THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

551-Kings of Leon-The Bucket.

2004-Number 16 singles.

Best Bit-At 2.18. The correct pronunciation is bucket, not bouquet.

The Kings of Leon (see also best songs 106) were formed in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, in 1999, by the three brothers Caleb, (lead vocals, and rhythm guitar) Jared, (bass, keyboards, and backing vocals) and Nathan Followill, (lead guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals) and their cousin Matthew Followill, (drums, percussion, and backing vocals) the groups name comes from their grandfather, who was called Leon, he died in 2014. When first starting out the Kings of Leon’s music was described as a mixture of ‘Southern Rock,’ and ‘Garage Rock,’ which over the course of time has changed to a more ‘Alternative Rock,’ and ‘Arena Rock’ sound.

The discography of the Kings of Leon includes nine studio Albums released between 2003-2024, and 26 singles released within the same time period, there are also five extended plays available, along with two official compilation Albums, and one live Album. In America on the ‘Billboard 200’ Album chart, seven of their Albums have reached the top 40, with their seventh studio Album ‘Walls,’ from 2016, reaching the Number 1 position, while on the ‘Billboard Hot 100,’ two of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Use Somebody’ from 2008, peaking the highest at Number 4, whilst ‘The Bucket’ failed to chart. It has been in the UK where the Kings of Leon have always had their greatest commercial success, with all nine of their studio Albums making the top three positions, with six of the Albums making the Number 1 spot. On the UK top 40 singles chart they have achieved 11 hits to date, with ‘Sex on Fire’ peaking the highest at Number 1 in 2008.

‘The Bucket’ was the first of three singles released from ‘Aha Shake Heartbreak,’ the second studio Album from the Kings of Leon, from November 2004, the song was co-written by Caleb Followill, Nathan Followill, Jared Followill, and Matthew Followill, with the production credited to Ethan Johns, and Angelo Petraglia. Ethan Johns was born Ethan Thomas Robert Johns, in 1969, in Merton. London, he is the son of the legendary music producer Glyn Johns (see also best songs 1048-933-732-662-265-77 and 70.) Ethan Johns has produced for many artists, including Paul McCartney, and Tom Jones, and has been co-producer on three of the Kings of Leon studio Albums. He has also released five solo studio Albums between 1991-2018.

The other co-producer of ‘The Bucket’ was Angelo Petraglia, who was born on May 5th, 1954, in the Bronx, New York City, United States. Petraglia is best known for his work with the ‘Kings of Leon,’ having first met Nathan and Caleb Followill when they were located just outside Nashville, Tennessee, and showing an interest in ‘Country Music’ in the late 1990’s. Angelo Petraglia helped the siblings hone their songwriting skills, and introduced them to the musical influences of Thin Lizzy, (see also best songs 125) The Rolling Stones, (see also best songs 933-662-452-160 and 77) and the Clash (see also best songs 638 and 294) in particular.

‘The Bucket’ has at least three meanings. Caleb Followill has said,’It was about me being famous for the time, and about the girls I had finally experienced.’ Caleb has also confirmed that the songs first verse was written through the eyes of the band’s manager, the man responsible for getting them cigarettes at 3.0.am, and fixing the zippers on their shoes. In the main though ‘The Bucket’ was written about the groups bassist Jared Followill, who was the youngest member in the band at the age of 18 at that time. It tells of Caleb’s observations of how he, and his brother deal with fame, and also the things that can be aggravating, especially when touring, but it’s also a song about brotherly love.

‘I’ll be the one to show you the way, you’ll be the one to always complain. Three in the morning come a bang bang bang, all out of fags and I just can’t wait. Cancel the thing that I said I’d do, I don’t feel comfortable talking to you, less you got the zipper fixed on my shoe, then I’ll be in the lobby drinking for two. Eighteen, balding, star, golden, fallen, heart.’