THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

654-Fratellis-Chelsea Dagger.

2006-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 0.33. ‘Do-do-do-do-do-do.’ The songs writer, John Lawler said,’It came to me really quickly. I was going,’Do-do-do-do-do-do,’ and it was so easy to write, that I couldn’t believe nobody had ever used the melody before.

The Fratellis were formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2005, after John Lawler, (Jon Fratelli) (lead vocals & guitarist) responded to an advert placed in a music shop by the groups future drummer Gordon McRory, (Mince Fratelli) they were joined soon after by the bass player Barry Wallace (Barry Fratelli.) Even so none of the three group members are related, they all chose the stage name ‘Fratelli,’ taking the name from the criminal family in the 1985 American comedy film ‘The Goonies.’ The Fratellis were active until going on hiatus in 2009, they reformed in 2012, and at the time of writing they remain active. The trio played their first official live show in March 2005, and word soon got around, with ‘Fallout Records’ signing them almost immediately. The discography of the Fratellis includes six studio Albums released between 2006-2021, and 17 singles issued within the same time period, there are also four extended plays (EP’s) available. In the UK, the Fratellis have achieved five top 40 singles, with two of their tracks reaching the top 10, ‘Chelsea Dagger,’ (2006 Number 5 single) and ‘Whistle for the Choir’ (2006 Number 9 single.) In their native Scotland, where the chart is compiled by the same company who compile the UK chart (Official Charts Company, OCC,) they have had seven top 40 hits, with ‘Look Out Sunshine!’ making Number 1 in 2008.

Jon Fratelli who was born John Paul Lawler on March 4th, 1979, in Glasgow, Scotland, he is the main songwriter for the Fratellis, as well as being the groups lead singer, and guitarist. In 2009 when the Fratellis went on hiatus, Lawler teamed up with the female Scottish singer/songwriter Lou Hickey to form the duo ‘Codeine Velvet Club,’ and together they issued one Album called ”Codeine Velvet Club’ in 2010. John Lawler’s Album discography is completed by the releases of his two solo Albums, ‘Psycho Jukebox,’ in 2011, and ‘Bright Night Flowers,’ in 2019.

‘Chelsea Dagger’ was the second of six singles released from the Fratellis’ debut studio Album ‘Costello Music’, from September 2006, the Album took it’s title from the studio that they used to rent in Budhill, Glasgow. ‘Costello Music’ has gone on to sell in excess of 900,000 copies in the UK, and in excess of a further 300,000 worldwide. The Album has been critically acclaimed, and led to the Fratellis winning the ‘Brit Award for best Breakthrough Act’ in the UK in 2007. ‘Chelsea Dagger’ was written by Jon Fratelli, with the production being by Tony Hoffer, who is credited for his work on multiple platinum selling Albums, including, ‘Midnite Vultures,’ by Beck (1999) and ‘Inside In/Inside Out,’ by The Kooks (2006.)

‘Chelsea Dagger’ was written by Jon Fratelli for his wife Heather, who worked as a burlesque dancer with the stage name ‘Chelsea Dagger.’ Her stage name is a play on the name ‘Britney Spears, ‘Chelsea::Britney, Dagger::Spear.’ Heather performed as ‘Chelsea Dagger’ at the ‘Club Noir,’ which according to ‘Guinness World Records’ was the largest burlesque club in the world, until it closed it’s doors for the last time in 2017. Jon Fratelli has said the song has been wonderful for the band, as its royalties have supported them financially ever since.

‘Chelsea Dagger’ has become an anthem for sports teams all over the world. The first team to adopt the song were the Scottish football team ‘Glasgow Celtic,’ whom Jon Fratelli is a lifelong fan of, the song is also often played by the English football team ‘Chelsea’ at their home games. The song has also been used in the North American National Hockey League, Australian Rugby League, and by the Professional Darts Corporation, with many more sporting events, and teams playing the song, when celebrating success.

Well, you must be a girl with shoes like that, she said, ‘You know me well.’ I’ve seen you and little Steven and Joanne around the back of my hotel, oh yeah. Someone said you was askin’ after me, but I know you best as a blagger. I said, ‘Tell me your name, is it sweet?’ She said, ‘My boy, it’s Dagger,’ oh yeah.’