969) and it was on that versions arrangement that Ike Turner, along with the R&B drummer, who played live with the ‘Ike & Tina Turner Revue,’ Soko Richardson, based their rearrangement of ‘Proud Mary’ on. Ike & Tina Turner, along with the girls who danced and sang as ‘The Ikettes,’ would perform the song live several times, with it being the highlight of their show on many occasions. In 1993 Tina Turner (1939-2023) re-recorded ‘Proud Mary’ for her biographical film, and eighth solo studio Album ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It,’ the spoken male vocals on the track were provided by the American actor Laurence Fishburne.

The discography of Ike & Tina Turner included 22 studio Albums (including 2 reissues) released between 1961-1980, and 70 singles released between 1960-1985, there are also at least 31 official compilation Albums, eight live Albums, and two soundtrack Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, six of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Proud Mary’ charting the highest, while in the UK, they have had four top 40 hits, with ‘River Deep – Mountain High,’ peaking the highest at Number 3 in 1966. For the solo discography of Tina Turner see best songs 485.

The narrator of ‘Proud Mary’ is a low wage earner, who leaves what they consider to be a ‘good job,’ to embark on a new life, where he/she starts out by hitching a ride on a riverboat queen, bidding farewell to the city. As the boat pulls away the narrator sees the ‘good side of the city’ for the first time from a distance, it is far removed from the experiences of their own life. Down the river the narrator is pleased to find that the people are generous and friendly, even so they have very little money themselves.

‘Left a good job in the city, workin’ for the man every night and day. And I never lost one minute of sleepin’ worryin’ ’bout the way things might have been. Big wheel keep on turnin’ Proud Mary keep on burnin’ Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

753- Skrillex featuring Sirah-Bangarang.

2012-Number 24 single.

Best Bit-At 1.19. Skrillex, is he an Electronic Dance Music wizard, or just a noisy bugger? You decide.

Skrillex is the stage name of Sonny John Moore, who was born on January 15th, 1988, in Los Angeles, California, United States, he began performing under the alias ‘Skrillex’ in 2008, saying that the name has no meaning, and was ‘a stupid old online ‘AOL’ screen name.’ As Sonny Moore, his first venture as a professional musician was as the lead singer with the American ‘Alternative Rock’ band ‘From First to Last,’ with whom he recorded two studio Albums with as a group member between 2004-2007. Skrillex who has said that he was influenced to turn his hand to ‘Electronic Dance Music’ after seeing the French duo ‘Daft Punk’ (see also best songs 140) play live at the annual ‘Coachella Festival,’ in California, in 2006, has at the time of writing released three solo studio Albums between 2014-2023, and 46 singles between 2010-2023, there are also seven official extended plays (EP’s) available. Skrillex released his first solo Album ‘Recess,’ in 2014, and the following two, ‘Quest for Fire,’ on February 17th, 2023, followed one day later by ‘Don’t Get Too Close,’ on February 18th, 2023. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, Skrillex has charted within the top 40 on one occasion with ‘Purple Lamborghini,’ with Rick Ross,’ reaching Number 33 in 2016, while ‘Bangarang’ peaked at Number 72. Skrillex has had far more success on the Billboard ‘Dance and Electronic Songs’ chart, where 25 of his tracks have made the top 40. In the UK, he has had three top 40 entries, with ‘”Rumble,’ with Fred Again, and Flowdan, peaking the highest at Number 19 in 2021. In 2013 Skrillex teamed up with fellow music producer Diplo, (see also best songs 915 and 210) to work under the name ‘Jack Ü,’ releasing the Album ‘Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü,’ in 2015, and three singles, between 2014-2015, including the 2015 UK Number 8 hit ‘Where Are U Now,’ featuring Justin Bieber.

‘Bangarang’ was the second of two singles released from the fourth Skrillex EP ‘Bangarang,’ from December 2011, it was written and produced by Skrillex, and featured the vocals of Sirah, who was born Sara Elizabeth Mitchell, on July 28th, 1988, in Long Island New York, United States. Sirah first met Skrillex after she was contacted by him on ‘MySpace,’ commending her work, and requesting that they work together. As well as working together on ‘Bangarang,’ Sirah has also provided vocals on two other tracks with Skrillex, ‘WEEKENDS!!!,’ in 2010, and ‘Kyoto’ in 2011. Sirah released the Album ‘Broken Complex’ in 2010, and she has also issued six singles as the lead artist between 2011-2019.

‘Bangarang’ can be filed under the musical genre of ‘Dubstep,’ which is a genre of ‘Electronic Dance Music’ that originated in South London, England, in the early 2000’s. The style emerged as a UK ‘Garage Music’ offshoot that blended ‘2-step rhythms,’ and sparse ‘Dub’ production, as well as incorporating elements of ‘Broken Beat,’ ‘Grime, and ‘Drum and Bass.’ In the United Kingdom, the origins of the genre can be traced back to the growth of the Jamaican ‘sound system’ party scene in the early 1980’s.

‘Bangarang’ and it’s promotional video both pay homage to the 1991 American fantasy adventure film ‘Hook.’ In the film the battle cry of the ‘Lost Boys’ is ‘Bangarang.’ The Peter Pan, and Captain Hook theme is continued in the songs official music video, with the ice-cream truck drivers style of moustache. His right hand had a tattoo of a crocodile, and after losing his hand earlier on in the video, it is shown as being replaced by a hook.

‘Shouts to all my lost boys. Shout-shout-shout-shout-shout-shouts to all my lost boys. We rowdy. Shouts to all my lost boys, shout-shout-shout-shout-shout-shouts to all my lost boys. We rowdy.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

754- Coldcut featuring Yazz and the Plastic Population-Doctorin’ the House.

1988-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 2.12. ‘Ooh’ Matron.

Coldcut were formed in London, England, in 1986, by the ‘Electronic,’ House,’ ‘Hip-Hop,’ ‘Trip-Hop,’ ‘Downtempo,’ music production duo of Matt Black, and Jonathan More. They are credited as being pioneers of ‘Pop Sampling’ in the 1980’s, for their innovative use of mixing ‘Hip-Hop,’ ‘Soul,’ and ‘Funk,’ etc, with spoken word from film and television. The duo’s first release ‘Say Kids What Time Is It?’ released in January 1987 mixed the ‘Jungle Books’ ‘King of the Swingers,’ with the break from James Brown’s 1969 track ‘Funky Drummer,’ (see also best songs 253) and is considered to be the first UK record built entirely on samples. Artists such as The Chemical Brothers, (see also best songs 502 and 53) and Fatboy Slim, (see also best songs 950-760-387 and 95) have cited Coldcut as an inspiration in the development of the ‘Big Beat’ genre. In October 1987 Coldcut were asked to remix the American ‘Hip Hop’ Artists ‘Eric B & Rakim’s track ‘Paid in Full,’ their remix is said to have ‘laid the groundwork for ‘Hip-Hop’s’ entry in to the UK mainstream’ (see also best songs 856.)

Matt Black who was a computer programmer, first met Jonathan More in a record shop in London, at that time both were already involved in the underground music scene. Their first collaboration ‘Say Kids What Time Is It?’ was sampled by ‘MARRS’ for their 1987 UK Number 1 single ‘Pump Up the Volume.’ In 1990 the duo set up their own record label ‘Ninja Tune,’ as a means to escape the creative control of major labels, and also as a vehicle to release music of an underground nature. The label’s first releases were the first five volumes of ‘DJ Food’s Jazz Brakes,’ and were produced by Coldcut in the early 1990’s. The Albums were composed of instrumental sample based cuts, that led the duo to help pioneer new instrumental ‘Hip-Hop’ beats genres, and, to this day they are recognised as being indispensable tools for DJ’s. The record label remains active at the time of writing, and has produced dozens of artists over the years.

The discography of Coldcut includes 10 Albums released between 1989-2017, and 21 singles issued between 1987-2016, there are also four official compilation and mix Albums available. In the UK, Coldcut have charted within the top 40 singles chart on four occasions, with ‘Doctorin’ the House,’ featuring Yazz and the Plastic Population, peaking the highest at Number 6. Coldcut were responsible for giving the English singer Lisa Stansfield here first hit single when their track ‘People Hold On,’ featuring Lisa Stansfield, reached Number 11 in the UK in 1989. In 1988, Coldcut were the producers of the UK Number 1 single ‘The Only Way Is Up,’ by ‘Yazz and the Plastic Population,’ who also feature on ‘Doctorin’ the House.’

‘Doctorin’ the House’ was the second of five singles released from ‘What’s That Noise?’ the debut studio Album from Coldcut, from April 1989. The Album consisted of 17 tracks released on two vinyl discs, and featured alongside Coldcut, artists as diverse as Mark E. Smith, and Queen Latifah. ‘Doctorin’ the House’ which has in excess of 20 different samples, was produced by Coldcut, with Yazz who provides vocals on the track, also given songwriting credit. Yazz was born Yasmin Evans on May 19th, 1960, in Shepherd’s Bush, London, United Kingdom, and has to date released seven Albums between 1988-2011, and 14 singles between 1988-1998. In the UK, seven of those singles have reached the top 40, with “The Only Way Is Up,’ peaking at Number 1 in 1988. After a failed marriage and her dependency on alcohol during the 1990’s, Yazz turned to religion, and in 2008 released the Album ‘Running Back to You,’ which charts her spiritual journey, and her new found Christian faith.

‘We’ve got a hot one for you, can you take care of it? We’ve got a hot one for you, can you take care of it? Yeah, you just hit me. Listen, listen, listen for the beatbox, beat dis. Now who’s jackin’ the house? That wicked plastic man.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

755-The Waterboys-The Whole of the Moon.

1985-Number 26 single. When it was re-issued in 1991 it peaked at Number 3.

Best Bit-At 3.47. Mooning is the act of removing your clothing, and revealing your bare buttocks, which has absolutely nothing at all to do with this song.

The Waterboys were formed in London, England, in 1983, by Mike Scott, and at the time of writing they remain active, with Scott being the groups one constant. The Waterboys who took their name from a line in the Lou Reed (1942-2013) song ‘The Kids,’ from his 1973 Album ‘Berlin,’ have to date had 86 different official members come and go, including Karl Wallinger, 1982-1985, Eddi Reader, 1984, Guy Chambers, 1985-1986, (see also best songs 406) and Ian McNabb, 2001-2002. Founding member Mike Scott has said,’We’ve had more members I believe than any other band in Rock history.’ The Waterboys, whose genres of music have included ‘Rock,’ Folk Rock,’ ‘Celtic,’ and ‘Folk,’ have released 15 studio Albums between 1983-2022, and 29 singles within the same time period, there are also nine official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In the UK, they have had five top 40 singles, including the re-issue of ‘The Whole of the Moon,’ in 1991, which is their highest peaking song, reaching Number 3.

Mike Scott was born on December 14th, 1958, in Edinburgh, Scotland, and formed The Waterboys in 1983. Scott has said,’To me there’s no difference between Mike Scott, and The Waterboys, they both mean the same thing. They mean myself, and whoever are my current travelling musical companions.’ In addition to the Albums Scott has released with The Waterboys, he has also issued two Albums (in 1995, and 1997) under his own name, and also another two Albums within that same time period, that were made available for fan club members only. He has also released a best of collection in 1998, and four solo singles between 1995-1998.

‘The Whole of the Moon’ was written and produced by Mike Scott, and was the first of three singles released from ‘This Is the Sea,’ the third studio Album by The Waterboys, from September 1985. When first released in October 1985 ‘The Whole of the Moon’ reached Number 26, but when it was re-released in 1991 to promote ‘The Best of The Waterboys 81–90,’ it was far more successful, peaking at Number 3. The three official members of The Waterboys at that time who played on the track, were Mike Scott, (vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, piano, percussion, and synthesizer) Anthony Thistlethwaite, (saxophone, double bass, bass guitar, and mandolin) and Karl Wallinger, (bass synth, piano, organ, keyboard programming, synthesizer, and celeste.)

‘The Whole of the Moon’ is a tribute to inspirational figures in Mike Scott’s life, but not one particular person. In each line the singer describes his own perspective, and immediately contrasts it with that of the songs subject, summarising the difference with,’I saw the crescent/you saw the whole of the moon.’ Mike Scott has said,’I wrote the song when I was 26 years old, and I was discovering that there was so much more than I had ever known. There was so much more to learn than I’d even been hinted at in the culture I’d grown up in. I had a strong sense of wonderment about that, and I realised there were people who had vastly more information in their imaginations and experiences than I had. And so that’s what inspired that song.’

Mike Scott has stated that some of his inspirations for ‘The Whole of the Moon’ include the writers C.S. Lewis, (1898-1963) and Mark Helprin, and also the musicians Jimi Hendrix, (1942-1970) (see also best songs 983 and 492) and Syd Barrett, (1946-2006) (see also best songs 992) who ‘Burned out very quickly.’ In 2020 Mike Scott revealed that he wrote ‘The Whole of the Moon’ to impress a girl, who had asked him if it was easy to write a song.’In my 20’s I hadn’t yet grown out of the urge to show off to a new girlfriend, so I said ‘Yes it is!’ I pulled a pen and a piece of paper out of my pocket. There was a moon in the sky, so I wrote down ‘I saw the crescent, you saw the whole of the moon.’ She was duly impressed. I fleshed it out in the hotel, and back home in London came up with more lyrics and the piano part, a self-taught rhythm with one finger doing one pattern, and three fingers doing another.’

‘I pictured a rainbow, you held it in your hands. I had flashes, but you saw the plan. I wandered out in the world for years, while you just stayed in your room, I saw the crescent, you saw the whole of the moon. The whole of the moon.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

756-War-Galaxy.

1978-Number 14 single.

Best Bit-At 3.29. Undoubtedly one of the Funkiest songs in the world ever, maybe even the….Galaxy.

In 1962, Howard E. Scott, and Harold Brown formed a group called the ‘Creators’ in Long Beach, California. United States, further musicians, Charles Miller, (1939-1980) Morris ‘B.B.’ Dickerson, (1949-2021) Lonnie Jordan, Lee Oskar, and Thomas ‘Papa Dee’ Allen, (1931-1988) would later join, and then in 1968 they changed their name to ‘Nightshift.’ The band members collectively played a fusion of ‘Funk,’ ‘Rock,’ ‘Soul,’ ‘Progressive soul,’ ‘Jazz Rock,’ and ‘Latin Rock,’ and transcended racial and cultural barriers with a multi-ethnic line-up. In 1969 the producer and songwriter Jerry Goldstein (‘My Boyfriend’s Back,’ ‘Hang on Sloopy,’ ‘I Want Candy’) saw the band performing and recommended them to the British singer Eric Burdon, (see also best songs 851) who had recently departed ‘The Animals.’ Goldstein changed their name to ‘Eric Burdon and War,’ and they would remain active together through until 1971. After Burdon’s departure, and now just calling themselves ‘War,’ they achieved their greatest commercial success during the 1970’s, continuing to record and tour through until the mid 1990’s. In 1996, the group attempted to gain independence from Jerry Goldstein, but were unable to do so under the name ‘War,’ which remains a trademark owned by Goldstein. In response, all of the band members apart from Lonnie Jordan, left to form the ‘Lowrider Band,’ named after their 1975 Billboard Number 7 hit ‘Low Rider,’ while Jordan stayed with Goldstein, and created a new version of ‘War.’ At the time of writing both bands remain active touring, although the ‘Lowrider Band’ have never released any recorded music. In total there have been 35 different members of ‘War,’ and at the time of writing they remain active, with Leroy ‘Lonnie’ Jordan being the groups one constant.

The discography of ‘War’ includes 17 studio Albums released between 1970-2014, and 60 singles issued between 1970-1994, there are also eight official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. The first two ‘War’ studio Albums, (both from 1970) and the groups first two issued singles include Eric Burdon as an official member, their debut single ‘Spill the Wine,’ released as ‘Eric Burdon & War,’ reached Number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. In America on Billboard, ‘War’ have charted within the top 40 on 12 occasions, with ‘Galaxy’ reaching Number 39, and ‘The Cisco Kid’ from 1972 peaking the highest at Number 2, while in the UK, they have had four top 40 hits, with ‘Low Rider’ charting the highest at Number 12 in 1975.

Jerry Goldstein was born Gerald Goldstein on February 17th, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, United States, he is a music producer, manager, singer/songwriter, film producer, graphics company owner, and musician. Goldstein was initially a member of the American group ‘The Strangeloves,’ with his writing partners Bob Feldman, (1940-2023) and Richard Gottehrer, together they had three Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles, including the much covered ‘I Want Candy’ (1965-Number 11.) Jerry Goldstein has produced every ‘War’ studio Album, including their 1973 Album ‘The World Is a Ghetto,’ which was the best selling Album of that year according to Billboard.

‘Galaxy’ was the first of two singles released from the groups 10th studio Album of the same name from November 1977, all five tracks on the Album were written by all seven group members at that time, along with Jerry Goldstein, who was also the Album’s producer. There is every reason to suspect that ‘Galaxy’ was influenced by the film ‘Star Wars,’ which was also released in 1977. Harold Brown, a founding member of ‘War,’ and the groups drummer has said,’People love that song to this day. We were over in the ABC Studios, we just laid that track down. I had just gotten those custom-made Ludwig drums that Mr. Ludwig built for me. We were standing listening to the playback, and I said, ‘Take me to your place in space.’ That was the beginning of the song. Then we started writing it. ‘Take me to your place in space, I’m sick and tired of the rat race.’ That’s how that song evolved.’

‘People movin’ to and fro, to a song and a band and a laser show. Superman, Batman, goin’ all night, playin’ one on one with a meteor light. It’s out of sight, it’s out of sight, it’s out of sight, it’s out of sight, it’s gone, it’s gone.’