THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

525-Ramsey Lewis-Wade in the Water.

1966-On it’s initial release it did not chart in the UK. Due to it’s popularity with the ‘Northern Soul’ scene, it entered the UK chart in 1972, reaching Number 31.

Best Bit-At 0.12. ‘Slave to the Rhythm.’

‘Wade in the Water’ in it’s original form is a ‘Spiritual’ song that dates back to the early 19th Century, whose lyrics were meant to convey, encourage, and remind escaping slaves in a coded message, of the dangers they were in, for example, if the would be fugitive took to the water as a means of trying to escape, it would throw pursuing bloodhounds off the scent. In it’s original form the songs verses compare the plight of the African/American slave with that of the Israelite’s escape out of Egypt.

The lyrics to ‘Wade in the Water’ whose original writer is unknown, were first published in 1901, by the collector, arranger, harmoniser, and composer of songs, the American born Frederick Jerome Work, (1879-1942) and his brother, John Wesley Work Jr. (1871-1925) who was a musicologist, and the first African-American collector of Folk songs and Spirituals, he was also a choral director, educationalist singer and songwriter. ‘Wade in the Water’ and other traditional songs were published by the brothers as ‘New Jubilee Songs,’ and first performed by the ‘Fisk Jubilee Singers.’ The first commercial recording of ‘Wade in the Water’ was made in 1925 by ‘The Sunset Four Jubilee Singers,’ and released by ‘Paramount Records.’ Other famous recordings of the song are by Bob Dylan, the Staple Singers, Marlena Shaw, (1939-2024) Eva Cassidy, (1963-1996) and of course this one by Ramsey Lewis.

‘Wade in the Water’ was also the title of Ramsey Lewis’ 24th Album release, from July 1966, the Ramsey Lewis recording is an instrumental, and was produced by Esmond Edwards (1927-2007.) Playing on the track were Ramsey Lewis, (1935-2022) (keyboards) John Avant, (1927-1988) (trombone) Cleveland Eton, (1939-2020) (see also best songs 980) (bass) and Maurice White, (1941-23016) (see also best songs 916 and 462) (drums) who went on to form Earth Wind & Fire in 1969.

Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis Jr. was born on May 27th, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, he passed away in his sleep on September 12th, 2022, at the age of 87. His initial work was in the genre of ‘Jazz,’ but after finding commercial success with this song and others, a lot of his music became more ‘Pop’ orientated. In 1955, after playing with a number of local groups, Ramsey Lewis formed the ‘Ramsey Lewis Trio,’ with the drummer Isaac ‘Redd’ Holt,’ (1932-2023) and the bass player Eldee Young, (1936-2007) as a trio they signed with ‘Chess Records,’ and released their debut album, ‘Ramsey Lewis and his Gentle-men of Swing,’ in 1956. It was following their breakthrough hit ‘The ‘In’ Crowd’ (see also best songs 243) in 1965, that they decided to concentrate more on ‘Pop’ material. In 1966 Young and Holt left the trio to form ‘Young-Holt Unlimited,’ and were replaced by Cleveland Eaton, and Maurice White. In addition to recording, Ramsey Lewis also was a broadcaster, and hosted the weekly syndicated radio program ‘Legends of Jazz,’ which was created in 1990, and syndicated by ‘United Stations Radio Networks.’ He also hosted the ‘Ramsey Lewis Morning Show,’ on Chicago ‘smooth jazz’ radio station, ‘WNUA.’ Ramsey Lewis was also active in musical education in Chicago, where he founded the ‘Ramsey Lewis Foundation,’ established the ‘Ravinia’s Jazz Mentor Program,’ and served on the board of trustees for the ‘Merit School of Music,’ and ‘The Chicago High School for the Arts.’ In 2005 he founded the ‘Ramsey Lewis Foundation,’ which promoted musical instrument education to children.’ The discography of Ramsey Lewis includes over 80 Albums issued between 1956-2022, and 27 singles released between 1964-1987, of which six of those singles reached the American Billboard Hot 100, with ‘The ‘In’ Crowd,’ from 1965, peaking the highest at Number 5, while ‘Wade in the Water’ reached Number 19. In the UK, ‘Wade in the Water’ is his only chart entry.

‘Wade in the Water’ is an African American jubilee song, and can be filed under the musical genre of ‘Spiritual,’ which is in reference to a genre of music created and first sung by African/Americans in slavery. ‘Spirituals’ which are also known as ‘Negro spirituals,’ ‘African American spirituals,’ ‘Black spirituals,’ or ‘spiritual music,’ is a genre of Christian music that is associated with African Americans, which merged varied African cultural influences with the experiences of being held in bondage in slavery, at first during the transatlantic slave trade, and for centuries afterwards, through the domestic slave trade. ‘Spirituals’ encompass the ‘sing songs,’ ‘work songs,’ and ‘plantation songs,’ with many new derivative music genres such as the ‘Blues’ emerging from the ‘Spirituals’ song-craft down the centuries.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

526-Nas-One Mic.

2002-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 1.18. Too often all ‘Rap’ is tarred with the same brush. There are those who brag about the six figure sums they have just been paid, the amount of bitc#es they have taken to bed, and the size of their genitalia, and then there are the ‘keeping it real’ Rappers, with a real message.

Nas was born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, on September 14th, 1973, in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, to date he has sold in excess of 25 million records worldwide, and in many compiled lists of the best Rappers, and lyricists, he continuously appears in the all time top 10. Nas whose father is the Jazz musician Olu Dara, began his music career in 1989 as ‘Nasty Nas,’ and was first heard on record when guesting on the 1991 track ‘Live at the Barbecue,’ by the ‘East coast Hip-Hop’ group ‘Main Source.’ Nas then went on to record his debut Album ‘Illmatic’ in 1994, which is considered by many music critics to be one of the greatest ‘Hip-Hop’ Albums of all time. The American music journalist Peter Shapiro has written about Nas, saying that he creates a ‘Devastating match between lyrics and production.’ There have also been comparisons made between Nas and ‘Rakim’ (see also best songs 856.)

The discography of Nas includes 17 studio Albums released between 1994-2023, and 79 singles released between 1992-2024, there is also one collaborative Album, one group Album, four mixtapes, and five official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, as the lead artist, he has had three top 40 entries, with ‘I Can’ from 2003, peaking the highest at Number 12, while ‘One Mic’ reached Number 43. On Billboard as a featured artist Nas has had seven top 40 hits, with ‘Hot Boyz,’ by Missy Elliott, featuring Lil’ Mo, Nas, Eve, and Q-Tip, making Number 5 in 1999. In the UK, Nas has charted within the top 40 as the lead artist on nine occasions, with both ‘If I Ruled the World (Imagine That’) featuring Lauryn Hill, (1996) and ‘Street Dreams’ (1996) both peaking the highest at Number 12. As the featured artist in the UK, Nas has had eight top 40 chart entries, with I’m Gonna Be Alright,” the Track Masters Remix,’ by Jennifer Lopez, featuring Nas, charting the highest at Number 3 in 2002.

‘One Mic’ was the last of four singles released from ‘Stillmatic,’ which is the fifth studio Album released by Nas, from December 2001. ‘One Mic’ was co-written, and co-produced by Nas, and Chucky Thompson, and contains samples from the songs ‘In the Air Tonight,’ by Phil Collins, and ‘I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby,’ by Barry White, although neither of those artists receive songwriting credits. Chucky Thompson was born Carl Edward Thompson Jr. on July 12th, 1968, in Washington D. C. United States, he died of complications of COVID-19, on August 9th, 2021, at the age of 53. Chucky Thompson worked as a music producer for ‘Bad Boy Entertainment’ ‘Hitmen,’ where he produced tracks for their rosta of artists, including The Notorious B.I.G.’s, Big Poppa, (see also best songs 307) from his ‘Ready To Die’ Album, (1994) and the Faith Evans tracks, ‘You Used to Love Me,’ and ‘Soon As I Get Home,’ from her Album ‘Faith’ (1995.)

‘One Mic’ is a ‘Hip-Hop’ track, that can also be filed under the musical sub-genre of ‘Conscious Hip-Hop.’ ‘Conscious Hip-Hop’ is a sub-genre of ‘Hip Hop’ that challenges the dominant cultural, social, political, philosophical, and economic consensus, and/or comments on, or focuses on, social issues and conflicts. Some themes of ‘Conscious Hip-Hop’ include’ social conscience, Afro-centricity, religion, culture, the economy, depictions of the struggles of ordinary people, and aversion to, or commentary on, crime and violence. ‘Conscious Hip-Hop’ often seeks to raise awareness of social issues, sometimes leaving the listeners to form their own opinions rather than advocating for certain ideas and demanding actions like another sub-genre of ‘Hip-Hop,’ called ‘Political Hip-Hop.’ ‘Conscious Hip-Hop’ artists often use their music to express their views on a wide range of topics, including politics, race, poverty, and the environment. Other examples of ‘Conscious Hip-Hop’ in this ‘1000 Best Songs’ list include, ‘The Message’ by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, (see also best songs 290) and ‘Fight the Power,’ by Public Enemy, (see also best songs 578) these songs could also be filed under ‘Political Hip-Hop.’

In ‘One Mic,’ Nas tells us of his experiences growing up in the ghetto. He tells us of his desire to lead a simple and positive life, with the guidance of God. Nas has said, ‘I’m a huge fan of Phil Collins, and I just wanted to take the vibe from In the Air Tonight. One Mic is just about the power. It’s almost like ‘Hip Hop is Dead’ (2006-Nas Album) in its infant stages, saying how much this is a blessing to be out here, speaking about what’s happening in my neighbourhood, having the whole world understand and relate. One Mic just gives me the ability, no matter how much ignorant people are mad that I’m exposing or talking about our country, no matter what the language is, I’m talking in a language that the people can hear, I’m not sugar-coating it. So if it scares people and people feel guilty, people feel like they’ve got to make up excuses to why the world’s this way, no matter what they say, like they’ve got their mic, I’ve got mine, and that’s what that song’s about.’

All I need is one mic, that’s all I need, that’s all I need. There’s nuttin’ else in the world, that’s all a nig#a need to do his thing.’