THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

668-Siouxsie and the Banshees-Peek-a-Boo.

1988-Number 16 single.

Best Bit-At 2.32. On the Beavis and Butt-Head episode ‘Sperm Bank,’ Beavis noted while watching the video, that, ‘this is music for people who don’t have any friends.’

Siouxsie Sioux (see also best songs 238) was born Susan Janet Ballion, on May 27th, 1957, in Southwark, London, England, she is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and music producer, who has recorded in the genres of ‘Post-Punk,’ ‘New Wave,’ ‘Gothic Rock,’ ‘Alternative Rock,’ and ‘Exotica.’ Siouxsie Sioux is universally considered to be one of the most influential artists in ‘Pop Music’ history, with fellow musicians including Bono, Robert Smith, Peter Hook, and many more praising her influence. In turn Siouxsie herself has credited watching David Bowie (1948-2016) (see also best songs 807-440-334-302-209-186-118-47-31 and 5) on television, and attending a Sex Pistols (see also best songs 576-92 and 27) concert, for her own inspiration.

Siouxsie Sioux formed Siouxsie and the Banshees in 1976 with Steven Severin, after the pair first met at a Roxy Music (see also best songs 721-316 and 57) concert in 1975, a dozen other members came and went, with only Siouxsie, and Severin, being the groups two constants, until they split in 1996. In 2002, Siouxsie, along with her then husband ‘Budgie,’ Steve Severin, and Knox Chandler, reformed Siouxsie and the Banshees to promote the band’s remastered back catalogue, by releasing ‘The Best of Siouxsie and the Banshees,’ and also to perform live, the ‘Seven Year Itch tour.’

The discography of Siouxsie and the Banshees includes 11 studio Albums released between 1978-1995, and 30 singles issued within the same time period, there are also four official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. In the UK, 18 of their singles have reached tho top 40, with their 1983 cover version of the Beatles ‘Dear Prudence,’ peaking the highest at Number 3. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, only their 1991 track ‘Kiss Them for Me,’ has made the top 40, when reaching Number 23, although seven of their singles have made the Billboard ‘Alternative Airplay’ chart, including ‘Peek-a-Boo,’ which in September 1988, became the first ever song to top that newly established chart. To run concurrently alongside Siouxsie and the Banshees, in 1981 Siouxsie Sioux, and the groups drummer Budgie, joined forces to form the duo ‘The Creatures,’ releasing four studio Albums, and eight singles, between 1983-2003, Siouxsie has also released one solo studio Album called ‘Mantaray,’ in 2007.

‘Peek-a-Boo’ was co-written by Siouxsie Sioux, Steven Severin, and Budgie, with the production credited to Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Mike Hedges. ‘Peek-a-Boo’ was written as an experimental song, and Mike Hedges has explained how it’s unusual sound came about. ‘It all started a year or so before, when the Banshees made an Album of cover versions called ‘Through The Looking Glass.’ On that Album they’d recorded a version of a John Cale song called ‘Gun,’ and when we were recording it I turned it over – which you can do on analogue tape – and it sounded amazing. We recorded forward drums over the backwards track – crunchy and loopy, kind of hip-hoppy. Then we added accordion and bass, although there’s only one piece of bass on the entire track. It was all very quick. From turning the tape over, it probably took the best part of a day and a half to finish the song.’

In order to avoid any potential legal action,’Peek-a-Boo’ is also credited as being written by the legendary American songwriters Harry Warren, (1893-1981) (see also best songs 877-775-396 and 321) and Johnny Mercer, (1909-1976) (see also best songs 934-281 and 45) as they were the co-writers of the 1938 song ‘Jeepers Creepers,’ The lyrics ‘Golly Jeepers, where’d you get those weepers? Peepshow, creepshow, where did you get those eyes? were considered too similar.

Siouxsie Sioux has explained what the lyrics to ‘Peek-a-Boo’ are about, saying,’It’s about the way that women are portrayed in our Fascist media. ‘Peekaboo’ is a reaction against the conformist images that the media puts on women. Siouxsie went on to equate the meaning behind ‘Peekaboo’ to the 1972 horror movie ‘The Stepford Wives.’

‘Creeping up the backstairs, slinking into dark stalls, shapeless and slumped in bathchairs, furtive eyes peep out of holes.’